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

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.