All my new gear can be repaired, just not by the avg DYI hack, they normally do not possess the skill or "equipment".
I have the background and access to the equipment to work on it. Not everyone wants to repair gear.
Continuous Vintage Failure: Please Recommend New "Modern" Amp
I have the background and access to the equipment to work on it. Not everyone wants to repair gear.
malden
Lunatic Member
He may enjoy working on audio gear but it doesn't sound like he is very good at it.
Since I did the today's dollars on the Kenwood I thought people would extrapolate the 5000 on the Sansui which originally sold for 900 that the 5000 was in today's dollars.
I've still have a ST-70 that I like. I got nothing against vintage. I've had plenty of it. What I found going vintage to new and back again over the years the better value is in new gear along with better sound. This is swimming against the vintage current here on AK but that doesn't bother me.
When I bought a new low power NAD receiver that just kicked the snot out of the KA-8006 driving Dahlquist DQ-12's That was an Epiphany for me.
As far as old equipment back in the day when it broke 10 years down the road it wasn't worth much of anything that's why it got junked. Why fix it if it's gonna cost you many multiples of what is worth.
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nailer
audionerd
Probably, but it will be the current new stuff.I wonder if 50 years from now there will be some who are still using and repairing the same old stuff?
Justrucking
Member
Parasound, Denafrips, PS Audio, Cambridge, XTZ, some Schiit, Emotiva, Denon... None of it does what my little Sansui can do. The incredible deep bass, the airy tube like sound of the midrange and the natural sounding highs. The other brands I mentioned were either too analytical, veiled or down right fatiguing, especially with the Zu DW6 Supremes and the Zu Omen DW's I own. Now, some folks like that hyper detail/analytical sound, I don't. I want Fun-Fi! The Sansui delivers.
The KLH Model 5's I owned handled the gear much better, the sound was good, I really liked it, but then the Zu's entered the picture, entirely different level of sound. Most of the gear I had sounded rather meh with the Zu's. The Venus II 12th with the Athena and Thallo was incredibly veiled, DOA. I added the Parasound A23+ and things improved, but still very veiled. Enter the PS Audio Gaincell DAC/Analog preamp, much improved, but still not there.
On a whim I found the $200 Sansui 2000 up the road from me and went and purchased it. This little Sansui just flipped my audio world on its head. The reason I went out and grabbed a Sansui 4000 when one became available locally, another improvement across the board. What can I say? Others that have heard this little setup of mine have told me it is the best they have heard through this household. I know I enjoy, especially the meaty bass, and the airy tube like sound of the midrange, none of this other gear could do that. Just my experience.
Mister Pig
Pigamus Maximus
At some point, gear that is new now will need servicing.
Eh maybe he will be dead before that is needed.
If you are that environmentally conscious have you considered the consumption cost of you being on the Internet? I suspect it might be more than a modern audio component.
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charles 1973
Super Member
I'm surprised my 10 wpc 44 year old Realistic STA 7 receiver still works, at least as an integrated amp, since I screwd up the tuner.
For a While I was using it in my living room for music and video. Despite its age the darn thing gives up very little to my recent 80 wpc Yamaha Rx v485 network AVR in terms of sound quality when kept out of clipping.
IMO analog audio had already reached the point where high quality music could be achieved for a reasonable price as far back as the mid 70's. Whether a company choose to use the available technology is another issue.
If I where buying a new integrated amp, I would look at Audiolab or Marantz. They both have some fine units at reasonable prices. Rega and Cambridge have some nice amps too, But some Don't have a balance control, If you're OK with that look at them too.
For a While I was using it in my living room for music and video. Despite its age the darn thing gives up very little to my recent 80 wpc Yamaha Rx v485 network AVR in terms of sound quality when kept out of clipping.
IMO analog audio had already reached the point where high quality music could be achieved for a reasonable price as far back as the mid 70's. Whether a company choose to use the available technology is another issue.
If I where buying a new integrated amp, I would look at Audiolab or Marantz. They both have some fine units at reasonable prices. Rega and Cambridge have some nice amps too, But some Don't have a balance control, If you're OK with that look at them too.
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jayvis
Addicted Member
The way some of these guys hoard parts, I wouldn't be surprised if some nonagenarian tries to resurrect some 100-year-old audio dinosaurs in 2073.Probably, but it will be the current new stuff.
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probably, but as time moves on there will be less and less available to fix this old stuff. Already transistor subs for 70s gear is a challenge and you may as well forget about a lot of the IC chips in 80s and newer gear. Sounds silly but I suspect tube gear will remain able to be repaired for longer than any solid state equipment will. Even with that though, there are just parts that aren't to be had.I wonder if 50 years from now there will be some who are still using and repairing the same old stuff?
Lavane
Lunatic Member
I agree. About the only thing tube gear wise I had a problem finding a part for was a 10 pin socket. I don't temember if it was a Nover or Mag Novar, but it took me awhile to find just four. With SS it was a challenge to find an exact transistor, or sub a few times. With chips it can be even harder. At least with the early chips.you can usually find a modern replacement that can be used with a few mods like swapping out resistors, cutting traces and adding jumpers. But at least you can get the thing going again. With 80's and 90's equipment finding certain chips can be impossible.
malden
Lunatic Member
That's what? A strawman argument?
malden
Lunatic Member
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malden
Lunatic Member
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One thing I have found is that the number of items in the "vintage" catagory is not stagnant or finite. As each year passes, more items become "vintage" that was not considered to be in the previous years. Right now there is a lot of late 1990s, 2000s, and later, higher end audio gear that is very reasonably priced and in excellent condition. I know that at some point the 1980s NAD and Denon components I have will likely be too problematic to keep using. I won't get to upset over it because there will be plenty of 2000s and up receivers and amps around at good prices to replace them. I am more concerned with keeping the speakers I have in use than the electronics that drive them.
gslikker
Super Member
For amps, I am into vintage and restore my own, so I do not know about new, but for stuff like household appliances my strategy is always try look for problems and negative reviews, etc, on the internet.
It helps to weed out bad choices.
I do not know if the same works out for audio, but discard any forum comments based on brand love, beforehand
It helps to weed out bad choices.
I do not know if the same works out for audio, but discard any forum comments based on brand love, beforehand
I always look at the negative reviews first when buying something. Even if the item has a very high ratio of positive to negative reviews.