Bought some `Vintage Gear`

Turntables.....I have bought a few and sold some over the years. One that I will not part with is a Pioneer PL-530 I bought new in the 70's when I first wanted to put together a decent system. Of the tables I've owned I still use the Pioneer as my main device. A few cartridge replacements down the road my ears can't hear "real" improvement in sound from the much more expensive tables. Our ears are the last word.

My rec room equipment is 35+ years old. I purchased it while stationed in Germany back in the early 80’s:
Teac X10R R2R
Technics SL-1600MKII turntable
Pioneer SPEC-4 power amp
Soundcraftsman SP-4001 EQ/pre amp
dbx 224 noise reduction unit
dbx 3bx dynamic range expander

About 20 years old
DCM TimeWindow 3 speakers (gave my 70’s vintage Bose 901’s to my god daughter and 80’s vintage JBL L100’s to my god son)

While my vintage gear sounds really good, it can’t match the clarity and detail of my recently purchased music room gear.

reciently came across a package deal of 1978 klipschorns, mid 60s McIntosh mc-240s, and mx 110z. really amazing!!! 

birdfan,

"Sansui AU-217"

No wonder you like it. AU-217 is forgotten jewel. In fact, that whole series (X17) was stellar. Climbing up the amplifier ladder will get you even more of the same goodness (417, 517, I would stop there) and would make you even more impressed about how good 217 is. However, as good as these amplifiers are, tuners are in another league. If you ever listen to AM/FM tuner, get TU-717. It is just amazing. Prices have gone up recently but it is still a bargain. Heck, buy it for the looks.

I have tons of vintage gear and get the best results from combining pieces that complement each other for a particular listening purpose like classical, jazz, rock, low volume late night tube sound, etc. What has surprised me the most is the dramatic effect of inserting a single modern piece in with a vintage system such as a preamp, modern cartridge, etc. These combos for me always surpass the all modern system. It takes hours of listening and combination changes to settle in with a system and which for me is a continuous work in process and is the real fun of the hobby.