Vintage Amps - Pleasantly surprised

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

Dark Side Of The Moon had just been released and the sound was "completely transportive" through that tube system.

Steve, Thanks for the memories. I too have fond recollections of the systems my buddies and I owned (large Sansui receiver with Jensen triaxials for me) back in those days when expectations were more about the music and the good times, and less about the equipment. I also remember the sound benefiting from some "transportive" aids we had back then.

Cool thread! Here's my addition: A friend gave me his old Kenwood KA-7150 awhile back cuz he knew I liked audio stuff. After cleaning the switches, I now have it playing in my little office room through some reworked Utah-built acoustic suspension 3-ways that use the little Alnico magnets and simple LF blocking caps on the mid and tweet, upgraded to film caps, of course. I had to replace the woofers with modern compatibles, so not original there either. The source is the computer digital stream into my old MSB Link DAC III and I couldn't be more delighted. Of course I'm listening near field at fairly low levels, but, like the others report, I'm blown away. Bass is clean and deep, with acoustic bass having that punch and clarity I like. Imaging is solid and deep. Good frequency balance botton to top as well. Now if I could get my "big" system to do that at higher levels in the big room...

Let me tell you I haven't found ANYTHING from 1970/80 that sound like a Sansui amplifier do. I have been in this world since I was a child and have had McIntosch, Fisher, Pioneer, Luxman, Marantz,etc.
Sansui was unique and the glory of the japanese HI-FI at that time. The best japanese sound ever without dude. I have sold many entry level gear such as Adcom, Rotel, Nad, Parasound because their sound don't match my old Sansui amplifiers. I think Sansui was really hi-end at that time and still kill many new brands that are called entry level and hi-end. My two cents.
Jorge