Has this happened to you? How can it be stopped?

@carlsbad 

  +1

  Rid myself of my Albatross as well.

The only problem I see is that you aren't actually seeking the good vintage gear.....

I still have my 1978 Kenwood KR8010 receiver and it sounds great.

125 watts per channel with tone controls that make low level listening doable.

I have to keep telling myself I do NOT need to re-buy my old equipment. Such as my first system, a Marantz 2035, Advent speakers, Pioneer TT with Shure cartridge. Or my second one, a Hafler pre and amp, or my Nak tape deck (especially considering I no longer have any cassette tapes....), a B&K amp/pre, 3D Acoustics speakers (not well know, but a great setup). Mirage speakers, AR TT. Not to mention other great pieces of equipment that have gone though my hands. 

That last sentence covers the girlfriends and wives as well...

WHY , vintage gear doesn’t have the parts quality in technology to sound as good as good gear today , even more so with Loudspeakers ,there are very few exceptions.

ican see maybe a McIntosh or Marantz tube tuner, that would be it.

IHave sold for cheap several old receivers .buy for example a modern Coda, Pass labs ,Gryphon, or many other quality brands.

 high quality integrated ,or separates with a piece of digital or analog gear 

you would never look back ,buy 1 high quality  system and be done with it say   $30-$40k this would be night and day better sounding.