Vintage vs. New, Risk vs. Reward

I love the looks of “old” equipment, such as the old Marantz receivers. I also love the look of McIntosh, although for the most part they still look the same…but even they have changed the electronics inside.

Anyway, I did not buy “old” equipment as my main system, too many advances over the years, even though there are companies who really know what they are doing - for a price of course. I’d love to have a room for old school stuff, but it would be just for fun to have. 

I brought new, a Luxman, looks a bit old school, but way better built with much better sound. Still lust for old equipment, but glad I brought new. 

Another way to think about is, say you were back in the 1970-80’s looking at new equipment, would you instead buy electronics made in the 1930’s 40’s or 50’s? I sold equipment in the 80’s and no one asked for ‘Old’ stuff, not with all the advances with electronics after the 60’s.  So, it’s 2022 and you are looking back how many years at stuff? Similar to today looking back 20+ years. 

Longevity can be an issue.  Elements deteriorate and fail with age.

Some obvious items include tubes and capacitors in electronics and rubber or other soft compounds in electromechanical devices like speaker surrounds, cartridge suspensions, rubber belts in turntables and cd players, etc.

But if you hanker for a certain sound, like the remembered allure of a peaky speaker, the modern stuff may not provide that for you.

I think the important point you brought up was that it was vintage is attractive to you. That is important. Particularly if you liked some vintage sound in particular. I am sure it could be great fun assembling some particularly romantic sound… and likely you could do this at a smaller budget than pursuing the best possible sound. Some folks love antiques, not necessarily that an old chair is more comfortable than new.

While there are a few exceptions, by in large if you are mostly attracted to the best possible sound, then new equipment is a must. In each of the last five decades I have been pursuing the high end very significant progress has been made across the board towards better sound… at all levels. Tube gear got more accurate and quiet, solid state less edgy… turntables and phono-stages just blossomed. No, comparison.

So, it comes down to which is more important. Or, maybe you have room for two systems… so, depending on your mood.