Anybody using gear 30+ years old that hasn't been restored?

Scott 350R receiver in the office:

Defective power switch- I just leave it on 24/7 (also keeps my cats warm)
Tuner pretty much doesn't work - never use tuner anyway.

Kyocera 461 (video system): No issues. if it isn't broken, etc.
 
My B&W DM6 speakers are 37 years old. I recapped the crossovers and the speakers sound much better as a result.

I guess I believe in some level of restoration.

That's my take as well.

Parts that aren't doing what they should any longer need to be replaced.

Where would be the logic in NOT replacing long out of spec components?:dunno:
 
Ok this thread isn't necessarily for debate or argument, and certainly no nastiness. We know that the prevailing(and mostly right) opinion is that old gear should be restored. That said, I know that some of us haven't heeded the call for various reasons and I'm one of them. So I'd like to know what you're using, and why it hasn't been restored. Not talking about mods, just regular restoration where the gear is brought back to it's original specs. I"ll go first. I'm using KLH Model Six speakers all original. Will be redoping this week when the stuff comes in, and do plan to get them recapped, but they sound so good right now I just haven't been in a hurry.

Whose next?

Most all the gear I use is 30 years old, at least, and hasn't been restored. Mostly high-end Sony preamps, turntables, and a couple of power amps. All work perfectly, to my ears, when matched to vintage JBL. But I am going to restore a vintage Yamaha M-85 power amp next year thru Legendary Amps, so will be interesting to see the result. Right now the amp is basically broken.
 
I started an entire thread about my ADC 303AXs some time ago. They've been in the family since 1974 and I've had them since 1976. Nothing's ever been done to them, mainly because I'm afraid if I screw with them, they won't sound as good.
 
I have a pioneer SX-1010 that has only had the power supply board and main caps replaced. It sounds good and I don't have time to mess with it.

An Akai GX-255 that has had a diode bridge replaced, otherwise stock.

My daily use SX-1250, I've updated everything but the tuner.

my daily use GX-270-d-SS has not had any work done, my other GX270-D-SS had a meltdown and has been mostly restored - it works perfectly other than not recording very well on channel 4, I'll have to look into that. It was in daily service until I found the one i am currently using.
 
Most of my older stuff has been recapped etc. but I have a few pieces that have not had more done than repair any issues and get them nicely clean. Onkyo TX-4500 MkII is all original except some bulbs switched to LEDs. Technics SA-700 is original down to the bulbs, just cleaned the controls. Sansui AU-D607 is completely original. Yamaha CA-1000 had a couple minor issues when I received it and they were repaired, otherwise original as well. My Mac MC 250 was completely stock and worked perfectly up to spec, but I decided to get it done anyway for safety's sake. Plenty of turntables and tape machines are still original, though. Everything else in the place has had the full treatment, one piece at a time. Oh yeah, the Williamson-design tube amp and pre my father built in the 40s are still both all original and still up to spec. I'm not sure I've ever even had to clean the pots on the pre, actually.
 
I've been using a Lafayette LR-9090 that I found sitting on top of a garbage can for about a year and a half and it works great except for the power/speaker switch problem they often have at this point. No big deal, I keep it set on "headphones" and switch it on and off from a power strip.

 
AU/TU-888. All original. 41 years old.

Eight Deluxe.

AU-G99X (may not qualify)

JA-S55, amp used almost daily by my son.

These are in all use. Why have they not been restored? They haven't crapped out yet, and I don't have the time. (Working on others gear)

AU-719, is all original and I used it up until a month or so ago when it crapped out. It is in line for restoration.

KA-4002, was all original until a channel quit. Easy fix and a full re-cap.
It's working again and pulling computer audio duty.

Rob
 
I can't remember if I posted here before, but my Luxman C 05 is untouched and the M 05 I bought with it is untouched as well. They were "gently used" when I got them which probably explains why I don't need to do anything with them.

On another topic: I have another M 05 that I had recapped, and sonically there is no difference to the other, original, one. I have tried every A/B test I can.... I cannot tell. I spent $1100 total (not all of it my doing) and I hoped to EXPECT something... and got nothing. Just saying....
 
A lot of my vintage gear hasn't been restored or recapped and it still works 100% and sounds great with it. Even my recently acquired Trio 700M power-amp that had been sitting in it's box for many a year was found to be in perfect working order with lovely SQ by a hi-fi specialist shop.
 
Mcintosh mc2205 power amp and a SAE mark 1b preamp they both sound really good to my ears but sometimes I wonder how much better they would sound restored.
 
I used the 56 year old McIntosh MC60's in my main rig for about 3 years before restoration about 18 months ago. They were absolutely bone stock/untouched. Purchased from a guy who had them in storage since 1961.

My 9 year old is running a 40 year old Advent 300 receiver. I've adjusted it, but it's all original.
Why no restoration? Meh, I'll get to it... Probably.
 
Onkyo A 7090 Integrated amp-pots and switches cleaned once
Onkyo T4090 tuner-cleaned output level pot once
Onkyo SC90MK2 speakers-blew a tweeter on one the first day I had them in around 1980, replaced it and nothing else
Audio Control C101-cleaned switches once
Technics SL1600MK2-auto board not working, no replacement part, use it manually. Had to replace mat.
 
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Heathkit AR-15 receiver, placed in service 1970. Sometime in the 1980s, the output coupling capacitors were replaced. One was open, both were replaced. About a year ago, the power switch became intermittent. With opening, some filing and bending, it should be good for a few more years. In 1987, I built a new and upgraded multiplex decoder, but the original was still working at that time.

Fisher XP-9 speakers, 1967, nothing ever done, though I am about to recoat the cloth woofer surrounds which are leaking air.

