2. vintage
  3. 184920-93005

What's up with the price of Vintage equipment?

The reason I am asking is, I sold stereo equipment in the 1970's and 1980's and some of the stuff I see selling for big bucks today were not well thought of during the 70's and 80's and lots of it sounded pretty mediocre (think Class D amps with amazingly low specs like .00007% distortion or other such nonsense). I won't get into brand names, but just by the era you should be able to tell. 

As a quick aside, it annoys the hell out of me that I'm at an age that 1970's and 1980's equipment is considered Vintage. Was it really that long ago? Rats.

Anyway, again there were some really good sounding stuff back then, and the price today may be high, but it's still good sounding stuff and worth it. But I see prices today for 40-60 year old equipment that I sold back then because it was heavily advertised, popular/known name and design (and sometimes gave me a good commission), but not because it sounded good. 

So I am assuming some of this high price vintage stuff is due only to nostalgia (both in looks and sound) and collecting fun, not for listening compared to today's stuff.

I'm open to hearing other opinions, especially from someone who does like vintage (mostly 1970-80's) stuff, listens to it, and what brands they have. 

 

128x128deadhead1000
waytoomuchstuff's avatar
waytoomuchstuff
997 posts
 

The finest examples of the most desirable gear from an era is worth every penny.  IMHO.  

dabel
1,646 posts
 

Ugh … respect “Vintage” Elders. For they indeed have a “voice” which longs to be heard ever so often. 

Yamaha CR - 3020, and if she’s dressed to kill I’ll gladly bring her home. So what if her voice cuts-in & out from time thru time, sit there look the part and let me touch them buttons babe.

Bucket-list ……

 

pingz
4 posts
 

I bought a Harman Kardon 730 that was in a pawn shop window in the early 2ooo’s for $80.  I ripped everything out except for the twin-powered amp section. I re-capped it and did some rewiring.  It’s coupled with newer upstream components and I enjoy it.

mahgister's avatar
mahgister
12,731 posts
 

I can say with absolute certainty that my vintage gear holds it own with the rest of my gear. It’s just different. Everything has it’s own sound and I keep the stuff I really like. The vintage gear is going nowhere!

 

i think exctly the same...

People who own 20,000 bucks amplifier and speakers or costly headphone cannot approve, if they did they will be in the obligation to admit that sound quality is not linearly related to price tags... It will be embarassing and contradictory to their choices...This is why there exist negative opinions about vintage...

People BELIEVE in technical progress forgetting that companies are ruled by profit first not by S. Q. ideals and technological innovations at all cost...

My Sansui amplifiers so good they are can be replaced by today technology at way higher cost  but not my AkG K340 at any cost ... There exist no headphone as it is designed  because it is too costly to design a new one and impossible to make a good profit margin designing one ... His soundfield experience is UNIQUE... Like it or not...

 

jhnnrrs
99 posts
 

The really annoying thing is when someone tacks "Vintage" onto a piece of crap Radio Shack receiver (or MCS, or Lloyd's or even Emerson) and hikes up the price.  But there will also be some clueless "hifi enthusiast" that will post that Radio Shack stuff was some of the best.

More to discover