How many use Vintage Hi-Fi systems?

playpen,

Depending on the model, your P+E might actually be a Dual in wolfs clothing.  Dual bought P+E in the early 70's.  Flip it over and look at the bottom of the motor.  If it has Dual stamped in it, then it was built by Dual after P+E closed.  In any regard, they are really good turntables.

I am curious how your Harmon Kardon sounds?  Those were pretty nice receivers, even the little ones sounded smooth.  I have no experience with Rotel, other than a few of their CD players both of which went up in flames.  (no really)  But they sounded nice.

If the Rotel was that harsh, it probably needed servicing. 

I love old KLH speakers.  Had a pair of sixes once.  

How do you define "vintage"?  The hi-fi era is now arguably 65 years old, if you date the onset to around 1950.  So, vintage could be something from the 50s, but also arguably something from the 80s. Something conceived and marketed in 1985 is now 30 years old.  Anyway, a few years ago I acquired a pair of Beveridge 2SW speakers just out of a longstanding curiosity.  These are unconventional ESLs (they are in a closed 7-foot vertical cabinet to absorb the back wave and the sound output is focused by a vertical lens in front; the panels are not biased with high DC voltage, so the direct-drive amp applies signal to the screen as well as to the stators).  My pair was built in 1979. The "SW" stands for sub-woofer, so you need an external woofer to supply bass below 100Hz.  Once I got the Bevs so they would produce sound, I decided to go vintage with the rest of the system.  The subwoofers are very large transmission line cabinets using the old KEF B139 woofer; I built these myself in 1970.  They don't go super low in frequency, but they are fast enough to mate seamlessly with the Beveridges. The woofer amplifier is a 50W Threshold built in the late 80s (maybe not vintage??). The crossover for the woofers is a Dahlquist DLPQ (or something like that).  The preamp is either a Klyne 6LX (w/phono) or an early full function Quicksilver built in 1986.  I can add or subtract a Silvaweld SWH550 phono stage. The turntable is a much modified Lenco L75 with a Dynavector DV505 tonearm, currently bearing either a Grace Ruby or Acutex LPM320 cartridge.  This secondary system resides in our basement where it is not a bother to my dear wife, even at 2 AM playing LOUD.

lewm,

You make a good point on how one defines 'vintage'.  I guess when I started the thread I was thinking 60 & 70's.  But as 80's are now long gone that would qualify as well.

Your system sounds awesome. I am wondering what model Threshold you are using? I really enjoyed Threshold amps, all of them.  Never heard a bad one.  Seems like it should be so much more than just powering the subs.  

I have a few vintage systems left mostly unassembled at the moment....my favorite is ads l1530 mated with a sansui a20000.   

ChrshanI37,

Did you mean a Sansui 2000a?  I'm not familar withan a2000.  The 2000a however is a gem of a reciever, with wonderful textures and tone, power way beyond it's weight.. 

ads speakers were all good.  I remember seeing them used as nearfield monitors in recording studios.