Vintage hifi

[Trustmeimadoctor]

I fancy setting up a amp and speakers to start in my office then maybe a record deck

I have preference for something vintage (not really vintage 70's 80's) purely for assthetics really dont want to spend a huge amount so maybe £100 ish on a amp. Is there anything I should stay clear of ?

Seen a nice looking akai early 80's receiver and some rotel rx-102/104

Any pointers I'm aware they may need re capping and contact cleaning and other such things

[AndyTR]

I've been looking for something for the dining room, this might be of interest...just not exactly what I'm after

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AKAI-AA-5200-Stereo-Int...

[SS2.]

The NAD 3020 was the 1980's amp - one of those would sit perfectly in a cool retro set up.

[Trustmeimadoctor]

Ive managed to find a b&o setup locally to me actually is it worth it
Beomaster 1900-2
Beogram 1700
Beochord 1900
And a pair of beovox s40

I know b&o is style over substance really

[bungz]

Be aware a lot of stuff from the 80's etc if it isn't been refurbed will likely greatly benefit from it.

I have a NAD 320BEE which isn't that old and had to recap that, sound was night and day afterwards.

[Trustmeimadoctor]

Just had my offer on the b&o stuff accepted for £100 so yeah time to get the soldering iron out I imagine

[CeramicMX5ND2]

I had a Thorens TD166 turntable - Creek CAS4040 amp and Acoustic Research AR18 speakers.. Brilliant little set-up..

[SS2.]

Trustmeimadoctor said:

Just had my offer on the b&o stuff accepted for £100 so yeah time to get the soldering iron out I imagine

Assuming it's working, you've bagged a bargain

[LordGrover]

Not sure if vintage enough, but NAD 3240PE is/was excellent. See a few on ebay and similar around the right price.

[thebraketester]

bungz said:

Be aware a lot of stuff from the 80's etc if it isn't been refurbed will likely greatly benefit from it.

I have a NAD 320BEE which isn't that old and had to recap that, sound was night and day afterwards.

I had a similar issue with my 320... caps dried out. Luckily its an easy fix.

I use my dads old Technics SU-V4X from the early 80s now, it sounds fantastic.

[AndrewGP]

We got my 14 year old son an old JVC A-X400 in silver for £40 from eBay. It's delightfully retro with a graphic equaliser and horizontal level meters. Although we did our research and the on-line reviews are very good, I wasn't expecting much....however, I was pretty stunned at how good it sounded.

[Trustmeimadoctor]

SS2. said:

Trustmeimadoctor said:

Just had my offer on the b&o stuff accepted for £100 so yeah time to get the soldering iron out I imagine

Assuming it's working, you've bagged a bargain

Even if it's not 100% looks like I could part it out for alot more

[tonyg58]

AndrewGP said:

We got my 14 year old son an old JVC A-X400 in silver for £40 from eBay. It's delightfully retro with a graphic equaliser and horizontal level meters. Although we did our research and the on-line reviews are very good, I wasn't expecting much....however, I was pretty stunned at how good it sounded.

Not surpised it is good.
Most of the Japanese hifi from this era are excellent - what people forget is that they were expensive not cheap and nasty.
Most of the Pioneer etc amps of the 1970s were £500+ back then, that's over £4000 in today's money according to the B of E convertor.

[tonyg58]

Trustmeimadoctor said:

Ive managed to find a b&o setup locally to me actually is it worth it
Beomaster 1900-2
Beogram 1700
Beochord 1900
And a pair of beovox s40

I know b&o is style over substance really

B&O stuff of this era is very good value, and also usually easily fixed (although B&O do not release cct diagrams).
Only major cost would be a cartridge, the B&O one is (IIRC) about £250.

[Trustmeimadoctor]

Can you use 3rd party cartridges?

Not a huge issue at moment I haven't got any vinyl

[SS2.]

Trustmeimadoctor said:

Can you use 3rd party cartridges?

Not a huge issue at moment I haven't got any vinyl

www.discogs.com is great for 2nd hand vinyl.

Be wary though, it gets addictive and you could spend a fortune !

[Trustmeimadoctor]

Tell a lie I have this https://www.discogs.com/Keith-Harris-3-Orville-And...

[njw1]

thebraketester said:

I use my dads old Technics SU-V4X from the early 80s now, it sounds fantastic.

I have an SU-V1X, coincidentally it also belonged to my father and sounds fantastic.

[tonyg58]

Trustmeimadoctor said:

Can you use 3rd party cartridges?

Not a huge issue at moment I haven't got any vinyl

Not sure, but there is company called Tonar (run by a Canadian guy now living in Holland!), if it's available, they will know.

[Trustmeimadoctor]

Well the speakers both drivers are shot it's in s sorry state really ah well

New foam surrounds ordered

Edited by Trustmeimadoctor on Wednesday 3rd February 19:24