Vintage Receivers vs New Integrated: Which Should You Buy?

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Lookie Lou's Episode 4: Should you buy that really cool beautiful vintage receiver you've been wanting? What's the best path forward if you want to build a music system? Watch this first! The results may surprise you.
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#hifiaudio #hifi #audiophile #vintagehifi #homeaudio #stereophile #receivers

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27 авг 2022

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Комментарии : 95

@ja7264 Год назад

I was in the AV industry for several decades. Bought multiple Home theater receivers that cost thousands of dollars each for one AV component in the late 90's and early 2000s that were built like tanks. Metal chassis and faceplates. You rotated the volume control and you could feel the quality. Amazing products with amazing sound. Still have three of them in the closet and all work flawlessly. But I can't use them because the industry has updated the necessary AV connections multiple times. So you're outdated two years after buying. Also, nowadays everything is plastic. I've been through multiple mid-level home theater receivers (Denon, Yamaha) filled with high-tech features, wi-fi, Bluetooth, and the latest surround sound formats. They're junk, but I had to try and keep up with all the latest stuff. A bunch of technology crammed into a plastic box that's made to throw away after it fails. I recently was in a store and was playing with the controls on a $1300 dollar receiver. It felt cheap compared to my older HT receivers. Needless to say, my vintage tube equipment and Pioneer, Kenwood 70's vintage receivers still work. Plus, when there is a small problem I can usually fix it myself. I'm sorry you don't "GET IT". But the most important thing above everything I've previously stated is ... I happen to love the 70's vintage sound. Maybe someday when you no longer need to make a living on the new stuff, you'll be able to appreciate the old!

@audibleeleganceinc Год назад

It's not that the old stuff is bad, it's that people are paying way too much for it particularly when many of the sellers are cashing in on stuff found at Goodwills without any thorough checkout. I stand by my observation. As for home theater, you are definitely right about quality and the technological race to keep up. You could use laptops as a great parallel to your observations.

@ja7264 Год назад

@@audibleeleganceinc I agree with you on the pricing. It's getting insane. People taking advantage and people willing to be taken advantage of.

@jb678901 Год назад

@@audibleeleganceinc When I see prices for monster receivers in the $5000 range...YES...I would have to agree. These prices are IMHO ridiculous...but it is what the market will bear. However, I tend to hunt for vintage bargains and have found quite a few. I decided to have two of the same spec (Hitachi SR-903's with Class G amps). More than enough power for my needs. Each was about $130 and they came looking mint. Of course, I had to Deoxit/F5 the pots...change out some CAPS and revise some of the transistors in my spare time...but they now look and sound terrific. For my needs they are perfect with a nice set of bookshelf speakers.

@jakedavila4468 10 месяцев назад

@audibleeleganceinc I do agree on the Goodwill factor and people cashing in on equipment that obviously in most cases just limping through to stay powered and put out sound not to former specs. I'm cool with a good find for personal use, I'm not on a donated item that is sold overpriced by Goodwill and than bought and resold for an even higher price. Drives up prices and destroying a one very affordable hobby for anyone on a tight budget .

@andrewfox1446 13 дней назад

Oh dear.Did your wife leave you for your love of vintage.🤣🤣😜😜🤥🤥

@quebecforce111 6 дней назад

I have a 1987 Harman Kardon HK385i and the sound of this low watt receiver are VERY good.

@audibleeleganceinc 5 дней назад

The earlier Harmon Kardons were also quite musical including the 430. That said, they are also over 50 years old and subject to the foibles of aging electronics. I can see where a competent design of years ago could outperform some the the current nonsense. Hopefully you did not pay and arm and a leg for it. Thank you for contributing to the channel and the article with a good point. Please do subscribe and tell others about our work.

@fabieneldridge3414 10 месяцев назад

I’m still listening to my Klipsch K - Horns, Klipsch Belle’s I’m back, yes they are serviced. I pug them with a Marantz 2325 1975, I blow it out with my air compressor every few years. For over 30 😂this has been my music. It still brings the hair up on my arms ! The Marantz has one bulb out and it still looks new , everything is in beautiful Walnut and it ROCKS ! I h😢gotten my money worth and still getting it, 😅haven’t turned the power off for over two months on the Marantz ! Blue allows me to select music by phone and adjust the volume. It sounds amazing ! The better my source the better it sounds. I don’t care how much you spend you’ll be hard fought to get more music 🎼! Some recordings are life like in my listening room ! I get concert levels before half volume ! Clean, sharp, horns unbelievable. The additional Belle Speakers real add to the dimensions of the music. One pair of Klipsch are Great , two pair playing together !!!!!!!!

@audibleeleganceinc 10 месяцев назад

Thank you for taking the time to comment and, perhaps subscribe. Want to hear those K-horns sing and stay vintage? Pick up a Marantz 1030 integrated amplifier. Far more musical than the 2325. That's right, 15 watts per channel. With the K-horns being 104 db efficient, it doesn't take much to get them pumping. An old Naim Nait is also quite a tour.

