• 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

Investing in Vintage Stereo - Is This Stupid?

I think a lot of people are super enthusiastic about it until they realize there's a pretty big commitment involved as opposed to streaming something on their phone or computer.

Sure, it doesn't cost a ton to get a Crosley to mangle a few record you picked up at Urban Outfitters or the thrift but if you want to take it to any level higher the money, time, space needed go up significantly.
 
Also there LOTS of Gen Xers like myself that like Vintage Stuff we saw as kids, that our dads has in the 70s. So its not just Boomers...yoiu have a slew of Gex Xers that also want vintage gear...and we are getting it from Boomers that are fading away.
 
If you can flip enough to support your habit, go for it.

NJguy said:
you have a slew of Gex Xers that also want vintage gear...and we are getting it from Boomers that are fading away.
Click to expand...

Wishing we'd just die already, right? <G>
 
If you do invest in vintage make sure it is money that you can afford to lose. You might clean up or you might get wiped out.

I invested about 20k in US silver coins a few years back. I probably paid about $18.00 an ounce on average for it and the last time I checked it was worth less than my initial investment. I'm still not worried though because I still have the same amount of silver that I bought initially and it's not likely to go out of style.

I think the stock market would be more of a gamble than vintage stereo equipment because it's a bubble that is going to burst.
 
As someone who has collected all kinds of things and I guess you could say I was a picker long before the word picker ever became popular is the majority of items that get old also get more valuable. A lot has to do with population increasing as with increases in population an item becomes more rare due to the fact that their is a larger pool of fish out their that increases the likelyhood their will be more demand for an item. I find the the more rare an item the more likely a return on your investment will be realized. So if you did make the decision to make an investment its best to shoot for the top of the line item and one that is in the best of condition as those usually bring in the higher returns.

A long time ago I remember my dad said as a kid no one would waste their time with a model T as they made to many to be worth anything, but with time even they have become rare.

Just think of the things that once no one thought anyone would collect, lamps, clocks, bottles, beer cans, bottle tops, the list is endless. But I have seen one area that has really taken a hit as in the last 40 years interest in them as a collectable has really dropped due to no new blood, and that would be postage stamps. Postage Stamps were very popular to collect not long after they were introduced. At one time stamp collection was the most popular hobby. But due to a drop in interest with young people their is very little new blood to carry on the interest, making values of them drop on all but the very rarest, and areas of certain interest, mainly Russian and Chinese postage.
 
matteos said:
The higher the price the harder it is to sell. I used to be able to swap gear in and out by buying and selling on the used market. but now my gear has got more expensive I'm finding it harder and harder to shift it. I think classic cars are a wiser investment for your money if you want to see a return. The problem is identifying what is going to be a classic in the future. For instance a last gen Toyota supra now commands significant money. A Mitsubishi 3000GT.. nowhere close to that. like everything. investing is a gamble.
Click to expand...

Ahh yes, the mighty 2JZ-GTE motor. Preposterous output from a straight six when boost applied.

On the other hand, the Mitsu 3000GT, while an amazing piece of japanese design, is over-complicated and a true ass-pain to fix (should something go seriously wrong). Lots of tech stuffed in that car.

NJguy said:
Also there LOTS of Gen Xers like myself that like Vintage Stuff we saw as kids, that our dads has in the 70s. So its not just Boomers...yoiu have a slew of Gex Xers that also want vintage gear...and we are getting it from Boomers that are fading away.
Click to expand...

GenX myself, NJ. I heard it said recently that the problem with Gen X males is that we remember dads who came home to their chair with drink in hand (or not) and moms were more traditional, and we see our sons being opposite of that, helping with child rearing, cleaning, etc. We don't know WHAT direction to go.

But, I digress. Not germane to the thread.
 
You are correct about finding people with the knowledge, skill and experience to repair and maintain vintage stereo electronics. Those that are available are older guys and they are becoming fewer. It seems that everyone is listening to music on ear buds, not proper stereo speakers. This is a great way to lose your hearing by age 40. I had to show my daughters that it is entirely possible to connect a CD player, solid state player, HDTV or a laptop computer to a vintage stereo receiver and listen to whatever they want to through stereo speakers. Some people are just drawn to the vintage 2 channel stereo stuff and others aren't. I just think that some of the vintage stereo preamps/amps, and receivers are just plain super cool looking with a distinct look for each company. The new black plastic stuff does not have the quality engineering and longevity built into it and they all look alike. Just like the comparing the looks of cars from the 60's and 70's to the sameness of cars today. It must have been just a 'era' thing of that time. I still believe that the good gear will be worth more in 5 years than they are now.
 
