• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Classifying Vintage Audio Equipment

drbranch

drbranch

Super Member
While reading through the latest Stereophile magazine (April 2019), I noted the Recommended Components 2019 sections and their ratings: A (sometimes A+) for best attainable sound for a component of its kind with "the least musical compromise," B for the next best thing, C for somewhat lower hi-fi, but far more musically natural than average, and D for satisfying musical sound, but of lower fidelity.

I am wondering if anyone has attempted to put together such a classification system for Vintage Audio with or without regard to decade. These classes would be assigned to turntables, receivers, amplifiers, speakers, etc.
 
Register to hide this ad
Welcome to the posting side of ak. I don't know of any rating system for old gear and making one would cause a lot of hard feelings and closed threads. Folks love what they have and stand by it against all comers whether they have heard the other gear or not. Most of what we own and enjoy is just good quality stereo gear, not much for the Stereophile top classes. There are some of those pieces from back then but not as common as the popular Pioneer/Marantz/Sansui receivers folks hunt for these days.
 
Last edited:
Like anything in this world, the more intelligent hands-on experience any commentator has with any subject, the more possibility that there will be credence to honest reporting. I would also like to see that the reviewer's system already was capable of high quality playback of all styles of music. The system is what he is using to base his assessments of the component under review. It needs to be capable.
 
Wow! All excellent comments that were made with great consideration. I do note enough material throughout the forum to take this endeavor under consideration. One thing that made me consider this thread was what I read in a letter's page to Stereophile some years ago: there was once a time when you could work and save your money and could AFFORD to buy the best equipment around for the best sound (but those days are gone). That indicates that at some time, thus why vintage plays into all this, most stereo equipment was affordable and could reproduce music of an excellent quality. I think I'll start be reviewing what was considered the best year by year. My next question is in what year should I start?
 
I've started my research and I think I will break it down as I go along. I will start with High-Fidelity magazine, Dec 1960 issues. I am not going by reviews, but by my knowledge and what was being advertised for the obvious Christmas, gift-giving season. I am listing these in no particular order.

Speakers: AR-3
Amplifier: McIntosh 240
and Marantz Model 9
Tuner: Fisher 202-R
Turntable: Thorens TD-124
Cartridge: Shure M3D

Most of the magazine is geared toward Classical music listening, but some Jazz is mentioned.
Wow, I would love to put something like this together!
 
I can differ from the above list but not disagree totally. I owned 240's but preferred 275's. Liked AR-3 but preferred 3a. I owned a TD 121 but preferred Empire 98, didn't sound like a freight train, Fisher was a good tuner , but preferred Scott 310E. Ortofons SPU was much better than a M3d. Pre-amp, I preferred the Sound of a C-20, but the Marantz model 7C had the feel of luxury in the controls there Mac didn't have. The mC 3500 was and is still the best sounding tube amp ever made. In a larger space give me a Bozak Symphony 4000 CONTEMPORARY with Z tweeters.
 
drbranch said:
Wow! All excellent comments that were made with great consideration. I do note enough material throughout the forum to take this endeavor under consideration. One thing that made me consider this thread was what I read in a letter's page to Stereophile some years ago: there was once a time when you could work and save your money and could AFFORD to buy the best equipment around for the best sound (but those days are gone). That indicates that at some time, thus why vintage plays into all this, most stereo equipment was affordable and could reproduce music of an excellent quality. I think I'll start be reviewing what was considered the best year by year. My next question is in what year should I start?
Click to expand...
1958.
 
twiiii, your evaluations are exactly what I had hoped for. Thank you. I've already made another step in learning. I saw an ad for Bozak speakers, but I had no idea how good they sounded or were made.

UncleBingo, I am going back to 1958 to restart my investigations. It sounds like we will come up with an A-list of components as well as a B-list, etc.
 
For me there are only two kinds of gear whether it's new or old. The two are, gear I'd like to have and all the other gear.
 
1958 (some advertised, some reviewed)

Amplifiers: Marantz Model 7, Scott 99D or 299, Fisher 200 60-watt, Harmon-Kardon Model A-224 (I also note a lot of kits like Heathkits)
Speakers: AR-2, Klipschorn (made in Hope, Arkansas), Bozak 302A, KLH Model 6, Altec Monterey
Turntables: Garrard 301, Thorens TD 124, Rek-O-Cut Rondine
Tuners: Pilot FA-550, Fisher FM-90X, McIntosh MR-55, Scott 300-C
Cartridge: Grado (no model number), ESL C-60
And reel to reels were quite popular.

These are all from High-Fidelity magazine. I wish there were archived back issues of Stereo Review, but I have yet to find any. (Have now added HiFi/Stereo Review thanks to mrh)
 
Last edited:
DaveVoorhis said:
And that's how the fight started... :D
Click to expand...

Yup. I've talked to all sorts of folks when selling audio. There is no such thing as consensus picks. There is no agreement on what is audiophile, so much so that audio preference can only be defined within the listener's perspective, not by the retailer or manufacturer. Anything can be the bee's knees to anyone, regardless of price point, brand, status, country of origin, and so on.
 
SoCal Sam said:
Yup. I've talked to all sorts of folks when selling audio. There is no such thing as consensus picks. There is no agreement on what is audiophile, so much so that audio preference can only be defined within the listener's perspective, not by the retailer or manufacturer. Anything can be the bee's knees to anyone, regardless of price point, brand, status, country of origin, and so on.
Click to expand...

I cannot disagree, but there is some value, at least to me, in finding out when certain products were manufactured. For example, I own a pair of KLH Model 5s. They are the sweetest sounding to me and I don't expect anyone else to agree. What I didn't know is that already the Model 6 was being made in 1958. I am now curious as to how much a relic these beautiful speakers are. The idea that I am listening to 60+ year old speakers and still enjoying them because of the excellent quality is amazing to me.
 
SoCal Sam said:
Yup. I've talked to all sorts of folks when selling audio. There is no such thing as consensus picks. There is no agreement on what is audiophile, so much so that audio preference can only be defined within the listener's perspective, not by the retailer or manufacturer. Anything can be the bee's knees to anyone, regardless of price point, brand, status, country of origin, and so on.
Click to expand...
Yep it's all about what sounds best to you.Some high-end audiophile could come to my house to listen to my system and say it sounds like crap. To which I would probably laugh.
 
drbranch said:
The idea that I am listening to 60+ year old speakers and still enjoying them because of the excellent quality is amazing to me.
Click to expand...
What was good then remains good today. I enjoy New Advents in the garage system.

Far better exists today, however, if that is important to you.
 
update on KLH model 5's - manufactured from 1968-72 (per internet research)
sooooo - model 5 came after model 6? I guess it is.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom