Buying vintage audio gear, pitfalls?

[bikemig]

So I'm heading out tomorrow to check out a vintage NAD stereo receiver that I found on CL. Other than the obvious like turning everything on to see it if works or not what are the pitfalls and/or potential issues to look out for in buying old second hand gear? I've been wanting to do this for a while since CL can be a great source for old gear.

 

[macddmac]

Depending on age, a quality recap/ refurb job can be spendy and take a good while waiting in line to get it done.
I'm on a wait list for a refurb on a Marantz 2230 that I traded some work for. Another year or so and I'll be at the front of the line :0
425.00 to have it completely redone. Good news is, once done, it will outlive me

Cheers, Mac

 

[bikemig]

Depending on age, a quality recap/ refurb job can be spendy and take a good while waiting in line to get it done.
I'm on a wait list for a refurb on a Marantz 2230 that I traded some work for. Another year or so and I'll be at the front of the line :0
425.00 to have it completely redone. Good news is, once done, it will outlive me

Cheers, Mac

That looks pretty sweet.

 

[fuzz092888]

Depending on age, a quality recap/ refurb job can be spendy and take a good while waiting in line to get it done.
I'm on a wait list for a refurb on a Marantz 2230 that I traded some work for. Another year or so and I'll be at the front of the line :0
425.00 to have it completely redone. Good news is, once done, it will outlive me

Cheers, Mac

My GF's dad buys and refurbs those old Marantz as a hobby. Between him and his brother they've done a ton of them. Last time I was at the house I think there were probably 4 in various conditions/stages of repair lying around. Great units when they're done.

 

[Irvrobinson]

Pretty, but don't perform well compared to good modern electronics.

 

[markw]

Pretty, but don't perform well compared to good modern electronics.

As far as HT and MC goes, true. but they still do a pretty decent job with good old analog two channel stereo. You might be surprised if you take those blinders off and just use your ears.

 

[markw]

So I'm heading out tomorrow to check out a vintage NAD stereo receiver that I found on CL. Other than the obvious like turning everything on to see it if works or not what are the pitfalls and/or potential issues to look out for in buying old second hand gear? I've been wanting to do this for a while since CL can be a great source for old gear.

Consider it like buying a used car. It might be good to go but a little work might help it a bit. While a total restoration might not be needed in all cases, getting the FM section aligned on a forty year old unit might improve it's performance. Likewise, you might want to check it's DC offset since too much could blow a perfectly good speaker if it's out of whack. Or, play it on some expendable speakers for a few days when you first get it.

 

[Rickster71]

I would avoid buying from a smoker. (unless the price is right and you don't mind some repair work) The nicotine leaves a sticky shellac on surfaces of the components, circuit boards and connections. Dust sticks to it and forms a layer of insulation that holds heat and retains moisture from the air. It ends up turning the board into a large semiconductor.
Heat degrades electronics over time.
The smell is difficult to get rid of too.

You can tell if something has been cared for by looking for the lack of accumulated dust inside. Bring a small flashlight to look inside through the vents.
My $0.02

 

[Nestor]

Coincidently, I have a coworker whose winter hobby is to purchase vintage audio equipment, refurb them, then resell them. Given the type of winter we've had, I'm sure he's refurbed a good number of them.

 

[Irvrobinson]

As far as HT and MC goes, true. but they still do a pretty decent job with good old analog two channel stereo. You might be surprised if you take those blinders off and just use your ears.

I'm not wearing blinders, Mark. I bought a Marantz 2270 brand new back when, and I still own a Marantz 2110 tuner. I've also seen the test reports, especially from the 22xx receiver series, and those amps are not as objectively capable as the ones in a modern $500 AVR in distortion, power (especially into 4 ohm and lower loads), or even frequency response extension and linearity. And I don't even like AVRs, so it's not like I'm sort of AVR fan-boy. Glass and metal and wood are more impressive than the plastic junk used in a lot of modern electronics, but IMO vintage electronics are about appearance and feel, not sound.

 

[markw]

Sorry, Irv, but you're leaking trouser chile here. Some of those vintage amps can put out some pretty impressive sound. Deal with it.