Those are really nice systems. If they bring you joy and make you smile, that is the best medicine in the world. Keep collecting... I know I will!
Question for the collectors/hoarders
- Thread starter Danathepill
- Start date
For me, as a young father I never really had the "resources" (money) to collect audio gear that I didn't absolutely need and use. As our children became adults and (finally!) moved out, I started setting up systems in every room that I could control. My wife declared the kitchen and master bedroom as "off limits." As I refocused on quality over quantity, I sold off or gave away stuff to reverse that trend.
Now I have systems only where I can and do use them. Having had to clear out BOTH my parents' home and my wife's parents' home, I am working to reduce my clutter to minimums of identifiable, easy-to-dispose of stuff as I approach retirement in a few short years. I love my kids, and do NOT wish to burden them nor my lovely wife with trying to get rid of anything like that. My parents home was five 25yard roll-offs, hers was three. I want ours to be ONE, for the household stuff no one would want and can't be sold. (Typically kitchen items, bedding, and clothes.)
As I continue to upgrade my main 2.1 channel stereo system to be my own "final retirement system", I know that my youngest (son) does know what it is and had said he'd be proud to own it when I'm gone. When I upgrade something, the existing item gets traded-in, sold, or given away. There is and will always be nothing but truly good stuff that pleases me. I'll get current or just-recently discontinued product as a means to having things that don't need fixing...that I know now I'll never "get around to" working on. I'm down to one Pioneer PL-514 turntable and one MCS cassette deck (both of which I would happy gift away today!) and one other turntable that belongs to a friend which needs restoration.
Now I have systems only where I can and do use them. Having had to clear out BOTH my parents' home and my wife's parents' home, I am working to reduce my clutter to minimums of identifiable, easy-to-dispose of stuff as I approach retirement in a few short years. I love my kids, and do NOT wish to burden them nor my lovely wife with trying to get rid of anything like that. My parents home was five 25yard roll-offs, hers was three. I want ours to be ONE, for the household stuff no one would want and can't be sold. (Typically kitchen items, bedding, and clothes.)
As I continue to upgrade my main 2.1 channel stereo system to be my own "final retirement system", I know that my youngest (son) does know what it is and had said he'd be proud to own it when I'm gone. When I upgrade something, the existing item gets traded-in, sold, or given away. There is and will always be nothing but truly good stuff that pleases me. I'll get current or just-recently discontinued product as a means to having things that don't need fixing...that I know now I'll never "get around to" working on. I'm down to one Pioneer PL-514 turntable and one MCS cassette deck (both of which I would happy gift away today!) and one other turntable that belongs to a friend which needs restoration.
orsen
Jukebox Hero
i had stacks and stacks in numerous rooms, then i got sick. while recovering i gave away huge amounts.
the broken stuff went to a a guy who wanted to get into repairs, as well as all the spare drivers ect.
i still have way too much, all working. life is in major flux atm, i may sell whats left shortly. why do i keep it?
i like it. it has value to me. its pretty, like art, specially black face sansui. monetary value doesnt matter. i have a sansui au/tu 666 on display in the living room on top of the avr. they are not hooked up, they are plugged in. why? simply cause i like em and they look good there.
simple answer i guess is cause i like em.
.
the broken stuff went to a a guy who wanted to get into repairs, as well as all the spare drivers ect.
i still have way too much, all working. life is in major flux atm, i may sell whats left shortly. why do i keep it?
i like it. it has value to me. its pretty, like art, specially black face sansui. monetary value doesnt matter. i have a sansui au/tu 666 on display in the living room on top of the avr. they are not hooked up, they are plugged in. why? simply cause i like em and they look good there.
simple answer i guess is cause i like em.
.
This may not satisfy you or anyone else, but I'll offer that one of the primary drivers to me making BIG changes in my environment (where my music listening happens) was after I had posted some photos of it and then started looking critically at what was there.
It was FUGLY. I started noticing all the junk that my eyes had ignored for years. What was "nice to look at" to me initially, really wasn't and I was kidding myself to think others would be ignoring it. Should any of us care what others think? Theoretically, NO. In reality, the eyes of others are always helpful to point out things that we are otherwise blind to see. Being open-minded about getting creative criticism is a positive thing, not a negative.
I invite anyone to suggest things I could do to make this even better.
Replace that ugly silver crap with black gear
Yuck. Black is out, silver is back in style!Replace that ugly silver crap with black gear
(My Bluesound Vault 2 is decidedly BLACK!)
DeadRock
Ideas Guy
Your candor is refreshing...and deserving of props! That room is stunning by my measures/indicators...enjoy...
David
Artie
Super Member
My "collection", so to speak, came about 3-fold:
1st, I was the tech in a small stereo store, that was in a partial college town. This would have been 80's to early 90's. The stuff wasn't really vintage then. Just used. A common problem was blown outputs due to loud parties. It was also common for folks to decline the estimate, then never return to pick up their stuff. It was too good to throw away, but needed repair. I'd "get" to it some day.
2nd, was since friends and family knew I was into stereo, they'd often give me stuff that needed TLC or they just didn't want to take when they moved or downsized.
Lastly, I bought out a friends small collection when he downsized from a house to an apartment.
Some stuff works good or just needs cleaning/Deoxit. Other stuff is truly broke. But now that I'm getting older, I just can't find the time or inclination. I need to sell or dump some stuff.
1st, I was the tech in a small stereo store, that was in a partial college town. This would have been 80's to early 90's. The stuff wasn't really vintage then. Just used. A common problem was blown outputs due to loud parties. It was also common for folks to decline the estimate, then never return to pick up their stuff. It was too good to throw away, but needed repair. I'd "get" to it some day.
2nd, was since friends and family knew I was into stereo, they'd often give me stuff that needed TLC or they just didn't want to take when they moved or downsized.
