Why Vintage Always Win (HiFi Days of 1980-2000)

[DilipPune]

Had a few of these in my youth. Declutered the stuff over a period of time. Now happy with a Simple 2.1 Denon 600Ne Amplifier Elac debut b5.2 and Dali Spektor 2 bookshelves. along with some vinyl collection of Elvis and Beatles. And of course IFI zen Blue V2 for streaming.

 

[Analogue_Avenger]

@Analogue_Avenger Absolutely stunning collection. I will though refrain answering your question of superiority over vintage as it is subjective as both can offer satisfying solutions.
However I must point out that the biggest burden of accumulating physical stuff of ones passion, in your case vintage audio equipment, is about their progeny. As you age, you will need to identify someone who is willing to carry on the passion and maintain them or possibly you can setup a museum or maybe identify one that already exists.
A doctor friend of mine who has been collecting cameras and related equipment for many decades has setup a permanent museum and a Trust to run it for continuity.

I agree with you. Maybe I have used the term 'Vintage" as a misnomer for the start of this thread. By the time 1990 came we were heavily dependent on chips. Most of the equipment made in 1990 came with firmware upgrades, which cannot be termed as vintage. What I wish to emphasise herein through this thread is that substance is missing lately in HiFI and the company which is giving substance reliability and longevity in their products is asking for the moon because brands like Sony Akai Pioneer Technics and Denon are not indulging in R&D anymore on the scale they used to in previous times. Do you think Accupahse can charge 25K for their P7500 Power Amplifier had Sony been Making TA-N90ES today?

That is what I am trying to debate and share views upon precisely......


The problem of this degeneration is unfortunately not confined to HiFi, it is across all sectors, Even my new S Class Merc stands nowhere when I compare it to the reliability and longevity of previous models. Please find some more snaps of the gear i am using in my studio....

 

[DilipPune]

Yes Agree with you. My collection of Vinyls used to sound better on Phillips Hi Fi turntable and Phillips hifi speakers. Collection of cassettes used to sound better on Technics Deck with Technics speakers. But then I was young and Ears better than they are today. Talking of my era...... 1970s to 1980s.....

 

[heliumflight]

I have a pair of Sony Apm 717 and am in love it. It goes so well with Nad D3020

 

[reubensm]

I agree with you. Maybe I have used the term 'Vintage" as a misnomer for the start of this thread. By the time 1990 came we were heavily dependent on chips. Most of the equipment made in 1990 came with firmware upgrades, which cannot be termed as vintage. What I wish to emphasise herein through this thread is that substance is missing lately in HiFI and the company which is giving substance reliability and longevity in their products is asking for the moon because brands like Sony Akai Pioneer Technics and Denon are not indulging in R&D anymore on the scale they used to in previous times. Do you think Accupahse can charge 25K for their P7500 Power Amplifier had Sony been Making TA-N90ES today?

That is what I am trying to debate and share views upon precisely......


The problem of this degeneration is unfortunately not confined to HiFi, it is across all sectors, Even my new S Class Merc stands nowhere when I compare it to the reliability and longevity of previous models. Please find some more snaps of the gear i am using in my studio....

Actually its so cool to have a collection like your's. Of course, there is the pride of ownership and also the visual beauty for non-stop admiration as well. However what is so good is that you have different pieces of pristine gear to mix and match for different types of music, different listening moods, etc. That's a huge bonus.

 

[Analogue_Avenger]

As stated above pls find the snaps of more gear in my studio….The snaps are only shared to make the members aware of few facts…..

1. If we still desire the best blank media for any format and equipment to play, it is still available and deals can be discovered. One have to be persistent and lucky. Regretfully, there is limited choice in our country.

2. Seeing the snaps the members may ask or enquire about anything related to the model and make of the equipment and from where it was sourced.

3. Lastly, you may enquire about the performance and comparison of any model you see in my snaps.

Will be happy to assist the embers and the community of 2 and Multi-Channel audio aficionados.

 

[Analogue_Avenger]

@Analogue_Avenger Absolutely stunning collection. I will though refrain answering your question of superiority over vintage as it is subjective as both can offer satisfying solutions.
However I must point out that the biggest burden of accumulating physical stuff of ones passion, in your case vintage audio equipment, is about their progeny. As you age, you will need to identify someone who is willing to carry on the passion and maintain them or possibly you can setup a museum or maybe identify one that already exists.
A doctor friend of mine who has been collecting cameras and related equipment for many decades has setup a permanent museum and a Trust to run it for continuity.

YES GENTLEMAN, though I am only 45 yet I wonder what if... the next-gen just treats them as Junk...I too get nightmares as they require care and attention. Once you take care of this stuff it lasts you forever. Frankly today too they are not obsolete, the tech remains the same, UK sold 2.5 Lac pre-recorded cassettes last year, and the VInyl is back with a bang, People are still using DAT tapes for master recordings. ONly the machines are missing. Hope someone takes a leap of faith and start making them once again...

