markshan
Sir Thrift a Lot
The adjective was appended to the word "adult", not the word "receiver" or "price". Apologize or own it, but don't be disingenuous. It's there in black and white for everyone to see.
$8k for sx-1980.....WTF???
- Thread starter suzook
- Start date
@Snow put it perfectly. It's no more about sound/specs any more than the buyer of a $500K Hemi Cuda cares about what performance he could've gotten in a brand new Corvette/BMW/Porsche/MB for a fraction of the cost.
Simply put, people who buy vintage receivers want vintage receivers- and the number who want them has been growing...both unexpectedly and exponentially.
That's the fascinating thing about markets - nobody knows when, where or why something that had little value for many years suddenly becomes a mega hot collectible with prices to match. This is nothing new. And when it does, nothing seems to trigger more rabid resentment from those who've been immersed in the field for years...of which a number of responses in this thread are an example.
goodolpg
Just an old fart trying to help.
Many items people could not afford, or were not able to purchase when the item was new, now have the disposable income that allows them to now purchase that item they've coveted for many years.
Sure there are modern products that are "better" than that vintage SX-1980 or Hemi Cuda, but that's not the point.
As has already been mentioned, the "market" will determine what a buyer is willing to pay for an item.
A "seller" can ask whatever they want, doesn't always mean they will get it.
Sure there are modern products that are "better" than that vintage SX-1980 or Hemi Cuda, but that's not the point.
As has already been mentioned, the "market" will determine what a buyer is willing to pay for an item.
A "seller" can ask whatever they want, doesn't always mean they will get it.
I also think that many buy these high price vintage monsters in hopes (expectations) of prices rising as they have in past. Yes just to make a buck. Just as alot of these folks purchasing high figure muscle collector cars.
markshan
Sir Thrift a Lot
These buyers aren't shopping for WPC, they are buying their youth. Once you understand that the desperation pricing starts to make sense.
>current year 2022
>TOTL separates system
You’ve seen the prices on desirable vintage separates? I bought additional house insurance two weeks ago after I roughly tallied up the current prices on the gear I own.
>80s unit for $1000 will sound better
That’s possible, but I doubt it, quality was on the hard decline in the 1980s. Even if that were true it would be ugly af compared to a vintage monster, and the return on investment is near to zero, because the demand is close to nil for these units.
Don’t fool yourself, I’ve owned them all, the monster receivers were statement pieces and kicked ass with great fidelity. If I didn’t have some audio disease whereby I need half my living room to be electronics, there’d be a Marantz 2500 and an RTR sitting there alone.
Makes a lot of sense. I have a whole bunch of gear now that I was drooling over when I was in college.
I didn't pay $8k for it but I get the feeling. It's pretty great to own that gear now later in my life.
Now where do I find a minty pair of Infinity Kappa 9s?
markshan
Sir Thrift a Lot
For me it's a pair of A/D/S 910s with the studio stands.
I bought my youth with a mint sx-880, 4 cerwin vega d3's, a pioneer 60+1 cd changer, realistic equalizer, and a technics sl-1500, all for under $575 this last year. Yes, I'm a cheap fck. But very happy with it. Just need a tape deck, and I'm set.
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Very nice!
Mister Pig
Pigamus Maximus
Eh people like what they like. If it's a monster reciever then good for the when they buy it. There are so many pathways to travel in audio, I prefer to be on the one I travel and it's good to chat with people on this same journey. On the other hand I like getting texts and photos from the people on other paths enjoying what they do. Their posts on AK represent those "digital post cards" of their journey, so I often read them without commenting cause I have no relevant experience to share. Does not mean I don't have a curiosity about those different pathways...
Sounds like you did well. All pieces appear to be in nice shape. Demand is strong for all Pioneer receivers in the "-80" range- the further up the ladder, the better.
Yup, took my time looking for quality pieces. The Vegas needed usual refoam. Cabs just needed a good scrub down. The realistic equalizer was nos in box. Cd changer needed a full rear down, cleaning and such. Alot of elbow grease, but worth it.
You know, that was previously the case with vintage audio, but that’s all changed in the last few years. I’ve found that an equal amount of younger people, mostly millennials, have entered the game. These pieces were made before they were even born, so it’s not nostalgia they’re chasing so much as an aesthetic. Then maybe again it is a sort of nostalgia, albeit one for a time and place in which they never lived.
markshan
Sir Thrift a Lot
The same way that we dig steampunk.
it's not overpriced in the sense that someone might actually pay that much for one, it's overpriced in what you get for that amount of money barring the whole "buying their youth" thing. better gear can be bought with that money..there was and is plenty of great audio after the receiver wars ended.
BilboBaggins
Addicted Member
Ah, but it wouldn't be a Pioneer SX-1980 though, would it?
Come to Canada. The prices are deflated here right now, and so is our dollar. You win on both sides.
I dunno about deflated, if I had a pile of Marantz 2225s I could sell them all in a couple of weeks and probably retire.
AudioAvarice
Super Member
I suppose for that sort of money, it's going to get the respect, and use it deserves, rather than rotting away in storage, or worse, just thrown away, like much of this equipment sadly was, especially in the 90's when repair shops were much less common.
I'm too young to remember much of my equipment, most of it I brought because it was a better value to performance ratio compared to similar spec'ed modern equipment, and the build quaility is often much better.
A late 80's Akai AM-93/AT-93 integrated/tuner combo would out perform most TOTL receivers, for well under a $1000, and includes a reasonable DAC @titanstats
I'm too young to remember much of my equipment, most of it I brought because it was a better value to performance ratio compared to similar spec'ed modern equipment, and the build quaility is often much better.
A late 80's Akai AM-93/AT-93 integrated/tuner combo would out perform most TOTL receivers, for well under a $1000, and includes a reasonable DAC @titanstats