Lastly, I bought out a friends small collection when he downsized from a house to an apartment.
Some stuff works good or just needs cleaning/Deoxit. Other stuff is truly broke. But now that I'm getting older, I just can't find the time or inclination. I need to sell or dump some stuff.
stereofanboy
Addicted Member
Yuck. Black is out, silver is back in style!
(My Bluesound Vault 2 is decidedly BLACK!)
Wait, shouldn't it be blue?
It could be, if I win the drawing for a special Bluesound Node X in blue! More likely would be a change to the standard Node X in silver, or if I come into money, a silver Lumin streamer. Truth be told, I am 95% of the time playing records and the 600+ CD's and two streaming services that I have on that Vault 2 don't get much use. I do use the streaming services on my system at work far more, as it's the only source there.
Westy56
A symphony of paradox
The one who plays with the most stuff wins.
I use a small amplifier just for a monitor stand, but it's as much art as it's functional..
onemug
Super Member
"A feeling of aversion or attachment toward something is your clue that there is work to be done"... RD
I love music. Short of hiring people/groups to come play for me at my house, using 'equipment' works better for me. In the end, I own the equipment, it doesn't own me.
I have spoken.
Bone Yard
Super Member
Either/or questions are always hard and you have to define "nice", I always assume one or two of my systems are pretty "nice" but I also have a shop stored with equipment. Your also making a lot of blanket assumptions. Under the right conditions I'm sure everyone would enjoy a high-end mega-dollar system.
Personally, I find collectors tend to be more worldly, they have a lot to say and conversations can last hours. Then there are the people that have their one prize possesion, they can talk about it but the conversation tends to stay focused and direct and doesn't usually last as long. I guarantee the guy with five vintage MGs has more to say then the guy with one new Ferrari and the little MGs are a blast to drive, not fast or nimble like a Ferrari but still fun in a different way.
I've repeated this over the years, in the early days of the forum a lot of this equipment was being tossed or was dirt cheap, I used to think $14.99 for a big Pioneer Reciever was too much but I kept biting. Now those Pioneer's are worth significantly more and they seem to be doing much better everyday than my dismal 401K. I don't see the same with new high-end audio, most seems to lose value from new. Being a cassette guy, I was pulling Naks out of the trash, there's a bond when you save something that once was the TOTL and it's hard to let it go.
Personally, I find collectors tend to be more worldly, they have a lot to say and conversations can last hours. Then there are the people that have their one prize possesion, they can talk about it but the conversation tends to stay focused and direct and doesn't usually last as long. I guarantee the guy with five vintage MGs has more to say then the guy with one new Ferrari and the little MGs are a blast to drive, not fast or nimble like a Ferrari but still fun in a different way.
I've repeated this over the years, in the early days of the forum a lot of this equipment was being tossed or was dirt cheap, I used to think $14.99 for a big Pioneer Reciever was too much but I kept biting. Now those Pioneer's are worth significantly more and they seem to be doing much better everyday than my dismal 401K. I don't see the same with new high-end audio, most seems to lose value from new. Being a cassette guy, I was pulling Naks out of the trash, there's a bond when you save something that once was the TOTL and it's hard to let it go.
The one collection I still have is ViewMaster. I have 1600 reels that start with the 1939 Worlds Fair. 99% are vintage reels. Have several viewers including a focusing viewer which is rare and nice because you don't have to wear your glasses. Nice thing it doesn't take up much room.
This isn't even close to what I have in reels.
This isn't even close to what I have in reels.
THOSE are awesome!! Absolute classics!! PLEASE, PLEASE --- PLEASE take very, very good care of these. I can just imagine all the joy they brought when they were newThe one collection I still have is ViewMaster. I have 1600 reels that start with the 1939 Worlds Fair. 99% are vintage reels. Have several viewers including a focusing viewer which is rare and nice because you don't have to wear your glasses. Nice thing it doesn't take up much room.
This isn't even close to what I have in reels.
OMG... OMG I love that set-up and the arrangement, and especially the colors. Everything so fits. My husband (who does woodworking as a hobby) is planning to build another audiorack for me. I wonder if I cannot get him to build something which also integrates my large TV on top. I have nine components which need to have a home... thank you for giving me ideas. What are those speakers? They match the room perfectly.
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Thank you very much!OMG... OMG I love that set-up and the arrangement, and especially the colors. Everything so fits. My husband (who does woodworking as a hobby) is planning to build another audiorack for me. I wonder if I cannot get his to build something which also integrates my large TV on top. I have nine components which need to have a home... thank you for giving me ideas. What are those speakers? They match the room perfectly.
The speakers are 2019-2021 era KEF Reference 1, in their still-current "Silver Satin Walnut" finish. They are atop the original bespoke KEF stands, which have since been superceded by a new, less costly design.
I can only imagine the smiles and joy your system brings you. What a centerpiece in your home, and an oasis of relaxation. I love early to mid 1980s music videos as well, therefore I have integrated a 65" TV as a component. An issue I have, is I cannot stand when TVs are angled downwards. Mine is set at the optimum viewing angle (center of TV at eye level, when reclined in the chair). This will severely restrict the height of any single piece of furniture solution. Everything is a compromise, but exactly how much do I actually want to compromise? That is the real issue! 
Thank you again for sharing your lovely system and giving me some more ideas!
I'm still hoping to find a Sawyer's Stereo-Matic 500 View-Master Projector. They're pretty fiddly and usually need new polarized filters. It would be so cool to see them on large screen in 3D but you have wear polarized glasses to see them in 3D. If anyone see's one let me know.THOSE are awesome!! Absolute classics!! PLEASE, PLEASE --- PLEASE take very, very good care of these. I can just imagine all the joy they brought when they were new
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