Still happily using vintage gear?

This made me find info about my many Vintage Components, Thanks

I love Vintage Audio Components, looks/quality/features. I am proud of keeping them going. Refurbish them myself if mechanical, electronic fixes by pros. Spares of the very old stuff.

Listed by Age (Photos of active componentsHere):

https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/9511

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1958:

Components from Fisher President II Console

http://www.fisherconsoles.com/President%20II.html

Pair of Fisher Mono Tube Amps, 80Z, 30wpc (refurbished by pro, 1 spare)

https://www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/fisher/80-az.shtml

Electro-Voice Speaker Drivers, 16 ohms: horn tweeters, horn mids, 15” woofers; crossovers; L-Pads (all active in custom Rosewood Enclosures)

https://reverb.com/item/2307415-electro-voice-model-15w-alnico-magnet-15-woofer-new-in-original-box-nos

kept all other console components: Viking 2 channel stereo tape deck; master control panel; fm tuner; am tuner; programmable clock, phono preamps, fm multiplex

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1964:

PREAMP: McIntosh mx110z Tube Tuner/Preamp (just overhauled by Audio Classics)

http://www.berners.ch/McIntosh/en/MX110.htm

Fisher 500C Tube Receivers (2)

https://www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/fisher/500-c.shtml

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1974:

SME 3009 II Tonearm

https://www.vinylengine.com/library/sme/3009.shtml

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1984:

Turntable: Two Arm Plinth and TT81 Spinner (I squeezed a 3rd arm on, just fit under the dust cover)

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649402362-victor-jvc-clp2d-rosewood-plinth-for-tt71-tt81-tt101-direct-drive-turntablerare/images/1737857/

http://www.thevintageknob.org/jvc-TT-81.html

Right 12.5” Arm is New (NewArt Vinyl, Russia)

http://newartvinyl.ru/board/detali_proigryvatelja/tonarm_black_bird12_5_carbon/7-1-0-41

Rear: Vintage Acos Lustre GST 801 (unique magnetic tracking and anti-skate)

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649402886-legendary-lustre-gst801/images/1739961/

Left side: Vintage Mission 774lc

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/mission_gb_tonearm_774lc.html

Step-Up Transformer:

Fidelity Research FRT-4 (3 inputs, PASS, 4 optional loads, all front switched)

https://www.vinylengine.com/library/fidelity-research/frt-4.shtml

Vertical Turntable, Mitsubishi LT-5V, Linear Tracking

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-systeme-de-son/longueuil-rive-sud/mitsubishi-lt-5v-turntable/1585999235

8 Track Player: Columbia House Stereo 8

https://www.hiddentreasuresvintage.shop/listing/691900509/columbia-solid-state-stereo-8-track

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1985:

Bookshelf Speakers, Bowers and Wilkins DM100i (garage)

https://www.hifidatabase.com/Bowers_Wilkins_DM100i_3950.php

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1988

Dual Cassette: Onkyo TA-RW490

https://www.cassettedeck.org/onkyo/ta-rw490

Speakers: Video System Front: DBX Soundfield 100

engineered to create a near-perfect stereo illusion anywhere in the room

http://www.hifi-classic.net/review/dbx-soundfield-100-135.html

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1990

REEL TO REEL: Teac X2000R, last Pro-sumer Model (1 main; 1 office; 1 spare)

https://www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/teac/x-2000r.shtml

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1994

Chase RLC-1 Remote Line Controller (1 main, 1 office, 1 spare)

Precise Volume and Balance from listening position is awesome for errant tracks. Has Fletcher-Munson ‘loudness’ for low level listening

https://www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/chase-technologies/rlc-1.shtml

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Too New to be Considered Vintage

2000, Velodyne Sub (video system)

2008, Integrated Tube Amp, 45wpc Cayin A88T (version 1 with 16 ohm taps)

2020, Tonearm, Blackbird 12.5”, NewArt Vinyl, Russia

2021, Integrated Amp: 10wpc Luxman SQ-N150

2021, Wharfedale Bookshelf speakers (office

2021, Klipsch Center and Rear Surround speakers

I have several older pieces including Dahlquist DQ10, stashed away, plans to restore, upgrade, Thorens TD160, many, many mods. Harman Kardon T60, outboard power supply mod,  Conrad Johnson MV-55 modded with Jantzen Z Superior caps, 1986 Klipshorns, only bass enclosures remain stock.

While original date of manufacture may qualify as vintage, are they really vintage when upgraded and modded?
Also, recently sold N.E.W. (Nirvana Electronic Works) DCA66. Class A solid state amp powered by four 12V lead acid batteries. I purchased this from new, 1995.

I run a mid 90's rig consisting of a Krell KSA 300S, KRC2 preamp, KPE phono, Krell 250/2 CD player, Denon DP 47F turntable, and Thiel CS6 speakers. I also have a Teac X1000R-BL R2R and a Nakamichi 505 Cassette deck. I have relatively modern CD and SACD players plus a couple external DACS and a Hana cartridge but the core of my system has been the same for 30+ years. I bought the Thiel speakers a few years ago from an audio buddy (it was a perfect match for my Krell amp). Before that I was running Mirage M3si's.

I attended AXPONA in 2017 to see how great the new gear was. I expected to be blown away by the new stuff, especially the ultra expensive gear, but I was happily surprised. It turns out that my rig is competitive in SQ with pretty much all but the most expensive systems at the show. I remember listening to a particularly impressive sounding six-figure room featuring big YG speakers and thinking, "Gee, that sounds alot like my system." Many rooms had cables and cords that cost more than my entire rig but I would put my system up against them any day.

Three rooms stood out - the million dollar room featuring Von Schweikert Ultra 11 speakers and VAC electronics, the MBL room with 101 E Extreme speakers, and the Sonus Faber room featuring Aida II speakers and D'Agostino amplification. These three systems were a significant step above mine and if I had the money I would love to own them. There were a few other ultra expensive rooms that just didn't do it for me. I genuinely thought my system sounded better.

I feel very fortunate to have selected the gear that I've assembled. I'm in a position where I could afford to upgrade but without spending six figures+ I'm not sure I would be happy with the result. Many times when I listen to my system (especially on a good recording) and I hear something that I never noticed before, I sit there smiling and shaking my head because it sounds so good.

Pair of AR9lsi pushed by Perreaux PMF2150B/SM2 and an old Hafler setup w/ DH110, DH500 driving a pair of Mission 707se and a DH120 driving a STAX headphone.