@mrboat580 21 день назад

I have some vintage equipment that I bought in the '70s. Rebuilt it (Pioneer SA-8500) once about 4 years ago and that is the only chance it will get. I rarely use it now. I have since gotten hooked on digital controls and comprehensive bass management. I can buy a used AVR with pre/sub outs for pennies on the dollar that will typically have over 100WPC/8Ohms, and be stable down to 2Ohms and use that for 2.2 channel instead. CD, and bass management have been the two most significant audible improvements in my lifetime. I hate foam surrounds on speakers, and old analog pots. When I rebuilt them, I basically just reset the clock on the ticking time bomb that old stuff is. One exception would likely be the old direct drive Hitachi TT I have. It still works but mostly because there is not a whole lot to go wrong with it. I won't shed any tears when and if it dies. I got my $'s worth from it. I try and stay away from vintage stuff priced by flippers and collectors. I might would take it if they were giving it away but even then, it takes up valuable space so probably not. I'm all about the music. I have 11 pairs of speakers, most of which are kits I built myself. I do like buying some older JBL budget sleepers that were known to punch well above their otherwise budget designations. All of which have rubber surrounds and more modern caps. I also have years of electronics experience and have rebuilt/serviced my own gear over the 50 years I have been at this by now. Still, I will stick to modern equipment for what years I have left. It sounds ridiculously good for what I have in it.

@audibleeleganceinc 21 день назад

Thank you for taking the time to comment to my channel and what an excellent response you gave. I am in agreement that much of what is being pawned on the unwary is being done so by flippers and at very high prices. I also agree about the foam surrounds but if people think that "refoaming" is the answer they are wrong. While the speaker may work, I sincerely doubt that it is in spec as the foam likely has a different rigidity. If you can do your own repairs, and we both can, it is ok but, again, not at the prices for used stuff today. We agree there are some lovely sleepers out there which, even to this day, remain hidden. My favorites, however, are not all that noteworthy today as their use is limited like FM tuners. But, if you like NPR and classical radio stations, well, quite handy. Again, thank you and I look forward to your next set of observations.

@wooddragon576 2 месяца назад

Im 60 my first stereo was a pioneer sx680 in 1978, over the years i migrated to newer, modern equipment, very low distortion, crisp clean sound ,very detailed music presentation. A few years ago I bought a 1979 Yamaha CR-820 for the office to recapture the vibe of my youth, well 3 years down the road and all 7 of my music stereo systems are now vintage. Ranging from a 1972 sx-727 to the newest a Sansui G5700. Ive actually sold all my newer equipment and replaced it with the much cheaper vintage gear. The most expensive thing was $500 for a sansui 7070, While the newer stuff was super detailed and clear, it lacks soul,. it comes across as too sterile. and lacks the warmth of the old stuff. I know alot of people try to capture that warmth with new tube amps, they are great but very expensive. I had an excellent tube amp setup in the basement that cost a couple of grand, I replaced it with vintage amp and EQ for 1/4 the cost that sounds every bit as good. I think paying thousands for the 100+wpc vintage monster receivers is nuts though, the 30-50 wpc receivers have plenty of power to drive every speaker I own (19pairs) and those mid wattage receivers and amps run $150-400 typically and give great value . As for repair cost , well my Sx737 died one day, cost $50 to repair. I figure If i had a 1975 Mustang or Camaro that I drove 4-6 hours every day Id expect to have to repair it, a receiver is no different and much much cheaper to keep on the road. I'll take vintage gear over new any day. Music is a very individual choice and while you think vintage makes little sense, there are a lot of folks like me who totally disagree. There is no right or wrong when it comes to musical enjoyment as it a personal choice. I get immense enjoyment out of all my old stuff and will keep maintaining it and enjoying it until the day I die. As Spock said "Live long and Pioneer"

@audibleeleganceinc 2 месяца назад

OK, I too have some favorites in the vintage equipment. As I pointed out, current prices for many pieces are absurd. I am going to do a video on vintage turntables shortly. In brief, most are toast. Now, if you have repair skills, great. If you don't, well, let me give you an example. The remaining local repair shop that can do component level repair charges $300 just to look at it. A vintage MacIntosh integrated amplifier cost one chap $3,000 in repairs. I have heard of similar situations from others. The other thing I will get into in the future is within vintage equipment, which is actually musical and which is not. If tonality was the only issue, then great bands could be replaced by mediocrity who used their instruments. Tonally, it would be the same while musically it would not. So, looking at your list, the Pioneer SX-727 is musically vastly superior to the Yamaha CR-820. Yamaha during that time period used a lot of negative feedback to drive down THD which resulted in a musical performance run over by a steam roller. The fundamental beat of any song is smeared between the musicians. Try tapping your foot the any song and see if you can get the musicians on the same count. Nope, not possible with Yamaha. Do the same for the Pioneer and you will find it to be much closer. So, I hear the songs of those who love vintage equipment, but I have to warn the uninitiated, the risks and costs involved. It's not all glory, regardless of the color of the FM dial light. Thank you for taking the time to comment and contribute your thoughts. I appreciate the effort taken.

