What's up with the price of Vintage equipment?

Most cannot compare to modern sound wise.   It’s a looks and nostalgia thing mostly.  In some cases features like tone controls might have appeal. 

@jasonbourne71 

I'd rather not say to be honest, only because a while back I mentioned how I did not like the sound of a piece of equipment that I had actually owned for many years. I didn't trash it, I just said I didn't care for it. Someone just went ballistic that I didn't like the sound of that brand of amp. I even tried to reason with him, saying it was my own experience and opinion,  and he just sent more insults. I don't need anyone else saying "X is better then Y and you're stupid to think otherwise."

By the way, I owned a Marantz 2235 with Advent speakers and loved it. But I also brought them new in the 70's. Maybe I can safely say there are much better speakers out there now then the Large Advents from the 70's??? 

Having heard and sold many large Advents back in the day at Tech Hifi, many including myself preferred Ohm model Ls to the Advents. Those were designed specifically to take on the Advents but in a smaller package.

I still have my Ohm Ls that I refurbed myself a few years back. Also have newer Ohm Walsh and KEFs. Both are better. Have also owned Magnepan, B&W, Boston and others. Each were at least 1 up on the old Advents.

You can still buy upgrades for ohm Ls and most every other Ohm model ever sold since the early 70s. The upgrades take each up several levels to compete better with other more modern designs.

I’m sure armed with the right smarts one could take old Large Advents to a higher level these days as well.

Yes quality of home sound has advanced considerably over the last 50 years or so. Should not come as a surprise.

@mapman 

Yes, I well remember Tech Hi-Fi and the Ohm's - they had several great speakers. It's funny now, but we used to sell Cerwin Vega's against them! They didn't sound better, but the Vega's had a 15 inch woofer and people (teens mostly) thought, well, they HAVE to sound better with a 15 inch woofer! Well, they did sound pretty good with Disco. Live and learn. 

As the OP, I think the consensus is, the old stuff is brought for nostalgia and looks mainly. Perhaps as a second system also? Again, there is some great old stuff, I had some B&K amps and Hafler pre-amps that would give some stuff today a run for their money.

My first "audiophile" amplifier was a Sansui AU-9500 that I purchased in the early 70's. I loved everything about it, right down to the feel of the knobs and switches.

I can't remember what I paid for it. Perhaps around $650 CDN, but today they are selling for around $1,400, up to over $2,000 on some sites.

I haven't heard one since I sold it and I think I will keep it that way. Why spoil a good memory.