Old Classic Receivers: A Mistake to Buy?

I'm running a kenwood l-02a w l-02t tuner these pieces are not only beautiful to look at but the performance...I love my vintage gear. nuff said

I found a Fisher 400C receiver down the street at a garage sale for $10.00. Not only did it work, it replaced an Onkyo receiver because my wife liked the sound of it much better, as did I. It's all about the sound.

I bought a Sansui 90-90 in Japan back in the late 60s and loved it 'til I was seduced by the newer stuff with remote controls and surround sound. I wouldn't junk the Sansui so put it away where it has rested for a few decades while I played with a great Yamaha R9, eventually set aside for newer hi tech receivers with more flexible switching and more modern interface connections. A few weeks ago with nothing better to do I retrieved the Sansui 90-90 from the closet, hooked it up to my other toys (Definitive Technology BP10Bs; Klipsch KG 5,5S, KG 4s And KLF 10s; Boston Acoustic VR 965s and my old AR3as and AR 98LSs.) Not all at the same time of course. I alternated the Sansui 90-90 with my most recent receiver, Pioneer Elite VSX 91 TXH and an older Onkyo 702 and also switched to the amp in the old Yamaha R9 and also to a pair of old Carver M-500s.

It was all unscientific subjective listening, but for two channel stereo, CDs and AM/FM radio, the Sansui 90-90 with the AR3as sounded the most natural to me. A pair of old ADS 500s sounded as good as the ARs except for the weakness in the bass which the small ADS drops off about 45 hz while the ARs are down only about 10 db at 20hz according to my SPL meter.

True, the old Sansui doesn't have the hi tech switching and connecting flexibility, doesn't have remote control, weighs 52 lbs so it's harder to move around than the lighterweight hi tech things made today, but for 2 channel music to my ears, it doesn't take a back seat to the new stuff of the class described above. I've never heard receivers or amps that sell in the multi thousand $ range so don't know how it would stack up with them.

Is the Sansui and the AR3A really that good, or am I living with totally ignorant ears?

I have Accuphase E-202 integrated SS and love it.
Scott 299b is another integrated which is in my possession (tube).

Both represent the sentimental value rather then SOTA components.
But they do fine job considering there age.

Accuphase is very special because it is a SS design which I usually stay away from but this one is really fun and I might decide to do some mods on it in the future to bring it up to speed with the rest of my gear. Sweet and flexible.

Just my 2c.

Mariusz

I generally disagree with your friend. I've had the new (a Krell, Conrad Johnson) but I've kept the classics. I'm a fan of vintage Yamaha. Have had a CR1020 integrated since purchased new in 1979 and an MX1000U amp/CX1000U preamp with the family equalizer since the 80's.

Everything works terrifically. The CR1020 drives a pair of JBL L65s and the amp/preamp 1000s drive 4, McIntosh XR7s and 2, XR5s in a wonderfully pleasing manner across all music genre. [Admittedly the JBLs are better with rock and heavier jazz recordings.]

I have found that gaining similar performance would truly require a seriously greater investment. When serious musicians and audiophile friends hear my main system they are taken aback. It's about the music and the music sounds absolutely fantastic, especially for the investment.

Buying vintage wisely is really not that different than purchasing new equipment. One key exception: the investment risk is greater with new equipment.

Resell a piece of new equipment and in most cases the discount one had to offer from that paid is quite notable.