View Full Version : How much Vintage gear have you got in your system?
Wakefield Turntables
20-08-2016, 17:25
I had a look at my valve setup last night and concluded it's ~90% british vintage stuff
Turntable - Garrard 301
Tonearm - SME 3012
Cart - Decca Blue
Preamp - Croft (maybe not vintage)
Amp - Sondex (maybe not vintage)
Speakers - Quad ESL 57 or Tannoy Monitor Gold
Phonostage - Paradise (NOT VINTAGE :))
Cartridge - Ortofon SPU (DANISH)
This is a complete fluke! Maybe is says something about the quality of Vintage UK gear. ;)
walpurgis
20-08-2016, 17:35
Probably 50/50 here.
Vintage Decca and ADC carts, but modern ZYX MCs too.
Various turntables & arms, all vintage unsurprisingly, as are my SUTs.
Amplification all modern or modernish apart from a very fine JVC AX-A441 integrated, which is vintage.
My DACs are not too old and my youngest CD player/transport is fourteen years old, the others are older. I don't regard any of these as vintage.
Two pairs of vintage Tannoys and a pair of very vintage and marvellous Philips full range speakers.
Audio Al
20-08-2016, 18:11
Err Lots :)
Arkless Electronics
20-08-2016, 18:11
I suppose it all depends on how you define vintage! If we keep it to 25 years as in some legal definitions for classic cars then I've got loads of vintage gear!
In fact most of it is vintage by that definition....
If I keep it to British and over 40 years old then
Leak: Troughline 1,2 and 3, Stereo 20, Stereo 30, Stereo 30+, Stereo 70, Delta 30, Delta 70, Delta75, Varislope, Stereofetic and Delta FM (some of the solid state gear I have more than one sample of and I could probably build the norths only Troughline henge!)
Rogers: HG88, Cadet Tuner (2 off), Ravensbrook tuner and amp
Armstrong 500 series tuner
Sugden A21
Ferrograph Series 7 R2R, F307 amp and NEAL 103 cassette
Spendor BC2, Celestion County and Mordaunt Short Festival speakers
The only item above that is in my system is the Stereo 20 but it is not used that often as my main power amp is one of my own...
I think you are getting mixed up with classic cars. Vintage is a bit older than 25 years.
Arkless Electronics
20-08-2016, 18:39
I think you are getting mixed up with classic cars. Vintage is a bit older than 25 years.
"If we keep it to 25 years as in some legal definitions for classic cars then I've got loads of vintage gear!" :)
I think pre 1930 is vintage in cars (?)
What constitutes "vintage", as distinct from "classic"?
If it's anything older than say 20 years, then at least 95% of my system(s) are:
EMT 930st and Thorens TD124/II decks
Various SME 3000 series arms (3009/S2 (x2), 3009/S2 improved, 3012)
EMT 929 arm
Decca ffss arm
Breuer Dynamic 5A arm
Infinity 'Black Widow' arm
Audio and Design (aka Keith Monks) M9BA arm
A few EMT cartridges (XSD15, XSD vdh, TSD15, TSD15sfl (x2))
Several ADC cartridges (25 (x2), 10E Mk. IV (x2))
Several B&O cartridges (SP6, MC20s, MC20E, MC20EN, MC20CL)
A couple of Denon 103s
Several Ortofon cartridges (SPU, SL15Es, MC200 'Concorde', MC25FL etc.)
Several Deccas (Mk.III, Mk.IV, Mk.V (x2), Mk.VI)
A couple of Shure M55Es
AKG P8ES cartridge
Quad tuners (FM2, FM3, FM4, AM1 and AM3)
B&O 1700 tuner
Cambridge T55 tuner
Leak 'Troughline' Stereo tuner
Ferrograph 632T reel-to-reel tape machine
Nagra IV-S portable reel-to-reel
Quad 33 and 44 preamps
Hafler DH-101 preamp
Sugden C51 preamp
Linn LINNK phonostage
Mark Levinson ML-10A preamp
Nakamichi MC100 SUT
Ortofon 2-15K (Jorgen Scheu) SUT
Haufe T-7883 SUTs
Partridge SUTs
Quad 303 and 303K power amps
Quad 50E monoblocks
Quad 520f
Quad 510 monoblocks
Quad 405-1 (heavily modified)
Quad 405-2 (lightly modified)
Quad 405-2 (Dada modified, with dual power supply)
A pair of Quad 405-2 ('monoblocked' and upgraded to Keith Snook 'Level 3', with improved power rectification in the power supplies)
Cambridge P50 integrated amplifier
Radford STA-15 Mk.III valve amplifier
A pair of Mark Levinson ML-2 monoblocks
Quad 57 ESLs (Original and unmolested)
B&W DM2A speakers
Claude-Lyons 1.2kVA mains conditioner
Occupying the 'grey area':
Mark Levinson ML-25 headamp
Mark Levinson ML-26 preamp
Mark Levinson ML-28 preamp
Sony CDP-930 CD player
Revox C221 CD player
Nakamichi BX2 and BX125 cassette machines
Arkless Electronics
20-08-2016, 18:49
What constitutes "vintage", as distinct from "classic"?
If it's anything older than say 20 years, then at least 95% of my system(s) are:
EMT 930st and Thorens TD124/II decks
Various SME 3000 series arms
EMT 929 arm
Decca ffss arm
Breuer Dynamic 5A arm
Infinity 'Black Widow' arm
Audio and Design (aka Keith Monks) M9BA arm
A few EMT cartridges
Several B&O cartridges
A couple of Denon 103s
Several Ortofon cartridges (SPU, SL15Es, MC25FL etc.)
Several Deccas
A couple of Shure M55Es
AKG P8ES cartridge
Quad tuners (FM2, FM3, FM4, AM1 and AM3)
B&O 1700 tuner
Cambridge T55 tuner
Leak 'Troughline' Stereo tuner
Ferrograph 632T reel-to-reel tape machine
Nagra IV-S portable reel-to-reel
Quad 33 and 44 preamps
Hafler DH-101 preamp
Sugden C51 preamp
Linn LINNK phonostage
Mark Levinson ML-10A preamp
Nakamichi MC100 SUT
Ortofon 2-15K (Jorgen Scheu) SUT
Haufe T-7883 SUTs
Partridge SUTs
Quad 303 and 303K power amps
Quad 50E monoblocks
Quad 520f
Quad 510 monoblocks
Quad 405-1 (heavily modified)
Quad 405-2 (lightly modified)
Quad 405-2 (Dada modified, with dual power supply)
A pair of Quad 405-2 ('monoblocked' and upgraded to Snooke Level 3 with improved power rectification in the power supplies)
Cambridge P50 integrated amplifier
Radford STA-15 Mk.III valve amplifier
A pair of Mark Levinson ML-2 monoblocks
Quad 57 ESLs (Original and unmolested)
B&W DM2A speakers
Claude-Lyons 1.2kVA mains conditioner
Occupying the 'grey area':
Mark Levinson ML-25 headamp
Mark Levinson ML-26 preamp
Mark Levinson ML-28 preamp
Sony CDP-930 CD player
Revox C221 CD player
Nakamichi BX2 and BX125 cassette machines
Indeed. Something only 5 year old could be said to be classic if it has redefined the genre or changed the game in some way and 5 years has been enough for it to have become recognised and established as such...
Then there is the odd item like the Quad 405 which although its been out for 40 years can still be defined as "bleeding edge" in terms of both its current dumping technology and timeless aesthetics YMMV :)
"If we keep it to 25 years as in some legal definitions for classic cars then I've got loads of vintage gear!" :)
I think pre 1930 is vintage in cars (?)
For cars, pre WW2 is Vintage, pre WW1 Veteran, and then there is the "classic" which is the most ambiguous category.
40 years old and British? I've got a Leak Delta 30 Tuner (faulty). I did have a Leak stereo 30 plus but I sold it to Dan the man. And some IMF TLS 50 speakers. Not sure about the KEF Calindas, might just scrape in with them.
I prefer Jap vintage to British.
Arkless Electronics
20-08-2016, 19:09
40 years old and British? I've got a Leak Delta 30 Tuner (faulty). I did have a Leak stereo 30 plus but I sold it to Dan the man. And some IMF TLS 50 speakers. Not sure about the KEF Calindas, might just scrape in with them.
I prefer Jap vintage to British.
I have Pioneer and Trio all valve receivers and a Kenwood (Trio) hybrid FM tuner which are all 1960's. After that I think my next oldest Jap stuff would be about 1982.. apart from a Sony TC377 R2R which doesn't work but is 70's
skimminstones
20-08-2016, 19:29
only old thing i have is my thorens td160 which i think though am not sure was made in about 1974 judging by the serial number. Next oldest is my marantz cd player from early-mid 90s then everything else from the 2000s on
dantheman91
20-08-2016, 19:52
Hmm tricky one
Turntables & tonearms vintage
Ariston RD 80 - Linn LVV - 80's
Ariston RD 40 - Linn LVX - 80's
Rega Planar 2 with Green RB250 - 80's
Thorens TD 125 MK1 & SME 3009 Serise 2 early - Shure V15 type 2 - 1970
Rega P2 - Not vinage = 2004
Amplifiers again a mixture
Quad 33 & 303
Quantum IA100
Yamaha CR 820
Teleton SEQ 206B
Nytech CTA 252 XDII
Yamaha A 520
Denon PMA 320
Technics Pre & power amps - 1990's - 2000
Yamaha RXV 1500's X 2 - 2000's
Luxman SQ 507X - 1974
Cd Players
from 80's to mid 90's
Tuners
70's through to 2002
Speakers a mixture again
JBL L46 - 1981
Tannoy DC100 - 1990
Goodmans red magnet speakers - 60's
Heybrook Prima - 1990's
Acoustic Research AR20b - 1984
Audio Note ANJD - late 90's
Tannoy 615 MK2 - 1990's
Kef Q30 - 1990's
Wharfedale Diamond II - 1980's
Castle Clyde- late 70's early 80's
Dali Zensor 1 - 2010's
:eek:
JBE deck, and SME arm are British. Cart is vintage USA. Speaker drivers are vintage German. The rest is relatively new bar a pioneer Receiver(dunno the date on that). My other FR drivers are too, I guess... Fane and Rola/Cel.
Arkless Electronics
20-08-2016, 20:42
Vintage USA.... Crown DC300A x 2 and Harmon Kardon Citation preamp... and that's all I can think of:scratch:
JBE deck, and SME arm are British. Cart is vintage USA. Speaker drivers are vintage German. The rest is relatively new bar a pioneer Receiver(dunno the date on that). My other FR drivers are too, I guess... Fane and Rola/Cel.
Whatever happened to 'Dr John'?
walpurgis
20-08-2016, 20:45
Whatever happened to 'Dr John'?
He tripped over during the night. ;)
He tripped over during the night. ;)
:lol:
Just disappeared...I blame Marco
Itchy&Scratchy
14-09-2016, 09:21
The only vintage equipment I have now is a Marantz 10b Tuner. But over the years I have enjoyed quite alot:
Marantz 7c (Reissue) Preamplifier.
Quad II Anniversary Monoblock Amplifiers.
Quad II Monoblock Amplifiers.
Quad 303 Amplifier.
Leak Troughline 3 with EAR Stereo Decoder.
Gerrard 301 (oil bearing) with SME 3012 and Orsonic AV-101S Headshell.
Gerrard 401 Turntable.
Michell (Transcriptors) Electronic Reference Turntable with Michell Focus Tonearm.
Quad ESL 57 Speakers.
I've swapped boxes quite a bit over the years lol.
Not sure if i contributed but my tt may be vintage as its sbout 1979/80 i think.... The drivers in my speakers are late 50's or early 60's. Otherwise its all relatively new..next oldest would be cd (well dvd)player from 90's...probably late
Barry wins :lol:
I lose (see sig below) ... OTOH, I am probably classed as 'vintage British' now :(
Mostly new-ish here, apart from an AR turntable and Mordant-Short MS20 speakers, neither of which gets much use these days. In term of Japanese vintage stuff, I've got an Akai reel-to-reel, but it's knackered.
HackneyRF
14-09-2016, 15:40
The Arcam Delta 60 is 1988ish and the Thorens TD160 is 1972/73ish. Everything else is modern or very modern. I like a mixture me.
RobbieGong
14-09-2016, 16:11
Classic often gets referred to as Vintage and visa versa.
I have Mission 752 Freedom floorstanders,
circa mid '90's which are known as classic British speakers and I'd have to agree - not quite vintage as in very old.
Pioneer PD 91 cdp - 1987-90 so again maybe more 'classic' than vintage in my opinion some may think otherwise.
Sansui AU 919 Integrated Amplifier, 1978/79 - defo both vintage and classic in my view ;)
So to be classic it has to be some sort of icon or just timelessly good? Seems reasonable. Anything old is vintage, crap or not. But then a Dansette could surely be reasonably described as both vintage and a classic even though it is a bit rubbish? It's a tough one.
Incidentally the official AoS definition is pre 1990 for vintage, older than 1990 it is supposed to be discussed in the 'Past Masters' section.
Itchy&Scratchy
14-09-2016, 17:51
So to be classic it has to be some sort of icon or just timelessly good? Seems reasonable. Anything old is vintage, crap or not. But then a Dansette could surely be reasonably described as both vintage and a classic even though it is a bit rubbish? It's a tough one.
Incidentally the official AoS definition is pre 1990 for vintage, older than 1990 it is supposed to be discussed in the 'Past Masters' section.
Well with this in mind, I'll add my Preco F500 Reel to Reel to my vintage gear owned- well two of them actually (ex BBC)
Wakefield Turntables
14-09-2016, 17:52
Id say anything before 1980 has to be vintage.
Itchy&Scratchy
14-09-2016, 18:05
Id say anything before 1980 has to be vintage.
Can't we agree on early eighties... then my Preco's still classed as vintage lol
Online auctioneers Ruby Lane say anything over 20 years for vintage ... we went for 25 i think
Wakefield Turntables
14-09-2016, 18:43
Can't we agree on early eighties... then my Preco's still classed as vintage lol
I only say the 70's because thats the decade I entered this world and I now classify myself as vintage!!
Itchy&Scratchy
14-09-2016, 19:11
I only say the 70's because thats the decade I entered this world and I now classify myself as vintage!!
Vintage or Extra Mature?
Arkless Electronics
14-09-2016, 19:30
Personally I don't regard a lot of stuff as vintage from the '80's. I don't so much apply time to the criteria as much as whether it is clearly of a different era and way of thinking. A lot of the gear from the 80's is hardly any different to what we have now.
Quite a bit of old gear in my system.
As a result it follows that it sounds like a load of old crap.
RobbieGong
14-09-2016, 20:06
Quite a bit of old gear in my system.
As a result it follows that it sounds like a load of old crap.
Sounds like either tired old good gear or old not so good gear :D
Sounds like either tired old good gear or old not so good gear :D
The disturbing problem is there doesn't seem to be much in the way of crap or new gear that sounds any better out there:D
Must buy some more:)
walpurgis
15-09-2016, 21:12
The supply of good older Hi-Fi is dwindling.
I've got an eBay watch list with a selection of attractive items on it, which has been active for many years and there is an obvious decrease in nicer equipment. What does get offered is often overpriced now.
I suspect owners are hanging onto their gear, as replacing it is getting harder. I also reckon, having noticed the trend, used Hi-Fi dealers have been stocking up.
We need another recession, then it'll all be on the market again and at lower prices! :D
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3 Copyright © 2026 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.