The Allure of Vintage Audio Gear

Another false dichotomy.

Some vintage is harsh.

Some contemporary stuff conveys a warm sound.

There is no need to sacrifice quality in a vintage system.

I’m a vintage guy, but I sacrifice little to nothing in terms of detail. My system is not for everyone, it may have a coloration but the information is mostly all there.

I ended up vintage because I took what I started out with when I was 14 years old and built out from there according to my inclinations and preferences based on my personal aesthetics and ideology. I guess some sentimentality enters into it: I’ve had most of the components in my system for 40+ years now, so they are an extension of me.

aesthetics:

- analog gives me what to my ears are a warm, rich, detailed and silky smooth sound.
- I have chosen gear as much for how it looks, its vibe etc but I don’t sacrifice sound

ideology

- I am an environmentalist. So, I have chosen gear that is very energy efficient, and I fix it when it breaks. I don’t go out and get the next latest and greatest thing, because when my system is running optimally, it can sound as good as most anything out there regardless of cost.
- there are starving people in Gaza and the Sudan and in Newburgh NY. Repairing, recycling equipment is extremely cost effective, a way to control my spending and keep it modest.

theaudioatticvinylsundays.com

About 15 years ago I bought a Marantz 4400 and a 2325 on eBay. The quadraphonic unit was really cool with the tube oscilloscope.  They both sounded tired so I had the 2325 re-capped and it sounded much better- but by real HiFi standards it was pretty much lifeless. Loud- yes, and really beautiful to look at but as a faithful reproducer of quality recordings they pretty much suck. 

I loved the nostalgia part of owning them as my first "really good" receiver in the mid 70s was a Marantz 2215B. I still have a Pioneer SX780 in my workshop and it too sounds like crap- but it's pretty and brings back good memories. 

"Vintage" is where the fun is, for me. Much of it holds its value, so experimentation doesn't break the bank. This helps me up the learning curve- yes, an Eico HF81 has great midrange, but at the cost of flabby bass. A Precision Fidelity C7A preamp, now restored, sounds wonderful, but the dealing with the psycho who was the only qualified person to work on it in my area was a nightmare. Having multiple systems to play with is part of how it works for me. What electronics can I put behind Quad ESL57's to make them sing? And in so doing find that the best tweak is to raise them off the floor with home-made fully adjustable stands! Can I really "build" a supertable by deconstructing a Lenco, hand-restoring the good parts, and installing them into a plinth made from science lab countertop material? How good can Altec 604's sound with a new 45 SET amp? Do Jagusch crossovers push them over the top? Can a restored Nakamichi deck actually make my cassettes listenable? You just don't know until you try, and going vintage makes it much more fun by making the journey the destination . . .

I have 3 vintage Pioneer Stereo Receivers.  two SX-105”s and an SX-950.    I bought the first  SX-1050 new in 1978 and was thrilled to own it. It sounded great at the time.  It went down in the 90s.   My boyfriend at the time,  an EE with a Masters degree thought he knew how to fix it.  It needed a new power supply as I recall, but he kept seeing things he thought he could make better and when I got it back it was unlistenable!  I bought a second SX-1050 off eBay that was like new for $400.  This was around 1995 I think.  It still works fine, but I’ve moved on as it doesn’t sound as good as it used to,  Don’t ask as to the reasoning behind my acquisition of the 950!

I am now using Luxman tube gear with my Quad ESL63 electrostatic speakers.  Those speakers are probably classified as vintage and I think that there is little argument that they are considered treasurable by their lucky owners.  As to how I feel about them, I joke that they better be buried with me!

I enjoy good vintage gear because it sounds good, looks great and although requires effort can be properly maintained, unlike our vintage deteriorating ears/hearing we all have. The gear is not the weakest link in many cases. Plus, chasing and buying different gear has an enormous cost...time.