Separates versus Receivers

[VintageNut]

Thanks everyone. We love the look and sound, but I don't enjoy the maintenance. After replacing the power caps, $$$, in 2 big receivers, I'm thinking real hard. How much longer will these 30 year old items run before you have to replace ALL of the electrolytic caps? That would cost. I imagine I could keep a tech busy full time just maintaining my stuff. And since I own lots of different models, at least 9 receivers, I'm thinking it's best to own ONE vintage setup, or maybe just ONE modern setup, Like those Adcom amps. Just taking all 9 vintage receivers in for regular maintenance would cost 1000.00, even though I can do some things myself, I'm not a tech. So, maybe quality versus quantity, great sound, free up some space, and cheaper too.

 

[Unican_Eric]

Mobydud, Just an observation but your Sx780 is actually a SX880. The 780 had only one meter for the tunning and signal strength while the 880 had both seperate. Another indicator is that yours still has the round indicator lights of the 780 and 880 while the 980 went to rectangular lights. Therefor I would assume you made a typo and ment to put an 8 instead of a 7. I have big fingers as well.

 

[mobydud]

Hehe, your right Eric it is an SX880. Been so long since I was using it I really didn't know. Thats what I get for *ASSuming*

 

[mobydud]

Exactly

Thanks everyone. We love the look and sound, but I don't enjoy the maintenance. After replacing the power caps, $$$, in 2 big receivers, I'm thinking real hard. How much longer will these 30 year old items run before you have to replace ALL of the electrolytic caps? That would cost. ....... I'm thinking it's best to own ONE vintage setup, or maybe just ONE modern setup, Like those Adcom amps........................... So, maybe quality versus quantity, great sound, free up some space, and cheaper too.

Just the conclusion I have come to Vintage Nut. Have bought and sold/traded a lot of vintage gear over the years. Most of it was near junk or slightly less junky. Some of it I had "repaired" which is a joke unless your going to do the whole thing. I would take my amps in and have them ''worked on"..and maybe they would be better when I got them back, but I always knew there was far more that needed attention than the few transistors and diodes etc. that were replaced. But it was all I could do.

Now, thanks to the modern wonder of the 'net and AK in particular..it *is* truly possible to find Vintage Bliss.

I have some items listed in the for sale section right now ( shameless plug, sorry Moderator I'll try and control myself )

Listed these because it's time for me to settle down on the gear I really want, can use, will last,,and will be *hopefully* Stunningly gorgeous as only V gear can be to boot.

I've paid some pretty premium prices lately for premium condition gear..not bragging or anything I am FAR from well off..but right now I can do this, so I am going for it while I can.

This is my still new and settling in Pioneer PL-570 Turntable:


Here's my Akai GX 630D Open reel deck:


These are pics from the auctions I won and yes..they look as good in person as these pics show..I've had my cherished a/d/s 810's for years now, and though I don't have a dig cam available now, I can say that they look and play as fine as ever.( been refinished once)..xtremely nice to my ears and I guess that's all that counts.

And for the last piece, the one I hope will be the heart and soul of my Vintage Stereo..as soon as EchoWars has his way with it anywhow is this :


No one else may appreciate this system in Quite the way I will..not anyone else's choice perhaps..but it's mine.

This is as close as I believe I can get to that Stereo that I didn't buy as a teenager...Or that one that left with my first wife.. she hated the thing when we bought it..when we split up it was ALL she wanted..loved it then.

The Stereo I bought as much of as I could once that marriage was over..which was only a "real" turntable and a cheap ass amp with some homebrew Rat Shack driven speakers..

The Stereo that I gave up on ever seeing again once the makers switched to BPC and that's all there was uke:

The Stereo that I have picked at, traded around, bought and sold off all over again in the last few years..but no more.

This kind of stuff is what I love this old Vintage gear for. The sheer craftmanship, the feel of those big old knobs in your hand, slowly gliding smoothly as the sound rears up and PLAYS..the look of luster in real pristine brushed aluminum and walnut cab finish..the Weight and heft of the thing if you ever have to move it..and knowing how solid it is even sitting on the shelf ready to go..the Big, Fat, Clean, and Analog sound these kinds of systems can make..Stereo Nirvana, at least for me.

If vintage gear does that for you, then it's a passion and worth every bit of chasing down, acquiring, restoring and refurbing,,and enjoying the sheer pleasure of it in your home every day.

If it's not that big a deal..you may be better off with Adcoms or something like that..not a damn thing wrong with that. Cuz in the end, it's Your stereo..and like others here say all the time.

That's all that matters.

 

[krimney]

My 2 cents

I think if we are talking vintage then the two ( separates and receivers) would run pretty close as far as sound. Back in the 70s alot of resources went into making receivers very well...SX 1010, 1080 , 8080, 9090 and the big hitachi. I think most people would hear no difference between these and a set of separates from the same era., especially now after 20 years of "wear"

Today when it seems like most manufacturres and going HT , receivers are cheap alternaticves to "high end" separates.

Does levinson , krell etc make a receiver??

To me, as long as it sounds good I don't care whether it is separates or receiver. I listen to both. For the family it is easier to run a receiver.

 

[crooner]

Totally agree with krimney. I used to scorn at receivers, brainwashed by years and years or reading Stereophool and the absolute? sound.

Fact is, late 70s receivers are competitive with separates from the same period. With those massive toroidal or dual power supplies, there weren't many compromises made. And the single chassis eliminated the extra patch cords...

After a couple of weeks listening to my new SX-1080, I am convinced that these units are indeed musical, beyond specs, prejudices or subjective opinions, that's what really matters to me.