Dual 506 turntable, 1979, on its 3rd belt. Never even been cleaned inside.

2 Mitsubishi HS-U50 VCRs, 1986, had clutches for fast forward and rewind replaced. Nothing else.
 
1972 ar4x's (original owner) sitting on jbl 4312a's (2nd owner) untouched.
1949 ears, left channel blown in hawaiian surf 1971. rebuilt by doc white.
yrmv.
 
Hum.... I still have & use my 1977 JBL 4311b’s, Pioneer SA9500 amp & Phase Linear 5000 tuner all were purchased new by me.
None have been restored but all have been regularly serviced over the decades ....usual stuff new bulbs, controls cleaned, replaced some output transistors that went bad etc.:thmbsp:

PL 5000 tuner recently was serviced/ realigned as suggested & because the tech recommend it as a “Well since I have this thing all a part you might as well put in new caps in too. The additional parts won’t cost that much more.” type of deal.:yes:

None of my TT’s have been “restored" but all have been serviced. New belts, suspensions tuned, bearings oiled & lubed. New stylus on the carts ...you know the drill...

Since I bought most of my gear new It has always been well taken care of restoration not needed..This gear cost more than my car in 1977 I made whole year of payments on those JBL’s:cool:


This stack Pioneer 9500 never restored just serviced.....Actually nothing in my signature line has been “ restored”...just serviced.
 

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Just got new to me JBL 4311's from the original owner who bought them in 82. Almost mint condition never recondition, I also have a set of Sansui SP Z7 speakers that I bought back in 82, almost mint and never recondition. Some of my other gear are close to 30 but quite there yet, may be in another 2 years.
 
Actually I'm more interested in people that buy old stuff, start using it and then decide for whatever reason that they're going to continue to use it without doing anything to it. Obviously AK is filled to the brim with people who can and do restore whether the piece really needs it or not. Just wanted to get some feeling for the other side.

Restoring a vintage piece of gear is not a given. Being an audio forum we are naturally going to see lots of posts from people who are trying to diagnose their old gear. I would think for every person who has a failed component there are 50 components that are just fine.

I have also read of many people who got there gear service and recapped who preffered the sound before the work was done.

Maybe I have been lucky. The only gear I have ever had that didn't work was gear I bought that way so I could repair it. Everything else I bought in working condition and all of it is still working supurbly. Beyond Deoxit/lubricant and a couple minutes to check the DC offset, why would I want to mess with a good thing?

Anyway, here is a partial list of gear I use on a regular basis that has never had a full service/recap:

Heathkit AA-1800 amp
Heathkit AA-1600 amp
Heathkit AJ-1600 tuner
SAE 2400 amp
SAE T-102 Tuner
Carver Mono-block pair
Pioneer RT-707 reel to reel
Soundcraftsman MA-5002 amp
Rotel RA-1412 int amp


In the case of the Rotel, it uses Toshiba output devices that are original and unobtanium. Unless it should fail on it's own, I will not restore anything inside. Even the most competent tech can make a mistake.

As to your question, my own "whatever reason" to not do a full restore is like a doctor's hypocratic oath to do no harm, or in this case, do not risk possible harm. As long as I'm happy with how the gear is performing why would I put it under the knife? It may continue to perform well long after I'm gone.
 
Restoring a vintage piece of gear is not a given. Being an audio forum we are naturally going to see lots of posts from people who are trying to diagnose their old gear. I would think for every person who has a failed component there are 50 components that are just fine.

I have also read of many people who got there gear service and recapped who preffered the sound before the work was done.

Maybe I have been lucky. The only gear I have ever had that didn't work was gear I bought that way so I could repair it. Everything else I bought in working condition and all of it is still working supurbly. Beyond Deoxit/lubricant and a couple minutes to check the DC offset, why would I want to mess with a good thing?

Anyway, here is a partial list of gear I use on a regular basis that has never had a full service/recap:

Heathkit AA-1800 amp
Heathkit AA-1600 amp
Heathkit AJ-1600 tuner
SAE 2400 amp
SAE T-102 Tuner
Carver Mono-block pair
Pioneer RT-707 reel to reel
Soundcraftsman MA-5002 amp
Rotel RA-1412 int amp


In the case of the Rotel, it uses Toshiba output devices that are original and unobtanium. Unless it should fail on it's own, I will not restore anything inside. Even the most competent tech can make a mistake.

As to your question, my own "whatever reason" to not do a full restore is like a doctor's hypocratic oath to do no harm, or in this case, do not risk possible harm. As long as I'm happy with how the gear is performing why would I put it under the knife? It may continue to perform well long after I'm gone.

I tend to agree with this. You're right about how much we read about something is old and therefore requires complete restoration/updating no matter how it sounds. And to some degree I guess I agree with that when it comes to old tube gear. But when it comes to ss gear, and speakers, I'm more of the school that says trust my ears. I've been into audio and music for 45 years. I've heard a lot of systems and a lot of music, and when something sounds "good" or "right" to me, I have to go with it. My KLH Model Sixes are a perfect example. They are my favorite sounding speaker at the moment, beating restored KLH 5's and Klipsch Cornwalls, and stock ADS L520's and Dynaco A25's. All of those sound really good to great, but none of them satisfies me like th Sixes. There is nothing that would indicate to me that they need anything repaired or corrected. I've read about what you should hear if caps/crossovers are out of spec, and I can't hear that with these. Even the bass sounds excellent. But because it's so easy to redope, I plan to do that and listen some more before I commit to a recap. I'd rather play these as they are now and if the tweets stop working or something starts to sound lousy, I'll do something about it then.

After 62 comments in this thread, I'm guessing I'm not alone.
 
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