How to Buy Vintage Audio Gear: Expert Tips You Can Try!

This took a while, but I finally managed to put it together.
If you are thinking about getting into vintage home audio, then please watch this video. I believe it will be very helpful. Dave

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[kcMan]

Sometimes being in the right place at the right time is a way to find equipment. I was at a thrift store looking at golf clubs, and started talking to someone about clubs we had bought in the past. I mentioned to him that I was looking for a vintage pioneer receiver to restore, and he had one to sell along with pioneer speakers . It was a great deal for me, and it goes to show you’ll never know what, where, when, or how you find stuff !

[andy]

I had my first hifi separates set up in 1972 when I was 17, marriage put paid to the hifi in 1974. Recently retired and single now, bought a 2 channel modern set up for the lounge but now looking for a vintage project for the bedroom. Love 💞 your channel.

[jadesystem]

Excellent video and advice. Thank you for your wisdom on your negotiation skills. You're the best regarding a layman's approach to buying and selling. I've been buying vintage gear in the past 40-years. You've hit it on the nailhead with your expertice. One thing that you failed to cover is the defensive wife. And the excessive hoarding of quality vintage hifi gear over the years. Fortunately I've had to use this negotiation technique to replace and dispose of an existing unit with another plus pay a $200 bribe on each and every purchase. This quells any future arguments plus it has saved my marriage. Thanks again for an excellent video !!

[crimsonghost]

Great advice. I have noticed that thrift shops around me also have dried up. I have scored a few times but my best finds have been at estate sales. Craigslist is hit or miss with not a lot of good stuff lately and ebay is usually priced way too high. Its so damned hard to find good gear for a good deal anymore. But I love the hunt.

[philshifley]

Perfect advice. Also, don't buy five pieces of broken crap and expect your wallet or service tech to get excited about fixing it all.

[jb]

Within the last two years on a locally listed auction site:
Hitachi SR-903 for family room (mint condition, clean, fully functioning): $138
Hitachi SR-903 as spare (dusty, EXC+ condition after cleanup, fully functioning): $120
Hitachi SR-503L for office desktop (mint condition, clean, fully revised-perfect): $120
SONY SS-E34 speakers (New-old stock - perfect): $19.50
SONY SS-CSD1 speakers (EXC++): $60
Marantz EQ20 (mint, perfect): $120
Lenco L82 turn-table (mint, fully functioning): $94
Salvation Army store (top shelf collecting dust)::: Mordaunt Short MS20i speakers (dusty, EXC++ cond. after cleanup, fully functioning): $38

[mint= no scratches...almost like new. EXC+ = a small scratch or ding but very small, no signs of wear/use of note/significance]

Local deals are still out there. I look once a week. Shipping cost me no more than $20, unless I could manage a short drive or pickup.
I did spend about $180 on parts for future revisions (filters, caps, transistors) of both SR-903's, as they are keepers (Class G amps with 75W per channel into 8 Ohm/RMS w/ 160W transient headroom (+3db above rated power). I also spent about $60 on both vinyl case-wrapping material and machined ALU feet for the receivers...to "spruce" them up even if the cases were in excellent condition. The factory black wooden cases are now with a glossy burled walnut vinyl wrap. Along with the 58mm ALU feet...they look stunning.

The hunt for these deals was almost as good as the vintage quality and wonderful sound delivered by these gems.

[TorontoJon]

I bought vintage hi-fi components back in the late '90's and early 2000's on eBay when they would sell very reasonably and VERY cheaply at my local Salvation Army Thrift Store, Goodwill, Value Village, etc.

I would always test components at my local thrift stores before buying them since some thrift stores did not allow returns for defective equipment (but others did for a time).

[francescotenti]

Great video and great advice. I would add to look for free returns when buying from eBay to avoid being stuck with something you don't like and when buying by auction always be disciplined to stick to whatever max price you decided without raising it at the last few seconds just to grab it.
A lot of beautiful and good gear is still out there, good luck to all to look for it, find it and taking it home.

[jeffstockton]

Excellent advice. I have come to enjoy meeting the sellers, who are almost always enthusiasts with other equipment to demo or sell. They want to find good homes for their old stuff. Some men gamble on sports. I gamble on vintage audio equipment. But like My Own Devices, I SWEAR I'm ahead of the game.

