Vintage Amps - Pleasantly surprised

My Bedini 25/25 amp, which is pushing 30 years now, is a sonic and musical wonder!

I get the same feelings with my Fisher tube stuff. I'm not so sure we have learned anything in the last 40 or 50 years.

HiFiharv, I think your wrong, they have learned something in the past 50 years. What? How to take your money in the name of 'hi-end'

I too have had this experience and I think part of it comes from not having too high an expectation that allows us to relax and simply evaluate what we perceive at face value. The problem with expensive gear sometimes is that we generate a preconceived expectation that a system must, somehow, sound good, and then we work hard to make it so, and expect it, to sound good. This creates tension and stress and, ultimately sometimes, diappointment when it doesn't quite deliver to that expectation.

Having said this I clearly remember my friend's modest Scott system back in high school through AR speakers that simply sounded killer. Dark Side Of The Moon had just been released and the sound was "completely transportive" through that tube system. And, to think, we drooled over the latest SX series of Pioneer receivers at a local HiFi shop with their blue glow!

Reading what you guys have said about your older gear leaves me expectant and excited about the sound of my forthcoming vintage stereo. Some pieces are out for the once over and I just purchased a pair of AR 7 bookshelves.

I can't wait.

Best,

Dave