What vintage system can we buy for $2500? Here are some examples of gear at today's prices.
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- čas přidán 1. 06. 2024
- Using a budget of $2,500, I put together a list of amplifiers, turntables and speakers that have recently sold. Examples from Sansui, Yamaha, Pioneer, KLH, Thorens, JBL, Optonica, Technics and others.
Video: • What vintage system ca...
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Yamaha M-80 $20 (works great), Yamaha C-60 $10 (spent another $50 in parts to fix). KLH Model 23's $30 (plus $50 to restore them). Garrard DD-75 $25 (another $50 for a new N95ED stylus). Also have a Pioneer SX-780 I got for $25 that works great and a Kenwood KD-2055 for about $40. Not to mention other gear I got cheap that I have repaired. Deals can be found if you are patient.
A well put together and interesting video and I really like that JVC turntable.
I would add though, with vintage you will need to consider spending extra on restoration if in original condition.
I am the proud new owner of a fully working Sansui AU-7900 integrated amplifier that I got for around your price range for integrated amps. After listening to it's stunning sound drive my more modern Focal Choras 726 speakers for about a week I decided to plug it out because there was a strong smell of old caps and I was worried that it would blow up. It is now on the test bench with a specialist for such vintage gear here in Ireland.
When the AU-7900 is restored I will have a fantastic hifi system close to the 2600 doller mark
Another alternative to the Pioneer PL-540 turntable is the PL-518. I believe it's essentially the same as the PL-540, but without the automatic PLL speed control (you can adjust the speed manually if needed), so you may save a little money. I think the PL-518 was made for several years, and it's a really solid turntable, so there should be plenty of them still around.
The feet are the weak spot on these tables - they have a large spring and a rubber damper inside for vibration isolation. Over time, the rubber inserts disintegrate, but there are newly-made replacements available on eBay. I also found a custom base with Padauk wood veneer for mine, and it really elevates the look of the turntable.
I bet that custom plinth looks very nice.
@@stereoniche It makes the turntable look much more expensive than it really is 😄
In maximizing performance per dollar for $2,500, my philisophy would be different. I would go very speaker heavy, as good amplification isn't as expensive or as important; but it is somewhat important. Another reason to skimp pricewise on amps is that so many good options are coming out of China. Not so (that I know of) with speakers. Plus there have been some really good amplification in the last decade from non-Chinese makers too, like Outlaw Audio, Emotiva etc. For $2,500 you could build a system around such speakers as the vintage 1990s KEF R107 floorstander, which some people thought was the best dynamic speaker going, under $10,000 back then. Still a great speaker. About 20 years ago they commonly sold on the used market for $1,000 to $1,200 a pair. Now you might need to go 50% more than that. Team it up with an Outlaw Audio receiver ($500 used) and a Harmon Kardon T series turntable, and there you have it; a system for $2,500 that would compete with systems in the $4 to $5 thousand range retail, today. Or you could substiture vintage IMF TLS 80 speakers for the KEFs; (the IMFs actually use mostly KEF drivers), and have enough left for a vintage Sony TC377 reel to reel tape deck and some tapes, and a Tandberg TCD 310 cassette deck. For $2,500 you'd have really good lp playback along with real good reel to reel and cassette playback, and don't forget you'd have good FM from the Outlaw receiver.
Or if you like bookshelf speakers ( just don't put em' on a boomshelf); especially THESE, as they are known as imaging and soundstage champs. The speaker I'm talking about are the Celestion SL 600. Their cabinets are an advanced material from the aircraft industry called Aerolam. They have the exact same drivers as the cheaper SL6, but because of the advanced cabinet material the SL600 leaves them far behind sonically. $700 to $800 pr.on the used market. Team it up with some vintage McCormack/Mod Squad electronics and an HK turntable and you'll have enough left for a good subwoofer and some room treatment for those 3D imaging champs. Vintage Infinity Kappa 8 speakers is also a nice choice at $800 pair used, as are the Ohm Walsh 2 speakers, which make other speakers sound like they don't have much depth, front to back. The original Ohm Walsh 2s have reasonably good drivers for cleanness; but they are not world class in that way. Good enough to never ever sound harsh or grainy in the least. Very pleasant and a soundstage extraordinaire. Vintage Sony SS-M 7 speakers and a whole lot of others like the Aerial Acoustics model 7 floorstanders are well within the limit of building a $2,500 system around. Or if you just want about the best vocal reproduction ever and imaging, and don't much care about deep bass and dynamics, (maybe an apartment dweller with sensitive neighbors), you can build an under $2,500 system around the cult following speaker of all time; the vintage Rogers LS3/5A. So smooth, natural and genuine sounding.
