This is a very early example of the type, built in 1960 and valve-based, of course. If you thought that pre-amps and power-amps were a recent phenomenon, think again. Space restriction prevents me from listing the other 14,000 amplifiers swimming around my thoughts so let us know your favourites in the comments below. I’d advise eBay, Facebook specialist hi-fi groups, specialist hi-fi retailers and small ads at the end of hi-fi magazines and blogs. I have not supplied a website source for each product because sourcing each will require a bit of detective work. Prices will vary, of course, depending on a range of factors so the figures I provide here are merely a (very) rough guide. Do they actually work and, if they do, are they safe to use? If you don’t pack the knowledge and experience to know if the equipment works satisfactorily yourself, it’s essential to get your newly secured prize thoroughly checked by a qualified expert.įor this list, instead of moving from the lowest cost price to the highest, I’m going to list the oldest to the newest.

The main issue with vintage kit – and this goes for vintage amplifiers too – is condition. While many of those products are rather lagging in terms of sonic reach, there are also plenty that still hold their own and have stood the test of time.Īnd what if you do manage to track down any of the goodies listed below? There have been an array of superb hi-fi designs created and sold over the years. That all hi-fi aged by more than a few years is past it and worthless and not even worth plugging in, never mind using. The biggest mistake you can make about hi-fi is believing that new is always best. Paul Rigby follows his guide to vintage turntables with a look at some of the old-school amps that will bring out the best in your records. When it comes to sound quality, the latest designs don’t always improve on what came before.

Vintage stereotube amp kit