Your feelings on vintage audio.

Well the amps and tuners have arrived.
The amps are in wonderful shape! Screening is excellent, very little oxidation. Faceplates in very good to excellent condition.

The tuners' screening is very good. Ones' faceplate is a little disappointing. Slightly twisted. Will need some work. All units to be sent out. Considering a local Austin guy and nosvalves.com

Once all back will let you know whats up.

I will probably try one of the tuners before sending it out but am hesitant hooking up the amps. Figure the tuners will wreak less havoc than the amps if they are so inclined.

Best,

Dave

OK. Looking to see if any of you fine folks have any input regarding 2 restoration pros. I have looked into:

1. Absolute Sound Labs-have had some good discussion with him.

2. NOS Valves/Radioxtuners-have also had some brief good discussion with him.

Your input is appreciated.

Best,

Dave

It appears I may utilize a person I found in Austin. Anyone have any dealings with Austin Stereo Service?

Appreciate any input.

Best,

Dave

This has been a very entertaining thread, with both the pro-vintage and anti-vintage folks making valid points. I caught the vintage (i.e. pre-1980)fever and have been stockpiling a veritable musueum of amps, tape decks and speakers (pioneer hpm, jbl lancer, klipsch, advent, etc). It's a harmless enough obsession--the gear is very inexpensive, looks cool and is uniformly well built. Soundwise, however, I've been more inclined to vote with the naysayers--in general most of the 70s stuff can't compete with good modern designs; 70s speakers in particular to my ears typically lack the high end detail and midrange presence of equivalent current speakers. Older SS amps look and feel ever so much better than ugly, modern utilitarian designs--I want to believe that thye sound better, but in truth my current Arcam is sonically superior in every respect to my old venerated Sansui, Pioneer etc. However, there are (often wholly unexpected) exceptions--I just got a pair of (1979) Polk Monitor 10b which look like thrift store castoffs but sound more transaparent and rich than my (very good) Polk LSi7s and much better than my Spendors. I'm also wildly impressed by a HarmanKardon HK 730 receiver ($30 on Craiglist), though how much is placebo I'm not sure. Anyway, that's the beauty of vintage--a real gem can pop up anywhere, and something old and cheap could, for no particular reason, sound significantly better than a technologically advanced modern piece.
Back to work...

Loomisjohnson

Have been considering a pair of KLH model 6's, 1965 vintage. Perhaps though from your comment and those of another I should reconsider and look for something newer.

However, am interested in your thoughts on some of the speakers in your collection, your favorites and why(other than the Polks).

I have just received a wood and another Scott metal case, both in good condition. Have purchased owners manuals and photofacts for both amps. With the abundance of 350's out there it is amazing there is no literature available for them. I find it hard to believe an owners manual did not exist.

Best,

Dave