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Why Are Vintage Stereos So Popular in 2024?
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Sandman1221
Super Member
My newest amp is 25 yrs old, and with help from people here, it was relatively easy to diagnose the problem and repair it. Will certainly make sure to remove the case of any new prospective amp before buying it to see how easy it would be to repair. But after reading so many repair posts here for 40-50 year old amps, I know to stay away from them, since I would not want to have to take it to a service center to fix it.
twiiii
Lunatic Member
New stuff is over priced and and hard to find. Most shops want to sell multi channel garbage that is really over priced or if there is a stereo system with in a reasonable price range it sounds horrible. Even when they add a sub woofer. I am traveling thru Texas. visiting shops in San Antonio and Houston so far and their isn't one descent stereo shop in Either town. No new Technics turntables either.
notabot
Active Member
They’re all on FaceBook Marketplace now
ibog1
Active Member
You can get some very high quality 2 channel stuff from online retailers.
I have a feeling that when Boomers are no longer in the equation, the popularity of vintage audio will take a major hit. It won't eliminate it but the number of people propping up the vintage market will decline and supply will outpace demand. Also, there are a lot of lower to mid range new audio components for sale, with many more coming to market. They will put pressure on the mid to low end vintage components due to the cost of repair and the new components will provide better sound quality at a lower cost. My personal experience this year regarding old versus new makes me think this will come to pass.
Could it be that vintage hi-fi has style and is tactile. It requires looking after and needs to be treated with care and respect.
The rise in popularity of vinyl records is maybe similar. It's a 'real thing' that requires careful handling and storage, not just a click on a screen to make it come to life.
It doesn't connect to the internet. No phone apps here folks.
The rise in popularity of vinyl records is maybe similar. It's a 'real thing' that requires careful handling and storage, not just a click on a screen to make it come to life.
It doesn't connect to the internet. No phone apps here folks.
Maybe just because so many people can't afford or won't spring for the new stuff. It's easy to find and more of it than ever before and the quality is exceptional. People seem to have lost track of the fact that just like in the sixties and seventies a hi fi system is an investment and choosing equipment wisely reaps many benefits in addition to sound quality, but also resale value if you should decide to upgrade. I keep mentioning sweat equity in this forum and it pays off. I just sealed a deal on a new pair of Klipsch Cornwall IVs in American walnut which will be shipping within the next few days direct from Hope Arkansas and all in with my Heresy IVs in trade my out of pocket is $4408.3, though I'll have to travel to Cornwall, NY (199 miles or so both ways) to turn in the Heresy's after the Cornwall's arrive. Small price to pay actually.
AudioAvarice
Super Member
Just look at what's happened/is happening to the vintage (and I suppose in some cases now, antique) radio market, when the really big collectors start leaving us, those collections are going to saturate the market, and prices will adjust.
Sandman1221
Super Member
I have a vintage Kenwood KT-7500 tuner from 1978, beautiful aluminum faceplate, big heavy silky smooth to the touch tuning knob, faceplate switches that feel so expensive when flipped (and they are expensive). An illuminated analogue tuning meter and signal strength meter. In my pursuit of better OTA FM I got a NAD C422 tuner, nice blackish plastic faceplate, plastic tuning knob that is not really needed since the remote from my NAD 317 amp works it. Almost useless LED signal meter. Nice LCD screen to show station info and current song info. And what about sound quality?, I A/B it with the Kenwood, no comparison, sound from NAD was so much cleaner with greatly reduced background noise!
And now also using my iPad connected by cable to amp to stream internet radio stations with Radio Garden app, no background noise, great sound, incredible selection of stations from all over the world, beats vintage hands down!
And now also using my iPad connected by cable to amp to stream internet radio stations with Radio Garden app, no background noise, great sound, incredible selection of stations from all over the world, beats vintage hands down!
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Bruno Primas
Super Member
I own vintage because it CAN be restored and since it already has proven it's durability with being 50+ years old, I expect it to last past my lifetime.
