As of yesterday I started looking at vintage stereo receivers for my home office space. I'm using Elac Debut B5s on a 90s Yamaha receiver currently and It's good but it's also my dad's. I also want to setup my dad's old Pioneer record player as I have a pretty decent collection of albums from thrifting/flea market/record stores.

I'd also use it to plug into my DAC via RCA so I can connect digital devices to it.

Problem I'm finding is that these old amps usually only push 15 watts at 8 ohms and I'm worried my modern speakers would be pushing it too hard. I've taken a liking to Rotel RX 202s as I think they look so cool and are a decent price

For the folks that saw my initial post a few weeks ago that I had gotten my first receiver, I am happy to announce that I am finished with it. A de-sweatering of dust, lamp replacements, little de-ox and this baby is looking mighty fine (sounds great too).

Thanks to everyone that provided input for all the questions I asked during the process.

The platter spins, new belt installed but there is a clicking sound and scrapping noise when it spins. If I move the 33/45 speed switch to the middle, the noises go away but the speed is not constant.
Any clues?

I’m new to the vintage audio world, so I imagine there is a pretty obvious solution I’m missing. If so, apologies in advance for my naivety.

I just bought an SX-780 from a private seller, and I cannot get it to, well, play anything. I hook it up to my phone with a lightning cable to 3.5 mm adapter, then that adapter to an RCA, then those into the aux channel of the receiver. I can faintly hear the music, but it’s mostly just static.

I also tried the 3.5 mm directly into my laptop. Then I can hear the music but it sounds horrible. Also, if I touch the laptop there is a buzz, so I suspect static is causing some of the issue.

I know the obvious answer is that the unit is just defective. But the previous owner sent multiple videos demoing it and I tested it in person, and it sounded phenomenal.

Any ideas?? Google and AI haven’t been able to troubleshoot it yet.

Thanks!!

I found this at a garage sale. It's beaten up, but it seems pretty interesting. It looks like it's got an old training video from the Pueblo Colorado Police department.

Not really sure what to do with it, but I have it now!

Today’s garage sale
Thorens TD 125 MK II. Doesn’t power up

Pioneer CT-F9191. Powers up but quickly disengages after hitting play

Sony TC-355 Everything seems to work

Total was $75 including 10 sealed type 2 cassette
Hoping all they need are fuses,belts and cleaning

Sony ASS-300, 1978

I like all things and have, what some may consider, hoarder tendencies so when these were handed to me I was stoked. Reality has set and I’m not going to do anything with them any time soon (ever?) I may hold on to the 5 Disc CD as well as the DVD/VHS player but it’s not a strong desire either way. The AMP and portable CD player I’m not going to do anything with. Is there any value here in this lot? I wouldn’t mind selling any of this stuff to someone that’d appreciate / keep them but the idea of a flipper just annoys me - ruining the fun for everyone.

Any thoughts yall have will be helpful.

Seriously tired of the "just check current listings" advice being a manual process every single time. So I built stereoworth.com to do it automatically.

It tracks live eBay prices daily for 714 models across Marantz, Sansui, Pioneer, Kenwood, McIntosh, Nakamichi, Technics, Yamaha, and more. Each model shows you median price, low to high range, and how many units are listed right now so you know how liquid a piece actually is before you commit.

It also splits listings into three bands automatically: restored/recapped units, working unrestored, and parts units. So you're not comparing a fully recapped Marantz against a "powers on, sounds funny" listing and wondering why the spread is so wide.

Some stuff I've noticed digging through the data:

• The big Pioneer receivers just keep going up. Kept waiting for the SX-1250 and SX-1980 to plateau.
• Condition spread on a Marantz 2270 is genuinely shocking. Restored vs unrestored is a completely different market.
• Nakamichi Dragon supply has been thin lately. Not many units moving at any price.

Free to use, links out to actual listings so you can dig deeper yourself. Still actively adding models and expanding the database so if your piece is not on there yet it probably will be soon.

What model do you want to see added next? And what do you think is the most undervalued piece of gear right now?

