Old Classic Receivers: A Mistake to Buy?

I generally disagree with your friend. I've had the new (a Krell, Conrad Johnson) but I've kept the classics. I'm a fan of vintage Yamaha. Have had a CR1020 integrated since purchased new in 1979 and an MX1000U amp/CX1000U preamp with the family equalizer since the 80's.

Everything works terrifically. The CR1020 drives a pair of JBL L65s and the amp/preamp 1000s drive 4, McIntosh XR7s and 2, XR5s in a wonderfully pleasing manner across all music genre. [Admittedly the JBLs are better with rock and heavier jazz recordings.]

I have found that gaining similar performance would truly require a seriously greater investment. When serious musicians and audiophile friends hear my main system they are taken aback. It's about the music and the music sounds absolutely fantastic, especially for the investment.

Buying vintage wisely is really not that different than purchasing new equipment. One key exception: the investment risk is greater with new equipment.

Resell a piece of new equipment and in most cases the discount one had to offer from that paid is quite notable.

Hmmm, interesting old thread ;)

Okay, i will test that. Bought a wonderful Pioneer SX 1010, it gets 220V now, a severe cleaning and new caps (in work, still have to fetch it which needs time, it's in a far far away country, haha).

Will be tested in 2 utterly different but very high end systems, 4 High End guys will be the listeners. In system 1 it replaces a tube Pre/Power Monos combination (yep, with Telefunkens, RCA Black Caps and old WEs), in system 2 it will replace a ASR Emitter (yep, with all singing and dancing).

Will tell you in some time about the outcome ;o)

Have fun until then
Jack

When I was in high school in the '70s I worked one summer for a local stereo store, mostly in the back. All the money I made (and more) went into Luxman gear. I still have all of it except the turntable, which I foolishly traded when I got married in 1980.

Long story short - my daughters still use my old Lux gear to spin vinyl. One uses my old R-404 receiver, which still sounds surprisingly good. My younger daughter uses the old L-405 amp and a pair of Klipsch KG-4s. I have done minimal maintenance on the gear over the years, mostly CLAs. I am pleasantly surprised how well this gear has held up, and also the fact that it is still providing great sound.

I'd put my McIntosh MAC1900 receiver up against just about any amp-pre separates in the 55W-75WPC range. Tuner/preamp/power amp sections extremely well designed and I feel it's the smoothest and most musical sounding of the SS McIntosh receivers as it's 100% discrete in the preamp/power amp stages. The MAC4100 etc. used OPAMP's in the Preamp stages [that can be upgraded for better sonics over the NE5534]. The MAC1900 is basically an MA6100 with an AM/FM tuner.
Disclaimer: I'm service manager for Nagra USA and dCS America and an Authorized McIntosh Service Center.

Yamaha. I have the MX1000U, CX1000U, CR1020, others. I've had Yamaha MX10000U, CX10000U, CR2020.

I've been very satisfied with the quality. Really a good deal on today's market if you find any of these in decent condition. These preowned components seem to outperform new equipment costing 2 to 3 times more. Recap them and change out the power cord and they really come to life.

Yamaha was ahead of its time with these. Go online and read the specs and you'll see I'm not blowing smoke. Built with mostly premium parts, power cords excluded but befitting the times.