Good thread.
Still daily using my Thresholds SA/1 that I inherited from my father. About 40 years old now. Truly build to last a lifetime.
Still happily using vintage gear?
I was sitting listening to my main system consisting of an Audio Research SP8 preamp, NYAL Moscode 600 Maxi, Vandersteen 5 speakers, Thorens TD126MkIII with Sumiko Blue Point, VPI HW16, and was completely satisfied, again, with the experience. (Kimber 12TC, Morrow, Straightwire, AQ and Furman accessories)
All the equipment has been well cared for and kept in good repair: caps replaced, TT overhauled etc.
But it has an average age of about 30 years!
I love reading about all the latest gear, and lust after some of it dearly, but... I'm satisfied with what I have.
I'm playing with digital and having my fun with that, but I was wondering:
Is anyone else still happy with equipment that is now considered "vintage"?
(I don't think of it as "vintage", I just think of it as long-lasting!)
So... what's the oldest piece in your rig?
Mine is the Moscode. 40 years young.
All the equipment has been well cared for and kept in good repair: caps replaced, TT overhauled etc.
But it has an average age of about 30 years!
I love reading about all the latest gear, and lust after some of it dearly, but... I'm satisfied with what I have.
I'm playing with digital and having my fun with that, but I was wondering:
Is anyone else still happy with equipment that is now considered "vintage"?
(I don't think of it as "vintage", I just think of it as long-lasting!)
So... what's the oldest piece in your rig?
Mine is the Moscode. 40 years young.
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Hello and I just now joined up. Probably a common theme so bear with me. USAF electronics tech overseas, late 70s. Went off deep end with Sansui G7700 system. Over the years, the pots got scratchy and the power switch latched maybe 50%. Moved on to a Pioneer rack system donated to me by a "moving on" wanderer mid 90's. The digital age took over and now, I am returning to my roots. I inherited a Dual 701 table, Pioneer 1010 receiver and BIC Venturi 6 speakers. Repaired the 701(shorted cap on motor board) and all is well. Currently going through the Sansui components so as to have another room wired up. Cheers |
I love my vintage gear! 20/20 vision in the rear view mirror allows for cherry-picking of some fine gear over the years. My daily driver amplifier is a well updated Accuphase P-250 that does it all. My last office system featured updated Original Large Advents powered by the latest Sony TA-A1ES Integrated & Sony HAP-Z1ES music streamer which was incredibly impressive with only slight errors of omission while musical as all get out. In addition to lots of restored SS integrated amps from Accuphase, Kenwood, Pioneer & Kyocera (47 Labs founder Junji Kimura‘s bookends), Tandberg, Yamaha and Marantz, I also have collected a Marantz 2330 receiver & an assortment of relative turntables & speakers. Most of my collection is from the 1970’s. It’s all relative and most is appreciating in spite of money invested in restoration by Paul Hovenga @ Many Moons Audio in Tulsa 👍 |
@big_greg the jvc QL-F6 is a real sleeper too, seen off some pretty high flyers. Would have to include my Townshend Rock MkIi snd Dual 701. All still very capable |
I have a lot of real vintage gear in need of service (Scott and Fisher tube amps, a Citation I preamp,) but of what I use day-to-day, my most vintage are my tuners--a McIntosh MR-78 and a Pioneer TX-9500 II--and my Technics SP10 MKII which are all from the 70's. My cd player is an Anthem CD1 from 1998 which feels like yesterday to me, but some may consider vintage. And my preamp (James Burgess build of the JE Laps full function preamp) and amp (Fi Super X) use tubes from the 30's, 40's, and 50's.
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Save if you invest in very highly advanced engineering H-Fi , vintage may be the best S.Q. /price ratio possible... It was for my speakers and for my amplifier... Cost ridiculously low... S.Q. ridiculously high... One of the better amplifier in the world in 1978 cannot be bad today... Only very good... Not the best there is now for sure, but who want the best anyway? Someone with a deep pocket.... And S.Q. anyway is more related to "acoustic and psycho-acoustic intelligence" than to ONLY engineering per se...
