With the proper choices, which are many, vintage gear provides an exceptional cost-benefit ratio to the world of QUALITY sound.
I have today (my 'Saturday,' I get to work the weekend at the library) been listening to my two 'small' stereos, my unabashed vintage set-ups. I have, again, been tickled at the SOUND quality they provide. Not ne plus ultra, but by-golly listenable, toe-tapping sound on the verge of 'whatever else' is out there.
The stereo up here is the Nikko NR-1015, a fine 85 wpc receiver driving two pair of speakers: the Advent Loudspeaker and the Marantz DS-900. Down in the family room is the Kenwood KA-9100/KT-7500 with the JBL L100 Century's.
I was just downstairs listening, and it is only the FM, but I was in the sweet spot and I was taken away by the discreet imaging and the sound quality of that old stereo. I've heard the complaints made about the L100's, but they're sounding awfully clean and accurate down in my family room!
The three big stereos I have set-up are separates, and while I consider them vintage they may just be 'old.' I will put them against most anything, though, within reason, for their quality of sound provided in my listening environment.
The two audio salons in town here may not have SOTA gear, but I have not been tempted with their admittedly great sounding gear-- what I have is just as good to my old ears. I'm looking for that 'order of magnitude,' I guess, and that difference is NOT there.
Heck, once you've got the speaker systems set you're more than half-way to great sound. I especially like my separates (which makes my enjoyment of the little stereos something special itself) with the open, spacious sound BIG power provides.
But, yeah, I would like a pair of Carver's AMazing Platinums! Oh, hey, THEY'RE old, too!