Vintage HI Fi. Anyone else in to it?

[PedallingNowhereSlowly]

Bit late to this thread.

I did up until recently have a clamshell Rega Mira amp. First produced in 1997, this one was manufactured in 1999.
I bought it to use as a temporary replacement whilst my Rega Elicit-R was away for repair. Great sound amp, IMHO.

I've got a Sony reel-to-reel machine which I think just needs stripping down, cleaning and re-lubricating. I can't remember the details off-hand. I also have a mid-to-late 80s Yamaha cassette deck which works perfectly and is still in regular use.

 

[Poacher]

I've got one of these...
View attachment 817269
...but it's in need of a refurb; new belts and maybe a new head. I did have many years of use out of it before the belts went. Love the front loading design, but not sure it is worth* a refurb or best off being binned. I think I've still got the matching amp as well.

*for personal use rather than sale

Snap! Given me by Gordon Giltrap after I'd given him a Zorki 4 camera, a Zorki 4K and assorted lenses, filters and a turret multi viewfinder.
A keen eye will spot that I had to saw off both sides to fit it into the available space. Surely worth the refurb!

 

[Poacher]

For things like that you'd have though ebay a better bet. Far less commission, rather more of a guarantee or at least confidence, more potential buyers etc

True enough, but I guess much of the throughput in this auction is from executors of deceased estates who feel they don't have the time or inclination to register on ebay, and just want to get stuff sold and have a provable paper trail.

 

[MontyVeda]

Snap! Given me by Gordon Giltrap after I'd given him a Zorki 4 camera, a Zorki 4K and assorted lenses, filters and a turret multi viewfinder.
A keen eye will spot that I had to saw off both sides to fit it into the available space. Surely worth the refurb!
View attachment 817294

Yours has provenance!

 

[Profpointy]

True enough, but I guess much of the throughput in this auction is from executors of deceased estates who feel they don't have the time or inclination to register on ebay, and just want to get stuff sold and have a provable paper trail.

There is that. Having cleared my dad's house, albeit mostly things of little value, I do get this and gave away tons of stuff which may have been saleable individually. Selling 50 or 100 items individually it becomes quite a chore

 

[Poacher]

Doesn't qualify as "vintage", but someone may like it. Looks unused, and retails at £425, so the estimate of £20 - £30 might prove to be on the low side. Pro-ject Debut Carbon Esprit SB turntable, for auction on Saturday.

Edit: Hammer price £140. Add 27% for room bid or 30.3% for online bid, which I think won it.

 

[yello]

What about this for vintage hi-fi?

View attachment 817242

My flatmate, back in the day, had one of those. I always thought it bordering on novelty rather than serious kit. I've no recollection of how it sounded tbh.

I do like old kit, and often browse the French gumtree equivalent in the hope of spying something that might tempt me. Decent stuff holds its value well, that much is obvious. Indeed, I reckon you'd get more for some stuff now than you paid for it originally!

But I read something related that's made me very wary about buying old kit, particularly amps : repairs. Old kit obviously ages and wears, needs bits replacing etc. just to maintain the same sound qualities that motivated you to buy it in the first place. That 80s amp will have, in all likelihood, naturally deteriorated to varying degrees.

Apparently, people with those repair skills are a dying breed, and they understandably don't come cheap IF you can find such a person. That wonderful 2nd hand amp you bought could end up being very costly to bring back to original sound quality.

 

[Pblakeney]

But I read something related that's made me very wary about buying old kit, particularly amps : repairs. Old kit obviously ages and wears, needs bits replacing etc. just to maintain the same sound qualities that motivated you to buy it in the first place. That 80s amp will have, in all likelihood, naturally deteriorated to varying degrees.

I'm not arguing but would be surprised by that. As there are no moving parts other than switches I can't see how things deteriorate. My grandson is currently using my 80s NAD amp and TDL speakers for example.

 

[FishFright]

I'm not arguing but would be surprised by that. As there are no moving parts other than switches I can't see how things deteriorate. My grandson is currently using my 80s NAD amp and TDL speakers for example.

Generally it's the capacitors that degrade or fail , especially the electrolytic ones.

 

[yello]

I'm not arguing but would be surprised by that. As there are no moving parts other than switches I can't see how things deteriorate. My grandson is currently using my 80s NAD amp and TDL speakers for example.

I've no idea tbh, and no personal experience either. It was just something I read and it put a caveat on my searches.

The article said that electronic components age and degrade due to a number of potential factors, heat generated being one (as I recall but stand to be corrected) and also possible oxidisation. But being neither electrically minded nor a hifi geek, I don't know.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Generally it's the capacitors that degrade or fail , especially the electrolytic ones.

Pretty easy to replace mind.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

And others eg Sugden & Quad still service & repair at very reasonable prices.

 

[Elybazza61]

Pretty easy to replace mind.

Aaah but you have to get the ones which sound best

(I 'may' have frequented one too many Hi-Fi forums)

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Aaah but you have to get the ones which sound best

(I 'may' have frequented one too many Hi-Fi forums)

I meant the capacitors

 

[Pblakeney]

I think that the bigger concern should be the deterioration of hearing.