How many use Vintage Hi-Fi systems?

I was going to have a vintage system.
My Father-in-law uncovered a Fairchild 255 amp and a 240 preamp in his attic, that his Father had bought, while looking for tubes for me. He mailed it in 3 packages. It was to be our dreamy, glowy, bedroom love system. The preamp arrived, the tubes arrived, ( but they were all dead, probably why it ended up in the attic) and the beautiful, mint, 50's tube amplifier........ went to the bottom of the ocean just off Kauai when a mail plane went down this January.
With no amplifier, I sold the preamp to a collector in Japan ( Dad didn't want it back), tossed the tubes, and cried myself to sleep. So in answer to your question, no I don't, but I'd still like too.

Newer is often not better, especially if price is a consideration, besides, some designs just work better in certain setups than others. My rule of thumb is to be up to date on fast moving technology- digital stuff- and go for classic analog.
What is the point in having a new tube amp or FM tuner? It is doubly satisfying to own equipment that holds its value and looks cool.

I use a 1961 McIntosh MC240. That is my only piece of vintage gear today but I absolutely love it. I had a pair of Klipsch Heresy I for a while too but since sold them.

Arthur

Eweedhome,
you are not cheating.......some of the vintage gear sounds great after parts upgrades. BTW, on the PV5, if you vishay out the entire phono section, it will be an eye opener as to the resolution improvement you'll get.

I used to have a PV5, moved on to the PV8, and later PV12. The 12 was more open sounding than the PV5, but I could not conclude the 12 was better than the PV5. The PV5 allowed one to get lost in the music and enjoy one's self.

Hi Guys, when I think about all of the old great vintage gear that I have had in the last forty years of this obsession, and either traded or sold ( Scott, Fisher, Technics SP-10 w/arm,Mac.,KLH and many others) that I would love to have back now, it makes me want to cry. Musically, we have not gained a whole lot if at all during this time.
All that I now have of vintage gear that I love is a Marantz 2275 Receiver, two pair of excellent condition, all original AR 3 speakers ,one pair of mint large Advents, a Dual 1229 tt., a Mitsubishi DA-F20 tuner and a Teac RA-40S open reel recorder.
Sometimes when I listen to my large modern system, and always tweaking in order to wring every ounce of" being there" with the musicians out of it, I want to say "the hell with it" and go back to my vintage stuff and really "enjoy the Music"
Great thread Norman, thanks for starting it.
Carter