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Old VS. New

RUNN1NG EMOT

RUNN1NG EMOT

Rock On
I've been looking around for my first system and found lots of suggestions for new equipment. However, I'm seeing lots of sweet looking set-ups on here with older equipment. Is there anything to this, or is it just happenstance? I'm willing to pay more for new equipment if it is better quality, but if I can get some old equipment with good quality, I'd be down for that, too.

I'm pretty ignorant about most of this stuff so any information would be helpful!
 
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It depends. I'm not that much of a vintage (50's-70's) gear fan myself. Sure a lot of it looks cool, but I prefer more modern things like bass management, remote controls, DAC's, digital audio, class D amps, etc, and I'm no spring chicken so it isn't an age thing.
 
Used and vintage equipment can be very rewarding . You need to go out and listen to as much as you can .
 
You will have to let your own ears and eyes for that matter decide. I love technology I run raspberry pi's for my media center I have a smart tv, but for my listening experience I prefer vintage gear. (I dont even own a cd player) Again that is my personal choice. YMMV
 
I never audition speakers for sonic performance before I buy. Just to check if they work OK.

It is pointless. It is on someones amp in someones room with his/hers furniture. They will never sound anything like when I bring them home.

I just know what kind of sound I am after and I do my research on what speaker models to go for. I enjoy the hunt.
 
You can get some awesome sound from vintage gear, there is a lot that still out performs modern but ultimately you can get better sound from modern. It's just a question of how much are you willing to spend to get that better sound and will the improvement be worth it to you. Some vintage can be had for a steal but there are some deals out there for some nice used modern too.I prefer vintage for it's,design, bang for the buck,cool factor,build quality,sound and it was the gear I lusted after in my yewt.
 
Pandovski said:
I never audition speakers for sonic performance before I buy. Just to check if they work OK.

It is pointless. It is on someones amp in someones room with his/hers furniture. They will never sound anything like when I bring them home.

I just know what kind of sound I am after and I do my research on what speaker models to go for. I enjoy the hunt.
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I'm not sure it's quite that fruitless to audition on another system. You can evaluate things like tonality, balance, and dynamics on most systems. What you won't be able to tell is how the imaging, soundstage, etc will work out.

I'm curious how you judge which models to go after? I have a general sense of what you like from your posts, but I've had a difficult time correlating other peoples listening to my own.

Regarding old vs new, both approaches are limiting. You will be constrained to hearing new stuff at local shops and are subject to what they carry. For old, you are stuck hunting ebay, barter town, craigslist, garage sales, etc. No real opportunities to audition exist. You can take flyers on equipment that you think has a good reputation but with it, you have to deal with maintenance issues. There aren't a lot of old speakers (but there are a few) that would get me too excited. With the modern approach, you can get similar prices to vintage by buying a few year old equipment. You still get modern attributes but at substantial discounts.

To the OP, is there a type of sound that you can describe, or some models of speakers/amps that you liked to maybe help point you in one direction or another?
 
Vintage equipment is going to need repairs and maintenance to perform properly, unless it has already been rebuilt/restored. So you need to either have enough of a technical ability to make the repairs yourself, or the money to pay for repairs/updates and a willingness to have your unit sit on someone's bench for months waiting its turn.

If you can afford it. I would suggest buying new. There is some great gear out there. Read the reviews, read the threads here on AK, ask questions, and find a good Audio Dealer to listen to some systems in person. (perhaps a day-trip to Chicago)
 
Both old and new can live together in harmony. There are fine examples of gear from both eras. The big thing vintage has playing against it is restoration work. While speakers are relatively cheap to refoam or recap, amps and receivers can be more costly depending on your own skill level. With new gear, especially if buying brand new, you are footing the depreciation, assuming you will sell it and upgrade someday. On a positive note, brand new gear has a warranty, which is important to many people, and carries a benefit to those who dont wish to get their hands dirty. All of that being said, great value can be had in buying used, either vintage or modern. Theres just so much out there to see and hear its literally astounding. My big words of advice? Find some local AKers and listen to their systems. Youll almost certainly find something that suits your tastes. Once youre armed with that experience, you will be a better educated shopper, and have a better idea of what to look for instead of the perpetual trial and error many of us here have gone through.
 
dnewma04 said:
I'm not sure it's quite that fruitless to audition on another system. You can evaluate things like tonality, balance, and dynamics on most systems. What you won't be able to tell is how the imaging, soundstage, etc will work out.

I'm curious how you judge which models to go after? I have a general sense of what you like from your posts, but I've had a difficult time correlating other peoples listening to my own.

