How I Bought -- And Buy -- Vintage Audio Gear..Tips For Building Your Collection

The vintage audio bug bites hard and when it does, it's good to know there are ways to satisfy your desires apart from eBay. In this video I discuss my buying history, which stretches back over 30 years, as well as how I find good deals today. Of course it is much harder today and the key to success is being able to exploit "informational vacuums." That is to say, local rummage sales, yard sales, community flea markets, and mis-listings on Craig's List. Good luck to you!

[mwj]

Hi Rosie! I am glad there are collectors like you as so many very fine stereos of top quality get tossed out. I had a hand-me-down Sherwood AM/FM stereo amplifier. I had the original owners manual with the schematics. In about 1995 I went to one of the last old fashioned TV and audio repair shops for repair. The very experienced tech looked at the schematics and said, "You know, this isn't junk." He talked about how there are throw-away electronics now that was putting them out of business. I later had to donate the Sherwood to a humane animal care type of charity. I told the charity of its value etc but wonder if later they still might have trashed it. The made in Switzerland (noted right on the turntable so not made in Italy) Lenco (working) turntable, and I think it was the L76 purchased in 1973, I kept hoping I'd have a serious stereo system in my own home some day. I had to sell it for about $300 as I needed the money. I went to a free paper shredding event that included free tossing of home electronics and sadly saw some very nice old home stereos, like in your collection, being tossed out. Maybe you should go to some of those events and get vintage equipment for free! Thanks for all the work in making such a nice video for all!

[Audiorevue]

1990s early 2000s, that was really the best time to buy a lot of this gear. I remember I was 17 at the time and I used to see old receivers all the time that people would just throw out by the trash. And then on top of that you would always go to thrift stores and stuff like that during the time and you would find a lot of these classic pieces especially the higher end models and you would see them and they would be bargain basement priced.

The idea at the time was everybody was going to go to surround sound home theater receivers and stuff so this old stereo stuff nobody wanted.

fortunate enough to pick up a few Marantz pieces during that time that I still own, the 2600 and the 2270 receiver. The 2600 I found at a flea market a guy was selling it for 50 bucks, those right now are going for 5000 to $6, 000 .

[tailthemarketmaker]

Awesome!!! Thank you sooo much for sharing. Finally, someone that appreciates HH Scott. I’ve only had a dozen different vintage pieces. Still, my Scott 460A is my all time favorite followed by Fischer

[GettingNervous]

Wow, my father got a Fisher 500C in the late 60´s, what a great receiver. Now i have some Revox units from the 80´s.

[waynemotherway]

Thanks for the insight Rosie have a happy new year love your vids, keep on keeping on from the little green isle

[hi-fihaven]

What a collection! Keep making the great videos! Thanks for sharing you collection!

[docowensde]

Rosie, I am also into Vintage Audio. I collect McIntosh and Marantz and recently started collecting Nakamichi Cassette decks. Just some of my highlights include McIntosh C22 and C20 Pre Amp, MR78 and MR71 Tuner and Marantz 2600 and 2500 and 4400 Receiver 10B and 20B Tuner and a couple of Fisher items Fisher 800C and 500C also Nakamichi Dragon and 1000 ZXL Cassette Decks. I just Love this stuff and like you say "once you get hooked you can't stop". I just hope my bank account doesn't run out. :-) Love your enthusiasm. Thank You.

[johnsradios]

I got about 8 vintage stereo units. Marantz 2252, marantz 7000sr, pioneer sx-1250, harman kardon hk 570i, Yamaha r-1000, Fisher 700t, onkyo tx-2500 and a newer Harman Kardon 7000. I got a few from Goodwill, tag sales and 2 from eBay. It seems that now everything out there people want top dollar. Harder to find at a reasonable price. Thanks for the tips.

[EDKsurly]

This could be the end of my bank account, getting into this hobby.

[inmatejason]

Awesome collection! Do you collect vintage speakers? The speakers are just as important or more so then the receiver/amp. What’s your favourite vintage speakers? The 90s must have been an awesome time to collect vintage gear, they use to be way cheaper back then because no one wanted them. I remember back in 96 when I had my first job and went to buy a receiver, all the 70s receiver where cheap because everyone wanted the newer all black 90s stuff. Now a days not so much lol. it funny because all the 90s stuff today is all you see in thrift stores, no one wants them lol. Shit I’m getting old lol

[casualsuede]

I'm curious, do you have a massive switcher that allows you to play these units or are they working units that are more for show?

[Pyridox]

Rosie, some good old brands there in your collection. Reminds me of the vintage stereo equipment back in the 70's and early 80's. Marantz and H.H. Scott. Thanks for sharing.

[RikkBubbaBEAR]

You are Awesome. I’ve discovered your page and videos just a couple days ago when my Hubby showed me one of your videos. Love your collection. I Love Vintage Audio Gear too. Thanks so much for your presentations. 😊

[eightbit]

I recall watching some of your vids a few years ago when I was heavily into vintage equipment and not sure why I didn't subscribe at the time. Well, subbed now :) Very nice collection. I had some life problems and unfortunately had to part with pretty much all of my vintage stuff. But now that things are settled in my life I have decided to revisit this passion. Lo and behold things are of course very difficult to obtain without a small fortune nowadays. My area is all but dried up regarding vintage stuff, but I still keep looking. I did however score some vintage gear that I believe is quite rare. I now have a pretty much mint Optonica (Sharp) SM-4545 170W amp circa 1976. Have you ever heard of these? Really solid equipment Sharp put out for a short period in the mid-late 70's. It's all I have now so it is quite cherished :)


Hope to see more vintage gear vids from you. Very good tips!

[DavidSmith-btqe]

I have the Sherwood RX-4105 Stereo Receiver and it does everything I want it to.  I mostly listen to CD's and run it out into my Garage hooked to a pair of Bose 301 Bookshelf speakers.  In the living room I have it connected to a pair of McIntosh XL-10 speakers.

[andrewszczecinski]

Only just found your chanel Rosie so hello from the UK. Really enjoy your videos, you have some wonderful items, keep up the great work!

[FiddleCat]

Thanks for this helpful video! Want to get back to vinyl and that great warm sound of the 70's. Who doesn't remember romance in front of the fireplace in the soft glow of light from the stereo! Just starting to look around.

[jimsim]

TANDBERG and REVOX and QUAD are good old hifi's to look out for, even old music centre, as we called them this side of the pond remember National Panasonic, SG-3090, and Sharp was around then, with the first ever feather torch buttons SG400E I was never into Marantz the champagne one's made me cringe which a friend had. Wish I still had my SHARP OPTONICA RT-3838 Stereo cassette deck it look so good, enjoyed your enthusiasm, i feel the same when i see a nice J A Michell Engineering Reference Electronic Transcription Turntable. the name conjures up gas turbine car, s jet packs lunar buggies, martini vodka shaken...got to love it, , ,

[SinnerSince]

Just noticed Rosie, you have a lot of expensive nuts in that rack. It was smart thinking to build it the way you did. It's infinitely adjustable.

[SinnerSince]

Glad to see you have a Pioneer SX-9000 on the shelf. It's always been on my short list to obtain. Sadly?, McIntosh and Fisher keep getting in the way...