The secondary market is among the most gratifying avenues for discovering great deals on gear. This is particularly crucial given that the machinery that powers vintage gear, although very solidly built, can be decades old. This equation has meant that a lot of new online stereo shops and dealers have popped up, and the best of them refurbish and guarantee the equipment they sell. “This is a hi-fi record boom that we haven’t seen in decades,” says Jon Derda at Mobile Fidelity Recordings. Not only are record pressing plants booked a half-year in advance, but many turntable and stereo companies are backordered for months. Fifty years later these buyers are hitting 70 and in the process of downsizing - and emptying their attics of once-prized electronics. In the 1970’s, the demographic driving the stereo boom was between the ages of 18-24. Simple math will tell you why this is as good a time as ever to be on the lookout for used components. The search can also be an excellent way to learn about makes and models and availability - and determine how much it will all cost. The next part in our intro to hi-fi series focuses on used marketplaces and how to find deals on vintage gear.įinding a killer vintage amp or turntable in the wild might seem like a fluke, but if you have an idea of what you are looking for and do your homework, your chances increase exponentially.