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Most of my 2 channel set up is from the 90's, with some older and newer pieces here and there. It consists of a Parasound PH-850 Preamp and Parasound HCA-806 Amplifier. A California Audio Labs Icon MKii CD player, Magnum Dynalab Etude tuner, Empire Troubador 598 turntable.......my youngest piece is a Cambridge Audio DacMagic 100 which I connect my laptop computer to. This is all played through Snell E.5 mk2 tower speakers using MTI bi wire speaker cables. Cheers! This old system brings me great joy!!!! I've enjoyed reading about fellow audio enthusiasts vintage systems on this thread!
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Hello All, I just sort of ended up with vintage gear, as a friend gave me my tube amps, but I love my systems. In the house I have - Dynaco ST-70, VTA Driver board, Triode Cap Board, fully rebuilt NAD 1155 Pre, recapped and modded as per LeeStereo Technics SL-1200, KAB tonearm rewire and Cardas interconnect B&W P4 Speakers, I think these are the newest of the lot at 1995 Shop System - Technics SL1600 MK2 NAD 1020 pre, fully rebuilt NAD 2200 fully gone through by Peter at Quirk Audio for the lows Dual Heathkit W5M’s for the highs, fully gone through with SDS cap board upgrade B&W 702’s, again, probably the newest component Both tables have AT VM540ML carts. I sometimes use a Rek-O-Kut Rondine table. For the money I spent, not counting the countless hours of tweaking, I can’t imagine better sound out of new gear. I’m sure I’d be in many multiples to get the same sound quality.
Take care, Geoff
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My regularly maintained and occasionally updated MFA Luminescence tube preamp and M120 mono amps continue to sound absolutely lovely. I came close to selling the three components earlier this year, but Providence and reason prevailed and I did not. I've had this gear for decades, and after much experimentation and auditioning of other components, I realized I needn't look further because I was already "there." |
My system is similar to the OP's: Audio Research SP8 preamp and Vandersteen 4 speakers with Vandersteen's active/passive crossover. They are bi-amped by two Audio Research VT200's. My turntable is a SOTA Nova and my CD player is a Jolida. I love the sound. So, here's my question: what DAC would you add to this mix? I have considered an ARC...it would probably fit right in. But, I wonder if I should take advantage of more recent technology. What are your thoughts, collective wisdom? |
Well, the one piece that I have that is vintage is a Carver C-9 Sonic Hologram unit. I treasure it mostly because out of all the fancy stuff made after it, I have found nothing that I like better. It is important to keep these units healthy by at least replacing the electrolytic caps, but other than that, your good for many years of enjoyment. |
My older stuff in everyday use. Quad ESL loudspeakers - 1961 EICO HF35 monobloc amps - 1959 Garrard 401 turntable - 1965 Decca Super Gold cartridge - 1987 Lambda 25 power supply - 1955 See here for photos. |
Well, before COVID, I had a set of Vanderteen 2Ci’s, and Adcom GFA-555 and an Adcom preamp/tuner with an old Sony CD player. I got that setup 30 years ago in college. And because of COVID, I sold everything. Now that I have landed on my feet, I have gone back down the vintage rabbit hole. Always had my eye on those Aragon amps, so I picked up a 4004 Mkii and a 24k preamp (which sounds great, BTW, with the P&G potentiometer). I picked up a non-vintage set of MA Silver 500’s and some Audiolab stuff to round out the system. Then I picked up an 8008BB, and then a set of Aragon Palladium monoblocks. After listening to that for awhile, I got curious about tubes and picked up a classic Audio Research LS-5 mkiii and a D400mkii. The tube preamp was revelatory. And then I went back to my roots and got a pair of Vandersteen 3A Signatures along with two 2Wq subs. I think that should hold me for awhile. My dad gave me a pair of old Genesis 700’s that he used for surround sound speakers, and with the dipole tweeter, they’re pretty amazing. Only thing I’ll probably add is a newer DAC and streamer. The Audiolab stuff is decent, I just want a step up. |
