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The value of vintage gear in 2000's vs 2020

ageis1

ageis1

New Member
Hi guys,

Long time reader, infrequent poster. I have a question about the value of vintage gear in modern times.

As all of us AK junkies do, I regularly trawl Ebay/Craigslist for vintage speakers/amps. I will find some pieces that look great - so naturally what do I do next? I search the AK forum to find out the lowdown on them!

Nearly always I can find a forum post from about 2005-2010 that talks about the specific model and comments on its value. But what I find time and time again is that the value recommended in these posts don't align with the current marketplace value that you find when searching online. So often the AK post will say that the gear shouldn't be worth much more than $50-$100, but the market rate online for this same product now is $150-$300.

So my question; has the value of vintage gear greatly appreciated over the past decade or so with the recent resurgence of vinyl, or are there just a lot of 'bad deals' online. My gut tells me that's it's likely a combination of the both, but I'm wondering what you guys think. Perhaps I need to realign my expectations of what is considered a 'good' deal...

Andrew
 
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Those prices will hold as long as people are willing to pay them. The same Marantz equipment I bought around 2007 to 2011 has shot way up in price.
I payed $100 and $150 for two model 140 power amps in working condition. I only paid $100 for a model 120 scoped tuner that works fine. My sons uses it daily. The prices for just those two items has shot way up.
I payed $250 for a model 16 power amp and thought that was high at the time. I won't pay today's prices. Add the cost of restoring them and your upside down from what they are really worth.
 
In a word, yes. Most vintage gear started increasing in price as the internet became more popular, and even more so over the past few years. While turntable values seem to have increased overall a higher percentage than electronics and speakers (indeed, when I started searching yard sales for used equipment in the mid 1990s, most people couldn't get rid of their turntables fast enough), I don't think it's completely due to the vinyl resurgence. Instead, people read posts on boards like this one (in fact, a Google search on most pieces of vintage equipment will, more often than not, have a link back to AK as one of the first few hits) and find out that they can get as good (or better) sound with old electronics as with new.

IMO this isn't a bad thing. While it has caused values to increase (although there are still deals out there if you know what to search for), it has also caused people to hold onto (or sell) items that previously may have been thrown away.
 
Prices are a function of supply and demand. And the prices have certainly increased since 2005. Plus, you must also calculate inflation.

Inflation Calculator
This calculator helps determine the buying power of a dollar over time in the United States

$100 in
2005
will be worth $135 in
2020
This is an average inflation rate of 2.02% and cumulative inflation of 34.88%.
 
Dang Baby Boomers with disposable income that remember what quality gear and music sound like are to blame. My last really great deal was found about 3 years ago, I preferred it when everyone had flip phones and no one had any idea if something was desirable. Now I see folks looking up values of everything in sight at garage sales and thrifts.
 
Well, "back in the day" equipment was over engineered. Back in the mid 80s, I bought a Yamaha A-32. I said goodbye to it in about 2017.
I'm currently running an Adcom GTP-400 (FM works, but I'm in a dead zone). Adcom C-272 amp (also 1990s).
There is a growing industry of doing actual repairs so that adds more value to the older stuff.
 
ageis1 said:
Hi guys,

Long time reader, infrequent poster. I have a question about the value of vintage gear in modern times.

As all of us AK junkies do, I regularly trawl Ebay/Craigslist for vintage speakers/amps. I will find some pieces that look great - so naturally what do I do next? I search the AK forum to find out the lowdown on them!

Nearly always I can find a forum post from about 2005-2010 that talks about the specific model and comments on its value. But what I find time and time again is that the value recommended in these posts don't align with the current marketplace value that you find when searching online. So often the AK post will say that the gear shouldn't be worth much more than $50-$100, but the market rate online for this same product now is $150-$300.

So my question; has the value of vintage gear greatly appreciated over the past decade or so with the recent resurgence of vinyl, or are there just a lot of 'bad deals' online. My gut tells me that's it's likely a combination of the both, but I'm wondering what you guys think. Perhaps I need to realign my expectations of what is considered a 'good' deal...

Andrew
Click to expand...
Some vintage audio gear has definitely gone way up in price over just the last few years. Quality untouched vintage audio gear in good cosmetic shape sells at a heavy premium. Shopping on Ebay is a hit or miss situation. Some sellers basically do estate sales on Ebay. The Ebay estate items are usually a steal if you find them fast and first. I got a almost pristine Pioneer SX-1980 for just $3,500 back when beat up versions sold for $6K to $7K. So called 70's era silver faced \ brushed aluminum Monster Receivers with Watts Per Channel above 100 WPC for some and 130 WPC for others cost more. 70's era vintage receivers with its point to point wiring basic electronics and relative ease of access were built to be repaired. New audio equipment is designed to be thrown away. Also vintage gear has a build quality few modern affordable pieces can rival.

The definition of a good deal is the same as it has always been. A good deal is a piece of vintage audio gear you totally want offered at a price that is very easy for you to pay. Vintage audio is a hobby so what I am willing to pay reflects that fact. I was a total fool and brought 2 Dunlavy SC IV speakers for $3,000 total. I spent $500 on a Pioneer SX-D7000 I did not need and another $1,000 getting it repaired to mint specs and it's beautiful. Was it worth it well to me yes. Other folk might disagree but they don't live with me. There are plenty of bad deals online now that some people think any piece of silver faced audio junk they find will net them a HUGE PAY DAY ON EBAY after the sale.

I have 6 AKAI EA A7 Computerized Equalizers I brought for under $200 each. Now I seen the same things selling on Ebay for from $500 to $1,000 and I would not pay anywhere near that for them today. I started collecting vintage audio in 2010. I could not buy the 10 receiver, various components \ 2 separates collection I have now at today's prices. Vintage audio that cost me $35,000 to acquire over the past 14 years would easily cost me $75,000 at today's inflated prices.
 
I'm quite fond of my 70's Marantz and JVC's and 2 sets of Bose 901's, with a few sets of 301 chasers. lol
I'm currently running my guitar and Ibanez 15 watt tube head through the 901's.
Beautiful midrange tones.
 
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