@Mikejohnson-wr2hd 18 дней назад

Really interesting. I’m in my mid 70s and started buying and using audio equipment in the late 60s and have continues to this day. I have to say that the newer equipment is really user friendly and sounds good to me. My latest piece of equipment is a nad C3050 streaming amp and it does sound really good to me. There was a certain magic about using an fm tuner and a record player years ago, but the convenience and sound were not up to the standards we have today. I have several tuners and a vintage turntable hooked up to my system, but the only time I use either is when friends come to visit and want to hear them. Audio convenience and sound quality have taken huge leaps. ahead. I have to agree, if you’re purchasing audio equipment now, you’re way ahead buying the latest and greatest.

@audibleeleganceinc 18 дней назад

Thank you for taking the time to contribute to the channel. Please do subscribe and tell others about our work here. The C3050 is a fine example of what you can buy today and for less than what people are paying for 50 year old Marantz stuff that doesn't sound that good anyway. There were other products in that day that simply were better but even those are worn and out of spec. Many are like old knives that while a good servant for many years, and associated with good times, are simply worn out.

@stevenstjohn9207 Год назад

I had a Dynaco Dynakit ST 70- Amp- Completely rebuilt recently- drive it w/ A new Quicksilver Valve Pre- Amp sounds great Also am having a Bob Carver Phase Linear 700 Series 2- Amp refurbished w / Mundorf Caps etc. 😊

@audibleeleganceinc Год назад

Well Steve, for some, it's a passion and hobby to restore or rebuild such equipment and that the total overall experience and cost supports your future enjoyment. That's perfectly fine. Some folks buy expensive plastic or wood models and spend hours finishing them. That's the enjoyment right there. I am addressing those who are not ready for such events and costs. They often make the mistake of assuming that electronics are like hammers and will continue to be useful without future costs. It is for those folks where paying today's market prices for "vintage" gear does not make any real sense at all. Even fewer are skilled enough to do component replacements. I am and I know the hours that it can involve. So, I don't just look at it from a performance standpoint.

@tomhalbouty3653 Год назад

I have worked on a lot of classic gear. It looks like you have a Sony STR7065 receiver in front of you. Years ago at a McIntosh clinic I attended the Mc rep. remarked that the Sony 7065 was the only non Mc receiver he tested that day that surpassed the FTC specifications. Later I purchased one and still have it. I own distortion analyzers, signal generators and scopes and my unit frankly still exceeds specs. Most of the caps are still fine, tested in circuit via a Peak ESR tester. I've replaced a few caps but overall the unit works and sounds great and the tuner has held alignment, checked periodically with a Sencore FM tester. I've seen lower cost modern amplifier and receivers having capacitor failure within 5 years of after they were purchased. I'm not sure what is going on here but I suspect that some of the Asian manufacturers did not copy the formulas of European and US manufacturers. In low cost modern receivers, component level repair is difficult with their dual layer boards with thin traces and failed parts are quickly discontinued in our modern supply chains. They go into our land fills. If my observation is correct, then the older gear likely has a much longer life span and is repairable. I do own relatively recent McIntosh, Modwright and Conrad Johnson gear which I do believe have excellent design and part selection. That said, low cost Chinese built receivers don't measure up in my view to properly tested and restored vintage gear.

@audibleeleganceinc Год назад

Well, I am not going to disagree with you but that is based upon your skill set. Local repair shops here want $250 just to look at it. Given some of the prices on used gear, and there's a lot of 50 year old stuff that was crap when built as verified by the clinic you enjoyed, the average person has no bearings to know what is worth the pursuit and what is not. Then, find a repair shop that can even do component level repair. I also do not disagree with the "non-repairabilty" of many current products including McIntosh. I just had one where the HDMI board failed and, guess what, no parts. DOA. The problem becomes that, in the case of many products, they become technically outdated either by features or changes in the software which is the case in many home theater processors or receivers. Making them repairable does not resolve those issues. Add bluetooth, USB, 1080P, 4K, 8K, gadzillion K, whatever, and that ends that. In the end, many products fall not because of serviceability but because they are not technically capable. Look at the machine tool industry as an excellent example.

@Tonytheman214 6 месяцев назад

Vintage or old model receivers are the best, i have a beautiful pioneer sx9000 in mint condition and i am a collector of pioneer

@audibleeleganceinc 6 месяцев назад

Well, if you are talking about avoiding DSP chips, that can be true. However, I stand by my observation that much of it is in need of service. DIY, well, fine. However, repair shops are charging quite a bit these days, particularly in Cincinnati.

@hhvictor2462 7 месяцев назад

Based on how you feel I will gladly take that beautiful Sony off your hands. I'll even pay for shipping lol

@audibleeleganceinc 7 месяцев назад

Already trashed after it went up in smoke and smelled like cat or dog urine.

@VonNostrus 6 месяцев назад

….this guy has to be a blast at a dinner party or backyard barbecue…..

