some 70's and 80's receivers seem to be popular


Is this just nostalgia? I thought the concensus was that even the best solid state during that era was harsh and hard to listen to for long. That is certainly my memory. I almost quit listening to the stereo back then, until I got tube amplification and realized what the problem had been (well, having been suckered into switching to cd's was also part of it). But now some of that equipment seems to attract fans and bidders. Are they just dreaming?
128x128lloydc
Sprink,

For a better sound investment, if you have a CD player with digital output already, just add a separate tube DAC rather than invest in a tubed CD player.
In the last 7 years I've only run 70s power amps: yamaha ca-1010 and 2010, and Kenwood supremes: models 600 and 700m. The latter two have been recapped, and are as sonically rich and warm as any amp you're likely to find.
i thought it was just me.

back then in the 70/80s i had a sansui receiver and it produced very good music. However, it kept breaking and we ended up dumping it and got a Sony system.

and the Sony never sounded even close. but the Sony had a lot more bells and whistles (automatic turntable, auto reverse deck, 12 bands eq, a remote!!! ...) which made me, who was a teen at the time, very excited.

but the sound never made me happy.

now I know why.
Yamaha. The MX 1000U & CX1000U combination especially. Exceeds or at least compares to reproduction quality of units costing much more today. No question about it.
I just finished rejuvenating my Marantz 2230, which resides in my basement system. 73 new electrolytic caps, 8 polypropylene film caps to replace old mylars, new lamps, transistors cleaned and re-seated with new micas, etc. Total cost was $20 for the receiver and about $70 more for parts. Teamed up with some speakers from about the same era (I've rotated in EPI, Rogers, Mission, Advent, and Dahlquist - I have a lot of old speakers) , it sounds FANTASTIC.