Who to trust when buying vintage ss ?

Myriad of options out there for a suitable integrated amp that will easily best the HK include inter alia, my budget fave …the REGA BRIO integrated amp.

https://www.whathifi.com/rega/brio/review

To save money, buy pre-owned …. Many other quality brands pre-owned out there that include ROTEL, NAD, ARCAM, CREEK, CYRUS, ROKSAN , MUSIC FIDELITY, LINN, etc.

https://www.usaudiomart.com/classifieds/56-solid-state-integrated-amplifiers/?filter=FOR+SALE&province=&price_min=&price_max=&photo=N&show_msrp=N&show_other_marts=N

All components have their own bespoke sonic signature , so formulate a proper plan FIRST that also includes a preferred source, speakers, and cables. System synergy matters … full stop.

for the REGA BRIO, think preowned REGA R1/ RS1/ RX1 model bookshelf speakers (all preowned) for a dynamite system.

https://v2.stereotimes.com/post/the-rega-r1-loudspeaker#:~:text=The%20Rega%20R1%20becomes%20my,what%20more%20could%20you%20want%3F

For example. the NAD amps typically have a darker presentation with a rolled off top end. Not all speakers work well with it. (One that does is PSB speakers) The MUSIC FIDELITY can sound bright with certain brand speakers etc.

Roll up your sleeves , read some reviews, do some auditions , and engage your plan.

A lazy man’s default to Best Buy is a banishment to mostly low-fi, maybe lucky to a low-end mid-fi, and regrettably not hi-fi. Choose wisely.

@tonydennison,

I would look at Schiit Audio:

Mike

https://www.schiit.com/products/freya-n

@akg_ca

I would not start out in “vintage”. In audio. That’s just a misplaced synonym for “old”

Exactly!

No Modern amplifier are able to give me the many functionalities and flexibility and quality i was buying with an old Sansui AU 7700...NONE.... At almost any price...Look at the manual owner to verify...

I like it so much i bought a more refined Sansui alpha but with less functionalities because more modern even if it is vintage today also ...

I only payed for a technician to refresh the necessary old components of the AU 7700 ... But i keep the alpha as it is... Even with this added price for the AU 7700 it is a bargain...I used it 8 years till i needed the more refined alpha for my picky headphone..

I will not spoke about my old K340 from AKG... A treasure...nothing touch it i ever listened to...

Anybody who plan to buy new costly stuff must think what he need for himself to begin with BEFORE buying ...

You must know a knowleadgeable technician near by.... There is a need for up to date replacement of the internals...In many case...

But i smile at every new amplifier offer at many thousand dollars and more... For 500 bucks i own two amplifiers i will never sold...I used the alpha Sansui with my K340 ...

The alpha is so much good any upgrade is meaningless..

Before bashing vintage use your brain...😊

Is the top amplifier of 1978 or 1988 always a top product ? Yess..

More than that no headphone today under 1000 bucks and probably more can deliver the S.Q. of the K340...NONE...It would be too costly and too complex to design one that will work satisfyingly today and make profit... This is what a Russian big headphone company said to me CLEARLY...😁

Vintage myths of the past are not ALL trash , it is the opposite for some past products compared to the average costlier product on the market today...There is a reason why some products reach mythical status and we are then able to read tons of positive reviews about them today ...

The only exception is not my amplifiers, there is no negative reviews about my two Sansui all over the net at all ; but the K340 received a few negative reviews because some of few reviewers never was able to figure out how work this complex designed headphone , which were AKG flagship for a good reason and the best headphone they ever designed ...I know because the negative they described i experienced it after i connected my K3490 after buying them  BEFORE MY 6 MONTHS optimization process... No,   this top of the world product is not easy to figure out... Sorry... but when all is done to embed it properly  it surpass most existing headphones by far... Read about it to understand why ...

Vintage rule the ratio S.Q. /price scale... Thats is for sure...

My 700 bucks system beat all i ever listened to and rival the rest not too far behind ... end of my story.... I listen music now not my system defects... 😊

@jasonbourne71 

Thanks buddy, Ill check it. NAD, etc

Is there an online shop that might hold these?