2. vintage
  3. 169590-161694

Still happily using vintage gear?

I was sitting listening to my main system consisting of an Audio Research SP8 preamp, NYAL Moscode 600 Maxi, Vandersteen 5 speakers, Thorens TD126MkIII with Sumiko Blue Point, VPI HW16, and was completely satisfied, again, with the experience. (Kimber 12TC, Morrow, Straightwire, AQ and Furman accessories)
All the equipment has been well cared for and kept in good repair: caps replaced, TT overhauled etc.
But it has an average age of about 30 years!
I love reading about all the latest gear, and lust after some of it dearly, but... I'm satisfied with what I have.
I'm playing with digital and having my fun with that, but I was wondering:
Is anyone else still happy with equipment that is now considered "vintage"?
(I don't think of it as "vintage", I just think of it as long-lasting!)
So... what's the oldest piece in your rig?
Mine is the Moscode. 40 years young.

fredapplegate
adrianleewelch's avatar
adrianleewelch
74 posts
 
I have mostly vintage gear. A pair of Altec A5s, a pair of Altec model 19s, and a pair of Altec model 15s.  I still have a Kenwood M1D amplifier. Turntables are a Thorens TD 318, and a Dual 1229. The McIntosh MC 7100 is getting old too. My preamp and subs are new. Also new are my cabling, crossovers, diaphragms, Dac, streamer, and things of that nature. I do love vintage gear. 
tk21
237 posts
 
I only have one piece of vintage gear that is still wired up in one of my rooms. It's a 45w Harman Kardon integrated amp I bought in the early-mid 1980s for about $250, IIRC, from a high-end shop near Washington DC.  No WiFi capabilities, no LED front panel, no remote control ... but it still gets the job done, year after year.

In contrast, less than 2 years ago I bought a combination DAC/streamer/pre-amp. Made in China. Sells for about $3400.  Well, lately, my system no longer recognizes it as a "Roon-Ready" networked device. So on the LAN, it now only works as an Airplay receiver.  I've been trouble-shooting the darn thing for days, trying to figure out if it's a hardware problem, a settings problem, a network or firmware or software problem.  Complicated! 
sd40
40 posts
 
System #1: Fully restored Sansui AU-717 (1977) and fully restored Sansui BA-F1 (1979), horizontally bi-amped. Marchand XM-9 active crossover. Canton speakers (1990 and 1996) and subs (1989 and 2002). Morrow Audio interconnects and speaker cables. Denon DCD-A110 SACD player. Denon DNP-800NE streamer. Furman Elite 15 PFi power conditioner.

System #2: Harman Kardon HK 730 receiver (1976). Canton speakers (1979). Canton sub (2002). Marchand XM-9 active crossover. Morrow Audio and Kimber Kable Silver Streak interconnects. Kimber Kable speaker cables. NAD C 516BEE CD player.
k600r
27 posts
 
I’m big on vintage gear also having just the past couple of years gotten back into the audio world. Kids, college, etc. being the main reasons I got out of it the past 25 years or so.
   But I digress. MY main rig right now is Martin Logan CLS driven by a Audible Illusions 3, Krell KSA 150, Velodyne sub, McIntosh MR71 tuner and a Revox B77 R2R. Some pretty old, some newer but I’m happy as a clam with what I have and find the sound more enjoyable than some friends stereos with Wilson’s, Levinson, etc.
  it’s not always about what is the latest and greatest although I’m sure much of the newer gear is exceptional sounding, but I’ll keep my old man stereo any day.
audioguy85's avatar
audioguy85
1,991 posts
 
An Aiwa f770 & f660 tape decks, cambridge t500 tuner (if considered vintage), and a kenwood 4007 tuner...all work great. Everything else is up to date stuff...
More to discover