Vintage Tube Gear Priced Insane Now

Supply and Demand , we all know that. I have a Rogue Hera pre that runs 8 Russian 6H30’s, I wish I could afford 8 of those little NOS babies. First world problems are the best. I went through the vintage kick about 15 years ago at the MidFi level. Bought Dynaco tube gear, Marantz and Sansui SS, JBL and Klipsch speakers. For me it wasn’t as Golden as I remembered, gave it to the kids. Regards , Mike. 

Supply and demand:

The amount of a commodity, product, or service available and the desire of buyers for it, considered as factors regulating its price.

You’re not the first to discover vintage tube gear… People have been aware of the merits of vintage gear for a long time. Look up Western Electric gear from the 30’s, then you’ll realize what people are willing to pay for vintage tube gear/speakers.

Restoring a vintage tube amp requires more than some new tubes and a couple of coupling caps. And not all vintage gear is worth restoring. The gear that is, will demand higher prices. 
 

There is no free lunch. You want to play, you have to pay.

I really don’t know what to say. 

A modified-rebuilt Dynaco Stereo 70 can be had for $900 to $1,800. It’s an excellent entry level amp, maybe better than entry level. I believe 300,000 were made. 

it is not a preamp. So. It will not have a phono stage. For that, get a modified-rebuilt Dynaco Stereo PAS. 

Still imvho by far the best bang for the buck in the market. 
 

I bought a Dynaco Stereo 70 kit in 1972 for $150. That was considered a bargain in those days. In today’s dollars that is $1,100. Hafler wanted to design audio that working stiffs could afford. As I was a 14 year old soon to be working stiff at the time, he succeeded. 

And, oddly, there are now not one but two refurbished NYAL Futterman OTL 3’s for sale in the $6,000 to $7,000 range. You can wait for a decade before you see them show up. Get a pair and you are set for life. I’ve had mine for 40 years. 

There are also two OTL1’s. The sellers asking are insane: $19,000 to $33,000. For amps that will need work.