Your feelings on vintage audio.

Audio Asylum also has a vintage section.

Vintage audio gear is fantastic from my (limited) personal experience. I believe that "they" do not make such type of audio gear anymore. One DOES have to be careful with which speakers one connects to the amps 'cuz most of the integrated amps cannot drive very hard loads (I suppose that hard load speakers were NOT the norm in the 1970s, 1980s).
Buy whatever suits your fancy or/& your budget &/or your nostalgia. There are some excellent brands out there (besides the Scott that you favour) - Marantz, Yamaha, Pioneer, Accuphase, Kenwood, Sansui, Rotel, Sony.....

Yes, Audiogon used to have a Vintage audio forum but it looks like they did not get much enthusiasm for it??

Some good places for info is www.thevintageknob.com & www.classicaudio.com. Also, like someone already wrote, there are several people discussing vimtage audio on www.audiokarma.org.

Go for it!

Although keep in mind that condition is a huge and unpredictable variable. Obviously patience may be required to find units that are in top condition, and/or significant expense may be required in some cases for professional restoration. But those investments will be rewarded with both gorgeous sound quality, and in the case of many tube tuners, with outstanding sensitivity and station-getting ability.

I would suggest that instead of seeking a second 350B, or other stereo tuner, you be on the lookout for a Scott 335 or LM35 multiplex adapter, or the similar Fisher model, the MPX-100. Finding one in good condition will require some patience, and perhaps a few hundred dollars, but having one will allow you to receive stereo on the many tuners from the late 1950's and early 1960's which are mono in themselves but provide a multiplex output jack. Those tuners sell for far less than the 1960's stereo tuners, allowing you to economically purchase several tuners if need be to find one that performs really well.

Among tuners that are mono with multiplex out, and that sell for reasonable prices, I would very strongly recommend the Scott 310D. Its sound quality, although not its sensitivity (which is very good nevertheless), approaches that of my multi-kilobuck REL Precedent (the best sounding tuner I've ever heard, and that includes two different Marantz 10B's). I have also had good results with a Fisher FM90X, a Scott 311D, and a Scott 310C, among others.

Also, should you encounter a Radiocraftsmen 10 or RC10 in good condition, grab it! They are from 1952, and mono only. Consequently they sell for very low prices. But if in good condition, and if fed a good signal, their sound quality is so beguiling you won't miss the stereo.

My experience with integrated amps of that period is limited to a Scott 299C, which I have been pleased with in a second system, but I haven't assessed it in my main system. Pilot gear, especially separate preamps and power amps, is also well worth looking out for.

FWIW though, I'll add that my limited experience with speakers of that period (mainly two different pairs of large Tannoys, that were apparently in excellent condition) has not been positive. My suspicion is that their very disappointing sound quality was due more to the cabinet design and technology of that time than to the drivers.

Good luck!

-- Al

What's vintage? It seems that anything over ten years old is now considered vintage by some. That said, vintage tube gear can sound great, and there is always the pride of ownership. But vintage solid-state........not so much.

Viridian, I have always been a tube guy until recently, and now I realize I am just a "if it really does it right, it really does it right" kind of guy. The items which turned me around were a 30yr old SS pre and headamp.