@audibleeleganceinc 6 месяцев назад

If you love dry humor, I deliver. My favorite comedians? Jonathan Winters, Robin Williams, and Dennis Miller. Of course, I couldn't leave out the Monty Python troop. Perhaps our paths will cross someday.

@robertmcgee7083 11 месяцев назад

The old flagship receivers had the wow factor, wish the manufacturers would simply recreate modern versions. Current receivers all look the same, black boxes.

@audibleeleganceinc 11 месяцев назад

As do most cars. Oh, yes, let's not have personality. Kinda like that scary Twilight Zone Episode "Number 12 Looks Just Like You."

@webman1956 3 месяца назад

I am the same age that you are, and I also had a vintage Pioneer back in the day. I did some research and decided to go with the new Sony STR-DH190, the Sony SSCS5 bookshelf speakers and the Sony SACS9 subwoofer with a total retail price of $600 and it sounds great!

@audibleeleganceinc 3 месяца назад

I think there is plenty of fine new product out there although they don't have the bedroom blue dials. Thank you for contributing to our channel and please subscribe and tell others about us. We have over 130 videos up now with 200 more planned.

@scottprice8994 5 месяцев назад

The 1970s stereo receivers are the highest quality. Yes, they need maintenance. I doubt the stereo receivers being made today will be working in 50 years.

@audibleeleganceinc 5 месяцев назад

Thank you for your comments. While there is certain products that can be amazing, and I noted one, many are not and with the current prices of many of them, very poor values. I consider most of the Marantz products of that era, not musical at all and certainly not in comparison to say Sansui. Frankly, the only Marantz piece of that era that caught my ear was the 1030 integrated amplifier. The Sansui's on the other hand, can have overload input issues depending upon the device connected. As for anything lasting 50 years today, you are correct. Then again, nothing is built that way whatever it is, including the very tools to make them. Does anyone even keep their phones for over 10 years? Now, if someone enjoys a trip down memory lane, enjoys the appearance of the products, or any other attribute, well, that's perfectly fine with me. But paying the prices charged today and finding anyone who can do component level repairs (and affordably), that's an entirely different matter. Oh, by the way, those Pioneer receivers that integrated the on/off switch with the volume control, that part has not been available for nearly 30 years. That's why you see switches drilled into the side wall. Just sayin'. So, for those who enjoy those products, well, as long as their eyes are wide open, enjoy the moments. The sad thing is, many don't know of the commitment much like people getting pets.

@Audiorevue Год назад

No definitely very right when it comes to the age of some of these products and their ultimate longevity, I've been 90% lucky when it comes to vintage audio although it's that 10% that has caused me to forgo it. My last purchase a vintage audio was 2 years ago and I picked up locally a Yamaha CR 1020 receiver, a beautiful piece externally and internally as well that very much reminded me of older Chevrolet vehicles. It worked great until it didn't and then slowly but surely every last thing failed. And I was told by a local tech who's been doing electronics repair for 30 years, yeah man you should really just throw in the towel and sell it for parts. And ultimately that's what I decided to do and I paid about 700 for it and got about six in broken condition. So I didn't lose too much money other than what I paid the tech to fix things as they went. But never again will I go down the rabbit hole of vintage audio, because like Forrest Gump said, life is like a box of chocolates you never know what you're going to get

@audibleeleganceinc Год назад

A most welcome comment. I just picked up a 50+ year old receiver, the first piece of electronics I ever purchased from a dealer as a kid. So, I get nostalgia. However, the price was free. It sorta works for now and I can accept that. I don't expect anything more.

@gdwlaw5549 Год назад

Picked up a vintage Sansui from 1982 for my office. Works great and will not be repaired when it dies.

@audibleeleganceinc Год назад

The 70s Sansui were quite remarkable, particularly the tuners. The only drawback to that era of Sansui receivers as they could not handle the voltage output of CD players. You had to find one with a volume out control. I still admire their tuners to this day.

@spinetingler-007 8 месяцев назад

Out of spec means nothing. Vintage receivers sound great if they are working. They also measure power more conservatively, so a 60 watt vintage amp will blow the socks off a modern 100 watt amp. Vintage amps are also super easy to work on and fix.

@audibleeleganceinc 8 месяцев назад

I agree that they are easier to fix as you are working at component level instead of entire boards that may or may not be available. That said, how many innocent people buy these things at absurd prices who have no skill to fix them. Our local shop charges $350 just to look at anything. Out of spec is out of spec. A worn tire still spins, it doesnt' mean its a good idea to use it.

@markd4292 Год назад

Good points. I have a mint condition Mitsubishi DAA15DC and DP10 amp/preamp, great shape, works great, etc. that I am trying to sell for something more up to date, albeit I hate to see it go. I like to use it with a Klipsch Forte IV...

@audibleeleganceinc Год назад

Remember, the Klipsch are very efficient. I suspect these are 98 to 101 db efficient. Less power needed but certainly greater accuracy!

@billimbriale8535 Год назад

What seems crazy to me: if one longs for equipment from the 70s for example, why not buy the best of what the 70s had to offer. It certainly was not mega receivers. Much of the high-end equipment from the past can be bought for LESS than what is being paid for mid-fi receivers. Enjoyed your take on this. Be well.

