I worked at a couple of stereo stores in the late 70's and grew fond of several of lines of gear. I have a Yamaha receiver from 1977/8 era in my office system. I don't listen to it very much but just enjoy the esthetics. A reminder of a time that I really enjoyed being involved in my new attachment to audio.
The Allure of Vintage Audio Gear
Vintage audio gear holds a unique charm, offering rich sound and timeless design that many modern components can't quite replicate. Brands like Marantz, McIntosh, and JBL are still revered for their warm, detailed sound, especially in tube amps and classic speakers. While modern technology offers improved reliability and lower distortion, vintage gear brings a sense of nostalgia and character that many audiophiles crave.
Do you prefer the warmth of vintage, or do you lean toward modern hi-fi innovations? How would you mix vintage with modern in your setup?
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I certainly do like the idea of vintage equipment, and enjoy it in my friends systems. I just don't want to own it, for reliability sake. I do however own a bunch of tube gear that is manufactured like gear of the past; just made in the 2020s I have a Tubes4HiFI VTA ST-120 amp, which is a modern take of the Dyanaco ST-70. An Aric Audio Motherlode XL preamp, and an Aric Audio Transcend "Push Pull" EL34 amp. Those are all hand wired point to point, but with updated modern components.....and in the case of Aric's gear, extremely high end components. |
@mswale I'll agree with that me being firmly in the vinatge lane. I have some newer gear too but I love meshing the older classic components with more contemporary pieces; presently enjoying custom Altec Valencia with Shindo, Airtight & a classic Luxman TT w/Micro Acoustics, Shure & Van den Hul Carts. I also own Aesthetix, LFD, Sonus Faber, Audio Note, Line Magnetic, Canor & Lumin. All a mixed bag of eras and brands but I enjoy every piece. The fun (or frustration) is uncovering what works togther. Just my experience |
Vintage IMHO isn't worth paying a premium for, especially for tube gear. You are dealing with very old components which have a limited availability of replacement parts and limited availability of experienced service technicians. That said, there are sellers of vintage Marantz amplifiers that demand a high price and appear to get buyers. The same money (and in some cases, significantly less money) could get you a similar quality sonic experience with less agita with parts and service issues. Just sayin'. |
There's vintage audio, then there's vintage audio. While seventies receivers seem all the rage, there are also many great antiques out there. Take a pair of Quad 57's and Quad II amps or Futterman OTL's from the fifties, with some simple mods or changes to them, and add a modern preamp and source, and you'll have a system that smokes a lot of modern-day equipment. Man, I have to get my Crosby modified 57's out of the basement and get them working again. |
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