HIFI How old is yours?

[stiglet]

Mine comprises an NAD 3020 and Acoustic Reasearch AS28LS which I bought new in 1984 I think

I had a Pioneer PL12 from the '70s which got binned only a year ago

Also have a Marantz CD something from about 1988

BUT the ARs started to sound funny a few weeks ago so I whipped off the covers only to find that all the foam around the drivers had perished. I've ordered a repair kit from the Sates but made the fatal mistake of browsing the web meantime and on a festive drink induced whim bought a couple of Quad 22Ls through a well-known auction site which should arrive next week (chosen because I liked the look of them).

However I read the spec after I bought them (doohh) and see that they need at least 30/40 watt minimum to drive them which may be a bit much for the old NAD.

I wasn't going to do anything about it but got offered a nice pair of Cyrus Smartpower amps with fancy inter-connect thingies at a price which was too good to refuse which I intend to monobloc and they should run the Quads nicely.

We'll see if the AR repair works as I'd quite like to keep them. .... but the repair seems to have turned into an acute attack of "upgrade-itis"

[dave123456]

I've 3 pioneer a616 amps, 2 working order the other for spares.

recently bought 2 denon pmc720(?) as the pioneers wouldn't fit in the besta cabinets I've bought to house my kitchen and tv room systems.

pioneers are a better amp.

[marctwo]

I have a yamaha / mordant short system that is 18 years old. I just replaced it with some nice monitor audio kit (thanks VEX) but the old stuff still stands up surprisingly well.

[Black can man]

My Audiolab 800a must have been with me 30 odd years i reckon. Still as good as new.

[NiceCupOfTea]

Mission 731s, Richer Sounds circa 1999
Arcam CD72, bought nearly new early 2000s
Arcam Alpha 9 Amp, mid-late 90s, bought second hand early 2000s.
Arcam AVR100, early 00s, bought second hand a couple of years ago.

Only really use the avr100 and the speakers for the TV... Always wanted a pair of B&W601 S2s but they are more expensive second hand now than they were new!

Edited by NiceCupOfTea on Thursday 1st January 13:15

[SS2.]

1960's Thorens TD150 MkII (bought s/h), Marantz CD50, Audiolab 8000A amp, pair of Mordaunt Short MS-40 speakers (also bought s/h), QED 79 strand cable and decent interconnects.

All purchased ~1990, and still sounding sweet some 25 years later.

[SS2.]

Black can man said:

My Audiolab 8000a must have been with me 30 odd years i reckon. Still as good as new.

No frills, no flashy bits, just pumps current like its life depends on it and still comfortably outperforms more expensive amps that are 20-30 years its junior.

A wonderful piece of kit.

[Black can man]

SS2. said:

Black can man said:

My Audiolab 8000a must have been with me 30 odd years i reckon. Still as good as new.

No frills, no flashy bits, just pumps current like its life depends on it and still comfortably outperforms more expensive amps that are 20-30 years its junior.

A wonderful piece of kit.

[telecat]

Black can man said:

SS2. said:

Black can man said:

My Audiolab 8000a must have been with me 30 odd years i reckon. Still as good as new.

No frills, no flashy bits, just pumps current like its life depends on it and still comfortably outperforms more expensive amps that are 20-30 years its junior.

A wonderful piece of kit.

Just be wary of the "latest" Chinese build ones. Not as good.

[Truffles]

Different parts are various ages, very little was bought together.

CD Player: Sony X777ES, 20 years old

Processor: Lexicon MC8, 10 years old but feels like 20

Amp: Lexicon ZX-7, 10 years old but feels new

Main speakers: Martin Logan CLS mk 1, second hand when I bought them 25 years ago

Centre: Martin Logan theatre: 5 years

Apart from the processor, I feel little need to change anything

[Truffles]

NiceCupOfTea said:

Mission 731s, Richer Sounds circa 1999
Arcam CD72, bought nearly new early 2000s
Arcam Alpha 9 Amp, mid-late 90s, bought second hand early 2000s.
Arcam AVR100, early 00s, bought second hand a couple of years ago.

Only really use the avr100 and the speakers for the TV... Always wanted a pair of B&W601 S2s but they are more expensive second hand now than they were new!

Edited by NiceCupOfTea on Thursday 1st January 13:15

I have an Arcam Alpha 6 amp in a cupboard somewhere

[soad]

12 years-something old now, has a cassette deck too!

[clockworks]

The Naim power amp that's driving the centre speaker on my AV system is over 30 years old. The two Linn power amps bi-amping the fronts are over 20 years old.

[Nerfbat]

Audio Innovations S500 from about 1988 or so

Michell Gyrodec / Alphason HR100s-mcs from about the same time

Monitor Audio RS6's from about 6 years ago

Roksan Kandy CD player also about 6 years old

Also sat in a box is a Garrard 301, SME 3012 mk1 and Ortofon SPU dating back to about 1962 that belonged to my Dad and that I ought to do something with.

[andy_s]

30 year old Gyrodec, had a service about ten years ago, changed cartridge a few times, still works fine.

[blueg33]

My set up is 25 year old budget stuff (bought new 25 years ago) and still works perfectly well

Dual 501-3 Turntabble
NAD 3130 Amp with built in phono stage
NAD 6220 tape deck (doesnt get used much)
Yamaha CDX530e cd player (excellent bit of kit)
JPW Sonata bookshelf speakers

Last year I bough a new set up for my son

Project Debut SEiii turntable (with separate Project speed controller)
Marantz Amp and CD player (I forget which models)
Mission MX1 bookshelf speakers

TBH my sons set up sounds slightly better espcecially the speakers although my Sonata's are a touch warmer.

There is not as much difference as I might have expected

[Riff Raff]

Nerfbat said:

Audio Innovations S500 from about 1988 or so

Michell Gyrodec / Alphason HR100s-mcs from about the same time

Monitor Audio RS6's from about 6 years ago

Roksan Kandy CD player also about 6 years old

Also sat in a box is a Garrard 301, SME 3012 mk1 and Ortofon SPU dating back to about 1962 that belonged to my Dad and that I ought to do something with.

A refurbished 301 (possibly with the 3012) in a decent plinth will give your Michell/Alphason combo a run for their money.

Or if you choose to sell, have a look on ebay for the prices that these things fetch. 3012's go for stupid money.

I've had lots of turntables over the years, but the 301/401's compare really well with modern exotica.

In terms of re-furbishment, Loricraft, or North West Analogue or Audio Grail will all do a good job.

Mine was done by Audio Grail. It's a later oil bearing from about 1962 or 63.

Edited by Riff Raff on Friday 2nd January 14:47

[e21Mark]

If I'm honest, I don't think my ears work well enough to hear the differences once components reach a half decent level, but some of these older hi fi are just works of art in their own right.

[lummox]

Quad 22 pre-amp

Quad II power amps x2

Quad FM2 tuner

Quad AM2 tuner

all about 1958-9

Quad stereo decoder, from about 1960 ish.

Sounds bloody marvellous.

[soad]

My CD player started to skip tracks, especially the first 1-3.
I assume, it's the dust build up?

Do those CD cleaning kits actually work?
CD are fine, no scratches or dirt on them.