@audibleeleganceinc Год назад

Bill, thank you for your observations. I enjoy reading comments and seeing other views.

@jb678901 Год назад

However....if you enjoy revising solid state gear and the fruits of that effort yield excellent results, why not? I am not dumping big money on old gear...just enjoying the hunt for a bargain and then treating it like a nice rainy-day project. Vintage gear from the mid to late 70's is completely repairable...unlike modern equipment which has a defined life cycle. As well, the build quality of that vintage gear is exceptional.

@audibleeleganceinc Год назад

If you have the time a patience to go through older gear, that's just fine. That said, most people don't and end up paying absurd amounts for vintage equipment that, quite honestly, is well past its designed usefulness. Ergo, they spend a lot of money on something that fails within a year and have no clue as to how to fix it themselves and the repair shops are just waiting to charge big amounts to fix it. As for build quality, they were designed around different parameters. Older equipment was designed around serviceability and thus you had component level repair. As the cost of labor increased while those who could do it disappeared, manufacturing switched over to entire board swaps. Its not that either has any sort of special life cycle but rather when you had individual components, you could find replacements or substitutes. Modern equipment often requires board swaps with surface mount parts and that simply made that type of repair impossible. Thus, some very high end equipment still uses the component level repair approach but the initial purchase price reflects the cost of manufacturing that way.

@mondoenterprises6710 3 месяца назад

It may well be the cool factor. They just look so much cooler than the new black boxes. Also, when you take it to get rehabbed, guess what? That 'vintage sound' came from those vintage caps etc when they were new 50 years ago! You can't replace same with same. Now you got new stuff in an old box, so it truly is about the cool and wow factor bc the sound output will be from today's electronics. Or maybe I'm the one who's crazy!

@audibleeleganceinc 3 месяца назад

No, you are not crazy. I enjoy seeing some of them too. Fond memories of where I had been in life, I suppose. The same could be said for today's cars that pretty much all look the same.

@terrywho22 Год назад

Nice video series. So, in your opinion, what's the age point where it no longer makes economic sense to purchase used/vintage equipment? I'm sure it's case by case, but I'm just looking for a general rule of thumb.

@audibleeleganceinc Год назад

Terry, I wish there was a rule of thumb. Some products are so unique in performance that I don't set an age limitation. They are that good. Others, regardless of age, were crap when made, continued to be crap, and are close to dying as crap. For general purposes, most capacitors, particularly power supply caps, are out of spec in the 10 to 15 year range. They still work, perhaps, but they are not a peak performance. Others, that use carbon film resistors, well, they are already out of spec and you just kinda think of it a buying a piece down memory lane. They are fuzzy, just like our memories of them. Controls vary all over the map and I have seen 3 year old mechanical switches that are ready for the garbage can. The other little devil to watch our for in more modern equipment is where they have 2 power supplies: One to turn on the control electronics and the other is the real power supply for the piece. I have seen those small transformers go and replacements are difficult to come by. Relays are 25 to 20 years and then its case by case.

@terrywho22 Год назад

@@audibleeleganceinc Thank you for a very well though out answer.

@user-jp7ms1zt7r Год назад

My father's early 70's Pioneer receiver was my benchmark for many years. When he finally gave it to me, I was ecstatic. But then I got it home and realized how out of place it is in today's hifi setting. First, it must be very inefficient by today's standards. I agree that by today's standards a few of the connections look like a fire hazard. And as you say, many of the electrical parts are 50+ years old and surely out of spec. I think I'd soon get tired of using the analog tuner, and I'd prefer source labels that match my source equipment. A new receiver made much more sense. To keep the memory of that beautiful vintage receiver I grew up with, I found a full-page magazine ad for the receiver and framed it.

@audibleeleganceinc Год назад

Many of the early 70s products were remarkable in performance, followed by the late 70s and 80s were things got pretty screwed up until the later 80s represented by products like Rotel under English engineering. Sansui Tuners of the 70s still hold the benchmark for musical performance but since then most radio stations have gone the wrong way making them rather pointless with some exceptions. For many years I only listened to pubic radio stations except for WEBN of Cincinnati. I knew Frank Wood Sr., the founder, and he was very astute and cared about the quality of his signal. Today, most radio stations use so much compression that even 8 track tapes sound better. Pioneer receivers represented solid quality in the 70s and despite their small power ratings, they actually could drive speakers fairly well. Specs can be very deceiving. Older Sansui units could actually drive Magnepans fairly well and be quite musical as they were built with solid stiff power supplies that handled the resistive load very well. So, I do appreciate what was done then and have fond memories. It's just that most parts are out of spec or worn out making the product much like an old photograph. Fine memories, yes, the present, no. By the way, I don't see much in the way of connections being hazardous but old capacitors can put on quite a show if the product has been unpowered for quite some time. My staff recently had such an experience. That's why you need to use a Variac to bring them up slowly as the main capacitors are no longer "formed." Even the best of manufacturers pretty much tell you that at the 20 year mark, the caps are shot. A few can still do component level repair, like me, but it's having the time or money to do it.

