Top vintage receivers vs. modern high-end equipment

When I retired I set about on a project to build a vintage system. I'm very nostalgic and looked for gear I had in the seventies. I have managed to compile a system that includes the same integrated amp, equalizer, and a model cassette player very close to what I had. I love it and it sounds amazing!
Yamaha CA 810 integrated amp
Yamaha CT 810 tuner
Yamaha Yp b-4 Turntable
Yamaha TC 510 cassette deck
Advent large speakers (4)
Luxman G-11 equalizer

I too sold hi-fi back in the 70's and 80's and I agree with rbstehno1 as far as his liking the Yamaha receivers and integrated from that era. Our store had a great repair shop that always had a few of the Japanese receivers of the day there for work. One of the things we used to do is set up the competition out in the listening room and compare to the Yamaha lineup. I won't rain on the lines that didn't cut it but I will say that the big name receivers of the day did not compare favorably with the Yamaha's for most part for sound and reliability.

I have one of those “inferior” 80 series Pioneer Receivers, a SX-1080. It sounds pretty damn good to me. every Pioneer fan I know does prefer the sound of the 50 series though. I have not heard one myself. I also know that 80 series Receivers do have some components that are near impossible to get but supposedly there are different parts that can be used if needed. 

I also have a Sansui 9090 (not the DB version), and that one I feel sounds better than the Pioneer. I had a Marantz 2275 which was ok, an a Yamaha CR-2020 which sounded very nice. I sold both of them as I’m trying to get cash for new Speakers.

i bought vintage gear because I wanted one system that had that older vintage sound. However, the other posters I agree with in the opinions that newer gear does sound better in many cases. None of those old systems sound as nice as my Parasound A21 and Goldenear Triton 5’s with two JL Subs, but I love each set up for different reasons.

In the end, get what sounds good to you, have fun with it whatever it ends up being and appreciate it for the history and sound that millions of folks like us loved and spent their hard earned money on back then. Happy Hunting!!

john

The Yamaha "Natural Sound" Receivers from the 70's IMHO are the absolute worst receivers I have ever heard from a recognized brand name. Sony and Tandberg are next on my S*** List.

(very high-end but 40 years ago)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Not even close, if you want to buy a vintage receiver (most people dont even know what that is) Pioneer and Marantz made mid-fi equipment at best. If you want to go vintage Hi-Fi you have to look at the McIntosh 4100, or older 1900, 1200 even, all are built like tanks. These are some of the best sounding RECEIVER’s made back in the 70’s 80’s in Binghampton NY too! 

http://www.roger-russell.com/rcvrs.htm#mac4200

AND the MR 78 is a stand alone Tuner only! not a receiver.

Matt M