Actually its so cool to have a collection like your's. Of course, there is the pride of ownership and also the visual beauty for non-stop admiration as well. However what is so good is that you have different pieces of pristine gear to mix and match for different types of music, different listening moods, etc. That's a huge bonus.

Yes Mate, The convenience and pride of playing...

CD
MD
DAT
Vinyl
DCC
DVD-Audio
DVD
Blu-Ray
LD
Streaming
in one Studio and also the infinite possibilities to record and tweak the music to your taste is what inspired me to assemble the stuff. Thanks for your kind feedback.

Yes Mate, The convenience and pride of playing...

CD
MD
DAT
Vinyl
DCC
DVD-Audio
DVD
Blu-Ray
LD
Streaming
in one Studio and also the infinite possibilities to record and tweak the music to your taste is what inspired me to assemble the stuff. Thanks for your kind feedback.

I will be able to share the final pics of my studio by the month end if my schedule is kind to me. Once i have the final set up ready, thereafter i will start addressing queries and clarifications and review of each equipment and media you have seen in the pictures so far in this thread. Trust me my fellow members connecting these 52 equipments with amplifiers and pre amplifiers require myriad kinds of cables that effort which consume weeks and not days. But once its all set up, I hope that my years of efforts to collect them from across the globe will culminate into perpetual bliss.

 

[sandeepmohan]

My jaw dropped looking at all this vintage equipment you own.

You maintain all this equipment in India?

While a lot of the equipment here looks desirable, the Pioneer car head unit with the flip down panel is my all time favorite. I remember peeking into car windows just to get a closer look at these head units and all their fancy lights. The motorized tape loader and CD magazine was engineering brilliance during its time.

I follow a few folks on Instagram who have a similar collection of vintage gear. Just Audio being one of many.

 

[Analogue_Avenger]

My jaw dropped looking at all this vintage equipment you own.

You maintain all this equipment in India?

While a lot of the equipment here looks desirable, the Pioneer car head unit with the flip down panel is my all time favorite. I remember peeking into car windows just to get a closer look at these head units and all their fancy lights. The motorized tape loader and CD magazine was engineering brilliance during its time.

I follow a few folks on Instagram who have a similar collection of vintage gear. Just Audio being one of many.Yes my Fiend,

Yes, My Friend, I do maintain all of this in my studio at New Delhi. Its my hobby and i forget the world once i am in studio. I despise the audio units available in cars ordinarily below 50L. Even the most expensive luxury cars which have Burmester, Mark Levinson and B&O they dont perform worth their price tag. Any unit in the 8 and 9 series of Pioneer can do circles around them. Legendry Models like Pioneer KEH-8650, 8850 and Equilaiser Like DEQ-6500 with CD Changers like 1250 can deliver stellar sound in the car. Even Pity, we have been deprived of our fundamental option of choosing the audio gear by car manufacturers. WE cant change system because they incorporate airflow mechanism and engine control and software operation and essentials elements of ECU controls of car into one system. Gone are the days when customer used to choose and build the cabin of his car accordingly....

 

[Analogue_Avenger]

Sharing the last set of pics which I took during assembling of my studio. In two sets of 20.
Thereafter I will start threads of each model and make and format. In that I will share reviews and assessment.

 

[Analogue_Avenger]

The second set as discussed above. If you will see you will find that the studio room was practically empty four years back and slowly it turned into a studio cum museum. . This also includes my LG OLED C9 getting motherboard replaced within one month of purchase.

 

[Analogue_Avenger]

The last images of the studio when it was an empty room…..

Your comments and suggestions are welcome.

 

[Kannan]

Yes, My Friend, I do maintain all of this in my studio at New Delhi. Its my hobby and i forget the world once i am in studio. I despise the audio units available in cars ordinarily below 50L. Even the most expensive luxury cars which have Burmester, Mark Levinson and B&O they dont perform worth their price tag. Any unit in the 8 and 9 series of Pioneer can do circles around them. Legendry Models like Pioneer KEH-8650, 8850 and Equilaiser Like DEQ-6500 with CD Changers like 1250 can deliver stellar sound in the car. Even Pity, we have been deprived of our fundamental option of choosing the audio gear by car manufacturers. WE cant change system because they incorporate airflow mechanism and engine control and software operation and essentials elements of ECU controls of car into one system. Gone are the days when customer used to choose and build the cabin of his car accordingly....

As you are also a big fan of car audio head units, I have the following suggestions that you can add to your exquisite collections.

1. Panasonic CQ-TX5500W - Vaccum tube for preamp stage
2. Mcintosh MX406, the flagship Mcintosh MX5000 and MA5000 combo
3. Sony XES-Z50
4. Denon DCT-100, DCT-A1 and Z1
5. Vintage Nakamichi head units
6. Clarion HXD2 and D3
7. Eclipse CD7200 mkii (my personal favorite)

 

[Analogue_Avenger]

As you are also a big fan of car audio head units, I have the following suggestions that you can add to your exquisite collections.