@InTonalHarmony Год назад

I have a beautiful Kenwood KR-8010 from the late 70's that I picked up for $100 back in 2011. She's a beauty to look at and powerful!! But my suspicion is the audio quality is not all there. If I hit the mono switch I notice a slight difference in sound between the left and right channel. What's out there that looks beautiful and sounds superb?

@audibleeleganceinc Год назад

Hello there. Well, that question has always been a nemesis to me. "What looks beautiful" is an artistic judgement in the eye of the beholder. I've spent a lot of time and lost a lot of sales over that issue so I am not going there. I focus on musical performance as my standard. What many people do not know, or remember, is that the golden era of the early and mid 70s was followed by the Jimmy Carter era of severe inflation. Thus, manufacturers cut quality and performance to maintain price points. Kenwood was far from alone in doing this. Likewise, many small hi-end companies bit the dust because they would not yield in quality and folks, like now, were scrambling to pay bills.

@bigmacfullerton7870 5 месяцев назад

Kenwoods best years were up through 1975. They were in competition with Marantz and Sansui and their stuff was great. After 75 they decided to go more affordable than top tier quality. They are good but they aren’t great like a Sansui, Marantz, Pioneer or even a Harmon Kardon of that era. If you open them up they have a lot of empty space and smaller components than a Sansui or a Marantz of that era.

@derrelcarter9401 2 месяца назад

What is the small grey block wall sound treament you have there?

@audibleeleganceinc 2 месяца назад

Those are one of the products from Vicoustics. They are meant to break up sound waves.

@derrelcarter9401 2 месяца назад

@@audibleeleganceinc, Thank You!

@davidmorgen4558 11 месяцев назад

I must disagree to some extaent I own the statis by nakamichi which was modified by nelson Pass! Reliable ..Sounds absolutely stunning ! way better then a lot of the crap thats out there today. I paid about $350.00 for my nak about 5 years ago......You do bring up some good points thiough

@audibleeleganceinc 11 месяцев назад

I think there are some exceptions and for certain people, yes. That said, I find the used equipment market fraught with misconceptions by the average consumer. The fact that it turns on does not make it good. I've just said the same thing about used phono cartridges and if you look at the follow up conversations, you will get a clear picture. So, right now, there's 89,000 used pieces of stereo gear on ebay with another 37,000 sold in the last 60 days. How much of that is actually worth the asking price and how long will it last. It's not my money and certainly folks are free to choose their path. I'm just trying to strip off the illusions of value. There's a huge difference between a bargain and a deal. Thank you for your comment and story. If it helps a few folks, so much the better. Oh, by the way, yeah, some of the "New" and "Modern" stuff is crap as well. It comes with a warranty but it's still crap.

@davidmorgen4558 10 месяцев назад

Follow up I agree with You! Have you ever gottten your hands on a nak statis?

@audibleeleganceinc 10 месяцев назад

Honestly, David, no. I played with a couple of them years ago and was not impressed at all with their sound quality. Now, modified, that becomes a new question. Clearly, at this age, certainly the main power supply capacitors are done but just doing that would not be enough in my book to pursue. @@davidmorgen4558

@Runco990 8 месяцев назад

My only argument FOR vintage gear is that most of it is repairable unlike the new stuff. However, people happily pay waaay too much for something old and broken and then expect me to re-cap it for $40. 🖕 I do own a MAC 4100 and restored it myself. I like it's sturdy simplicity.

@audibleeleganceinc 8 месяцев назад

Thank you for your valuable contribution to this video. It is most appreciated. There are those of us to can handle such tasks but far too many who can not. Many of my articles are addressing the unwary, not those those who have the experience. Sadly, I find the level of audio knowledge today to be beyond sad and led by those who don't have a clue. Worst yet, those who do know are punished by people who take that knowledge and then go elsewhere for the best price. I had one for 18G today and some dealer in New York took the sale without ever lifting a finger or giving needed advice. And that, my dear friend, is why there are so few of us left to give these warnings. I don't consider the new stupid, but mislead and to their disadvantage and detriment. It's very sad to me.

@Runco990 8 месяцев назад

@@audibleeleganceinc I'm just glad someone finally said it. 👍

@iuriryzewski2648 3 месяца назад

I do not want to be rude, but I have to totally disagree with you. Vintage equipment ar repairable, and become in factory specs again for many years to come, the Sansui AU- 317, 717, or even G99x that I own fairly outperform any Cambridge Audio or NADs, far away, and are going to last way longer. The vintage world are not for silly or desinformed people, they demand time of learning and knowledge about. And yes It is comparable to old car world, where the art, the beauty and wisdom of fine engineering predominates.

@audibleeleganceinc 3 месяца назад

IF you have the SKILLS to do component level repair, OR IF you can afford someone to do component level repair, and IF you can find one without paying a FORTUNE for it, yeah, I can certainly understand your point. However, even then, modern parts are going to sound different than original parts so you are never getting back to original which, in some cases, might be a good thing. What I am looking at is those who have no skills, or money to pay for such service and it comes cheap. I think if you look at it not as what you can do but what a non-skilled youngling can do, my position makes a lot of sense. That said, thank you for contributing to the channel and I do hope you subscribe. I am sure there are points where we will both agree, just not this one.