Regarding old vs new, both approaches are limiting. You will be constrained to hearing new stuff at local shops and are subject to what they carry. For old, you are stuck hunting ebay, barter town, craigslist, garage sales, etc. No real opportunities to audition exist. You can take flyers on equipment that you think has a good reputation but with it, you have to deal with maintenance issues. There aren't a lot of old speakers (but there are a few) that would get me too excited. With the modern approach, you can get similar prices to vintage by buying a few year old equipment. You still get modern attributes but at substantial discounts.

To the OP, is there a type of sound that you can describe, or some models of speakers/amps that you liked to maybe help point you in one direction or another?
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I have auditioned speakers that are legendary and unique by build and sonic character in other peoples homes or shops and they rarely sounded good to me. Last serious pair I heard was B&W 802 through a couple of Vincent monoblock amps and the sound was disappointing. They sounded no better than a pair of Cerwin-Vega AT12s plugged to a Technics integrated.

I have a damaged hearing and tinnitus. My hearing doesn't EQ rooms that well and I listen to the worst of the room artefacts first.

But if I took those puppies home, set them up, relax, calm down, center myself and play the music I like and know, in my own room... I know I would be blown away. Same thing happened when I auditioned my AR11s at the original owner and when I brought them home.

Also I care what others say about their own experiences with equipment, I read, I evaluate. Also I read all the specs and try to think what gear is compatible to my setup, how to elevate it.

I bought the AR11s solely based on how impressed I was with my AR6s and what other said about the AR11s on the forums. I then went and bought an amp that has the current to push 2 ohms without breaking a sweat. Got me an HK6900 with 90A of current. Job done.

And now I know I want a pair of Martin Logan ESLs and tubes next.
 
I generally prefer new gear. In my mind, since I'm not the sort of guy who likes to open things up and tinker with what I find inside, a good warranty is an important feature.

I also happen to think that a number of advances have been made in materials, design, technologies, and other elements that affect the performance of your gear. Granted, the use of manufacturing processes like Lean have also made newer gear less serviceable by the average audio/electronics hobbyist, but, as I said above, since I'm not into tinkering, that's not an issue for me.

I have a couple of pieces of gear that are over 30 years old that still work fine, as well as two newer systems that all work fine.

But for me, I like new stuff.
 
RUNN1NG EMOT said:
I've been looking around for my first system and found lots of suggestions for new equipment.
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Well, what do you want to do? Play records, CDs, stream?

For a starter, I'd go cheap and vintage just to get your feet wet. You can find respectable gear all day on CL and get listening for a fraction of the price of a single new piece.

Most places a bit of effort and $200 (or less) can get you a decent starter system or receiver, turntable, speakers and probably a CD or DVD player.

You can also become a subscriber for $25 and shop in Barter Town, where other AK'ers sell their gear. Aurora isn't far from Chicago and there's probably plenty of AK'ers local who have modest gear sitting on shelves that could help you out too. I know if you were in the Detroit area, there would be lots of opportunity for you.

Good luck to you in your quest and welcome to AK!!
 
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The vintage hobby exists for its own sake mostly; folks who really love that look and feel and/or want something they had or lusted after in the past.

If you're like me and are really after sound quality and don't care too much about its esthetic, then the modern used market is the place to shop. A lot of terrific gear from the past decade can be had for 30-40% of it's original cost. And it's new enough to not give any headaches for at least another ten+ years generally speaking.

Electronics have a shelf life. After 20 or so years, the performance declines. Ask anyone who has "re-capped" and old receiver. It really does freshen the sound. I'd recommend getting something that's still fresh.

What kind of budget were you thinking of?
 
My plan for my system is to start with a UTurn Orbit Plus turntable. After that I'm pretty open. I'll be in a dorm room for the next year, maybe two, so I'll need something that fits there. I mainly listen to rock, but I also want something with bass power for electronic or rap. I'd like it to be pretty versatile so I could listen to whatever and it'll sound good, though. As far as budget, the cheaper the better as I just started saving for it, but I'd be willing to spend up to $1000 for the first wave and in the future I would probably upgrade (especially speakers).
 
How can one define new vs old these days? There is "old" as in 1980's, but that stuff is practically still "new" compared to stuff made in the 60's. Even my HT receiver is over 10 years old now; is it still "new"?
 
Andyman said:
Definitely go vintage then.
When your roommates trash it, the pain won't be so great.
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Could I still go for the U Turn? I'm really paranoid about ruining records since I've got a whole box of my grandmas records that are priceless to me. If I went vintage for a turntable, what would be something I could feel safe with.
 
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