At this budget, certainly a LOT more flexibility to configure a more focused system on preference. Can't argue with your selections, all valid points. The Sony M7 are just stunners and I've always heard great things about their sound.
Some of the Chinese amps are much better than some of the others, but it does take some ferreting out which are the better brands. Class D does seem to have potential. The one disadvantage to Chinese amps is that it would now be very costly to ship overseas, amps with big old transformers, like some of the vintage amps did have. Big transformers always seem to have a bigger sound, with the instruments sounding larger; which is highly important to realism.
I haven't seen many models of the Sony SS-M9 speakers lately for sale. As you probably know, they were the model above the SS-M7, (which are plentiful). The SS-M9, you would see a pair for sale on ebay about 1 in 3 times that you looked; now it seems like they have disappeared from existence. Another speaker that would be feasible to build a $2,500 system around is the vintage 3 way Yamaha NS 500M. Not to be confused with the 2 way Yamaha NS 500. The NS 500M is more similar to the NS 1000, but instead of the mid and high frequency drivers being berrylium, they are titanium. Some who own both the NS 1000 and NS 500M, prefer the 500M. Maybe not that last iota of detail, but better sounding and integrated overall. I can tell you from experience that the NS 500M midrange drivers, which often sell used for $50/pair, can compete with midranges costing many hundreds of dollars each. Very even sounding and clean. People unknowingly pay 3 and 4 times more for the NS 1000 on the used market.
Looking at what's on ebay lately; there is a Hales model 3 speaker set for $500 I think. Used to retail for thousands, but it's local pickup only from Virginia. There's an Aerial model 7 on, for a very good price; well under $1,000. Michael Kelly owner and designer of Aerial speakers is one of the best. His Aerial model 10T from the 1990s, is still considered one of the best dynamic speakers of all time. Rare to find one, but a used bargain at $2,000 or so. That JVC turntable shown is one beautiful piece of gear.
@@sidesup8286 Some nice choices there. And one might also do well to look at some Chinese Tube amps if you're so inclined-many are modeled on older German designs. I heard a set of mono blocks with their tube per-amp on some monster Tannoys ten years ago when I was in Shanghai, PHENOMENAL. I don't know what model Tannoys but they were massive, huge! I've seen those Sonys, a guy I met had a pair but I never got to hear them. But he was ecstatic!
My home system consists of a Sansui AU-7900 integrated, a Sansui AU-7700 integrated, a Sansui TU-7900 tuner, a Bang & Olufsen Beogram 1800 turntable, 2 pairs of Bang & Olufsen Beovox S-60 loudspeakers, a pair of Beovox S-45 loudspeakers and a pair of Bang & Olufsen RL 35 loudspeakers.
I'm very happy with the system. It seems that all of my hifi friends like to come over to my place....
Very nice gear! No wonder your friends want to hang out at your place. I would say you are a Sansui and B&O fan! 🙂
Very nice. I would suggest one of my systems, a somewhat serviced Pioneer SX-3900 (120 watts x 2) and a set of Boston Acoustics A200s (you could go with the A400s if you can find them). Unfortunately, I do NOT have any higher model TTs to add to this. But probably one of those Thorens would do the trick. It goes without saying that I'm referring to today pricing because I paid much less for both when I bought them years ago. I believe the A200s (refoamed) would go for about $500 or more today, the A400s a bit more. The SX-3900 has been shooting up in price. I saw one for $1100? It was the top of the line Flurooscan in the early '80s. And the sound is much like its predecessors, the Pioneer SX-1050/80-which exceed the $1000 limit by quite a margin these days.
Also have the lower model Sansui AU-517, a very nice piece, the phono section has been serviced. (I probably pair this with some Polk Monitor 10As which I also have?) But that's not that expensive for whatever reasons. It seems like the AU-717 and the 719 bring a premium price but the 517, which pretty much sounds almost the same but is only 65 watts x2, is not as prized by collectors?
The SX-3900 is a little higher priced, but one could just find a better deal on some speakers! Large speakers, very often, can be had quite cheaply as many do not want to deal with their heft.