Oldest is my reference standard Dynaco system: PAS3, ST70, A-25. Electronics have been completely restored with every resistor, capacitor, switch, pot, pathway verified or repaired/replaced with identical in order to maintain dead stock originality. A-25s are still in factory boxes, never hooked up. Still have factory box for ST70, too. Using ProAc Response 2s speakers with it now, but at some point, I’ll finally hook up A-25s and hear what David Hafler intended. |
I am still running my Pioneer tt that was purchased in 1974. Another that is not in my main system but still pulling duty at my wife's business in my Sansui 7070 receiver. This Sansui has been left on and running steady for the last 30 years. Only time turn off was power failures. It was purchased new in 1975. |
I have a Thorens TD 320 since new, it's about 35 yrs old. I also have a Scott LK -150 early 60' vintage, dual mono tube amp,I bought as a teenager. It's been in storage for years ( I know it's a crime) needs some TLC, was saving it for "the Beach House" but that has yet to happen. Maybe someone would like to restore it.. Most of my stuff is a mix of gear from the 90's and early 21 century. A lot of updated McCormack gear in particular.... |
Except for the 3 year old room, my gear is 35 years old or much older (speakers are from 1956, almost as old as me). I’m happy with it. I’d put it up against most new stuff these days. https://www.theaudioatticvinylsundays.com/about |
Short answer, yes. All SAE components: Mark III CM Amp Mark 1 Pre-amp Mark XXVIII Parametric equalizer Mark VI Tuner Thorens TD 125 w/ SME 3009 tone arm and Ortofon Black cartridge Infinity Kappa 8i speakers Fortunately, have found a repair shop not too far from me that is a big SAE fan With the exception of the speakers, everything's 50 years old now! |
My B system, in the living room are pieces from my original "starter system" when I first got into Hi-Fi a couple of years ago. Dynaco PAS-3x, Dynaco ST-70, Pioneer PL-518 TT w/ Nagaoka Mp110 cart, Pair of Klipsch SB-3 Bookshelves... While my A system walks all over it in terms of performance, there’s still something fun and special going on with this B system that I really enjoy. I would like to replace the speakers one day with something truly vintage. Perhaps Dynaco A-25’s ?? |
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*L* "Inquiring minds".... "You can't Handle the Truth!" ...well....we shall see. ;) *Big Sigh, mostly stage-unworthy* I'm not so reminded of some words of wizdum I heard, so very long ago.... Be assured that a walk through the ocean of most souls Would scarcely get your feet wet. Fall not in love therefore. It will stick to your face. Of course, I ignored it and a hellva lot more...🤪 |
You definitely don't need new to sound great. Glad to know there are so many that feel as I do. My oldest is a pair of Altec Lansing A7-500's, with a receipt from 1958. They remained boxed until I assembled in 2020. The most musical speakers I've ever heard. I will have to say that everything I've owned has its own signature sound. This is reminding me of things I've let go of, one way or another and sorely miss. I still look for the old stuff and always will. It is interesting to combine with "new" and see where they take one another. |
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While this old guy can’t boast the creme de la creme of audio components or even true “vintage” gear, what I have is approaching 30 years old and while I could find the energy given the funds to delve into an “upgrade”, I wonder if the time/ money investment ratio to actual listening pleasure would improve enough to these old ears to justify such an endeavor... The first “real stereo” I heard was a Pioneer receiver/ speaker set up and unknown turntable ~1969-70. Blew me away and was my earliest audio motivator until my current system gave me peace...What I have gives me a smile and a sense of awe and inspiration everytime I hear a great piece through it! Adcom GFP-555 Pre Adcom GFA-545 100w/ channel Adcom GFT-555 Tuner Adcom GCD-700-Burr Brown DAC Nakamichi CR2A Cassette deck Dual CS506 Tt Nagaoka MP-15 B&W Matrix 802 Series 2 Boston SW10 Sub 100w Boston 360 Ceiling spkrs, cinema I recently added a Yamaha RN-303 receiver to facilitate wifi/ digital and to power my 25 year old Boston Voyager outdoor speakers. My original Yamaha receiver that powered outdoors passed after 25 years. Keep the music playin.. |
