What's the oldest piece of hi-fi you own?

Although it's at the Sound Organisation in York waiting to be sold, My Manticore Mantra was bought from the Sound Organisation's London shop over 30 years ago.

The plinth, outer platter, top plate and Lingo power supply of the LP12 that I bought to replace my Mantra last November is at least 25 years old. Everything else on it except the Ittok LVIII tone-arm that I purchased separately was replaced or upgraded during a service just after I bought it.

Also, I have an Arcam Delta 290 and Delta 290P power amp in my attic that are both at least 22 years old.

An ION Obelisk 3 amp giving sterling service in my study. Truly excellent amp now getting on for 30 years old.

Bolt together CB NAP250 x 2. Both used every day, 1 for centre channel, 1 for rears.

Verity Audio Sarasstro Speakers, since 2009, and still very very happy.

That would be my Koetsu Urushi, built by Mr. Sugano Sr. in the late nineteen eighties. I bought it a few years later, after it slept in a drawer in my dealers place. It was rebuilt by Expert Stylus a few years ago and still provides its magic.

My still-in-use Heybrook HB1 speakers, dating from very late 1984. Next is my LP12, which dates from the end of 1987, followed by the Ittok LVIII (March 1989).

NAC42.5 (upgraded to .5) / NAP110 bought ex dem in 1983 

   1963 Philips AG 9016 valve amplifier (Circa 1.5 Watts/channel)

The diamond on my Kandid is about two billion years old... give or take a billion.

Debs

naim_nymph posted:

The diamond on my Kandid is about two billion years old... give or take a billion.

Debs

 

Interesting - I had assumed they're all made from synthetically grown diamond these days, ensuring greater consistency. 

Innocent Bystander posted:

naim_nymph posted:

The diamond on my Kandid is about two billion years old... give or take a billion.

Debs

Interesting - I had assumed they're all made from synthetically grown diamond these days, ensuring greater consistency. 

I would have assumed that, too. And just to be really pedantic, you might have to say two billion years old, give or take two billion, even for a natural diamond; I seem to remember that some diamonds, in Australia, I think, are only about 20 million years old.

My Nytech CA202 amp. Not currently in use.

...a pair of 20+ year old JBL Control One speakers that get abused like you wouldn't believe - they've been used for countless outdoor "gatherings" but absolutely positively refuse to die.

Phil

My 200DR. When I upgrade, I upgrade. The old stuff goes.

I upgraded from a chrome bumper 32 (purchased in early 1985) to a 32.5 in 1986. I used a chrome bumper hicap also purchased in 1985. I still have the 32.5 and hicap. I have recently upgraded to a 282 and a supercap. Also, in 1985 I bought a pair of chrome bumper 135s to power DMS Isobariks (1985). I traded in the DMS Isobariks in early 1991 to get a pair of PMS Isobariks. I am still using the recently recapped 135s and PMS Isobariks. My main source is a LP12 from 1983 (Valhalla) with a Ekos I and a Troika. I believe I got the Ekos and Troika in the early to mid 1990s. I need to update my source.  

For now it is a rare old combination.  Nac-12SP / Snaps DR / bolt down Nap-250. Perhaps Richard can shine some light on the pre and Snaps as it is they are the only ones I have seen with this spec.. They were Salt Lane dual railed from new.

Until they ended up knackered in a skip, a pair of 1973 Bose 901 series iV. That leaves a Denon Laserdisc player from 1995 which is still floating around somewhere in my mum's house back in the UK. Still in use apparently by the hipster couple renting the place.

I've tried hard to find something that I own since more than one year, but I couldn't. I have fake old gear, though – things I had 40+ years ago that I have bought again, like a Pioneer PL112D and an SA-7300 integrated. But I have a small cardboard box where I used to keep all my turntable minutiae – head shell screws (hundreds), head shell straws, a stylus balance, a couple of neglected head shells, plus a small bag of resistors, condensers, pieces of wire... Absolutely useless junk that I refuse to ditch (like some of my body parts...) .

Massimo Bertola posted:

I've tried hard to find something that I own since more than one year, but I couldn't. 

Wow - at first I took that to mean you upgrade everything annually, which would be both a full time occupation and a real commitment of resources, but then I remembered your postings and realise it Is just due to the major change you had during the past year.

I have done likewise, and expect most things to still be with me for 10 years and more as usual, just what has been unusual for me is changing so much at about the same time.

ChrisSU posted:

My 200DR. When I upgrade, I upgrade. The old stuff goes.

Same here, NDX is two years old upgraded last year so rest of the kit is new .The Olive system that it replaced was between twenty and twenty five years old all owned from new.

Darran H posted:

For now it is a rare old combination.  Nac-12SP / Snaps DR / bolt down Nap-250. Perhaps Richard can shine some light on the pre and Snaps as it is they are the only ones I have seen with this spec.. They were Salt Lane dual railed from new.

Darran, do you have any pictures you could post?  Filling in a comprehensive history on the really early kit is tricky because just as I think I've got it nailed own, something new crops up!  The original NAC12DR used a pair of SNAPS supplies s yours sounds interesting...

Richard Dane posted:

Darran H posted:

For now it is a rare old combination.  Nac-12SP / Snaps DR / bolt down Nap-250. Perhaps Richard can shine some light on the pre and Snaps as it is they are the only ones I have seen with this spec.. They were Salt Lane dual railed from new.

Darran, do you have any pictures you could post?  Filling in a comprehensive history on the really early kit is tricky because just as I think I've got it nailed own, something new crops up!  The original NAC12DR used a pair of SNAPS supplies s yours sounds interesting...

I feel betrayed, they told us DR was an amazing new thing in 2012. 

Richard Dane posted:

The oldest piece of kit I have in reasonably regular use is an early Revox 77A (A77 Mk1) 2 track from 1967.  There's a fair bit of kit that's older, particularly the old Quad stuff and some valve amps, but they're not really in regular use, so possibly don't qualify here.

Does that mean you don't use your Garrard 401/Aro anymore Richard?

Deeply, yes, the Loricraft Garrard with Aro is still in regular use.  However, the Garrard is a relative youngster as mine was made in the early '70s.

A pair of Tannoy iiiLZ speakers bought  some 47 years ago and still going strong!