The Allure of Vintage Audio Gear

I had or heard the vintage before it was vintage. Some sounded good. Some was ehh, well. Some wasnt that good. I never heard  Pioneer setup I could stand for more than 5-10 minutes. Denon was clean but all midrange.  I had/still have a Harmon Kardon 730 receiver and the only thing I ever heard that IMO sounded as good was  Nakamichi separates that a friend had.

I went to stereo stores but many of the salesmen seemed to turn everything up too loud. Went to audition Carvers Amazing Loudspeakers which was hooked to a Carver preamp  (& maybe amp). the salesman bragged about the haulographic (setting ?) on the preamp. It was horrible. I couldn't believe he was so proud of what my son and I thought horrid. One point I'd make is that even back in the 70's & 80's you had to spend more to get more.

BTW I'm planning to get my HK730 restored to see how it stacks up against my existing amp

@pooch2 

+1 Harmon Kardan 730, my receiver for 40 years.

Never had the bug to upgrade until it died.

Same here except mine didn't last as long, probably because I played it every day for hours. Mine still works but a channel cuts out and there is static. but the sound is still huge & full. I really want to get it restored but other needs are required now. maybe later.

FWIW it blew a power supply in the late 80's so I bought a Luxman R-115. great reviews. I hated it and sold it within  a year and got the HK fixed.