some 70's and 80's receivers seem to be popular

I use the Yamaha CR-420 in my two channel A/V system. It sounds tremendous and stacks up very well to more modern amplifiers I would say.

The phono section is one of the best I've ever owned with a MM phono cartridge, easily as good the the Tandberg TR2080 receiver's phono section I used before it.

The rest of that system is a Dual 1264 turntable, Goldring MM phono cartridge, Marantz DVD player, Triangle Titus 202 speakers, M&K sub, and a pair of Stax headphones.

The Yamaha cost $50 used on ebay about 6 months ago but required considerable cleaning inside and out to get it into good working shape.

Cool post. My mom just did some re-organizing of her closets and called to tell me she found my old Marantz 2226 receiver. I also have some old Carver equipment I was going to pull a second system out of, but maybe I'll just have the Marantz serviced, throw in a tube cdp and some hi-eff. speakers instead. Would that be a cool second rig?

"Would that be a cool second rig?"

Yes.

Sprink,

For a better sound investment, if you have a CD player with digital output already, just add a separate tube DAC rather than invest in a tubed CD player.

In the last 7 years I've only run 70s power amps: yamaha ca-1010 and 2010, and Kenwood supremes: models 600 and 700m. The latter two have been recapped, and are as sonically rich and warm as any amp you're likely to find.