Buying & collecting
Buying used gear with open eyes, tracking down rare components, building a good system for very little, and the makers behind the classics.
- A good hi-fi system on a tiny budget
How to build a satisfying stereo for very little money: where to spend first, finding secondhand speakers and amplifiers, matching power to speaker sensitivity, free improvements from placement, sources that cost nothing, and what not to waste money on.
- Buying a reel-to-reel tape deck: what to check, and what it will cost to keep
How to choose and inspect a used open-reel deck: track format, speeds and reel size, heads and head wear, pinch roller, brakes and tension, motors, electronics, accessories, and why the right machine depends on the tapes you want to play.
- Buying used vintage hi-fi: what to check before you pay
A buyer's checklist for secondhand amplifiers, receivers, turntables, tape decks and speakers: researching a model, reading listings, questions for the seller, testing in person, shipping risks, and the restoration costs to budget for.
- The makers behind classic hi-fi: Nakamichi, Denon, McIntosh, Marantz, Revox and Studer, Technics
Short, sourced histories of six manufacturers whose equipment is still sought after: where they started, the products that made their names, and what to know when you meet their gear secondhand.
- Tracking down rare vintage audio components and parts
How to find a rare amplifier, deck or spare part: identifying exactly what you need, saved searches, clubs and swap meets, parts donors, cross-referencing components, reproduction parts, and avoiding scams and misdescribed items.