1. Panasonic CQ-TX5500W - Vaccum tube for preamp stage
2. Mcintosh MX406, the flagship Mcintosh MX5000 and MA5000 combo
3. Sony XES-Z50
4. Denon DCT-100, DCT-A1 and Z1
5. Vintage Nakamichi head units
6. Clarion HXD2 and D3
7. Eclipse CD7200 mkii (my personal favorite)

Dear Kannan,

I am. But where wil I listen to them. I do not have any vehicle where I can fit them. I am using one in civic and one in Camry. Rest all cars are too expensive and complex to play with. That’s the irony.

 

[sachinchavan 15865]

Let me admit my mind is boggled upon viewing your collection! I do not possess the background/ knowledge to understand and appreciate the designs/performances of these vintage products. But I can and do appreciate the passion and commitment behind such an endeavour. So my queries are more juvenile. I first wanted to ask, how do you justify the expenditure and how do you manage the space all these would take? But then I realised that those limitations are mine, not universal. However, I am still left with the question - ‘How does your mind keep track of so many products? How do you remember which has what features, what designs, what repairs does each need etc? (And of course, how do you decide which one to play today?) The amount of time that’d be required to keep them running to remain in working condition might itself be huge! What’s your ‘management mechanism’ to keep this going?

 

[Analogue_Avenger]

Let me admit my mind is boggled upon viewing your collection! I do not possess the background/ knowledge to understand and appreciate the designs/performances of these vintage products. But I can and do appreciate the passion and commitment behind such an endeavour. So my queries are more juvenile. I first wanted to ask, how do you justify the expenditure and how do you manage the space all these would take? But then I realised that those limitations are mine, not universal. However, I am still left with the question - ‘How does your mind keep track of so many products? How do you remember which has what features, what designs, what repairs does each need etc? (And of course, how do you decide which one to play today?) The amount of time that’d be required to keep them running to remain in working condition might itself be huge! What’s your ‘management mechanism’ to keep this going?

Dear Sachin,

I will share how I manage these many equipment’s and how I connect them. As you ask this question. I am winding up my job of connecting these equipment’s. It will take me a full week or fortnight. The decks sound like a heavenly hymn. I really really wish I could share my sound too on this forum. To remember features and know them it takes time. I am so overwhelmed by the kind response of each member that I am sharing few more pics of the equipment as I assemble them. And LET ME PROUDLY AND LOUDLY SAY THAT HIFIVISION IS MOST HARMONIOUS AND PEACEFUL compared to other international forums like avision and “tapeheads” where members are not talking much about equipment but bickering more about their arrogance.

Anyway… Long Live “Analogue Audio” & this forum. Proud to be “Indian”. Hope you all like the pics of my studio as I start assembling it… Enjoy.

 

[Analogue_Avenger]

The above pics are the right side of studio which is run by following workhorses…….

1. Accuphase E-5000 Integrated Amplifier.
2. Accuphase C-2450 Pre-Amplifer.
3. Sony TA-E80ES Pre-Amplifier.
4. Sony TA-E9000ES Digital Signal Processor PRE.

Just to share with you guys the 2000$ (1993) SonyTA-80ES takes heads on the 20,000$ Accuphase C-2450. It may get little lag behind in bass and punch and vocals. But in terms of melody and sweet sound it may be a tad better than Accuphase PRE AMPS.

Paired with B&W CM10

The sources are visible in pics.
I am now posting the centre of the studio and I will describe what runs them in studio…..

 

[Analogue_Avenger]

Now I am posting the left side (Incomplete) pics of the studio. The left side is run by following workhorses.

1. Sony TA-N80ES (200W per Channel).
2. Sony TA-Fa777ES Integrated (But used as PRE).
3. My Second Sony TA-80ES PRE AMPLIFIER.


The two very kind individuals who helped me to realise this dream in India are

Birol Bayram (From Germnay)
And
Praveen Parihar My Only and Dearest Friend (From USA).

Forever indebted to them. Regarding the sound of the left side of studio. I will share reviews soon enough.

Also Dear SACHIN,
You asked me how I connect them. There is one snap from the behind of the equipment’s. Trust that helps you to understand that how complex it gets sometime.

Will keep sharing more reviews about each equipment.

Please remember fellow members and readers. The “VINTAGE” is NOT “ANCIENT”. Hence the salvation always lies in middle path. The average age is 15-25 years of each equipment. True all
My gear is NEW OLD STOCK and not used.

Took me hundreds of sleepless nights and never ending vigil to grasp whenever any equipment came for sale globally and the above stated Gentleman helped me to realise this dream.

 

[sathtom]

@Analogue_Avenger Really amazed by your Passion for Vintage Audio.
I can only describe it as "Next level of Craziness even for audiophiles" or "Temple for Audiophiles"
Your collections are more than qualified to run a Paid Audio Museum..

 

[Analogue_Avenger]

@Analogue_Avenger Really amazed by your Passion for Vintage Audio.
I can only describe it as "Next level of Craziness even for audiophiles" or "Temple for Audiophiles"
Your collections are more than qualified to run a Paid Audio Museum..

Thanks for your kind words, You ate always welcome to join me for a coffee and listen to nirvana music. I would appreciate and enjoy the music with you.