I have rebuilt 1960s monobloc amplification with modern tubes. They sound excellent with fine detail, good bass and superb midband.
The Allure of Vintage Audio Gear
Vintage audio gear holds a unique charm, offering rich sound and timeless design that many modern components can't quite replicate. Brands like Marantz, McIntosh, and JBL are still revered for their warm, detailed sound, especially in tube amps and classic speakers. While modern technology offers improved reliability and lower distortion, vintage gear brings a sense of nostalgia and character that many audiophiles crave.
Do you prefer the warmth of vintage, or do you lean toward modern hi-fi innovations? How would you mix vintage with modern in your setup?
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@stereo5 : I have both the tall and the short Rectilinear III speakers in my collection. Along with a pair of the mini-III's. Excellent but now forgotten speakers. I believe Richard Shahinian designed the III's. |
Vintage gear can provide an affordable platform for mods and updates that can give stellar performance for a fraction of the cost of comparable new gear. My system is largely modded vintage tube gear, but the remote on my DAC brings me into this century! God forbid I should ever have a fire or a theft, because I’d be hard pressed to duplicate the sound I get with whatever an insurance company would offer in compensation. |
Top quality vintage tube gear has a sweet, musical tone which newer stuff doesn’t quite deliver. But for unhindered bass slam in the lowest octaves, that’s best served by solid state. My Marantz 7 preamp got the Pooge upgrades plus solid state power supply regulation. The sound sparkles. It is engaging and even seductive and it lost its slightly wooly sonic signature. My power amps are biamped; A Citation II with modern caps and Hexfreds in the power supply works above 400Hz and delivers the musical harmonics and the most fragile upper frequency details flawlessly. For the bass, a Carver 2.0 pro amp delivers effortless energy to a pair of custom speakers made from Boxer components formerly at the Hit Factory. And for all these parts to sound their best, I use interconnects that don’t get in the way: Pure solid core silver unshielded Silver Solids. |
- 64 posts total