Being able to buy far below market value or being able to repair broken gear can allow one to make some decent spending money. It's all about how you bought as has already been discussed.

Investing in audio is inherently risky. The market is fickle. The glory days were back in the early/mid 2000's when deals where much easier to find than now. It's like any other collectable, the big money is in certain pieces that everybody is chasing.
 
Restoration is the key here. Can you STILL get the same brand of caps,resistors, diodes or power supplies in the unit you buy? Probably not which means you are changing to sound for better or worse. Would a purist who buys the unit hear a difference? Maybe yes or no. Buying vintage for personal use is fun for re selling it could become a major headache. Jmo.
 
danrclem said:
If you do invest in vintage make sure it is money that you can afford to lose. You might clean up or you might get wiped out.
Click to expand...

This is true with ANYTHING--audio gear, cars, guns, real estate, stocks or other "collectibles". If you NEED that money (investment capital or related income) to pay the bills or bail out of an emergency, it has to be liquid and have a "known value". If you are relying on income from a rental property to make your own mortgage payment, you are IMO stretched too thin. If you are one major car repair or medical emergency away from insolvency, a pile of "investment" audio gear is not likely to be a reliable way out, or at minimum you will end up in a "fire sale" situation and lose your ass on the "investment".

qdrone said:
Can you STILL get the same brand of caps,resistors, diodes or power supplies in the unit you buy? Probably not which means you are changing to sound for better or worse. Would a purist who buys the unit hear a difference? Maybe yes or no.
Click to expand...

This is a debate that rages on in other threads, so I will be brief. You most likely will be able to get better components (for most parts) being that tighter tolerance components are available, and at much lower prices than they were back in the day, so the overall performance should be closer to the intended design/schematic--some parts; however, are "unobtanium". Do 40 year old parts sound the same as the day the unit hit the showroom floor?--most likely not. Can you hear the difference?--YES--I have had the opportunity to A/B identical units--one restored (not modified, just restored) vs an all-stock unit and the difference was dramatic--whether you prefer the intended sound, or the sound of 40 year old aging components is a whole other story.
 
Yes it is stupid.

How much has the stock market gone up in those same 6-7 years? And with index funds you don't have to worry about them getting stolen or damaged. Or have to lug them around if you move. Or have them suddenly break down and need repair.

Investing in tangible goods almost never makes sense for an individual. People do it as an excuse to indulge in their hobbies, not as a sound investment strategy.
 
Just think of the things that once no one thought anyone would collect, lamps, clocks, bottles, beer cans, bottle tops, the list is endless. But I have seen one area that has really taken a hit as in the last 40 years interest in them as a collectable has really dropped due to no new blood, and that would be postage stamps. Postage Stamps were very popular to collect not long after they were introduced. At one time stamp collection was the most popular hobby. But due to a drop in interest with young people their is very little new blood to carry on the interest, making values of them drop on all but the very rarest, and areas of certain interest, mainly Russian and Chinese postage.
Click to expand...

Thanks for bringing up Postage Stamps. I have a hand me down collection from my dad and my mothers dad. I believe it was appraised in the 70's or 80's . Unfortunately I don't have any paperwork confirming that and that appraisal is no doubt not valid anymore. Today the collection may not be worth the cost of getting it appraised. I wonder if I could donate it somewhere and get a tax deduction.
 
I think that the prices on vintage Marantz and Sansui amps and receivers have reached the absolute limit that anyone in their right mind would pay! I personally would not pay the asking prices today.
 
buying TOTL receivers for such a specialized investment means you need to find only MINT units, no scratches, no
bruises, no wear whatsoever, and with optional original cases, shipping boxes, and instructions. a Bill of Sale will
help.

then be prepared to fix to period-correct components. No Black Gates, stepped attenuators, power supply upgrades,
etc. and you do the work to preserve possible future margins.

then run them all the time with low-level sound, on surge protectors, etc. otherwise power-up after 10 years could
mean BOOM.

make sure your price sampling is bullet-proof and at the first sign of weakness - you pull the plug. like in 2008/9.

I've watched nakamichi TOTL like the dragon go all the way up and now they are really down, and no one pays
a premium for a blue-printed or upgraded unit.

there are audio units that keep increasing but they're not receivers. Had I your money to "invest" I would look
at the largest groups of the lunatic fringe ( I am a forever member of one of these) and buy one of their holy
grails. but look for an unmolested unit in a garage/attic find, fix it yourself. make it absolutely period correct
and working. find it cheap, really cheap.

go to small towns, find the unofficial mayor, buy her a present, leave a business card and ask her for a
call when there's a change in the population, and there's an unpublished estate sale, and, of course, make
sure she knows and gets a commission.

one example is a L300.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom