I just turned 20, and I recently picked up a Pioneer SX-850, a Technics turntable, and a pair of the infamous Bose 901’s to start off my vintage HiFi journey. Proud to be in that very small percentile of being an audio guy in my age group. I can’t wait to grow my collection over the next several decades!
@@stepheninge2173 Yep, I got the EQ + original tulip stands. The 901s are already controversial enough as is, but WOW, they do sound especially terrible without that equalizer, haha.
My youngest daughter is into music. She always loved playing vinyl on our system. Now that she's on her own, I restored a HK 330A along with a Denon DL TT with some Klipsch speakers and she loves it. She spends hours just reading and listening to music. She uses us as a vinyl library (400+ albums to choose from) We've been to several record shows and it's really neat to have your child find what you love to be able to share it with each other.
Aged 85 come January, and with impaired hearing including pitch distortion since trauma in 2002 -- my prime listening days are long gone. But I still enjoy hearing about the state of audio reproduction and associated gear. And the down-to-earth, lowkey style here adds to the pleasure. Ii've attended hundreds of symphonic, solo, opera, ballet, jazz performances -- so I used to be able to evaluate gear pretty well. I find myself agreeing with almost every word here -- as well as having experienced some of the reversals of view myself. Many thanks.
i´m 82 but i still like changing components bought in diferent decades to enjoy the music i´ve bought and recorded all my life, it´s maybe the only real hobby i have, either than this have a lot of 70´s cars but not thinking about it as it were given to me several cars that had more powerfull engines and family´s couldn´t aford it´s gasoline comsuption, this ofered from family friends and others has they in the 80´s every car that had chromed bumpers or side mirrors were old and black plastic with foam were modern, and gasoline price increased a lot, not possible to drive them as daily cars. Like all ,i have real problems and family that are gone, some for stupid avoidable reasons as also most of my older friends but, still have two friends that i met them when we were 4 years old, i try to think in better times and music bring me back memories from persons i already didn´t remenber but somehow music made me remenber them and after having a strange feeling that all those girls i went camping with them at the beach i do not know nothing about them in the last 40 years or a less years gap but 1 to 5 years at the most, but that´s how i can abstract of all bad memories through out one´s life, not forgoten, for moments it brings me back to my late 20´s, when one didn´t had problems and all days seemed a bliss
Im 71 and the days of old search out the stereo of your interest the quality..the ability to go to listen the product is gone.I miss the stores that you could go audition your interest. Here where i live we have one store that has been in business for 50 years. He is on the verge of closing. And the incoming generation will most liking not be interested in upgrading. And thats because everything is digital. The throw away society. Its sad.for us older audiophiles..love your channel and your point of view !
I remember going to several stereo shops around the city to audition various brands of gear because not all sold the same ones. That was part of the fun. Take a few of your favorite albums, have someone set up your choice of receiver, or amp, turntable & speakers was a process. You could dial it in like you wanted and sit back and listen to compare. I know I drove at least one salesperson a little nuts going through A-B listening to a 3 pairs of speakers, 3 receivers & numerous turntables but when all was said & done, I spent a TON of money on my Advent 5012 Oaks, Sony receiver & turntable, Ortofon cartridge & Pioneer cassette deck!!!
I’m 40 and bought a $1000 TV from Best Buy maybe 10 years ago or so. The Magnolia rep at Best Buy was a cool guy who brought me into their closed $200k+ Mcintosh & high end speaker room and gave me a demo just for fun. I swear I felt like I’d just seen my first concert. I told myself I’d own McIntosh someday and after years of investments I finally got a home system with a mix of vintage and newer Mac equipment. Your own ears as a sales tool really does sell itself.
I retired last February…my wife and I decided to rebuild our hi-fi equipment. Our kids grew up with more hi-tech surround sound 5 channel or more channel. We converted our home office into a seating area and 2 channel system with receiver, turntable, and even CD’s capability’s routed thru a VU meter capable of 2 setups of everything. Our hope is in 2025 to take a drive from Minnesota to Iowa and see if we can find our vintage options. Our youngest is still at home, and he has discovered 2 channel bliss… he asked for the 2 albums we just ordered from you, and I requested another SkyLabs tee shirt for Christmas. Thanks for everything in 2024, and Merry Christmas to you and the team!
I'm 28, and I got into the vintage hobby during COVID. It all started when I came across an Philips 80s hi-fi system in great condition at Goodwill for just $50. I couldn’t help but wonder why it was so cheap, and I was bored as hell and looking for hobbies to pass the time the time, so I bought it. The moment I played music on it, I was blown away-it sounded so much better, so real, in a way I can't fully explain. Three years later, I now have a nearly complete '70s Pioneer system, including a restored SX-980 receiver and PL-41 turntable. I'm still on the hunt for the perfect speakers, but they'll come in time.
I'm going to share some of my experience - 70 years old now... I grew up in a family where we had a stereo console, my mom would load records up and have music playing in the house a lot of the time, especially through the holiday season. Some of the mid-fi from that era, had a TV in the center of the console. I went to college and a lot of people in my dorm had their own stereos in their rooms, people would go to other rooms and listen together to music. The exposure to music and stereo systems was widespread. After college, I worked in retail in a department store for a number of years. We sold mostly lower to mid-fi systems, but I remember the first Sony Walkman coming in. It had two headphone jacks, the idea being that people could walk together and listen to music together while out of the house. The second headphone jack disappeared almost immediately, and music was on the way to becoming more of an individual experience. Quality increased with CD's and eventually the iPod came out with digitally stored music. Over the last few years, I've occasionally looked at the products out in the market. There's a lot of speakers sold for computers and other speakers sold for Bluetooth systems - for many of those, I just don't see the emphasis on sound quality; that probably goes along with a lot of car stereos that emphasize the low end with a "subwoofer" that functions more like a big bass drum than any quality sound at the bottom end. In essence. a loss of any sense of quality sound, whether due to the idea of portability or just having some noise there. The cost of getting into quality stereo systems is getting really high - I look and just wonder how a lot of people can afford it; perhaps part of the market is simply offering what people will buy. With the emphasis on vintage equipment, I'm sure that part of all of the increase in prices is simply supply and demand, a lot of people interested already bought theirs and people selling are figuring out that they can get more money for their equipment. There's probably some effect of the economy as far as people being able to afford vintage equipment as well. I'm sure that there's a certain amount of ebb and flow to the vintage market due to a lot of factors. In the meantime, I'll paraphrase Charlton Heston: you can take my Harmon/Kardon when you can pry it from my cold, dead hands... One of the things missing from a lot of modern systems is good, low bass. There's a visceral experience of cranking up music on a good system that listening with ear buds just cannot replicate
So, I worked for an independent Service Center, and I personally went to Bose, @ The Mountain, to request to be a Bose service center. The answer was yes. We in fact were their Premier Repair center for all of their direct sales products from the 90's, until 2010, mostly their AW-1, CD2000, CD3000, and Wave Radio lines. I can assure you, that repair of legacy products were "high" on their list of priorities, because they cherish their reputation. They stockpiled old cassette components for their AW-1 models, salvaged physical potentiometers, and anything they could get their hands on to keep their 30 year old products alive. Even the CD2000's that were fitted with "Alps" CD pickups were redesigned to retrofit a Sony CD mechanism 20 years after they were made. I still to this day repair MANY of them a week for legacy customers.
There is satisfaction going thru old albums and finding a song you forgot about or a new old one you haven't heard before. Hang in there the 50 plus are still here! Thank you for doing this. Cheers
I, a 24 year-old, began exploring vintage hifi during the tail end of the pandemic in large part because my dad got back into it. I found a pair of Heresy 1s in a literal barn in rough cosmetic but perfect internal condition. I snagged them as well as a Technics SA-505 for $40 and restored both. Since then I acquired a Philips 7800 receiver (one of the last American-built receivers of the 1970s) and a pair of Cornwall 1s for $700. It’s been a great hobby thus far for myself and my dad.
As a 25 year old guy that just inherited his grandpa's SX950, HPM100s and PL530, I just wish the old man would've shown me the stereo he'd ignored for 30 years. Most of my friends were entirely unaware such a category of home stereo existed. The most any of them were familiar with was maybe an acoustimass system, or a home theater. They seem very interested in my old stereo and ask a lot of questions, but seem really intimidated. Having researched the value of the stuff gramps had, I can't say I blame any of them. Vintage is a lot to take in. If you know younger family members or friends that enjoy music, maybe introduce them to the hobby, and give them some advice? The best way to generate interest in anything is to share it.
I am 62 years on this planet. Never "locked down" thank you for your channel. You kick ass. My pioneer still kicks ass thanks to your tuneup. . Thank you Kevin.
I live on the east coast of Canada, and wish your shop as here, as we really don't have a shop like yours here. I would be a regular coming in to see what you have. I hope your able to keep it going a long way into the future. I'll take this opportunity to wish you and your whole crew a Merry Christmas and great New Years.
I discovered your channel a few weeks ago, after inheriting my father's 1971 Sansui 441 Receiver and '71 Dual 1215. Your knowledge, humor, and honesty is incredibly refreshing. I'm a fan. Thanks for what you do. I'm in St. Louis and would welcome making a trip up to your store sometime.
I got into this hobby a few years ago, I just turned 25 and I have a ***MINT***McIntosh C11 Tube preamp, McIntosh MC2125 power amplifier, and run Altec Lansing Valencia’s. Love the sound of my equipment.
33 years old here and all in on vintage audio! Also, very into owning my own physical music. There's nothing like the hunt for your next vintage item or record🤘🏻Thanks for a great channel!
Dad brought back a Kenwood receiver from Okinawa in 72, when he was in the Corps. Fueled a passion for hi fi. Still listen on a Technics SA-700. An honest 100 watts per channel, with a 4 gang tuner. Love it!
I am 71 and enjoyed todays topic. Vintage will always have its attraction. I’m fortunate to have been into used home audio in the late 80’s thru early 2000’s when people were selling off vintage gear and vinyl at yards sales. The deals you could find were unbelievable by todays prices. I love your videos!
There is nothing that I can add to all of these wonderful comments. I am 70 years old (young?) and I have been in involved in this incredible journey since I was about 14 years old. I have seen a lot of changes since "the day". I have a lot of equipment in my home including two multimedia systems. But the Holy Grail (at least in my opinion) is a Pioneer SX-1250 which I got back in 1980 for $75.00. Yes, $75.00. I also have Large and Small Advent Speakers, Bose 601, and so much more. I find that being in this hobby is very therapeutic too. When upset, sad, depressed, I put something on and it automatically cheers me up. I love watching Kevin's videos and seeing new generations of people get involved. What I have found is that it is a common denominator and bridges young and old.
Man ,even the thrift shops are getting to be a dying place to find good deals for Old Tech equipment anymore. I found a 80's style Pioneer for $45 and surprisingly in new condition, but that was like last summer.
They’re keyed into the eBay prices and probably selling them out that way. I haven’t seen anything worthwhile in a couple years, and I go out looking in my area every couple weeks. Even the newer AV junk is going for $50 or better. The last great deal I got was a nice Sony CDP-C500 CD player for $10 that had a dog chewed power cord.
My teenage kids don't understand my collection of relic receivers and bulky speakers but one day when they have space of their own they will want some old school hardware, I'm pretty sure. You don't wanna listen on earbuds forever.
It is what it is... Speaking for myself, I'm 64 years old and not interested in any monster receiver anymore, not to mention I wouldn't be able to pick one up to move it. LOL And now I live in an apartment so I can't play my music blasting like I used to when I was a teenager and in my twenties.. this is what happens when you get old.. things change.. our bodies change, our living conditions change and our priorities change.. But I can't imagine anyone choosing a quality sound system without going to a HiFi store to listen to it in person like we used to back in the 70s.. I practically lived in my local HiFi store.. I loved the smell inside the store of all those electronics turned on.. it was addicting..lol As far as Macintosh goes we'll just have to wait and see I just hope that Bose doesn't destroy a great company.... And Kevin, never buy that cheap coffee again, spend the money to get the good stuff that you deserve ☕😊
In the '70s and '80s I had to make special trips to whole-bean coffee retailers to get the good stuff. Now I can get Peet's pods at my local Kroger supermarket. There's no excuse for drinking bad coffee!
Greetings @karaDee2363!,my fellow music loving audiophile. This is from the Black Man O.G. and music loving audiophile,(my full title!😆). We're the same age and I definitely echo your sentiment. I still have one audio store that I still enjoy going to in the city. The other store that I would occasionally go to has moved far away.There were others that sold vinyl and CDs but were only partially of audiophile level. Unfortunately these are long gone. Yes, I to miss the days of going to record stores and sampling new releases. I also became friends with two audio salesmen and we maintained a respectable customer/seller relationship. We'd hang out occasionally, would talk for hours and have met some of each other's friends and family. These two guys were older than myself and have passed. I loved those old guys and I miss them. Thankfully their stores are still doing good.
P.S. I have mixed reactions to the McIntosh acquisition myself. I hope young people get introduced to the high end audio segment. Everybody knows Rolex, Porsche. Lamborghini and Ferrari. It's time people get to know the High End audio industry. Perhaps we could get The History channel to do a Modern Marvels episode on the history of High Fidelity and home music reproduction.
That's it, exactly. I used to make regular trips to more than one stereo store to listen to the latest equipment. My trips were frequent enough so that I could make an A/B comparison between the new equipment and something I was familiar with. Alas, stereo stores have all but disappeared. The last time I bought new speakers, I did it based on the manufacturer's reputation and a good review. When I got them, I did an A/B comparison with my old speakers. The new ones weren't bad, but my old ones were better. I ended up selling the new speakers and keeping my old ones.
I'm 78 and have been in this hobby since 1962. I saw this 'trend' was coming several years ago so I sold my Altec 604's (C&D woofers, 1956 & 1957), I had them since 1968. Also got rid of Tannoy Canterbury's. I keep waiting for my son to stop in and say, "Mom, time to go to the home!" Still have some good 'stuff' but it's a lot smaller. Sad to see vintage waning but this is something we can't control. Great insight into this hobby, Thank you. 🙂
@@allenschmitz9644 Digital is a lot of crap. Few artists today are worth listening to. The stereo in our ca supposedly has a lot of speakers but it sounds like crap. My AM radio with 6x9 Jensen's back in the 70's sounded better. I know my ears have changed for the worse but still.
I love listening to you talk about the old and new products . It’s like going down memory lane. And you’re the coolest mellow person with the best sense of humor brother. My wife and I laughed our asses off about your coffee you couldn’t drink. Thank you!
Just saw you on Randy's YT Channel - Really appreciated your honesty and your personality. Thanks, Randy & Hi from a Scotsman in Japan, Kevin. All the very best! (Been into hi-fi since my teens; now in my 60's and still keen... great hobby!).
Very insightful video about interest and trends of equipment. I am 70 and have several inexpensive class D amps, one vintage Luxman L100 and a two A/B class streamer integrated. With the vintage, I paid $1,500 and spent another $2,000 in repairs. Hard to keep vintage going with very few qualified techs. Yes, young people don't care that much.
Hey Kevin - I’m really glad my two ears are still working (albeit improved by hearing aids) and my eyes are still working (even better after cataract surgery). New technology is a generally a good thing and there will always be our desire for time- machine experiences that take us back to our youth. Everything comes in waves and I’ll bet those monster amps/receivers once again come onto the market. The pendulum has just swung the other way..for now. On another note, I’m enjoying seeing how relaxed you’ve become on screen. It seems that you’re finding your groove . It’s kinda like we’re having a friendly conversation about our mutual hobby/passion in someone’s man cave listening room. Keep up the good work! I’ll be coming back for more.
As a guy in my late 20s, my introduction to vintage audio came in the form of buying a pair of HPM100's for 20 bucks when I was a kid and not knowing what I had, until I one day a decade later decided to google them and consequently crapped my pants. Then, I got my degree in blacksmithing which taught me the worth of all things old, particularly tools and such. Which in combination with my ownership of these speakers made me think "Hey, I should get those working again." A restoration taking months of my life later, and they are currently singing away in the background as I write this comment. If I hadn't had either of these things happen to me, I would never have cared for vintage audio, or really vintage anything. But because of all of this, Ive learnt how good it feels to own something. Ive had enough music pulled from my spotify playlists, and shows I've loved pulled from netflix that its made me despise the medium. Ive realized, that the only way that something wont be pulled from my hands, is if I hold it in my hands to begin with. Young people, and people my age, don't react much to when things are ripped from their hands, because they grew up with this. They grew up not owning anything, so suddenly not owning it because a license agreement ran out or something, doesn't invoke any emotion. It was never expected that it would last forever. I was this way before i realized on my own that hey, it can be different. So like you said it is up to us now, the few of us who knows how it feels to own something, to educate those who don't. To make people interested again. To pass the knowledge forward that hey, you can live in a reality where your discography isnt dictated by a mega-corporation. That there is joy to be found in respecting your elders by taking care of the timeless pieces they left behind, like speakers, receivers, tools, furniture, clothes.... that the world was different then. That there is a world where the priorities were quality focused, and that that world lies in the past.
I'm 32 and I am more in line with the older crowd in that I ripped all of my dad's CDs. I just hate streaming music. Not having complete control over what songs play as well as introducing ads are just the biggest sins of those platforms. Not to mention the fact that it's murdered the concept of an album. Living in Asheville there isn't a single store that I could walk into and demo speakers and for a chronic researcher it makes buying hi-fi gear nerve wracking.
Great discussion! I’ve been selling hifi since 1989, including about 10 years selling used vintage and high end gear and what you are seeing makes sense to me. Only thing I would add to the changes in the audio market would be the amazing jump in the sound quality and build of super affordable, online, small hifi. The compact class D amps, the Dac’s , headphone amps etc are kinda amazing as affordable entry audio. Add in the fun of the tubes, cool meters etc that many have it is a great way to affordably dip your toe and wallet into hifi with hurting your back and bank account. As someone who has made their living in hifi, that’s a bummer as there is no money to be made in those, so a store can’t sell those products. As an audio/ music enthusiast it is a great way to affordably enjoy the hobby if one does not have the space, wallet or back for new or premium vintage hifi. I see that trend contributing to the shift in the audio market a bit also.
It’s not all dark clouds. After two weeks with my new Advance Paris X-i75, I’d say one of your new partners are making what has to be one of the best bargains in hifi. Very nice sounding indeed. If other manufacturers follow suit folks might open their wallets.
I just love your mellow, soothing way of talking Kevin... it reminds of Steven Wright who does the voice over for the album Reservoir Dogs: 'K-Billy's Super Sounds of the 70's weekend just keeps on comin' with this little ditty, that reached up to twenty-one in may of 1970. The George Baker Selection: Little Green Bag'...... just great stuff!
I agree and also love the way he talks; very calm, conversational, almost like you’re in your lounge room enjoying a coffee just killing over our hobby 😊
Im 28 and upgraded to a marantz 2015, technics 1810, and baby advents. It’s basic sure, but all of my friends are enamored when they come over and we just listen to music for hours. I could very well see vintage audio becoming a trend that young people hop on wanting to be off of screens, but currently my generation is hurting financially. The price point of equipment is too much of an ask right now, but I could see a lot of upgrades from cheaper turntables and speakers happening once they move up in their careers. Thanks for all you do with this channel.
I am 57, I have a son that is 14 and he was all of 2023 interested in Vinyl and I have him my old Technics SL-D30 turn table after tuning it up, repairing dust cover. I have him an old receiver and he loved it but got bored after awhile. He went into it with such enthusiasm for about 8 months to a year and does not show interest as much. It appears that they are always on to the next thing. When I was his age, I worked on a farm at 14, bought my first stereo received an Onkyo TX-3000 at 15, next by SL-30 at 16, tape teck at 17. It took years as I got in the hobby and collected records. I still have my mix tapes to this day and most of my original equipment. Longevity hobbies seems non-existant to some extent with todays younger folks. With that said, they are better or in at least my case helping me with Apps on my phone, setting up my smart TV etc.
The truth is that convenient music is what we listen to and how we listen. So back in the day I copied my vinyl tracks to Dolby cassettes, to use on my daily commute. Then I moved on to CDs. Now I use my tablet or phone and earbuds.I still have all my vinyl and the requisite gear to play it with. My 50 year old speaker system, home built with a proper crossover, still sounds great.
Exactly the same here. My son (14) could only be tempted after I fitted a BT5 receiver into the vintage system I gave him. Only then did he use it, but in less than a year he's back to gaming whenever he's inside and the stereo is unplugged and stowed. Something sad too, as I'm a self employed electronics service tech and he has zero interest in learning anything technical. It's all a chore to him. He's also a whiz with apps and software, but is not even remotely interested in things like cad or 3d printing. I often think I've failed somehow, but then he's just got different interests which dont cross mine so much, aandI guess when I was his age very few of my friends were into electronics, so its nothing unusual.
You were spot on! I'm over 60 with a big vintage collection. I've just recently begun 'experimenting' with the new stuff and particularly streaming. Old and new. A great combination!
A lot of really good comments in this video! I am 63, and retired about a year ago. While at work, we had lots of younger guys getting hired to replace me and the other oldsters that were on the verge of retirement. One thing I have noticed from the 20-somethings (I almost always asked) was that their taste in music and equipment is well towards portable music (headphones are everywhere), and maybe a single plug-in speaker at home. They just don't GET IT when it comes to hi-fi stereo equipment. It is old school, which to them means crappy. When I was a teen, or in my 20's, I and all of my friends wanted stereo equipment. The bigger the amp, the better. The bigger the speakers, the better. EVERYBODY thought in those terms. Nowadays, music seems to be something that happens while you live your life doing other stuff - very few youngsters seem to want to go back to the old days of a stereo system where you listen in an open room rather than through your headphones. There are, of course, exceptions, but the sheer numbers are going with headphones, etc. Even comments on YT posts of music 'reactions' say that the best way to experience the 60's song being reviewed is to listen on headphones so you can hear the stereo effect better. What they mean is better than on the laptop, or earbud (singular) from the phone. No one is saying that the song would sound so much better on a stereo system.
@@j.patrickmoore9137 1000% Unless you've experienced it, you just don't know. At least with clean bass, not boosted relative to the rest of the song. It makes one understand the importance of real bass in real music. Oh, and it is fun to rattle the windows.
@@j.patrickmoore9137 Yes, but this is why the "experience" is lackluster for many. You need good speakers for proper full reproduction. 90% of the speaker systems I see online are never going to give you that experience.
@@jefffoster3557 Even some of the older speakers (around 30 years) have those crappy foam suspensions that go bad. I changed out my drivers for new when they went bad. THOSE went bad so I bought kits to change them. Nobody makes them like the old style 70's Altecs.
Yup, I’m 50 and I know that the new generation behind me is more interested in all in one, powered speakers that have wireless music services. Unfortunately, us old dinosaurs with vintage equipment are dying a slow death.
34 years old from Cedar Rapids, got a Pioneer TX-6500ii and SA-6500ii as a house warming from my father in law along with his large advent fried egg speakers he bought in high school. He came over and we got it hooked up, I replaced the blown woofers and I’ve been hooked since. Currently working on a stack of 9500 pioneer gear.
Was fortunate enough to live in Des Moines for 8 years. Spent a lot of time and money in Kevin’s store. The speakers and receivers we got there are first rate. We bought the equipment we wanted based on room sizes and what we were going to do with it. The Marantz and some Bose speakers for the living room linked to our 85 inch TV. The Sansui with its power is upstairs in a large room coupled to so some sweet rock speakers that blast it out! The Pioneer with its advent speakers are in the garage. When the door is open you can hear it a few acres away!😂 Life is short enjoy your equipment!
I owed a shop like yours in the early 80's. I repaired everything consumer, including stereo receivers. The Koreans invented the 200 dollar VCR and my business died within 2 years.
My dad had a TV repair shop that he closed in the late '90s. It really should have ended way before that. The cheap, non repairable TVs killed his business as well.
@@mikepodorski4272I know people scoff at tariffs and protectionism but America used to make fine high quality products that could be repaired easily and last for a decade or more. I hate the disposable culture.
@@mikeg2491 We had the same in Europe, high quality repairable products that came with a service manual. No need to keep those away from your markets. But people buy cheap. Asia just sold us what we wanted to buy. If we had closed our borders, a local producer would have done the same as soon as technology allowed them to.
GEN X here, love the physical media and stereo/speaker setup I got, yet, I love the streaming aspect (Amazon HD) as well with a excellent head of headphones. Best of both worlds!
Kevin, you made a good point about getting vintage equipment serviced these days. I'm from the Quad Cities and trying find a reliable place to get vintage equipment serviced is extremely difficult. 2 years ago I did find someone to repair my Sansui 8080DB about 20 miles outside of town who does good work but he's a retiree working very limited hours and will probably be closing up shop soon. Frustrating that repair places and good tech are few and far between now.
Hi Kevin, I've watched a bunch of your videos in the past few weeks (to my wife's mild consternation) - anyway, thanks as they're a real trip down memory lane for me. In my youth I worked at a couple of hi-fi stores here in Winnipeg. Kenwood and EPI were our bread 'n butter lines at Opus 69 but we had higher end product too. BTW - I don't often see you talking about Kenwood - reason? Really liked the quality and value for money of the early Toshiba receivers and tape decks too. My personal system back then was a Spectro Acoustics 217 preamp (no tone controls) married to a Quad 405 power amp feeding a pair of KEF 104aB speakers (also not spoken about on your vids). My source was a Kenwood KD500 turntable (with the aggregate base) with an SME type II tonearm and a Micro-Acoustics 282e cartridge. I replaced the stock phono cartridge lead wires with a set from Discwasher that were one piece (i.e. no solder joints or crimps, flat, gold-plated 'springs', which were designed on the principle that higher frequencies travel more readily on the surface of the wire, thus more surface area = better high end...the crazy thing was that those clips made a very noticeable difference. The only tone controls on my system were the little knobs on the KEFs that could raise or lower the tweeter volume by 1.5dB. That system was crazy good. Then the minivan/home theatre years happened and I sold it all, except the KEFs, for a pittance. Same story for about 1500 LP's. Eventually bought a higher end Yamaha receiver (HTR-5450) and companion CD player along with a good set of Paradigm home theatre speakers w/sub and picked up a set of Realistic Minimus 5 speakers too; all of which I'm still happy with. 45 years later, those KEFs still sound damn good to me, especially when I let 'em rip. Was just listening to Grapelli, NHOP, and company on Young Django - stunning definition. Cheers and Happy New Years!
Bought my G7700 in 1979, with a pair of C-W S1's. I've kept the receiver maintained, re-foamed the woofers about 8 years ago. It still sounds wonderful to me. Some folks have comfort foods. The decades gone by fall from my shoulders when I sit back with one of my favorite albums. Chicago II doesn't make me fatter, too.
I've been buying up Sansui equipment. 2 BA-2000, 2 CA-2000, 3 AU-717, 1 AU-999, 1 AU-101. I just love the 1970s sound I grew up with. Playing through SP-5000 and SP-5500 brought back by servicemen who bought them at the PX.
Great conversation! I think that’s a sober and honest look in to audio at the moment. Also: I had never heard of Advance Paris before. I checked them out on line and they have a fantastic lineup of products. Thanks for turning me on to those guys.
Good video, Kev, and all true. Not many things withstand the test of time (including US !), audio gear is not excluded from this. Sorry to see Mac being taken over like this, they had set a high bar for customer service. I remember Mac`s "Walk-In-Clinics", where you could carry in any piece of gear, and have their techs check it out. I brought my SX-1250 in once, and the initially-skeptical tech, after getting inside it, became very enthusiastic, pointing out all it`s strong points to me. "Don`t ever sell this !" he advised me. (I never did) Happy Holidays, all the best to you and Dad !
Another enjoyable installment. Glad that you broached the BOSE "Buying Spree". I had shot you an email about this, right after it happened, and missed your response. You are correct that the "New Daddy" is now an electronics manufacturer, and no longer a Venture Capital organization. Like you said, this could take one of two VERY different directions. Right this minute, I am going to take the high road, and HOPE that BOSE sees McIntosh as a technology resource. This Christmas, our daughter-in-law asked for a "record player". I have purchased a really good quality one that will be serviceable, and not damage the vinyl she has, and will purchase. I am going to tell her and our son, that when they get to their house, I will give them one of my vintage receivers that you know I have been collecting, and build them a two-channel system. Tell your Dad I said HI.....
Lots of good points here. I feel like there are two distinct worlds in audio. One is the convenience world of streaming or digital play so you're not fumbling with CD's or cassettes while driving. You don't have a case holding a dozen or 20 to choose from between the seats; there's hundreds. However, that world does not usually enjoy the quality and experience of what you said, the true sweet spot in front of a good two channel stereo system. Personally I still believe that vinyl is still one of the best sounding mediums when properly cared for and played on good equipment. Yeah, when I'm tinkering around in the garage or house, I stream. but when I really feel like cranking up some Boston, Rush or Pink Floyd and relaxing, there's no place like in front of the vintage system!
This episode was spot on. With regard to younger people getting into audio, it seems like most of them are perfectly happy with listening to mp3 files on portable devices. I'm sure there are plenty of exceptions, there always are, but all of the young people I know couldn't care less about hi-fi. If it sounds 'good', then it's good enough. The last really nice home audio store in Oklahoma City closed about fifteen or twenty years ago, no doubt as a result of big-box stores and online retailers. I really missed getting to go to those stores and being able to listen to, and play with gear before making a purchase. Recently, a new home audio store opened in OKC, and I've visited them a few times. I really hope they do well, and I hope that such stores make a comeback.
Entry level stuff now costs what those high or mid-high end range stuff cost 5-6 years ago. Some prices have got out of hand. Us 20 to 30 somethings can't spend 1000, 1500, 2000 on a receiver when we're struggling to make ends meet.
Have done radio and club stuff, back in the day. I'm into professional equipment (BGW or Crown amps, JBL (Yamaha/Tannoy) professional speakers, Technics (SL-1100A, SL-1200) turntables, etc. Man -- those were the days!!! If you ever get a chance to hear stuff like this, you will be blown away!!!
My daughter is 18, she LP's, she adopted my dads old collection and goes to record stores etc. She will listen to cd's in the car, and streaming when she's doing other stuff. But at home she puts on LP's, or bluetooth from her phone. I set her up a compact basic system- Yamaha integrated and JBL bookshelf speakers which she uses quite a bit. I gave the 15yr old son of a friend an old silver Kenwood integrated and a pair of B&W speakers, piped in his TV audio for gaming and a bluetooth receiver and he loves it. He just bought himself a little class T amp, speakers and bluetooth receiver for his dad's house. So there are young folks out there- I imagine some will like it enough to nerd up.
Speaking for myself, I have been hanging on to my silverface Pioneer spec-II setup. I'm happy with that for my vintage stereo setup especially for listening to vinyl, receiver, and cassette. I have different setups for different experiences. I also have a Streaming / Digital Audio setup and a Home Theatre setup. It depends if a want an analog time machine, discover new music or have background music, or an immersive theatre experience.
Kevin, the observation you made at ~5:00 is spot on. The "younger generation" (which is almost everyone to me) just don't seek the experiences that we older folks value. I, e, the gear is not nearly as important to them as the convenience and ready availability of the music and video content they want to hear at that moment in time. Think of it this way; we used to listen to music as the activity itself; consumers today are already engaged in some other activity and instantly call up music that to them compliments it. If you had to set up a "system" first, the moment would be lost on nearly every occasion. What do you think?
Peace - before Black Friday I just about sold out of all my gear, post Black Friday... sales have been slow. I have everything from Monsters receivers to old rare tubes. Thanks for the content.
I'm 53 and sold all my vinyl when I moved abroad. Bought a NAIM integrated streamer/amp and now pay $11 a month for Tidal and have access to all the 24bit HD audio I want to hear - including the most current remasters
The best source I found for high-quality equipment is second-hand stores in Florida. A lot of money was spent years ago, retirement, and then property liquidation. Be sure to check them out if visiting on vacation.
I am working on my 15yr old granddaughter. She was fine with her iPhone and ear buds. She's used to a modest home theater system they have at home, so she knows something about fidelity. But it was not connecting to her persona music listening. So I sat her down with my ATH-50M powered by my Schiit Magni and had her stream something she knew off of youtube. Even that blew her mind. She refused to give them back. Sent her home with the Magni and a slightly lessor set of headphones I have. She streams off the iPhone or a notebook PC. So talking a streamer/ amp for her. She's heard my bigger system with Maggies and a ADCOM GFA555 from turntable. And was impressed. But did not fit into her lifestyle interest. But the amount of time she spent with earbuds did put the amp/ headphones right into the middle. We've talked turntable. She knows some of her current artists are releasing vinyl. So that might be happening if she can find room in her small bedroom. But I keep exposing her to more that fits her lifestyle just so she can learn to appreciate the difference. That drives the desire.
Im 36, ive been into vintage and new hifi equipment since i was a teenager... ill gladly keep the passion alive as long as i am! Id love to start a shop myself but my knowledge of repairs is very limited and i feel thats a service you absolutely need to run a vintage stereo shop.
I'm 70 and I'm at kind of an odd place on vintage gear. I have a Dual 1229 and a pair of JBL L-100s, but I bought them new so they were modern equipment then. I kick myself now for getting rid of my HK 930, but I've always looked to new stuff when updating. The funny thing is that I've been looking back for my newer updates. My main system is now a 50x2 Vincent SV-500 integrated amp with tubes in the preamp section, a pair of acoustic suspension KLH 3s, and a Rega P3 turntable. I'd love to have a vintage Thorens turntable along with my Dual and I'd also love to have my HK 930 back, but with the current system I'm getting a lot of the vibe of my 50-years-ago system when I sit down and play records. As far as formats go, I was a reel-to-reel snob in the 70's so I didn't even get into cassettes until I had a player in my car. I welcomed CDs but not streaming until, once again, I had it in my car. I'm still a physical media addict and don't stream (yet) on my home system. I've pretty much quit buying new LPs and CDs due to the cost and the ultra-processed sound of most new music. Thank you for your consistently great videos. Someday I'm going to make the trek down from the Twin Cities to visit the store (except not after an ice storm at the state border like when I came down to have my Dual rehabbed).
Along with the twin power, one of the more unusual features on the 930 was the split tone controls. I could take a mono signal from an old record, run one set of tone controls one way and the other, the opposite, and create at least a bit of a sense of stereo separation from a mono signal. They could also be used to help balance out the bass response when one speaker had to be disadvantageously placed in a room, whether dealing with a room with an odd layout or a spouse with an excessive sense of visual aesthetics over the aural aesthetics.
@@j.patrickmoore9137 Yep. I used to play with that feature now and then but never used it seriously. I think it had a dial to select mono, stereo, reverse stereo, only left channel and only right channel. That was fun to mess with now and then too.
59 here, I recently bought a new Dayton Audio HTA200 amp (it's my channel avatar) and I am really happy with it. It has a blue tooth mode that I can cast from my phone if I want, but I am 90% vinyl. I still have my Sansui G5500 that I put on a different system.
Yes! People are hanging onto their vintage equipment. I will never part with my vintage gear as it keeps going up in value. They are investment pieces these days. Just look at the average price of the Pioneer silver face receivers. All of them have gone up in value by at least 100% over the past few years. My SX-1050 is selling for $1800 or more and that's ten times more than I paid for it several years ago. Even the entry level models have doubled in price. I'd say people are in "acquisition" mode rather than "liquidation" mode. The bad thing is that so many who would love to get into vintage gear simply cannot afford it which leads to them purchasing junk from the big box retailers. Just my two cents. Love the channel! You are one of the few that I subscribe to...
I went to a thrift store Saturday that has a section dedicated to Hi Fi equipment. I have bought several items there, and was able to put together a system for my brother, and for me. When I went this time there was almost nothing there. A couple of sets of some small speakers. I will check again in a week or so, but I was surprised that it was slim pickings.
One company that I know still supports their older equipment is Ohm Acoustics. They will repair speakers they made all the way back to the 70s. I actually need to get new grill baskets for my 3XOs too. I've had them since I was 21 and I'm 56, but they're fantastic speakers! 😎👍
I’m 34 and started vintage and still only interested in that. Like you mentioned I’ve become “curious” of the new products and watch a lot of other UA-camrs who cover those and I think that’s mainly where it comes from. The content that gets put out reflects where the market is going if you ask me. Look what you did to the prices of HK gear, kevin! lol I’m only kidding but I did go and snatch up a citation 16 A and 17 because of y’all.
I miss browsing through Hi-Fi Stores. I retired in the Philippines and live in a remote area. The only stores at the malls here offer plastic boxes. I had an old Tecnics Turntable I brought from Spain to the Philippines in my suitcase. I still have an 40 year old Akai Integrated Amp at my x-wife's house I'm going to have shipped eventually. I have some new equipment, a Yamaha receiver and KEF Q Series Speakers that sound great, but I still love vintage audio.
My first 2 channel stereo was a Sherwood receiver, bookshelf speakers and a turntable. I added a Pioneer cassette deck to that for my cruising tapes. That was in my teens in the 70's. Now I'm much older and have decided to get back to a 2 channel system. Per your recommendation I went with a Pioneer SX 850, Pioneer ct-f9191 and a Pioneer PL41 with some JBL Century L100 speakers. This would have been a system I could have not afforded back in my teens. I miss the days when you could walk into an electronics store and smell the beautiful receiver's and amps and play with them. This younger generation may never experience that.
Hey Kevin - Just turned 40 but really started getting into hifi during covid. Personally I found the vintage audio world very intimidating at first, the guides you and Lenny (formerly at JustAudio) put together helped me greatly. Unlike new products, it's very difficult to quickly compare vintage products, especially across model years and manufactures. Further their are some common models with known issues to enthusiasts but not well documented for younger buyers to find - Like STK chips, black leg transistors, Sansui 5000 issues etc. - then you have to know the models that could be affected 😵 A suggestion for you, similar to your "best X under $" series if you could explore specific brands - product hierarchy, known issues, original MSRP; Even just explaining the convoluted naming conventions! It could be a great (evergreen) library resource to learn from... I think you did one for Pioneer SX line. Bonus points for exploring lesser known brands and other product lines besides amps/receivers. Thanks and keep up the good work!
My brother says there are not as many monster receivers because I have most of them. Seriously there are fewer monster receivers knocking about because on average monster receivers cost $2,500 to $9,000 today. I brought most of my monster receivers between 2010 and 2021 when you could get a nice monster for $700 to 2,000. Heck my Pioneer SX-1980 in near mint condition cost just $3,500. Try to find a near mint Pioneer SX-1980 for $3,500 today. I have ten monster receivers & 2 low watt separates all restored to 1970's spec. I'm holding on to them till I croak. My local shop is JUST AUDIO in Baltimore, Maryland. I've likely given Just Audio over $25,000 in repair business. $1,000 new stuff. Thank you Kevin!
Back in the early 70's I'd ride my bicycle 10 miles across town to the only Hi Fi store in the area. The place was named Modern Sound on Brick Boulevard in Brick Town New Jersey. They had some really nice equipment there, Phase Linear, Harman Kardon, Marantz, JBL just to name a few. Over the years I got as Christmas and birthday presents my Dynaco ST120, Pat4 and the FM5 in kit form, still have them to this day and their operational. There was also another store on Fischer Boulevard named Rand's Pharmacy who specialized in Marantz and other high end brands.
People are doing the research. It’s 2024, brother! One and done purchases. Buy it for life, nam sayin? If people realize they’ll be in it $2000 for mid level gear… that’s a substantial enough purchase that someone is gonna sit back and do the value-math and purchase a quality unit once and never have to do it again. There’s tons of videos and forums where people can weigh their options from an informed perspective, there’s repair parts and how-to out there, so they can even recap if they want to. Your videos not only attract people to your business from a repair and purchase end, but equally, your videos are educating people and allowing them to buy smart and confidently. People can start out with an intellectual edge, thanks to people like you.
Buying nostalgic artifacts from your past also is a factor. 50-60+ year old people who grew up with LPs, had a lot of equipment over the years can maybe afford the time and expense now to snap up some of these dream machines they could never quite afford in their youth. Frankly, not everyone that was a teenager in the 60’s and 70’s knew what the top gear was in the 60’s and 70’s. You, and people like you are information sources to open peoples eyes to what’s out there!
The sad truth is that generally, younger people are looking for affordable, convenient, decent sounding. They don't appreciate the styling and craftsmanship of the older stuff, and don't want to worry about maintaining them. I think we are just in a lull, and there may be a resurgence after they realize that consumer-grade stuff is just OK, but sometimes spending the extra pays off in the long run. "The stingiest man pays the most" if you will.
@@skylabsaudioi recently purchased a mac4100receiver and would-love to bring it up to its glory , what do you think about that unit and do you restore those macs ??? thankyou again( i am out of state)
Coming up on 65 and still use my circa 75 yamaha CA/CT 800 stack driving a pair of Boston A150's. New low noise preamp transistors on the yammy and surrounds on the A150 woofs in 2005, still sounds as good as new to me. I also have a sansui au-417 amp for backup with about 20 hours on it...
In 1984, i was in the market for new speakers to replace my Telefunken L-645 Hi Fi speakers. After a couple of days going to different Hi Fi stores i heard a pair of speakers being demonstrated and the "sound" just blew me away. I had to buy them. The speakers in question were a pair of Rogers Studio 1. (made in England) They were a 3 way bookshelf ported design with a power handling capacity of 300 watts continuous at 8 ohms with 43 to 23,000 HZ @+ or- 2 DB The amplifier driving them was a Pioneer SM .83 integrated tube stereo amplifier. I don't need multi channel amplifiers and extra speakers. I simply use my 2 front stereo speakers with cross-talk cancellation to achieve a huge 3 dimensional soundstage, where the speakers and the room disappear. Back in the late 60's and 70's the race was on to see who could build the most powerful amplifier. 350 watts RMS/channel was the first one. Then Bob Carver invented his Magnetic Field Power Amplifier, a lightweight amplifier delivering 600 watts per channel continuous, Each channel could "borrow" 150 watts to increase to 750 watts. This is in class A B At low levels the amp switched to pure Class A. 30 watts per channel..
I just turned 20, and I recently picked up a Pioneer SX-850, a Technics turntable, and a pair of the infamous Bose 901’s to start off my vintage HiFi journey. Proud to be in that very small percentile of being an audio guy in my age group. I can’t wait to grow my collection over the next several decades!
That’s awesome man. Keep the flame alive.
I just got an 850 too. Hooked up my sansui sr 222 and dual 1219 to it. And added my sansui ra 700 ontop of it. Sounds great!!!
I hope you got the Bose Equalizer that came with the 901's?
@@stepheninge2173 Yep, I got the EQ + original tulip stands. The 901s are already controversial enough as is, but WOW, they do sound especially terrible without that equalizer, haha.
Lol I feel so young in this game being in my late 30s. Love seeing people young than me coming aboard! Rock on!
My youngest daughter is into music. She always loved playing vinyl on our system. Now that she's on her own, I restored a HK 330A along with a Denon DL TT with some Klipsch speakers and she loves it. She spends hours just reading and listening to music. She uses us as a vinyl library (400+ albums to choose from)
We've been to several record shows and it's really neat to have your child find what you love to be able to share it with each other.
That's great!
Aged 85 come January, and with impaired hearing including pitch distortion since trauma in 2002 -- my prime listening days are long gone. But I still enjoy hearing about the state of audio reproduction and associated gear. And the down-to-earth, lowkey style here adds to the pleasure. Ii've attended hundreds of symphonic, solo, opera, ballet, jazz performances -- so I used to be able to evaluate gear pretty well. I find myself agreeing with almost every word here -- as well as having experienced some of the reversals of view myself. Many thanks.
i´m 82 but i still like changing components bought in diferent decades to enjoy the music i´ve bought and recorded all my life, it´s maybe the only real hobby i have, either than this have a lot of 70´s cars but not thinking about it as it were given to me several cars that had more powerfull engines and family´s couldn´t aford it´s gasoline comsuption, this ofered from family friends and others has they in the 80´s every car that had chromed bumpers or side mirrors were old and black plastic with foam were modern, and gasoline price increased a lot, not possible to drive them as daily cars.
Like all ,i have real problems and family that are gone, some for stupid avoidable reasons as also most of my older friends but, still have two friends that i met them when we were 4 years old, i try to think in better times and music bring me back memories from persons i already didn´t remenber but somehow music made me remenber them and after having a strange feeling that all those girls i went camping with them at the beach i do not know nothing about them in the last 40 years or a less years gap but 1 to 5 years at the most, but that´s how i can abstract of all bad memories through out one´s life, not forgoten, for moments it brings me back to my late 20´s, when one didn´t had problems and all days seemed a bliss
Im 71 and the days of old search out the stereo of your interest the quality..the ability to go to listen the product is gone.I miss the stores that you could go audition your interest. Here where i live we have one store that has been in business for 50 years. He is on the verge of closing. And the incoming generation will most liking not be interested in upgrading. And thats because everything is digital. The throw away society. Its sad.for us older audiophiles..love your channel and your point of view !
“A cheap throw away society cannot care about the world they live in”
-me
A cheap throw away society cannot care about the world they live in
I remember going to several stereo shops around the city to audition various brands of gear because not all sold the same ones. That was part of the fun. Take a few of your favorite albums, have someone set up your choice of receiver, or amp, turntable & speakers was a process. You could dial it in like you wanted and sit back and listen to compare. I know I drove at least one salesperson a little nuts going through A-B listening to a 3 pairs of speakers, 3 receivers & numerous turntables but when all was said & done, I spent a TON of money on my Advent 5012 Oaks, Sony receiver & turntable, Ortofon cartridge & Pioneer cassette deck!!!
I’m 40 and bought a $1000 TV from Best Buy maybe 10 years ago or so. The Magnolia rep at Best Buy was a cool guy who brought me into their closed $200k+ Mcintosh & high end speaker room and gave me a demo just for fun. I swear I felt like I’d just seen my first concert. I told myself I’d own McIntosh someday and after years of investments I finally got a home system with a mix of vintage and newer Mac equipment. Your own ears as a sales tool really does sell itself.
With a quality DAC digital is not a problem, gramps. 😊 It's quite convenient actually.
I retired last February…my wife and I decided to rebuild our hi-fi equipment. Our kids grew up with more hi-tech surround sound 5 channel or more channel. We converted our home office into a seating area and 2 channel system with receiver, turntable, and even CD’s capability’s routed thru a VU meter capable of 2 setups of everything. Our hope is in 2025 to take a drive from Minnesota to Iowa and see if we can find our vintage options. Our youngest is still at home, and he has discovered 2 channel bliss… he asked for the 2 albums we just ordered from you, and I requested another SkyLabs tee shirt for Christmas. Thanks for everything in 2024, and Merry Christmas to you and the team!
I'm 28, and I got into the vintage hobby during COVID. It all started when I came across an Philips 80s hi-fi system in great condition at Goodwill for just $50. I couldn’t help but wonder why it was so cheap, and I was bored as hell and looking for hobbies to pass the time the time, so I bought it. The moment I played music on it, I was blown away-it sounded so much better, so real, in a way I can't fully explain. Three years later, I now have a nearly complete '70s Pioneer system, including a restored SX-980 receiver and PL-41 turntable. I'm still on the hunt for the perfect speakers, but they'll come in time.
I'm going to share some of my experience - 70 years old now...
I grew up in a family where we had a stereo console, my mom would load records up and have music playing in the house a lot of the time, especially through the holiday season. Some of the mid-fi from that era, had a TV in the center of the console.
I went to college and a lot of people in my dorm had their own stereos in their rooms, people would go to other rooms and listen together to music. The exposure to music and stereo systems was widespread.
After college, I worked in retail in a department store for a number of years. We sold mostly lower to mid-fi systems, but I remember the first Sony Walkman coming in. It had two headphone jacks, the idea being that people could walk together and listen to music together while out of the house. The second headphone jack disappeared almost immediately, and music was on the way to becoming more of an individual experience. Quality increased with CD's and eventually the iPod came out with digitally stored music.
Over the last few years, I've occasionally looked at the products out in the market. There's a lot of speakers sold for computers and other speakers sold for Bluetooth systems - for many of those, I just don't see the emphasis on sound quality; that probably goes along with a lot of car stereos that emphasize the low end with a "subwoofer" that functions more like a big bass drum than any quality sound at the bottom end. In essence. a loss of any sense of quality sound, whether due to the idea of portability or just having some noise there.
The cost of getting into quality stereo systems is getting really high - I look and just wonder how a lot of people can afford it; perhaps part of the market is simply offering what people will buy. With the emphasis on vintage equipment, I'm sure that part of all of the increase in prices is simply supply and demand, a lot of people interested already bought theirs and people selling are figuring out that they can get more money for their equipment. There's probably some effect of the economy as far as people being able to afford vintage equipment as well. I'm sure that there's a certain amount of ebb and flow to the vintage market due to a lot of factors.
In the meantime, I'll paraphrase Charlton Heston: you can take my Harmon/Kardon when you can pry it from my cold, dead hands...
One of the things missing from a lot of modern systems is good, low bass. There's a visceral experience of cranking up music on a good system that listening with ear buds just cannot replicate
So, I worked for an independent Service Center, and I personally went to Bose, @ The Mountain, to request to be a Bose service center. The answer was yes. We in fact were their Premier Repair center for all of their direct sales products from the 90's, until 2010, mostly their AW-1, CD2000, CD3000, and Wave Radio lines. I can assure you, that repair of legacy products were "high" on their list of priorities, because they cherish their reputation. They stockpiled old cassette components for their AW-1 models, salvaged physical potentiometers, and anything they could get their hands on to keep their 30 year old products alive. Even the CD2000's that were fitted with "Alps" CD pickups were redesigned to retrofit a Sony CD mechanism 20 years after they were made. I still to this day repair MANY of them a week for legacy customers.
That was then, this is now. Private equity and vulture capitalists have ruined everything.
There is satisfaction going thru old albums and finding a song you forgot about or a new old one you haven't heard before. Hang in there the 50 plus are still here! Thank you for doing this. Cheers
I, a 24 year-old, began exploring vintage hifi during the tail end of the pandemic in large part because my dad got back into it. I found a pair of Heresy 1s in a literal barn in rough cosmetic but perfect internal condition. I snagged them as well as a Technics SA-505 for $40 and restored both. Since then I acquired a Philips 7800 receiver (one of the last American-built receivers of the 1970s) and a pair of Cornwall 1s for $700. It’s been a great hobby thus far for myself and my dad.
As a 25 year old guy that just inherited his grandpa's SX950, HPM100s and PL530, I just wish the old man would've shown me the stereo he'd ignored for 30 years. Most of my friends were entirely unaware such a category of home stereo existed. The most any of them were familiar with was maybe an acoustimass system, or a home theater. They seem very interested in my old stereo and ask a lot of questions, but seem really intimidated. Having researched the value of the stuff gramps had, I can't say I blame any of them. Vintage is a lot to take in. If you know younger family members or friends that enjoy music, maybe introduce them to the hobby, and give them some advice? The best way to generate interest in anything is to share it.
I am 62 years on this planet. Never "locked down" thank you for your channel. You kick ass. My pioneer still kicks ass thanks to your tuneup. . Thank you Kevin.
I live on the east coast of Canada, and wish your shop as here, as we really don't have a shop like yours here. I would be a regular coming in to see what you have. I hope your able to keep it going a long way into the future. I'll take this opportunity to wish you and your whole crew a Merry Christmas and great New Years.
I discovered your channel a few weeks ago, after inheriting my father's 1971 Sansui 441 Receiver and '71 Dual 1215. Your knowledge, humor, and honesty is incredibly refreshing. I'm a fan. Thanks for what you do. I'm in St. Louis and would welcome making a trip up to your store sometime.
I got into this hobby a few years ago, I just turned 25 and I have a ***MINT***McIntosh C11 Tube preamp, McIntosh MC2125 power amplifier, and run Altec Lansing Valencia’s. Love the sound of my equipment.
At 76 I have a McIntosh system that has given me an years of quality sound. Enjoy your system !
Have Mac since 1972 still great
33 years old here and all in on vintage audio! Also, very into owning my own physical music. There's nothing like the hunt for your next vintage item or record🤘🏻Thanks for a great channel!
Im 41 and teached myself to service and repair vintage stuff. Currently working on an au 717. Thanks audiokarma.
Long live audiokarma
you taught yourself. Teached is not a word
Try learning English next!
Dad brought back a Kenwood receiver from Okinawa in 72, when he was in the Corps. Fueled a passion for hi fi. Still listen on a Technics SA-700. An honest 100 watts per channel, with a 4 gang tuner. Love it!
I'm 41 years, but I've been a big fun of Vintage / HiFi / Analog music since my 20s. I just bought a sx 1250 thanks to your channel! Thank You!
That's awesome! Thanks for watching.
I am 71 and enjoyed todays topic. Vintage will always have its attraction. I’m fortunate to have been into used home audio in the late 80’s thru early 2000’s when people were selling off vintage gear and vinyl at yards sales. The deals you could find were unbelievable by todays prices.
I love your videos!
There is nothing that I can add to all of these wonderful comments. I am 70 years old (young?) and I have been in involved in this incredible journey since I was about 14 years old. I have seen a lot of changes since "the day". I have a lot of equipment in my home including two multimedia systems. But the Holy Grail (at least in my opinion) is a Pioneer SX-1250 which I got back in 1980 for $75.00. Yes, $75.00. I also have Large and Small Advent Speakers, Bose 601, and so much more. I find that being in this hobby is very therapeutic too. When upset, sad, depressed, I put something on and it automatically cheers me up. I love watching Kevin's videos and seeing new generations of people get involved. What I have found is that it is a common denominator and bridges young and old.
Man ,even the thrift shops are getting to be a dying place to find good deals for Old Tech equipment anymore. I found a 80's style Pioneer for $45 and surprisingly in new condition, but that was like last summer.
They’re keyed into the eBay prices and probably selling them out that way. I haven’t seen anything worthwhile in a couple years, and I go out looking in my area every couple weeks. Even the newer AV junk is going for $50 or better. The last great deal I got was a nice Sony CDP-C500 CD player for $10 that had a dog chewed power cord.
My teenage kids don't understand my collection of relic receivers and bulky speakers but one day when they have space of their own they will want some old school hardware, I'm pretty sure. You don't wanna listen on earbuds forever.
I go all the time and you’re 100% correct finding a good piece is harder than finding a unicorn
It is what it is... Speaking for myself, I'm 64 years old and not interested in any monster receiver anymore, not to mention I wouldn't be able to pick one up to move it. LOL
And now I live in an apartment so I can't play my music blasting like I used to when I was a teenager and in my twenties.. this is what happens when you get old.. things change.. our bodies change, our living conditions change and our priorities change..
But I can't imagine anyone choosing a quality sound system without going to a HiFi store to listen to it in person like we used to back in the 70s.. I practically lived in my local HiFi store.. I loved the smell inside the store of all those electronics turned on.. it was addicting..lol
As far as Macintosh goes we'll just have to wait and see I just hope that Bose doesn't destroy a great company....
And Kevin, never buy that cheap coffee again, spend the money to get the good stuff that you deserve ☕😊
I'll try and remember to get the good stuff next time.
In the '70s and '80s I had to make special trips to whole-bean coffee retailers to get the good stuff. Now I can get Peet's pods at my local Kroger supermarket. There's no excuse for drinking bad coffee!
Greetings @karaDee2363!,my fellow music loving audiophile. This is from the Black Man O.G. and music loving audiophile,(my full title!😆). We're the same age and I definitely echo your sentiment. I still have one audio store that I still enjoy going to in the city. The other store that I would occasionally go to has moved far away.There were others that sold vinyl and CDs but were only partially of audiophile level. Unfortunately these are long gone. Yes, I to miss the days of going to record stores and sampling new releases. I also became friends with two audio salesmen and we maintained a respectable customer/seller relationship. We'd hang out occasionally, would talk for hours and have met some of each other's friends and family. These two guys were older than myself and have passed. I loved those old guys and I miss them. Thankfully their stores are still doing good.
P.S. I have mixed reactions to the McIntosh acquisition myself. I hope young people get introduced to the high end audio segment. Everybody knows Rolex, Porsche. Lamborghini and Ferrari. It's time people get to know the High End audio industry. Perhaps we could get The History channel to do a Modern Marvels episode on the history of High Fidelity and home music reproduction.
That's it, exactly. I used to make regular trips to more than one stereo store to listen to the latest equipment. My trips were frequent enough so that I could make an A/B comparison between the new equipment and something I was familiar with. Alas, stereo stores have all but disappeared. The last time I bought new speakers, I did it based on the manufacturer's reputation and a good review. When I got them, I did an A/B comparison with my old speakers. The new ones weren't bad, but my old ones were better. I ended up selling the new speakers and keeping my old ones.
I'm 78 and have been in this hobby since 1962. I saw this 'trend' was coming several years ago so I sold my Altec 604's (C&D woofers, 1956 & 1957), I had them since 1968. Also got rid of Tannoy Canterbury's. I keep waiting for my son to stop in and say, "Mom, time to go to the home!" Still have some good 'stuff' but it's a lot smaller. Sad to see vintage waning but this is something we can't control. Great insight into this hobby, Thank you. 🙂
Yea, 20th century 25 years into the 21st century is a clue this stuff is old people. Tech in a digital there world. 😮
@@allenschmitz9644 Digital is a lot of crap. Few artists today are worth listening to. The stereo in our ca supposedly has a lot of speakers but it sounds like crap. My AM radio with 6x9 Jensen's back in the 70's sounded better. I know my ears have changed for the worse but still.
I love listening to you talk about the old and new products . It’s like going down memory lane. And you’re the coolest mellow person with the best sense of humor brother. My wife and I laughed our asses off about your coffee you couldn’t drink. Thank you!
Just saw you on Randy's YT Channel - Really appreciated your honesty and your personality. Thanks, Randy & Hi from a Scotsman in Japan, Kevin. All the very best! (Been into hi-fi since my teens; now in my 60's and still keen... great hobby!).
Very insightful video about interest and trends of equipment. I am 70 and have several inexpensive class D amps, one vintage Luxman L100 and a two A/B class streamer integrated. With the vintage, I paid $1,500 and spent another $2,000 in repairs. Hard to keep vintage going with very few qualified techs. Yes, young people don't care that much.
Hey Kevin - I’m really glad my two ears are still working (albeit improved by hearing aids) and my eyes are still working (even better after cataract surgery). New technology is a generally a good thing and there will always be our desire for time- machine experiences that take us back to our youth. Everything comes in waves and I’ll bet those monster amps/receivers once again come onto the market. The pendulum has just swung the other way..for now. On another note, I’m enjoying seeing how relaxed you’ve become on screen. It seems that you’re finding your groove . It’s kinda like we’re having a friendly conversation about our mutual hobby/passion in someone’s man cave listening room. Keep up the good work! I’ll be coming back for more.
As a guy in my late 20s, my introduction to vintage audio came in the form of buying a pair of HPM100's for 20 bucks when I was a kid and not knowing what I had, until I one day a decade later decided to google them and consequently crapped my pants. Then, I got my degree in blacksmithing which taught me the worth of all things old, particularly tools and such. Which in combination with my ownership of these speakers made me think "Hey, I should get those working again." A restoration taking months of my life later, and they are currently singing away in the background as I write this comment.
If I hadn't had either of these things happen to me, I would never have cared for vintage audio, or really vintage anything. But because of all of this, Ive learnt how good it feels to own something. Ive had enough music pulled from my spotify playlists, and shows I've loved pulled from netflix that its made me despise the medium. Ive realized, that the only way that something wont be pulled from my hands, is if I hold it in my hands to begin with.
Young people, and people my age, don't react much to when things are ripped from their hands, because they grew up with this. They grew up not owning anything, so suddenly not owning it because a license agreement ran out or something, doesn't invoke any emotion. It was never expected that it would last forever. I was this way before i realized on my own that hey, it can be different.
So like you said it is up to us now, the few of us who knows how it feels to own something, to educate those who don't. To make people interested again. To pass the knowledge forward that hey, you can live in a reality where your discography isnt dictated by a mega-corporation. That there is joy to be found in respecting your elders by taking care of the timeless pieces they left behind, like speakers, receivers, tools, furniture, clothes.... that the world was different then. That there is a world where the priorities were quality focused, and that that world lies in the past.
I'm 32 and I am more in line with the older crowd in that I ripped all of my dad's CDs. I just hate streaming music. Not having complete control over what songs play as well as introducing ads are just the biggest sins of those platforms. Not to mention the fact that it's murdered the concept of an album. Living in Asheville there isn't a single store that I could walk into and demo speakers and for a chronic researcher it makes buying hi-fi gear nerve wracking.
Great discussion! I’ve been selling hifi since 1989, including about 10 years selling used vintage and high end gear and what you are seeing makes sense to me. Only thing I would add to the changes in the audio market would be the amazing jump in the sound quality and build of super affordable, online, small hifi. The compact class D amps, the Dac’s , headphone amps etc are kinda amazing as affordable entry audio. Add in the fun of the tubes, cool meters etc that many have it is a great way to affordably dip your toe and wallet into hifi with hurting your back and bank account. As someone who has made their living in hifi, that’s a bummer as there is no money to be made in those, so a store can’t sell those products. As an audio/ music enthusiast it is a great way to affordably enjoy the hobby if one does not have the space, wallet or back for new or premium vintage hifi. I see that trend contributing to the shift in the audio market a bit also.
It’s not all dark clouds. After two weeks with my new Advance Paris X-i75, I’d say one of your new partners are making what has to be one of the best bargains in hifi. Very nice sounding indeed. If other manufacturers follow suit folks might open their wallets.
44yrs old and just bought my first streamer,a WiiM mini and I love it,works great with my Sansui AU555a I also recently bought!
I just love your mellow, soothing way of talking Kevin... it reminds of Steven Wright who does the voice over for the album Reservoir Dogs: 'K-Billy's Super Sounds of the 70's weekend just keeps on comin' with this little ditty, that reached up to twenty-one in may of 1970. The George Baker Selection: Little Green Bag'...... just great stuff!
I agree and also love the way he talks; very calm, conversational, almost like you’re in your lounge room enjoying a coffee just killing over our hobby 😊
He sounds like he's taken too many sedatives
Im 28 and upgraded to a marantz 2015, technics 1810, and baby advents. It’s basic sure, but all of my friends are enamored when they come over and we just listen to music for hours.
I could very well see vintage audio becoming a trend that young people hop on wanting to be off of screens, but currently my generation is hurting financially. The price point of equipment is too much of an ask right now, but I could see a lot of upgrades from cheaper turntables and speakers happening once they move up in their careers. Thanks for all you do with this channel.
You are so genuine and honest , thank you, good always triumphs..
I am 57, I have a son that is 14 and he was all of 2023 interested in Vinyl and I have him my old Technics SL-D30 turn table after tuning it up, repairing dust cover. I have him an old receiver and he loved it but got bored after awhile. He went into it with such enthusiasm for about 8 months to a year and does not show interest as much. It appears that they are always on to the next thing. When I was his age, I worked on a farm at 14, bought my first stereo received an Onkyo TX-3000 at 15, next by SL-30 at 16, tape teck at 17. It took years as I got in the hobby and collected records. I still have my mix tapes to this day and most of my original equipment. Longevity hobbies seems non-existant to some extent with todays younger folks. With that said, they are better or in at least my case helping me with Apps on my phone, setting up my smart TV etc.
The truth is that convenient music is what we listen to and how we listen. So back in the day I copied my vinyl tracks to Dolby cassettes, to use on my daily commute. Then I moved on to CDs. Now I use my tablet or phone and earbuds.I still have all my vinyl and the requisite gear to play it with. My 50 year old speaker system, home built with a proper crossover, still sounds great.
Exactly the same here. My son (14) could only be tempted after I fitted a BT5 receiver into the vintage system I gave him. Only then did he use it, but in less than a year he's back to gaming whenever he's inside and the stereo is unplugged and stowed.
Something sad too, as I'm a self employed electronics service tech and he has zero interest in learning anything technical. It's all a chore to him.
He's also a whiz with apps and software, but is not even remotely interested in things like cad or 3d printing.
I often think I've failed somehow, but then he's just got different interests which dont cross mine so much, aandI guess when I was his age very few of my friends were into electronics, so its nothing unusual.
You were spot on! I'm over 60 with a big vintage collection. I've just recently begun 'experimenting' with the new stuff and particularly streaming. Old and new. A great combination!
A lot of really good comments in this video! I am 63, and retired about a year ago. While at work, we had lots of younger guys getting hired to replace me and the other oldsters that were on the verge of retirement. One thing I have noticed from the 20-somethings (I almost always asked) was that their taste in music and equipment is well towards portable music (headphones are everywhere), and maybe a single plug-in speaker at home. They just don't GET IT when it comes to hi-fi stereo equipment. It is old school, which to them means crappy. When I was a teen, or in my 20's, I and all of my friends wanted stereo equipment. The bigger the amp, the better. The bigger the speakers, the better. EVERYBODY thought in those terms. Nowadays, music seems to be something that happens while you live your life doing other stuff - very few youngsters seem to want to go back to the old days of a stereo system where you listen in an open room rather than through your headphones. There are, of course, exceptions, but the sheer numbers are going with headphones, etc. Even comments on YT posts of music 'reactions' say that the best way to experience the 60's song being reviewed is to listen on headphones so you can hear the stereo effect better. What they mean is better than on the laptop, or earbud (singular) from the phone. No one is saying that the song would sound so much better on a stereo system.
One of the big things that's missing from listening with earbuds is any visceral experience of bass notes. It's highly addictive!
@@j.patrickmoore9137 1000% Unless you've experienced it, you just don't know. At least with clean bass, not boosted relative to the rest of the song. It makes one understand the importance of real bass in real music. Oh, and it is fun to rattle the windows.
@@j.patrickmoore9137 Yes, but this is why the "experience" is lackluster for many. You need good speakers for proper full reproduction. 90% of the speaker systems I see online are never going to give you that experience.
@@jefffoster3557 Even some of the older speakers (around 30 years) have those crappy foam suspensions that go bad. I changed out my drivers for new when they went bad. THOSE went bad so I bought kits to change them. Nobody makes them like the old style 70's Altecs.
58 and still collecting and loving it! Appreciate your channel. Some things Vintage won't be improved on by streaming in this life. 😀🖖✌🤟
Yup, I’m 50 and I know that the new generation behind me is more interested in all in one, powered speakers that have wireless music services. Unfortunately, us old dinosaurs with vintage equipment are dying a slow death.
Man, I love your videos. You are one great story teller. Thanks.
34 years old from Cedar Rapids, got a Pioneer TX-6500ii and SA-6500ii as a house warming from my father in law along with his large advent fried egg speakers he bought in high school. He came over and we got it hooked up, I replaced the blown woofers and I’ve been hooked since. Currently working on a stack of 9500 pioneer gear.
Always great content. Love seeing the more unusual older stuff.
Was fortunate enough to live in Des Moines for 8 years. Spent a lot of time and money in Kevin’s store. The speakers and receivers we got there are first rate. We bought the equipment we wanted based on room sizes and what we were going to do with it.
The Marantz and some Bose speakers for the living room linked to our 85 inch TV. The Sansui with its power is upstairs in a large room coupled to so some sweet rock speakers that blast it out!
The Pioneer with its advent speakers are in the garage. When the door is open you can hear it a few acres away!😂
Life is short enjoy your equipment!
I owed a shop like yours in the early 80's. I repaired everything consumer, including stereo receivers. The Koreans invented the 200 dollar VCR and my business died
within 2 years.
My dad had a TV repair shop that he closed in the late '90s. It really should have ended way before that. The cheap, non repairable TVs killed his business as well.
@@mikepodorski4272I know people scoff at tariffs and protectionism but America used to make fine high quality products that could be repaired easily and last for a decade or more. I hate the disposable culture.
By 1990, Walmart was selling the typical 19 inch TV for less than my father could buy one *wholesale* at his TV sales/repair shop.
@@mikeg2491 We had the same in Europe, high quality repairable products that came with a service manual. No need to keep those away from your markets. But people buy cheap. Asia just sold us what we wanted to buy. If we had closed our borders, a local producer would have done the same as soon as technology allowed them to.
GEN X here, love the physical media and stereo/speaker setup I got, yet, I love the streaming aspect (Amazon HD) as well with a excellent head of headphones. Best of both worlds!
Us younger adults don’t have money. No joke - would love a nice vintage setup. My budget is my Iphone and a cheap pair of monoprice desktop speakers…
Get rid of that $1000 i-phone and buy a decent stereo. Flip phone is all you need to communicate.
It’s an iphone 8 i got as a hand me down from my sister. To busy working 50+ hours a week feeding my 4 kids to worry about a $1000 phone.
Kevin, you made a good point about getting vintage equipment serviced these days. I'm from the Quad Cities and trying find a reliable place to get vintage equipment serviced is extremely difficult. 2 years ago I did find someone to repair my Sansui 8080DB about 20 miles outside of town who does good work but he's a retiree working very limited hours and will probably be closing up shop soon. Frustrating that repair places and good tech are few and far between now.
I loved the brutally honest coffee commercial.
Hi Kevin, I've watched a bunch of your videos in the past few weeks (to my wife's mild consternation) - anyway, thanks as they're a real trip down memory lane for me. In my youth I worked at a couple of hi-fi stores here in Winnipeg. Kenwood and EPI were our bread 'n butter lines at Opus 69 but we had higher end product too. BTW - I don't often see you talking about Kenwood - reason? Really liked the quality and value for money of the early Toshiba receivers and tape decks too. My personal system back then was a Spectro Acoustics 217 preamp (no tone controls) married to a Quad 405 power amp feeding a pair of KEF 104aB speakers (also not spoken about on your vids). My source was a Kenwood KD500 turntable (with the aggregate base) with an SME type II tonearm and a Micro-Acoustics 282e cartridge. I replaced the stock phono cartridge lead wires with a set from Discwasher that were one piece (i.e. no solder joints or crimps, flat, gold-plated 'springs', which were designed on the principle that higher frequencies travel more readily on the surface of the wire, thus more surface area = better high end...the crazy thing was that those clips made a very noticeable difference. The only tone controls on my system were the little knobs on the KEFs that could raise or lower the tweeter volume by 1.5dB. That system was crazy good. Then the minivan/home theatre years happened and I sold it all, except the KEFs, for a pittance. Same story for about 1500 LP's. Eventually bought a higher end Yamaha receiver (HTR-5450) and companion CD player along with a good set of Paradigm home theatre speakers w/sub and picked up a set of Realistic Minimus 5 speakers too; all of which I'm still happy with. 45 years later, those KEFs still sound damn good to me, especially when I let 'em rip. Was just listening to Grapelli, NHOP, and company on Young Django - stunning definition. Cheers and Happy New Years!
Bought my G7700 in 1979, with a pair of C-W S1's. I've kept the receiver maintained, re-foamed the woofers about 8 years ago. It still sounds wonderful to me. Some folks have comfort foods. The decades gone by fall from my shoulders when I sit back with one of my favorite albums. Chicago II doesn't make me fatter, too.
I've been buying up Sansui equipment. 2 BA-2000, 2 CA-2000, 3 AU-717, 1 AU-999, 1 AU-101. I just love the 1970s sound I grew up with. Playing through SP-5000 and SP-5500 brought back by servicemen who bought them at the PX.
Great conversation! I think that’s a sober and honest look in to audio at the moment.
Also: I had never heard of Advance Paris before. I checked them out on line and they have a fantastic lineup of products. Thanks for turning me on to those guys.
I miss the days of going to Sassafras, a local audio store. It was an awesome place to sit down and just listen, take your time, and purchase.
Good video, Kev, and all true. Not many things withstand the test of time (including US !), audio gear is not excluded from this. Sorry to see Mac being taken over like this, they had set a high bar for customer service. I remember Mac`s "Walk-In-Clinics", where you could carry in any piece of gear, and have their techs check it out. I brought my SX-1250 in once, and the initially-skeptical tech, after getting inside it, became very enthusiastic, pointing out all it`s strong points to me. "Don`t ever sell this !" he advised me. (I never did)
Happy Holidays, all the best to you and Dad !
Another enjoyable installment. Glad that you broached the BOSE "Buying Spree". I had shot you an email about this, right after it happened, and missed your response. You are correct that the "New Daddy" is now an electronics manufacturer, and no longer a Venture Capital organization. Like you said, this could take one of two VERY different directions. Right this minute, I am going to take the high road, and HOPE that BOSE sees McIntosh as a technology resource. This Christmas, our daughter-in-law asked for a "record player". I have purchased a really good quality one that will be serviceable, and not damage the vinyl she has, and will purchase. I am going to tell her and our son, that when they get to their house, I will give them one of my vintage receivers that you know I have been collecting, and build them a two-channel system. Tell your Dad I said HI.....
Lots of good points here. I feel like there are two distinct worlds in audio. One is the convenience world of streaming or digital play so you're not fumbling with CD's or cassettes while driving. You don't have a case holding a dozen or 20 to choose from between the seats; there's hundreds. However, that world does not usually enjoy the quality and experience of what you said, the true sweet spot in front of a good two channel stereo system. Personally I still believe that vinyl is still one of the best sounding mediums when properly cared for and played on good equipment. Yeah, when I'm tinkering around in the garage or house, I stream. but when I really feel like cranking up some Boston, Rush or Pink Floyd and relaxing, there's no place like in front of the vintage system!
I love Skaylab and love Vintage Audio. Thank you
Kind of wish I didn't just see that, but I'm glad I did. You offered some perspectives I haven't considered before.
This episode was spot on. With regard to younger people getting into audio, it seems like most of them are perfectly happy with listening to mp3 files on portable devices. I'm sure there are plenty of exceptions, there always are, but all of the young people I know couldn't care less about hi-fi. If it sounds 'good', then it's good enough.
The last really nice home audio store in Oklahoma City closed about fifteen or twenty years ago, no doubt as a result of big-box stores and online retailers. I really missed getting to go to those stores and being able to listen to, and play with gear before making a purchase. Recently, a new home audio store opened in OKC, and I've visited them a few times. I really hope they do well, and I hope that such stores make a comeback.
You are 100% right about this year being strange. I'm finding people are being very careful with money and that affects everything.
Entry level stuff now costs what those high or mid-high end range stuff cost 5-6 years ago. Some prices have got out of hand. Us 20 to 30 somethings can't spend 1000, 1500, 2000 on a receiver when we're struggling to make ends meet.
Have done radio and club stuff, back in the day. I'm into professional equipment (BGW or Crown amps, JBL (Yamaha/Tannoy) professional speakers, Technics (SL-1100A, SL-1200) turntables, etc. Man -- those were the days!!! If you ever get a chance to hear stuff like this, you will be blown away!!!
Great video my friend. Good observations and concerns. Thx.
Appreciate that, thanks for watching, Ed!
@@skylabsaudio 👌
Well so much for the plug for Sam's Club coffee😅. Good show Kevin
I made the mistake of buying that Donut Shop coffee once, too. Never again!
Great video, Kevin.
I’m thankful for your calm demeanor & for laying everything out there.
My daughter is 18, she LP's, she adopted my dads old collection and goes to record stores etc. She will listen to cd's in the car, and streaming when she's doing other stuff. But at home she puts on LP's, or bluetooth from her phone. I set her up a compact basic system- Yamaha integrated and JBL bookshelf speakers which she uses quite a bit. I gave the 15yr old son of a friend an old silver Kenwood integrated and a pair of B&W speakers, piped in his TV audio for gaming and a bluetooth receiver and he loves it. He just bought himself a little class T amp, speakers and bluetooth receiver for his dad's house. So there are young folks out there- I imagine some will like it enough to nerd up.
Great video. Your insights are always eye opening.
Speaking for myself, I have been hanging on to my silverface Pioneer spec-II setup. I'm happy with that for my vintage stereo setup especially for listening to vinyl, receiver, and cassette. I have different setups for different experiences. I also have a Streaming / Digital Audio setup and a Home Theatre setup. It depends if a want an analog time machine, discover new music or have background music, or an immersive theatre experience.
Kevin, the observation you made at ~5:00 is spot on. The "younger generation" (which is almost everyone to me) just don't seek the experiences that we older folks value. I, e, the gear is not nearly as important to them as the convenience and ready availability of the music and video content they want to hear at that moment in time. Think of it this way; we used to listen to music as the activity itself; consumers today are already engaged in some other activity and instantly call up music that to them compliments it. If you had to set up a "system" first, the moment would be lost on nearly every occasion. What do you think?
Peace - before Black Friday I just about sold out of all my gear, post Black Friday... sales have been slow. I have everything from Monsters receivers to old rare tubes. Thanks for the content.
I'm 53 and sold all my vinyl when I moved abroad. Bought a NAIM integrated streamer/amp and now pay $11 a month for Tidal and have access to all the 24bit HD audio I want to hear - including the most current remasters
The best source I found for high-quality equipment is second-hand stores in Florida. A lot of money was spent years ago, retirement, and then property liquidation.
Be sure to check them out if visiting on vacation.
That's like going to Arizona in February or March and shopping for a used RV - one spouse dies and the other sells it off and flies home.
Glad you live in the US. Here over in Germany the second hand market is small and insane overprized when you could find your piece you are after.
I am working on my 15yr old granddaughter. She was fine with her iPhone and ear buds. She's used to a modest home theater system they have at home, so she knows something about fidelity. But it was not connecting to her persona music listening. So I sat her down with my ATH-50M powered by my Schiit Magni and had her stream something she knew off of youtube. Even that blew her mind. She refused to give them back. Sent her home with the Magni and a slightly lessor set of headphones I have. She streams off the iPhone or a notebook PC. So talking a streamer/ amp for her. She's heard my bigger system with Maggies and a ADCOM GFA555 from turntable. And was impressed. But did not fit into her lifestyle interest. But the amount of time she spent with earbuds did put the amp/ headphones right into the middle. We've talked turntable. She knows some of her current artists are releasing vinyl. So that might be happening if she can find room in her small bedroom. But I keep exposing her to more that fits her lifestyle just so she can learn to appreciate the difference. That drives the desire.
67 and remember my Akai reel to reel with sansui amp and tuner altec Lansing speakers in the 70's so good
Im 36, ive been into vintage and new hifi equipment since i was a teenager... ill gladly keep the passion alive as long as i am! Id love to start a shop myself but my knowledge of repairs is very limited and i feel thats a service you absolutely need to run a vintage stereo shop.
I'm 70 and I'm at kind of an odd place on vintage gear. I have a Dual 1229 and a pair of JBL L-100s, but I bought them new so they were modern equipment then. I kick myself now for getting rid of my HK 930, but I've always looked to new stuff when updating.
The funny thing is that I've been looking back for my newer updates. My main system is now a 50x2 Vincent SV-500 integrated amp with tubes in the preamp section, a pair of acoustic suspension KLH 3s, and a Rega P3 turntable. I'd love to have a vintage Thorens turntable along with my Dual and I'd also love to have my HK 930 back, but with the current system I'm getting a lot of the vibe of my 50-years-ago system when I sit down and play records.
As far as formats go, I was a reel-to-reel snob in the 70's so I didn't even get into cassettes until I had a player in my car. I welcomed CDs but not streaming until, once again, I had it in my car. I'm still a physical media addict and don't stream (yet) on my home system. I've pretty much quit buying new LPs and CDs due to the cost and the ultra-processed sound of most new music.
Thank you for your consistently great videos. Someday I'm going to make the trek down from the Twin Cities to visit the store (except not after an ice storm at the state border like when I came down to have my Dual rehabbed).
Along with the twin power, one of the more unusual features on the 930 was the split tone controls. I could take a mono signal from an old record, run one set of tone controls one way and the other, the opposite, and create at least a bit of a sense of stereo separation from a mono signal. They could also be used to help balance out the bass response when one speaker had to be disadvantageously placed in a room, whether dealing with a room with an odd layout or a spouse with an excessive sense of visual aesthetics over the aural aesthetics.
@@j.patrickmoore9137 Yep. I used to play with that feature now and then but never used it seriously. I think it had a dial to select mono, stereo, reverse stereo, only left channel and only right channel. That was fun to mess with now and then too.
59 here, I recently bought a new Dayton Audio HTA200 amp (it's my channel avatar) and I am really happy with it. It has a blue tooth mode that I can cast from my phone if I want, but I am 90% vinyl. I still have my Sansui G5500 that I put on a different system.
Yes! People are hanging onto their vintage equipment. I will never part with my vintage gear as it keeps going up in value. They are investment pieces these days. Just look at the average price of the Pioneer silver face receivers. All of them have gone up in value by at least 100% over the past few years. My SX-1050 is selling for $1800 or more and that's ten times more than I paid for it several years ago. Even the entry level models have doubled in price. I'd say people are in "acquisition" mode rather than "liquidation" mode. The bad thing is that so many who would love to get into vintage gear simply cannot afford it which leads to them purchasing junk from the big box retailers. Just my two cents. Love the channel! You are one of the few that I subscribe to...
Kevin, I sold my LP's back in the late 80's...For CD's...and have never looked back!
2024 Christmas gift to myself. Kenwood KR-9600, Technics SL-D2, McIntosh ML1C's. Incredible sound.
I went to a thrift store Saturday that has a section dedicated to Hi Fi equipment. I have bought several items there, and was able to put together a system for my brother, and for me. When I went this time there was almost nothing there. A couple of sets of some small speakers. I will check again in a week or so, but I was surprised that it was slim pickings.
One company that I know still supports their older equipment is Ohm Acoustics. They will repair speakers they made all the way back to the 70s. I actually need to get new grill baskets for my 3XOs too. I've had them since I was 21 and I'm 56, but they're fantastic speakers! 😎👍
I’m 34 and started vintage and still only interested in that. Like you mentioned I’ve become “curious” of the new products and watch a lot of other UA-camrs who cover those and I think that’s mainly where it comes from. The content that gets put out reflects where the market is going if you ask me. Look what you did to the prices of HK gear, kevin!
lol I’m only kidding but I did go and snatch up a citation 16 A and 17 because of y’all.
I miss browsing through Hi-Fi Stores. I retired in the Philippines and live in a remote area. The only stores at the malls here offer plastic boxes. I had an old Tecnics Turntable I brought from Spain to the Philippines in my suitcase. I still have an 40 year old Akai Integrated Amp at my x-wife's house I'm going to have shipped eventually. I have some new equipment, a Yamaha receiver and KEF Q Series Speakers that sound great, but I still love vintage audio.
My first 2 channel stereo was a Sherwood receiver, bookshelf speakers and a turntable. I added a Pioneer cassette deck to that for my cruising tapes. That was in my teens in the 70's. Now I'm much older and have decided to get back to a 2 channel system. Per your recommendation I went with a Pioneer SX 850, Pioneer ct-f9191 and a Pioneer PL41 with some JBL Century L100 speakers. This would have been a system I could have not afforded back in my teens. I miss the days when you could walk into an electronics store and smell the beautiful receiver's and amps and play with them. This younger generation may never experience that.
Hey Kevin - Just turned 40 but really started getting into hifi during covid. Personally I found the vintage audio world very intimidating at first, the guides you and Lenny (formerly at JustAudio) put together helped me greatly. Unlike new products, it's very difficult to quickly compare vintage products, especially across model years and manufactures. Further their are some common models with known issues to enthusiasts but not well documented for younger buyers to find - Like STK chips, black leg transistors, Sansui 5000 issues etc. - then you have to know the models that could be affected 😵
A suggestion for you, similar to your "best X under $" series if you could explore specific brands - product hierarchy, known issues, original MSRP; Even just explaining the convoluted naming conventions! It could be a great (evergreen) library resource to learn from... I think you did one for Pioneer SX line. Bonus points for exploring lesser known brands and other product lines besides amps/receivers. Thanks and keep up the good work!
My brother says there are not as many monster receivers because I have most of them. Seriously there are fewer monster receivers knocking about because on average monster receivers cost $2,500 to $9,000 today. I brought most of my monster receivers between 2010 and 2021 when you could get a nice monster for $700 to 2,000. Heck my Pioneer SX-1980 in near mint condition cost just $3,500. Try to find a near mint Pioneer SX-1980 for $3,500 today. I have ten monster receivers & 2 low watt separates all restored to 1970's spec. I'm holding on to them till I croak. My local shop is JUST AUDIO in Baltimore, Maryland. I've likely given Just Audio over $25,000 in repair business. $1,000 new stuff. Thank you Kevin!
Back in the early 70's I'd ride my bicycle 10 miles across town to the only Hi Fi store in the area. The place was named Modern Sound on Brick Boulevard in Brick Town New Jersey. They had some really nice equipment there, Phase Linear, Harman Kardon, Marantz, JBL just to name a few. Over the years I got as Christmas and birthday presents my Dynaco ST120, Pat4 and the FM5 in kit form, still have them to this day and their operational. There was also another store on Fischer Boulevard named Rand's Pharmacy who specialized in Marantz and other high end brands.
People are doing the research. It’s 2024, brother! One and done purchases. Buy it for life, nam sayin?
If people realize they’ll be in it $2000 for mid level gear… that’s a substantial enough purchase that someone is gonna sit back and do the value-math and purchase a quality unit once and never have to do it again.
There’s tons of videos and forums where people can weigh their options from an informed perspective, there’s repair parts and how-to out there, so they can even recap if they want to.
Your videos not only attract people to your business from a repair and purchase end, but equally, your videos are educating people and allowing them to buy smart and confidently. People can start out with an intellectual edge, thanks to people like you.
Buying nostalgic artifacts from your past also is a factor.
50-60+ year old people who grew up with LPs, had a lot of equipment over the years can maybe afford the time and expense now to snap up some of these dream machines they could never quite afford in their youth. Frankly, not everyone that was a teenager in the 60’s and 70’s knew what the top gear was in the 60’s and 70’s. You, and people like you are information sources to open peoples eyes to what’s out there!
The sad truth is that generally, younger people are looking for affordable, convenient, decent sounding. They don't appreciate the styling and craftsmanship of the older stuff, and don't want to worry about maintaining them. I think we are just in a lull, and there may be a resurgence after they realize that consumer-grade stuff is just OK, but sometimes spending the extra pays off in the long run. "The stingiest man pays the most" if you will.
love your channel great content and info about audio . Again thanks !!!
Much appreciated!
@@skylabsaudioi recently purchased a mac4100receiver and would-love to bring it up to its glory , what do you think about that unit and do you restore those macs ??? thankyou again( i am out of state)
When you flashed your for sale records one jumped out at me! Heartbeat City. I think l played it two days ago! Wicked underrated.
Coming up on 65 and still use my circa 75 yamaha CA/CT 800 stack driving a pair of Boston A150's. New low noise preamp transistors on the yammy and surrounds on the A150 woofs in 2005, still sounds as good as new to me.
I also have a sansui au-417 amp for backup with about 20 hours on it...
In 1984, i was in the market for new speakers to replace my Telefunken L-645 Hi Fi speakers. After a couple of days going to different Hi Fi stores i heard a pair of speakers being demonstrated and the "sound" just blew me away. I had to buy them. The speakers in question were a pair of Rogers Studio 1. (made in England) They were a 3 way bookshelf ported design with a power handling capacity of 300 watts continuous at 8 ohms with 43 to 23,000 HZ @+ or- 2 DB The amplifier driving them was a Pioneer SM .83 integrated tube stereo amplifier.
I don't need multi channel amplifiers and extra speakers. I simply use my 2 front stereo speakers with cross-talk cancellation to achieve a huge 3 dimensional soundstage, where the speakers and the room disappear.
Back in the late 60's and 70's the race was on to see who could build the most powerful amplifier. 350 watts RMS/channel was the first one. Then Bob Carver invented his Magnetic Field Power Amplifier, a lightweight amplifier delivering 600 watts per channel continuous, Each channel could "borrow" 150 watts to increase to 750 watts. This is in class A B At low levels the amp switched to pure Class A. 30 watts per channel..
I concur, that donut shop coffee is terrible. My work used to get that for the customer lounge.
A friend of mine gave me the Pioneer SX1250 that I sold to him new when I worked for a Pioneer dealer. It is in immaculate condition.
They sell for $3,000 or so nowadays. Your's is probably worth $5,000
You always make my week !
Happy Sunday!!!
Same to you