1. Home
  2. vintage
  3. 197329-213664

Want to start a great looking quality vintage setup

Hello, I’m looking to set up a secondary system for my office which would be purely vintage equipment. As this is not my main listening source I’m really just looking for something that would be attractive, but of course have good quality components but at a budget. I love the look of the silver face and the blue lights of the bygone eras. Macintosh, options of that sort of beyond my budget, but I’ve been reviewing some of the Pioneer spec options, but was wondering what else was out there that folks here would recommend. Essentially looking for a coordinated preamp, amp and phonograph. I can probably find a good set of vintage speakers locally to go with whatever my components are. I’m open to receiver combos as again, this is as much about the look of the components as it is about the audiophile quality, perhaps even more about the aesthetic. 

clw2000
buellrider97's avatar
buellrider97
949 posts
 

  Maybe you could add some clarification on specifics please. SS over tubes , separates , bookshelf or floor speakers, and price point ? Since most recommendations are towards larger more expensive stuff, I’ll go small. I gave my son one of my retro rigs for his apartment and now that he’s a homeowner it’s his office rig. The system consists of a Marantz 2226 receiver that had a thorough checkup and cleaning. A pair of Klipsch KG 1.5’s with new caps in the crossovers and a Pioneer PL- 17 TT with AT cart. I made the speaker cables and he uses AQ Interconnects for the Bluesound Node he added. This system is very affordable, compact has decent imaging and bass. It has “ The Look “ with upgraded lights and the TT. It’s easy to spin vinyl as the TT is automatic and he mostly streams with the Bluesound tucked back out of sight. You can always add a small sub and go wireless if it need be. Other retro smaller speakers I’ve owned that would work are Advent, AR , and JBL L-19. On the larger side I had the Sansui 9090 with JBL L-100’s and an MXR EQ. My original stereo consisted of a Dynaco SCA-35 and an FM3 tuner. Later adding a pair of Dynaco MK III’s , but the Dynaco gear lacks the eye appeal compared to Mac or Marantz. Happy Hunting , Mike B. 

parkergetdean
1,069 posts
 

Marantz 22* or 1060, Kenwood 600 or 7100 or the big Pioneer SX-750

But the list is really endless

clw2000 OP
8 posts
 

I just committed to a couple of McIntosh components. A MC502 amp and a C504 pre.    These have the slimmer chassis. Solid state. Very exciting to receive. It’s 50 watts so I’ll be looking for some efficient speakers. Maybe a tuner but the Mac tuners aren’t inexpensive and I have to process the idea of spending $$$ on radio. 

clw2000 OP
8 posts
 

* vs a wifi streamer where I can get a higher quality feed I suppose?? 

tosnc
30 posts
 

Congratulations on the Mc gear.  That will look nice.  What speakers are you going to use?

I have less high end tastes and for vintage would have just gone for the look and gotten an NAD 3050 integrated with the BluOS module.  New but looks old.  Add a pair of ADS L810 speakers, a B&O Beogram 1800 turntable and you would have a system every EE in Rolla in the early 80's would have drooled over.

I hope the ice and sleet melt soon so the delivery man can deliver your components.  Seems to be going away pretty fast here in Raleigh.

More to discover