Very true and also speaker wire which isn't all that cheap depending on how much feet you buy
Well, if lucky, maybe the sellers will throw in their old wire. :-)
Honestly would have to look for ADS speakers for me personally. L710/L810s are mostly < $600. L1230s < 1000. Love the Sansui Integrated. I’d love to find a Dual 1229 or a Thorens TD-245 which has lift and stop.
You cannot go wrong with putting ADS into a system. You can probably get a 1229 from FixMyDual that has been restored for the price of the Thorens.
for an S arm or technics type of TT. no need to pay more than $250.00. no diff in the arm they are all standard. the diff is in the drive some motors are quieter than others. thats what you are paying for. in this case its what makes a slight difference. min rumble or s/n should be around 70db. technics standard. example: realistic LAB 400 is a good candidate for a vintage player. it is i believe 65db s/n. wood plinth very nice! if you can find one!
I don't follow current prices closely, but I think this set up (that I currently run on occasion) might be in the $2500. or so category.
integrated amp: NAD 3080.
turntable: Denon DP1200 (assorted Shure & AT cartrtidges).
tuner: Sansui TU-317 (least expensive of that family, w/ lighted dial).
speakers: JBL L88+ (upgraded to L100 spec). alternatives might be ESS AMT 10B or KEF 105 Series II.
if a receiver must be used, then it's a Yamaha CR-2040 (if it blows the budget, then old Denons, a Sansui 331 or something else I've forgotten about). I was never a Receiver Guy... preferred separates... enjoyed making distinct choices for each function, then upgrading incrementally. tended to recommend Sansui & Yamaha receivers to friends during those golden years.
I suggest a next cut be $5-10k level. an exotic / "price no object" vintage equipt analysis is hard to constrain... but fun to recall & compare!
I may see about a $5-10k point, but the "price no object" cut are some items I don't yet want to reveal. May be some time before I put those out, but there are plenty of other things to highlight in the meantime.
Not really into turntables...
My system consists of Scott 380R receiver - $425. on craigslist, Pioneer CS-C9900's - $13 Goodwill, EPI M-100's, $40
Sony CDP-CX220(200 cd's) - $20 plus $17 for remote. Added 40 inch tv for $15. for videos.I just plug in my laptop and for $530 it kicks ass.
Scott has 125 watts, Pioneers have 15" woofers with the EPI's on top of them.
Well, you killed it! Great system for about as good a deal as one can find. Bravo!
Enjoyed the video as always. I bought almost all of my stereo gear locally at estate sales and thrift stores.
My current bedroom setup consists of some Sony es gear (cassette deck, tuner, CD player), TOTL Harman Kardon cassette deck, 3 sets of vintage speakers to switch from (Advents, JSE, and Cerwin Vega), Onkyo Integra amp, a reel to reel recorder, and more...
Everything together very resonable price. But also I don't mind doing some repairs like refoaming speakers, replacing belts and adjusting cassette decks (speed+azimuth).
Much of the fun is the hunt for equipment.
That Sony ES line is top notch. If you are willing to put in a little effort, one can certainly find some nice buys out there over time. The hunt, for me, is a BIG part of the fun, but that is the collector in me.
I am really enjoying your videos! Thanks
Thanks Scott!
lol. A pair of original Diatone DS-77EX in good condition for sale here for 180 USD. It all depends where your home is.
Let me know what you guys think about your selections for this budget theoretically or what you have actually bought recently. Is this a "sweet spot" for a vintage system or something higher?
Some options which you didn’t mention which I think would fit the budget also - ADS L710/810, Harman Kardon 730, and a Thorens TD160 or AR The Turntable.
All great choices!
Bery nice combo Mr Scott just for life time ido have the amp with the tuner au717 and the jvl speakers in my collection not for sale definitely I don't have that jvc table but ido have the sansui 840 and pioner micro spiky ect tanks for Cher Lovett 😀
You have some great gear Jose! Much more to come, stay tuned!
Nikko NR-719, Pioneer tt, Avid 102a speakers - I spent a whopping $135 !! 😂
Nikko made some incredible gear, an under the radar brand. GREAT price! :-)
They might cus i know if i had the wire selling hi fi i sure would
Dual 1219
Pioneer SX 1010
JBL L110's
Nice setup. I will be reviewing my L110's soon, so stay tuned.
You didn’t leave anything in the budget for cables.
Well, I was assuming someone had an current system they were replacing or the seller of their purchased gear threw in the cables they were using. 🙂