[jimeagle]

One last suggestion, if you can repair electronics, that's great, but it's also well worthwhile learning how to add wood veneer. It's not that hard and can add value to a vintage receiver. The hard part is cutting the stuff. I did an old Sansui and it looked great.

[koylesmasterpeice]

I like some patina on my gear. It doesn’t have to look brand new. I enjoy saving and restoring old gear. There is a satisfaction of bringing it back to life. One of my favourite projects was an sx-1980 that was owned by an old DJ. It definitely had some wear from being dragged around gig to gig but there are not many out there and once some issues were sorted it sounded amazing.

[Mrsteve]

Very comprehensive, thorough, and entertaining. Well done! And no alligator ambushed you while standing next to the water 😜

[frankfanacht]

Great video and very good tips! I collected almost all of my gear at fleemarkets. I found there wonderful turntables from Dual or elac, and payed max. 20 euros. Some were fully funktional after just changing a fuse and adding a new needle. ( And a bit of cleaning!) Sometimes the repairs can be quite a challenge and time consuming! But there are good repair tips online if your model isn't quite a rare one! But it's always fun go hunting stuff!!

[geraldford]

Excellent overview of vintage audio thrifting/buying/selling
Agreed that the thrift stores are pretty lean in recent years, but still cool gear can be randomly found if you often stop by at random times. I try not to go too far out of my way, stopping at thrift stores or yard sales that are on the route while doing something else or going somewhere else on a longer trp, just bake in an hour or 2 more for the trip.
There are now at least 4 thrift chains in my area- Goodwill, Salvation Army, St Vincent, and STEP.
Goodwill appears to be the most greedy lately, and given their company structure and CEO pay, I don't want to support them. Charity Thrift chain execs should be volunteers from other companies, either token paid or pro bono. IMO, thrift stores should not be able to auction or get market value for items, or its not thrift, its a business. Thrift means standardized prices for items by class/function, not market value. They should loose their tax exempt or other tax/business advantage if they price to market.

[robertyoung]

Skyfi audio and The Music Room have nice fully sorted out equipment and great customer service for used equipment in my experience.
They can put a whole system together for customers.
Not cheap.
It’s a good idea to buy used equipment made by brands currently in business, that answer the telephone and are willing and able to service their vintage gear.

[maarkaus]

Church Bazaars also are a good place. I found a 1979 Kenwood for free in near perfect condition, and was allowed to take it, as I was there as a volunteer, helping move the big heavy things.

I would also suggest going around on trash day and seeing what is available.
I have found a Sony turntable in good condition, from the '80's, and a vintage Pioneer from the mid '70's, which I have kept. Both might have ended up in the dump.

Also, small towns, if you can get to them, will also have swap areas in the town dump. The swap areas often have treasures.
I would suggest enjoying the hunt as much as the find. The hunt can be very enjoyable.

[uncleremus]

I'm glad you touched on buying a "fully restored" unit. I would rather do that than get stuck with a dud and no one to fix it. For vintage speakers, I would do re-foam myself, as I have done several times. I will buy a vintage receiver, amp, or speakers, but never a vintage cassette deck or CD player. I've had too many problems with them over the years, even when bought new. They just don't last that long. Thanks for the video.

[asevasev]

Sometimes you're just lucky. Few months ago I bought a nice yam 90'ies for 70 bucks, working perfectly...

[yardbomber]

Awesome advice and suggestions! I've been fortunate enough that my vintage audio collections scores is in the 90%. The other 10% have been disappointments. I figure that's not a bad grade.

[franimal]

Funny, I had a great gig in upstate NY....years ago I would on my lunch hour drive out to a recycling center. They would let me go through the warehouse where they would receive things. My price was 10 bucks/anything. Vintage Marantz, etc....reel to reels, turntables, receivers, cassette decks etc....then the people that worked in there, started doing it and nada for me!!! But it took them about 5 years to figure that out! I still have some stuff, most of it worked, and with a little work, they were good! Yes, I would have to get a few things serviced. It was crazy! Once I found a SAE arm tossed in a bin! How about a Marantz 7t? Monster receivers!