I expect that when the boomers fade away this will impact a lot of vintage markets. Another reason I think vintage audio will be impacted is I can't get any family members interested in taking my gear. There is zero interest and I have some decent pieces to pass along. I have two older Mustangs, one that I bought new in 1989, and there seems to be no interest in them also as an item to retain in the family. One family member I talked to about them wanted to know which one was worth the most because he said he would sell it and make some money! Needless to say, I would rather give it to a stranger that appreciates it and will keep it. Or sell it and spend the money on myself and my wife. The Boomers have been the most powerful force in the market place over the years. IMO, when they are gone, it will impact many areas from housing, collecting, discrete spending, etc. Also, I think there will be a lot of vintage components that hit the trash bin once the Boomers are gone.
Kodaline
Super Member
Yes. I am in the old car hobby and I am not a boomer. We see a lot of people joining our forum, making an account, making one topic of "how much is my dad's car worth?" and then gone forever. My theory for cars is that, once the people that grew up with the cars, or bought them as their first car, are gone, popularity wanes by a good amount. This is about 70 years, and will hit the 50s Chevys here soon.
Young people are less into things, both material and interests. I think they are less into material things because a lot of them are poor and in an economy that's against them, and the rest of them have adopted the "look poor" motif to match the prevailing culture. I think they are less into interests because it's not cool to be passionate about something other than maybe sitting around drinking coffee with friends judging the passions of others. I'm not saying that last part well, it just seems like all they do is sit around, eat out, and talk about people. My brother tends bar at a very hipster place, and it's like that. People spend six hours there a day just talking.
Young people are less into things, both material and interests. I think they are less into material things because a lot of them are poor and in an economy that's against them, and the rest of them have adopted the "look poor" motif to match the prevailing culture. I think they are less into interests because it's not cool to be passionate about something other than maybe sitting around drinking coffee with friends judging the passions of others. I'm not saying that last part well, it just seems like all they do is sit around, eat out, and talk about people. My brother tends bar at a very hipster place, and it's like that. People spend six hours there a day just talking.
Bruno Primas
Super Member
Every fad is cyclical. Old cars, clothes, music, and audio equipment will be "cool" again.
J English
Super Member
Two things keep me using some vintage equipment in my setups - the appearance, and the preamp functionality.
The appearance aspects - well, I don't need to say more. You get a lot of beautiful stuff and for many of us, it's either stuff we have had for a long time, or stuff we lusted after as adolescents.
As to functionality, I just bought a new Schiit Saga 2 preamp for $280 for a new minimalist setup upstairs. I really like it. But it does NOT have any tone controls, tape monitoring function, loudness, phono preamp, etc. Things that my restored Kenwood KA-3500 does with ease - and that, a BOTL Kenwood product in their lineup. The right vintage equipment, properly maintained, packs in a lot of decent specs and high functionality for the money compared to high-value modern equipment.
But yes, the repair options are fading for those of us who don't have great diagnosing/soldering skills. That's why I use a mix of new and vintage, and am selective about what vintage equipment I pay to have restored or repaired. Just sold off two H/K 330B's locally, I liked them a lot but they were showing their age and it was time to get them in the hands of someone who wants to restore them.
The appearance aspects - well, I don't need to say more. You get a lot of beautiful stuff and for many of us, it's either stuff we have had for a long time, or stuff we lusted after as adolescents.
As to functionality, I just bought a new Schiit Saga 2 preamp for $280 for a new minimalist setup upstairs. I really like it. But it does NOT have any tone controls, tape monitoring function, loudness, phono preamp, etc. Things that my restored Kenwood KA-3500 does with ease - and that, a BOTL Kenwood product in their lineup. The right vintage equipment, properly maintained, packs in a lot of decent specs and high functionality for the money compared to high-value modern equipment.
But yes, the repair options are fading for those of us who don't have great diagnosing/soldering skills. That's why I use a mix of new and vintage, and am selective about what vintage equipment I pay to have restored or repaired. Just sold off two H/K 330B's locally, I liked them a lot but they were showing their age and it was time to get them in the hands of someone who wants to restore them.
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