@martyjewell5683 Год назад

Nothing like a dose of truth hitting you in the face. My "vintage" audio was mostly bought new by me during 1970's/80's. Kept everything as good as I can and am satisfied with the sound. I can dig folks that wanted this stuff in the 1970's and couldn't afford it (been there). Now they can and do buy vintage. In my 70's now I hope my electronics hold up a little longer. After military service and broke I got my first component hifi system in 1975. Powered by a Pioneer SX-434, it was boss. Traded up over the years but found a Broken SX-434 in trash at work. Had it repaired for $60 and use it in my kitchen hifi system. It's kinda swell to see the blue back lit dial scale, orange station pointer and red STEREO lamp. It's gotten a lotta use since wife's been working from home and I can't use the "big" hifi. I do think that vintage loudspeakers can be made to perform at close to Spec. Maybe better??

@audibleeleganceinc Год назад

Even servicing speakers of that era , where the most revolutionary progression has been made over the last 50 years, makes little sense especially if you are talking about "refoaming" drivers. In those cases, there is no way of even having a clue as the the flexibility of the surround and it's effect upon it's free air resonance even before installing it. All the specs go into oblivion. To me, it's like plugging a tire on an F1 car in a race. As to earlier models that used rubber impregnated surrounds, in those cases most of the mid-ranges and tweeters have such a poor rise time in response that even simple models today can and do outperform them. If you buy that stuff, and cheaply, enjoy the memories but let's not confuse it with performance.

@martyjewell5683 Год назад

@@audibleeleganceinc- an astute observation. What's your take on loudspeaker manufacturer's that do upgrades on their speaker systems?? Are they competitive with newer systems?? It's apparent that components manufactured fifty+ years ago can still function, if not at spec. Will current components last that long, your opinion?? Sadly, being 72 years I ain't gonna be around in forty years.

@audibleeleganceinc Год назад

@@martyjewell5683 well, that's an interesting question. Perhaps the best company that I worked with on that was the original Snell Acoustics. Even when they sent a replacement driver, it would come with the necessary part to change in the crossover so that it remained in "spec" so to speak. So, if a company is doing an upgrade that also includes the crossover, well, I think that is doing it right. Otherwise, it is up to the honesty of the speaker company as to whether or not a crossover change needs to be done. I won't dare touch the honesty issue of manufacturers in general.

@audibleeleganceinc Год назад

@@martyjewell5683 I thank you for a really good question. There's only about 15 of us left in the retail trenches that can sincerely help people honestly. We are a passing breed. I have chosen to share my insights in a general way as there are too many specifics to address all of them. I do hope you are enjoying it and please tell others to enjoy the knowledge of the old guard that is slowly fading away.

@bohdan2752 3 месяца назад

I agree with you this stuff is old, but if you have some time and basic electrical skills to rebuild this stuff it will sound much better than new stuff. I have few vintage receivers and few middle level new marantz and denon. My ears like vintage better

@audibleeleganceinc 3 месяца назад

I just had a great question asked regarding power ratings on amplifiers and receivers and in some ways, it relates to you preferences. I must admit that the power supply sections of older equipment was more likely to be built robust and stiff. That would result in clearer performance, particularly in the bass regions. From a different angle, I just watched a video where someone tried to defraud a buyer by offering great prices on vintage equipment who didn't even have it. While Paypal was being used, the seller wanted the transfer to be between friends and family. While this avoids certain fees, it also means the buyer has absolutely no recourse through Paypal to recover their funds. Most people don't have basic skills. Heck, I am repairing or replacing cartridge tags all the time when they try to mount a mail order cartridge themselves. I can not imagine the havoc they would do with a soldering iron and I have had to deal with projects where acid core solder (for pipes) was used to do the work. Nuff said. Thank you for taking the time to contribute to our channel and please subscribe and tell others about my work.

@bohdan2752 3 месяца назад

@@audibleeleganceinc completely agree with you. It’s very hard to find a good working vintage audio equipment. Most of them are out of specs and 100% need some kind of repair. I see it’s a big hype now with vintage receivers or turn tables. And a lot of scams as well. People who wants to enjoy music and has no skills must buy new stuff or if they whants to try vintage, they must know someone who can fix stuff and calibrate it. Me personally, i like vintage as a hobby. But, to make it work i have to spend some time and money. Recap , like most of the people saying, doesn’t help to fix all issues , but using a different brands of capacitors you can ruin sound signature. I learned that in hard way

@audibleeleganceinc 3 месяца назад

@@bohdan2752 Also the resistors. I learned that the hard way too years ago.

@marantz747 9 месяцев назад

Let me guess....You have some new stereo equipment to sell us. I wonder why McIntosh keeps making the MC275?