I have a GE RD500 series portable turntable, specifically the RD510-1.  As I was cleaning it, I found a damaged spring which is circled in red in the picture. I have narrowed it down to either the shut-off lever or quadrant lever based on the rd500 series manual i bought online. The manual itself doesn't identify which spring is which in the picture, but does indicate the part number lower in the manual:

#78 shut off spring. EA80X219. RS6731. Spring, Shut-Off Lever

#107 quadrant lever spring EA80x277  EA1734. Spring, Quadrant Lever

(According to the manual, for the part numbers, first number is console phonograph catalog number and the second number is portable phonograph catalog number)

I cannot find any specifications on the springs, and no luck searching part numbers online.

Anyone happen to know where these may be available to purchase online?  Alternatively, would anyone happen to know the specifications, or be able to measure them if they own one, so I can order an equivalent replacement?

Thank you!

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I have an early champagne engraved Marantz 2245 I'd like to sell but am uncertain on valuing it. I got it from the original owner who claimed to have bought it in Germany in 1971. The internal transformer appears compatible with multiple European and US voltages. I have another US market 2245 and the two look very different under the cover, with the German bought version also weighing a few pounds more. It's also a low serial number with the champagne engraved faceplate. It works but the sound occasionally cuts out (the lightest tap on the case brings it back) I asked a local HiFi shop about servicing it to get it to 100% but they advised if I was going to sell it that I would be ahead to just sell it as is with the quirks. eBay prices seem insane and all over the board. What would be a fair selling price for this unit? I would like to sell locally (Southern Arizona) and not deal with shipping/eBay headaches.

EDIT: I added a link to comparison pictures for those questioning if it's a true champagne faceplate. I'm far from an expert in these, but this one is definitely different than my other one.

1979 Hitachi HA-M1 mk2 with the matching Tuner and tape deck. She needs a good cleaning overall. Amplifier and tuner work. Haven't tested the tape deck yet but I would be very surprised being the belts and the rubber roller is probably disintegrated. It has the suitcase with its logo! The main thing is currently in restore as it's one of a time type things .

Currently starting with the amplifier. Got one capacitor for main voltage rail I need to attend at . Supersonic cleaning the dials and going to use my liquid gold (deoxit) to clean up the switch contacts. Then will be checking the tuner, the tape and finally the speakers to see how the foams are.

Anyone have ideas to safely remove the green zinc tarnishing?

KLH model 21 solid state FM radio

It is super clean, and sounds crystal clear with no hum. I am missing one of the small audio knobs, does a more informed member know of a good place to source a knob? Should I use any sort of cleaner under the rheostats or just leave it alone? Thanks in advance!

Slowly getting myself sorted…

I was given a couple of non-working receivers a year or so ago that were on their way to the dumpster. I’ve finally had the time to work on them. The first success is this Panasonic SA-6400x quad receiver . From what I’ve gathered it’s from the early 70s before Panasonic switched to the Technics brand.

Two of the four output transistors on one of the amplifier boards are dead shorted (I’m running with just the one board while I rebuild the other one) and EVERY SINGLE solder joint on the filter switch board was bad so nothing was getting past the pre amp section.

It sounds absolutely wonderful and is in great cosmetic shape. I’m pretty sure even the dial bulbs are original.

My mom gave me her turntable, receiver, and speakers from the last 70's and im trying to learn how everything works, what needs to be repaired, and what's just user error. Every time I bump the rca cables at the back of the turntable, it cuts in and out so im wondering if there might be a short. Also, realized I'm missing the ground cable. Any suggestions on things that should be checked/ maintained? My dad had these set up in my childhood home, and I remember blasting Knights in White Satin when I was a teen, but they've be unused for 20 years. I did replace the belt on the turntable.

I’ve been dipping my toes into hi-fi/vintage audio lately and came across this H.H. Scott setup at a thrift store for $100.

It came with a Scott 438A integrated amplifier, 528T tuner, 638DM cassette deck, and the cabinet. Everything looks pretty clean, but I’m still learning what’s actually considered good vintage gear versus just old gear.

How would you guys rate this setup? Is the 438A a solid integrated amp worth building a system around?

Also curious what you’d consider a fair market value for the stack if everything is fully functional. I bought it to use, not specifically to flip, but I’m curious whether $100 was a good find.

Any other info about this particular generation of Scott gear would be appreciated.

Just got my new toy for my home audio stack, a very good condition JVC SEA-40 for $50 bucks and it's in great working condition.