10 Vintage Audio Components That Still Deliver High-Fidelity Sound

There’s a legitimate reason to shop for vintage audio components: they still sound great. If you know what to look for, and accept that ownership comes with a price, you can buy some of the best equipment ever made. Some of it looks pretty darn cool, to boot.

Of course, nostalgia is a nice sentiment but it should never be the driving force behind a purchase of an old-school piece of gear. Performance, reliability and the ability to get it serviced trumps all. Here are some of the more unique examples to hunt for today.

Quad ESL-57 Electrostatic Loudspeaker

The ESL was introduced by Peter Walker in 1957 and it’s still considered by many audiophiles to be the holy grail of audio design. Walker’s electrostatic panels offered a level of transparency and midrange resolution that few loudspeakers achieved in the decades that followed.

Finding a pair of original ESLs in pristine condition has become much harder in recent years and the market for restored units has driven the price up significantly. The Quad ESLs are a more cerebral listen than their planar magnetic counterparts but once you hear a pair in the right system, you may question just how much loudspeakers have actually improved over the past sixty years.

MartinLogan Aerius i Loudspeakers

MartinLogan’s esoteric CLS electrostatic loudspeaker looked great on magazine covers and delivered on its sonic promise but it was also very difficult to drive and dominated any room where it resided. The taller and slimmer Aerius i offered the transparency, detail and speed of an electrostatic panel but also the punch required to enjoy rock, electronica and other genres of music.

Finding a used pair in reasonable condition has become easier in recent years; if you do, it makes sense to have the factory install a new pair of panels to give your investment some longevity.

Thorens TD-125 MK II

Thorens

When Thorens introduced its flagship belt-driven turntable in 1968 (the MK II in 1972), it represented both an aesthetic and technical shift for the Swiss manufacturer, who was known for its massive idler drive turntables.

Belt-driven turntables with a sub-chassis were less expensive to manufacture and service, and their design allowed Thorens to isolate the motor and sub-chassis from the turntable’s plinth resulting in better sound quality. The downside was they needed a sturdier rack.

Thorens turntables work with a multitude of tonearms, including Rega, SME, Grace, Ortofon and Jelco. Turntable restoration companies like Vinyl Nirvana and Artisan Fidelity have offered beautifully restored versions for years but have seen the market for the older tables change dramatically in recent years. Vinyl’s resurgence has made them scarcer and more expensive, but no less desirable.

NAD 3020 Stereo Amplifier

While not the prettiest or most powerful integrated amplifier, the solid-state NAD 3020 is known for its ability to drive difficult loudspeakers —despite its published power rating of only 20 watts per channel into 8 ohms.

The 3020 featured four inputs, including a phono pre-amplifier that offered above-average sound quality for the price. The trademark NAD charcoal grey finish made the 3020 stand out … as did its warm tonal balance that was rolled off at both extremes.

At $130, it was incredibly inexpensive in 1978 when was it was introduced. That didn’t stop it from becoming a hit, however. The 3020 was a fixture for NAD for a few decades selling over one million units. Expect to pay between $200 and $250 today for a unit in great shape.

Nakamichi Dragon Cassette Deck

Nakamichi manufactured the world’s best cassette decks before its untimely demise in the era of digital audio. They were a pioneer in the development of magnetic tape heads and the three-head recording technique; separate tape heads were used for playback, erase and recording.

Nakamichi built premium decks for other manufacturers but it was their ultra-premium Dragon cassette deck released in 1983 that solidified their place in audio history. The Dragon offered a level of playback with well-recorded tapes that rivaled other sources, and it was superb at recording.

Finding a used Dragon online is not difficult but prepare to pay a steep price for this audio classic. With the original company no longer in business, finding parts requires some effort and it’s not a restoration worth attempting yourself.

Audiolab 8000A Integrated Amplifier

Started in 1983, Audiolab produced a very well-received line-up of integrated amplifiers, CD players, DACs and power amplifiers. The compact looking components offered excellent sound quality and were an affordable option to pricier rivals.

The 8000A integrated sounds as crisp and detailed today as it did in 1983, and its internal phono pre-amplifier was considered to be one of the best in an affordable amplifier. Pair it up with a warm sounding pair of two-way bookshelf loudspeakers for best results.

Adcom GFA-535 Power Amplifier

Adcom got its start in the 1970s building phono cartridges but the company eventually made the jump to affordable solid-state power amplifiers, pre-amplifiers, tuners and CD players. The products proved to be reliable and audiophiles were impressed with its sonic neutrality.

Adcom shook up the market with its more powerful GFA-555 power amplifier designed by Nelson Pass (Pass Labs, Threshold, First Watt), but the $300 GFA-535 may have been the better-sounding amplifier. The 60-watt GFA-535 was stable with difficult loudspeakers and once you let it warm up, it made beautiful music with warmer sounding loudspeakers. This is an affordable classic that you can still find with ease.

Sansui AU-717 Integrated Amplifier

Sansui is another classic Japanese brand that was a casualty of the digital era; the manufacturer was highly regarded for the quality of its transformer designs. Released in the late 1970s, the iconic matte-black AU-717 integrated amplifier pushed out over 100 watts per channel and included a high-performance moving magnet phono stage.

The AU-717 was an ideal match for any of the JBL, KEF, or Celestion loudspeakers of the period; from a power perspective and with its warmish-sounding tonal balance. A refurbished unit with new capacitors will start around $500.

Marantz 2245 Stereo Receiver

Released in 1971, Marantz’s 2245 receiver offered solid resolution for the period, a moving magnet phono pre-amplifier and an AM/FM tuner. The units were well-made but the wood impacted the ventilation, so this is not an amplifier to stick in a tight cabinet.

The 2245 is not difficult to find today but prices have escalated; a pristine unit that originally sold for $450 now can go for upward of a grand.

JBL L-100 Century Loudspeakers

JBL recently reintroduced these speakers but the originals that were released in 1970 still deliver the goods. Derived from JBL’s 4310 studio monitors, the domestic looking L-100 Century require some space and love power. The L-100 Century are forward sounding and almost always sound better with tubes or a warm-sounding amplifier.

Prepare to pay between over $1,000 for a set in reasonably good condition, and replacement drivers cost extra. Nostalgia with orange grille covers comes at an extra premium.

Related Topics