spartanmanor
Lunatic Member
Ah how time fly’s when you are having fun.....and where did those last 25 years go?
When Does Vintage Become Vintage?
- Thread starter Justen
- Start date
Paul C
Super Member
I was performing at a local college for a high school jazz clinic. I was out in the hall behind the "green room" waiting to go on, and immediately had a little crowd of students around me.
One asked, "Did you begin playing soprano sax because of the popularity of Kenny G?"
"Uh, no, actually, I began playing soprano sax before Kenny G was born."
Another asked, "Where did you get all of these beautiful vintage saxophones?"
I answered, "They weren't vintage when I bought them NEW!"
I supposed "vintage" is relative.
One asked, "Did you begin playing soprano sax because of the popularity of Kenny G?"
"Uh, no, actually, I began playing soprano sax before Kenny G was born."
Another asked, "Where did you get all of these beautiful vintage saxophones?"
I answered, "They weren't vintage when I bought them NEW!"
I supposed "vintage" is relative.
reggaenaut
Addicted Member
Vintage for me is equipment from the fifties through the seventies. All my stereo amplifiers and receivers are from that period. I bow to modernity when it comes to cd players and speakers. I am not averse to modern receivers,but they must feel heavy, not dress in black and have a good tone (eg h/k 3480 receiver).
Twenty20Man
Is that you Michael?
I think that the reference in the statement "vintage audio" is to most of us the golden era of audio gear, where each manufacturer spared no expense to market the very best they could produce. "damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead"
subdermis2000
Soviet Canuckistanian
FWIW, I kinda like the classicaudio definition/explanation.
"What the heck happened in 1980?
The exact date varies from brand to brand, but the bottom fell out of the build quality. Manufacturers sacrificed quality for production speed and started aiming at the 'general' market instead of the 'audiophile' market. Analog tuners were replaced with digital tuners (I still have yet to find a digital tuner that will come close to doing what the average Pioneer receiver will do, never mind my Sansui TU-9900). Discrete output devices were often replaced with integrated circuits, many of which are no longer available today. Some pre-1980 models used output ICs, and some post 1980 models were still well built. These will be noted in the database as they are discovered."
"What the heck happened in 1980?
The exact date varies from brand to brand, but the bottom fell out of the build quality. Manufacturers sacrificed quality for production speed and started aiming at the 'general' market instead of the 'audiophile' market. Analog tuners were replaced with digital tuners (I still have yet to find a digital tuner that will come close to doing what the average Pioneer receiver will do, never mind my Sansui TU-9900). Discrete output devices were often replaced with integrated circuits, many of which are no longer available today. Some pre-1980 models used output ICs, and some post 1980 models were still well built. These will be noted in the database as they are discovered."
Thanks, sub, for that quote from classicaudio. That really nails it for receivers.
I believe that amplifiers reached maturity in the early 80s, and several brands made excellent separates. I have several amps, and the Soundcraftsmen could have been made in 1979, but are probably from the 80s. My Yamaha amps are from 1982-84 and 1984-85, & the Denon is from 1986-88.
Preamps, though, have really benefitted from better "pieces-parts", and I have gone to mid-90s preamps, the Luxman C-383 & the Yamaha CX-2.
The source + preamp + speakers really determine the overall sound of a system--provided the amplifier is working as intended within its performance envelope.
2 of my receivers are pure vintage, the amazing Concept 16.5 and the Nikko NR-1015, and one that is near vintage, from 1981-83 and carried on with massive power rated at 150 wpc and 3dB headroom.
I believe that amplifiers reached maturity in the early 80s, and several brands made excellent separates. I have several amps, and the Soundcraftsmen could have been made in 1979, but are probably from the 80s. My Yamaha amps are from 1982-84 and 1984-85, & the Denon is from 1986-88.
Preamps, though, have really benefitted from better "pieces-parts", and I have gone to mid-90s preamps, the Luxman C-383 & the Yamaha CX-2.
The source + preamp + speakers really determine the overall sound of a system--provided the amplifier is working as intended within its performance envelope.
