Question about older stuff

I agree...older stuff can sound better for the money, but like usual, there are exceptions. Old receivers are a good buy for a cheap 2nd system. I think preamps have improved over the years, but I say that based on my experience with an old Luxman C-1010...it's very smooth and fun to listen to, but not necessarily neautral or extremely transparent.

On the other hand, I was once in a used audio shop that was running an early 80s (late 70s) Pioneer preamp (huge, and probably their top at the time), with two Marantz THX monoblocks (the very small, long ones), and a pair of homemade monitors (Rogers copies). They played "Take Five", and it sounded great. Huge soundstage, and very transparent. I was surprised.

I think if you stick to amps and preamps, older equipment can represent a great bargain. CD technology has changed so much, I'd recommend a current or at least recent model. Speakers are problematic. Besides the possibility of foam surround rot (if they had foam surrounds), you never know how they have been treated. So it's more of a gamble.

I am a big fan of older gear. Regulars on this forum have heard me wax poetic about my recent discovery of the tube sound in an older CJ Premier 2 preamp. I also have found my older Adcom 555 to be a tremendous performer ... Digital and speakers seem to be a bit of a sticky wicket. On one hand late model very high end processors can be had for peanuts ... but there are also new processors in the same or near price range that may have performance advantages. I have yet to decide a path on this subject. I have and will always buy my speakers new from a local dealer. Used speakers freak me way out ... Hope I helped.

The same dilemma exists with buying both old, new and recent gear which is - will you like the sound? To be truly satisfied with your purchases (unless you get lucky) it will be necessary to audition the components first. Much of the quality sound that any system achieves comes from the synergy between the components and between the components (mostly but not restricted to the speakers only) and the room. Another consideration is if an older component can still be repaired, if needed, (are the parts still available?), some odd ball resistors and such are not. In your price range I, personally, would consider a relatively new/used integrated amp (an easy/out I know). I own a Musical Fidelity (now discontinued) X-A1 amplifier that I purchased new, on close out, for $500.00. It sounds as good (to me) as much more expensive SS gear that is in current production. To find out if you agreed with my assessment of the amp would, once again, require an audition. When in the past I have been unable (or too lazy) to audition equipment, I at have at the least discussed the component with people that have used it in a like or same system (I recently did this with power cords and got lucky:-). This is also a great thing about the Net and these types of chat rooms, which make this information available to those who don't mind typing a little bit as well as reaching out to complete strangers for feedback and info, which you are already doing and which you might even want to take it a little further with the names and models of the gear that you are considering for your system. If you don't get many replies, don't feel bad as I doubt if the combined masses here have had experience with every component ever manufactured, but we might also be quite surprised at the number of pieces that have gone through this mass of hands.

I am facisinated by the older equipment from the 80's, which is an outright bargain compared to "mid-fi" new equipment. I would not go back to the tube equipment of the 70's or 60's personally being worried about capacitor problems and such. But in my view you can definately get a better system cheaper if you go with older used equipment. (since you are around $400 for the preamp).