Vintage music gear

[Beezerk]

Any of you lot into your vintage music gear?
I’ve got an old 70s Pioneer turntable I want to get back out but I fancy an old amp from the same era or close to.
My current amp is a Marantz PM66SE (not the KI version) which sounds great but doesn’t look as nice as some of those old units
Been looking at Marantz amps from the 70s on EBay, wow talk about hikes up prices
What you got and what would you recommend as a half decent old amp?

 

[bobmac]

Would this be of any interest or too new (mid 80's)
Pioneer VSA-D802S

 

[Beezerk]

Would this be of any interest or too new (mid 80's)
Pioneer VSA-D802S


View attachment 50467

I’m after something silver/wood in colour unfortunately Bobmac

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Oh yes…still got my student-days turntable and receiver.



Dunlop Systemdek I turntable is circa 1980…the Rotel RX-402 receiver is circa 1976. The receiver is earlier than the turntable as I bought it at same time as my Pioneer PL-514 turntable (up in loft). The PL-514 and RX-402 were both What Hi-Fi budget best buys of the mid 1970s…indeed they stand up well today.

The Systemdek is most def not budget (I bought it off a hi-fi nut of a mate for £200 in 1980)…splendid vintage turntable and though mine is looking tired (the finish is called Nextel and didn‘t age well) it is still highly thought of.

When I have asked about upgrading the Rotel…the answer is always…Why? It‘s analogue and matches your turntable; you are very used to it’s rich analogue sound and it does it’s job brilliantly (in the 70s the Japanese manufacturers battled fiercely for the amp/receiver market and produced kit of a quality way beyond what they sold it for).

 

[Beezerk]

Nice
Just set mine up and the amp does look a bit odd with the brown wood of the turntable.

 

[Tashyboy]

ITS GOING NOWHERE

 

[Tashyboy]

Although Ave just realised Ave got a very similar system in the garage without the turntable that I may be able to release if it went to a loving home. Al be in the man cave tomorrow so if I think on al post a picture

 

[Tashyboy]

Beezerk yer Killing me..
Let me know if it’s any good for you, you can have it.

 

[Beezerk]

Thanks mate but it’s a 70s style amp in silver/wood finish I’m after

 

[ThinBullet]

Feels pretty sad to see the word vintage attributed to something I used as a kid lol.

Vintage to me is war memorial stuff or a 1960s Gibson Les Paul, or 50s strat, not a Grundig Hi-Fi/record player that was also a table hahaha

Back on point:

There's a reason older marshall amps are going for good money, because they were built better, and built to last, with no electronics in them to muddy the audio. I suspect the rise in older audio gear is related to that same thing.

If Dolby Atmos and all this other stuff is so good, why are people returning to older audio equipment?

 

[TimShady]

Feels pretty sad to see the word vintage attributed to something I used as a kid lol.

Vintage to me is war memorial stuff or a 1960s Gibson Les Paul, or 50s strat, not a Grundig Hi-Fi/record player that was also a table hahaha

Back on point:

There's a reason older marshall amps are going for good money, because they were built better, and built to last, with no electronics in them to muddy the audio. I suspect the rise in older audio gear is related to that same thing.

If Dolby Atmos and all this other stuff is so good, why are people returning to older audio equipment?

Nostalgia trumps advancement for a great many things.

 

[jim8flog]

In the 70s I had an Aiwa amp (when Aiwa made the dedicated stuff) I gave it away after 'upgrading' to a NAD in the 90s, sometimes it is something I regret.

Still got my Marantz CD52SE and that is going nowhere.

I refurbished and sold the record deck as I started selling the record collection pre pandemic (must get round to finishing that job off )

 

[jim8flog]

If Dolby Atmos and all this other stuff is so good, why are people returning to older audio equipment?

Dolby Atmos etc is all about Cinema sound which you do not need for HiFi audio, all you need for that is stereo with well placed speakers. Mind you my Yamaha amp will let me choose that output as an option.

 

[GreiginFife]

Personally, I’d go for something like the Cambridge Evo 150 with the wood side panels if aesthetics are the important factor.

Cambridge Audio Evo 150 Streaming Amplifier

Powerful 150 Watts per channel – capable of driving 2 sets of speakersHigh-quality ESS SABRE ES9018k2m Reference DAC – for highly accurate & detailed musical performanceIntegrated MM Phono Stage – for a wide choice of turntablesXLR balanced inputs – for connection of high-quality analogue...

www.cambridgeaudio.com

The audio is impressive, it gives you streaming and analogue inputs so beat of both worlds.

I’d rather spend on that than a “vintage” amp that you don’t know has had what done to it.

But its all personal preference in the end.

 

[Beezerk]

Personally, I’d go for something like the Cambridge Evo 150 with the wood side panels if aesthetics are the important factor.

Cambridge Audio Evo 150 Streaming Amplifier

Powerful 150 Watts per channel – capable of driving 2 sets of speakersHigh-quality ESS SABRE ES9018k2m Reference DAC – for highly accurate & detailed musical performanceIntegrated MM Phono Stage – for a wide choice of turntablesXLR balanced inputs – for connection of high-quality analogue...

www.cambridgeaudio.com

The audio is impressive, it gives you streaming and analogue inputs so beat of both worlds.

I’d rather spend on that than a “vintage” amp that you don’t know has had what done to it.

But its all personal preference in the end.

Wow that looks amazing but the price…oof

 

[GreiginFife]

Wow that looks amazing but the price…oof

Yeah, its pricey but, IMO, worth it for the quality, features as well as the looks versus spending a fat wedge on a “vintage” amp that may or may not see out a year.

 

[Beezerk]

Yeah, its pricey but, IMO, worth it for the quality, features as well as the looks versus spending a fat wedge on a “vintage” amp that may or may not see out a year.

The missus would quite literally kill me
Find me another option like that but maybe £1500 cheaper and I’ll consider it

 

[GreiginFife]

The missus would quite literally kill me
Find me another option like that but maybe £1500 cheaper and I’ll consider it

Just buy a silver Marantz or Denon and get a nice walnut or mahogany shroud made for it

 

[Beezerk]

Just buy a silver Marantz or Denon and get a nice walnut or mahogany shroud made for it

In all seriousness though, I’ve been mulling it over for a few days. My “plan” is to upgrade the amp, then the speakers and finally the turntable. No point going sideways

 

[GreiginFife]

In all seriousness though, I’ve been mulling it over for a few days. My “plan” is to upgrade the amp, then the speakers and finally the turntable. No point going sideways

I may have a reasonably modern turntable going spare.
Audio Technica AT-LP3 which gives very decent sound.