@audibleeleganceinc 9 месяцев назад

The same reason people keep making Anniversary this and Anniversary that. Marantz was the first when the re-created the venerable Model 9 amplifiers, which I owned 2 pair of them. Manufacturers are not blind to when they see enormous values being asked for original ones and decide to make copies. At one time, a pair of Marantz Model 9s went for as high as $30,000 a pair. It has more to do with the opportunity to manufacture something and make a profit than it does with the sonic performance. Naim just came out with an Anniversary Nait for $3,000. It was a cute little piece, more a statement about how simple things could be with "sufficient" power. It also provided a first stepping stone into the rest of their products. It sold then for about $500. And, as an audio dealer, of course I have product to sell. You can easily find this with a simple trip through RU-vid, X, Instagram, and facebook. But, unlike many others, most of my articles are not promoting any given products but the "whole of the market" regardless of what or where you want to buy it. Many of my topics are an attempt to be informative to "newbies" about what they are about to consider. They are filled with points and angles that they did not know about and had not considered. It's their money, it's your money, and you are free to follow any path you choose. I just want as many people to be informed about what they are considering and from angles nobody is willing to talk about.

@joehatch1602 Год назад

Thanks so much I think you saved me lots of money. I was thinking of purchasing a Pioneer SX950 but I think I'll stick with my Denon and Yamaha receivers I already have.

@audibleeleganceinc Год назад

Joe, I grew up in the era selling units such as these and, like many seniors, we have an affinity towards earlier times of our life. But just like us, they are 50 years older, a bit gray, and not all the parts are working as they once did.

@joehatch1602 Год назад

@@audibleeleganceinc I totally understand. I was born during that time in the late 70s and I'm also starting to get gray and fall apart some. I also have sentiment for those silver face receivers as some family had those. I've been watching lots of videos and some guys say those old ones are built better. That may be true but you have made lot of good points about the specs not being the same as they used to be anymore. I would be very disappointed if I spend a lot for a vintage receiver and it needs work or quits working. I'll stick with my newer equipment until it quits then get another newer one. Thanks for the advice it makes sense to me.

@JohnDoe-hr4xj 7 месяцев назад

Bought an Yamaha ca 1010 €400. Had it completely restored €1000. There is nothing modern in this price range that can beat this Amp. If you decide to buy vintage gear, bear in mind that you need to restore it!

@audibleeleganceinc 7 месяцев назад

I sold that era of Yamaha and while I really liked their styling, the use of feedback left it sonically wanting. They used a lot of feedback to deliver .001 THD, or something like that. You always wanted to turn it up to get it clearer. Regardless, you are correct that anyone who buys such a piece should be prepared to shell out money to restore it.

@jamiecantar8727 4 месяца назад

I respectfully disagree. Im curious to this new gear you're talking about. What makes and models? Can you name one that sounds better than that $600 Sony, at the equivalent price?

@audibleeleganceinc 4 месяца назад

Thank you for your comment and there are many who would agree with you. I still stand by my position about very old equipment and the absurd prices asked for products that are in serious need of service. For the life of me, I can not understand the prices for Marantz gear which was one of the least musical products in that era. I know, I played with a lot of it. I even sold it! And for the power amps with their darlington output transistors, it's a cascade failure. I am not going to be drawn into a model for model type of discussion. I have far too much to do to be drawn into that rabbit's hole of time for no particular purpose. It's a hobby to you. My time is my living and that's one thing many "audiophiles" simply fail to either understand or appreciate. If I am going to give away my time, I'd rather spend it on doing more videos to help people. Again, thank you for contributing.

@jeffjohnson3504 3 месяца назад

I couldn’t agree more I don’t understand this hobby at all

@audibleeleganceinc 3 месяца назад

Thank you for taking the time to contribute to the channel. Subscribe if you can and tell others about our work.

@jeffjohnson3504 3 месяца назад

I only buy new electronics if something breaks or needs to be updated to something I like better I buy the latest and greatest in my price range you are so correct new stuff sounds much better than old gear. Plus no repair fees ever.

@audibleeleganceinc 3 месяца назад

@@jeffjohnson3504 Finding anyone who can do component level repair is difficult and they charge high fees. Around us, one shop charges $300 just to look at it and the bills typically are 4 digits.

@jeffjohnson3504 3 месяца назад

Screw that, that is getting bent over twice for vintage!

@mrshovelhead5096 5 месяцев назад

well this was depressing

@audibleeleganceinc 5 месяцев назад

The main point was to open eyes as to what you likely encounter and not to pay the absurd prices being asked for equipment that's 50 years or more old. If you have the skills or want to learn and are willing to sink time and money into it, fine.

@frankierodriguez8661 9 месяцев назад

Well, with all due respect. Gimme a 70's Luxman L100, Pioneer SA 8900 or Sansui AU 1100 integrated and keep the new plastic chinese made bluetooth bla bla full of irreparable junk chips for yourself because not everyone can afford the current McIntosh, Accuphase, or even the magnificent Korea made Rose Hifi components.

@audibleeleganceinc 9 месяцев назад

Then take a look at the Rogue Sphinx Integrated amplifier.