Old Classic Receivers: A Mistake to Buy?

Someone mentioned a Yamaha CR-600.... I have had one since 1973 or so. When I upgraded to a Luxman R1120, I gave my old system to my father who used it daily, and even managed to blow the bass/mid driver on my B&W DM4's. When he died, my daughter had it for years in her room, used daily. I now have it driving our stereo speakers for the tv sound output. Only thing that has gone over that time has been the lights once. The sound is excellent. I have used the Yamaha a couple of times on my AR-9's, and the only thing they lack compared to my updated Luxman M4000A's that I had for years was volume. Sound was excellent. They are still chugging along thirty years later. Both my Luxman M4000A's are in being fixed, but the Yamaha, overbuilt like a tank, continues to surprise me. I picked up an old Yamaha CR-800 on eBay for my classroom and it sounds just fine... except once in a while the local cable station goes funny. Does the same at home, so not just the receiver.

As for looks, I will take a Champaign Luxman any day over these numerous ugly black beasts out there. : )

Gil K in BC, Canada

I also loved the look and feel of Marantz tuners and receivers from the 70s.But your friend is right about
the repair issues associated with " solid state classics" gear.Nothing lasts forever.The old tube gear is easy to work
on and the parts can be upgraded.I rebuilt My Fisher FM100B
a few years ago and it works and sounds about as good as can be expected given the current state of programs on the FM dial.Where the tuner really shines is on the PBS stations.If you like the looks and the sound of the "classic"gear by all means buy it.But be aware of the sands in the hourglass running out and don't pay to much
for it. _scotty_

Something nobody's mentioned is the cheap phenolic circuit boards used back then. They were really junk.

Kevziek:

So, it has now been over a year since you started this thread and there have been numerous responses generally attesting to the more than acceptable sound and/or build quality of the old classic receivers. What did you wind up doing? Did you actually purchase some vintage equipment and what were your experiences? In all candor, to date, your comments could be typified as more of the "put down" variety as opposed to any "forays into the vintage world" variety. Just curious.

Regards, Rich

I have a Pioneer SX 1250(Mid 70's era). It is used daily. It has been in the shop only once about 5 years ago. My old Pioneer sounds 400% better to me than the newer Black Plague stuff that costs three times as much. Perhaps your "expert" is totally ignorant of technology he knows nothing about.