2 of my receivers are pure vintage, the amazing Concept 16.5 and the Nikko NR-1015, and one that is near vintage, from 1981-83 and carried on with massive power rated at 150 wpc and 3dB headroom.
Vintage - worth remembering and keeping around
Insignia speakers are Vintage pronounced "Vin-taaj" I gotta go buy a pair just for fun. Wish they were sold at "taar-jay"
I like 11 below. I like wine too, but dont get much past $10 a bottle so no vintage for me there.
From dictionary.com
Top Web Results for "vintage"
vin?tage? [vin-tij] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation noun, adjective, verb, -taged, -tag?ing.
–noun
1. the wine from a particular harvest or crop.
2. the annual produce of the grape harvest, esp. with reference to the wine obtained.
3. an exceptionally fine wine from the crop of a good year.
4. the time of gathering grapes, or of winemaking.
5. the act or process of producing wine; winemaking.
6. the class of a dated object with reference to era of production or use: a hat of last year's vintage.
–adjective
7. of or pertaining to wines or winemaking.
8. being of a specified vintage: Vintage wines are usually more expensive than nonvintage wines.
9. representing the high quality of a past time: vintage cars; vintage movies.
10. old-fashioned or obsolete: vintage jokes.
11. being the best of its kind: They praised the play as vintage O'Neill.
–verb (used with object)
12. to gather or harvest (grapes) for wine-making: The muscats were vintaged too early.
13. to make (wine) from grapes: a region that vintages a truly great champagne.
–verb (used without object)
14. to harvest grapes for wine-making.
[Origin: 1400–50; late ME (n.) < AF, equiv. to vint(er) vintner + -age -age; r. ME vindage, vendage < AF; OF vendange < L v?nd?mia grape-gathering, equiv. to v?n(um) grape, wine + -d?mia a taking away (d?m(ere) to take from (see redeem) + -ia -y3)]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Insignia speakers are Vintage pronounced "Vin-taaj" I gotta go buy a pair just for fun. Wish they were sold at "taar-jay"
I like 11 below. I like wine too, but dont get much past $10 a bottle so no vintage for me there.
From dictionary.com
Top Web Results for "vintage"
vin?tage? [vin-tij] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation noun, adjective, verb, -taged, -tag?ing.
–noun
1. the wine from a particular harvest or crop.
2. the annual produce of the grape harvest, esp. with reference to the wine obtained.
3. an exceptionally fine wine from the crop of a good year.
4. the time of gathering grapes, or of winemaking.
5. the act or process of producing wine; winemaking.
6. the class of a dated object with reference to era of production or use: a hat of last year's vintage.
–adjective
7. of or pertaining to wines or winemaking.
8. being of a specified vintage: Vintage wines are usually more expensive than nonvintage wines.
9. representing the high quality of a past time: vintage cars; vintage movies.
10. old-fashioned or obsolete: vintage jokes.
11. being the best of its kind: They praised the play as vintage O'Neill.
–verb (used with object)
12. to gather or harvest (grapes) for wine-making: The muscats were vintaged too early.
13. to make (wine) from grapes: a region that vintages a truly great champagne.
–verb (used without object)
14. to harvest grapes for wine-making.
[Origin: 1400–50; late ME (n.) < AF, equiv. to vint(er) vintner + -age -age; r. ME vindage, vendage < AF; OF vendange < L v?nd?mia grape-gathering, equiv. to v?n(um) grape, wine + -d?mia a taking away (d?m(ere) to take from (see redeem) + -ia -y3)]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
graywolf
Sonically Challenged
It's all relative. To me old means 20+, vintage means before I was born, and Antique means 100+; although vintage and antique are getting closer together for me
. I think generally current means recent, old means 5-10 years, junk means 10-20, vintage means 20+, and antique means over priced. The term Vintage can also mean good no matter what the age, as in a good year. I have noticed that the young get kind of upset with the idea that the world actually existed before they were born; I admit I was in my thirties before I became completely comfortable with the notion myself.