Some components too old now?


I have a traditional HiFi. Some bits are really old, but still working fine and I wouldn’t have a clue about updating even if I wanted to. Just wondering how long I can expect them to last, and whether I should pro-actively seek to update before there’s a catastrophic failure.
In particular, my CD player, pre-amp and DAC date back to around 1990, so these are about 30 years old now:
Marantz CD80 / Aragon 24k (with phono stage that I use) / Aragon D2A
Thoughts?
128x128vinyloid
I think where audio has improved the most since your last major gear purchases in two area's.

In both digital but really the most amazing growth is the outstanding sound you can get on a real budget and not an audiophile budget so to speak. Great sounding products for prices that have never offered this level of performance in the past.

I will hook you up - I just found these for you that will make a versatile, modern and seriously good system for money that just wasn't available in the past. 

Use your current amp and cd player as a transport.

$330 - Elac UniFi UB-5 Book Shelf Speakers
https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9ab5i-elac-uni-fi-ub5-bookshelf-speakers-black-finish-demo-moni...

$330 - Schiit Bifrost DAC D/A Converter; USB
https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9943i-schiit-bifrost-dac-d-a-converter-usb-15593-da-converters

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If you can afford a little more money this below will be entire system re-fit for dirt cheap with some reviews for you to read also. Insane level of performance for dollar spend that just should not be possible but is. 

$689 - Tower Speakers 
https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9ab62-elac-uni-fi-uf-5-floorstanding-full-range-speakers-black-...

https://www.cnet.com/reviews/elac-uni-fi-uf5-review/
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$799 - Stereo Amp, Preamp, DAC for CD and PC Audio 
https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9a1fg-peachtree-audio-nova-125-hybrid-integrated-amplifier-w-bu...

https://www.stereophile.com/content/peachtree-audio-nova125-integrated-amplifier-page-2

You don't need to research or look into anything else.

Use your CD player for a transport and your desk top PC for Tidal - Roon and have access to thousands of albums on your smartphone with a level of sound that your current system could not dream of for a sum of money that is very reasonable. 

Sure your system now is fine but this stuff will leverage the growth in performance for dollar spent better then maybe anything else you could find after months and months and research and I did it all for you in 5 minutes, 

Your welcome :)

 

Whilst I appreciate your advice @fsmithjack I personally far prefer going to my vinyl and CD shelves than turning on a computer or hard drive. Call me old fashioned. There’s something immensely pleasurable about simply handling those records and CDs that are associated with many personal memories. I could never get used to using a hard drive or streaming as it wouldn’t feel right. (I do listen to music on an iPhone when I travel on the train though!)
I’m also very comfortable with my other kit and those are the bits I have changed over the years. I think I’ve been through at least four turntables, three power amps and five pairs of speakers over the years - I only mentioned the old bits I hadn’t seen fit to change as I’ve been very happy with them.
I guess following all the advice, it’s the DAC that I’m now focusing on...
@gents In terms of replacing caps - I hear you, and that is one of the things that worries me. However, as I understand it that is more typically an issue with the power amp, not the preamp or CD player or DAC? (My power amps are only 6 years old so that’s not a concern).

vinyloid
 OP


Oh great, that makes sense now. I thought all was of that not changed or updated vintage. So you have a turntable, amp and speakers you are happy with. Nice, that makes it much easier for you to really get a nice bump in sound quality.. 

I don't know what your cash limit is I totally understand how you appreciate using physical medial with CD and Records. That is great and good for you.

I think as far as bang for buck if you can afford this below it will be great add for you.

Read about it but it really will provide a level of performance that is state of the art and in the last year or they have dropped a lot in price to make it an amazing performance per dollar spend.

I owned one for a while before I switched to PS Audio DirectStream DAC and then to Bricasti M1SE DAC and honestly this DAC legit competed with those world class SOTA Dacs and for $1,500 bucks I don't think anything can touch it. You will use your CD player now as the transport and just need to make sure you also get a good solid little cable to attach your CD player transport to this DAC

Auralic Vega D/A Converter $1500
 https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis99e8a-auralic-vega-d-a-converter-da-converters

Stereophile Class A

John Atkinson
"  Summing Up
I am tempted to declare that, at $3499, the Auralic Vega is a bargain. For just over 5% of the price of the dCS Vivaldi three-piece DAC, the Vega got remarkably close in sound quality,

Read more at https://www.stereophile.com/content/auralic-vega-da-processor-page-2#4AMhi0EvyLraFYcS.99


If this DAC is too much money then grab one of these below but if you can afford the $1500 you will love it.

A couple less expensive options below For using with your CD player I think the Benchmark is better. An older but very fine unit. 

Benchmark DAC-1 $350
https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9a652-benchmark-dac-1-da-converters

Schiit Bifrost DAC D/A Converter; USB  $335
https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9943i-schiit-bifrost-dac-d-a-converter-usb-15593-da-converters






     My B&W DM 14's are 38. My 803 Series II are 22.  My Acoustats are 33.  My Audire amps are (Forte) 38 and 22; and 35? (Parlando).  My two turntables are 40 (DD) and 35 (Bele) with 3040 year old arms from Grace, Formul 4, and Signet.  My tuners are 40, 40, 40,  (Kenwood 1979) and 22 (B&K).  My subs cabinets are 25 with newer, Peerless drivers at about 15+, plus some others with older drivers from 1970's DM16's.  My Audire preamps, Diffet 2, 3, and 3, plus POCO head amp, are 30+, 38, and 20+. My CD player is the newest at 10.  The only thing needing repair is two caps on a preamp power supply, and Stereo needles.
     Buy good stuff, and it lasts. No, I have not just sat back.  I have owned to audition Classe with much more power, NAD, Mark Levinson, Adcom, Sumo, GAS, and a lot more Classe. Only JC labeled (John Curl) Mark Levinson was good enough, with Classe being at least very interesting, but I kept all Audire electronics.
     I listened to Dizzy's All Star while typing this.  Now for some Yo Yo!  Then, maybe Violent Femmes or Portugal. TM.