If you're a huge fan of music or a professional in the audio industry, you may very well have found yourself drawn to vintage audio equipment— only to find how incredibly high the prices are.
Why is vintage audio equipment so expensive? Vintage audio equipment is expensive partly because of rarity (a lot of vintage gear has been discontinued) and partly due to the inherent quality and design required for its longevity. A vintage piece of gear must be of the highest quality to perform at the highest level decades after manufacture.
Some of you may have second thoughts about investing in older audio equipment and may decide to settle for something modern because of the price. Though modern equipment is much better in many instances, a vintage piece at the right price could be an invaluable part of your collection.
In this article, we'll dive into why older audio equipment is so costly.
The 2 Main Reasons Why Vintage Audio Equipment Is So Expensive
Let's break down the two main points in a bit more detail.
The first reason why some vintage gear is so expensive is because of sheer performance. Note the keyword “some” in that sentence.
Arguably, equipment from the past was built to last. In contrast, modern manufacturing is geared toward getting consumers to buy again and again (which causes manufacturers to design products to eventually fail). This is certainly the case with low-end products.
However, with high-end audio equipment, longevity is practically always strived for.
High-end audio equipment today and from the vintage years is expensive because of its superior performance. Lower-quality vintage equipment sells for low prices on the used market (if the gear hasn't been relegated to the past entirely).
Expensive vintage audio equipment was top-of-the-line when it was new and has maintained that performance into the modern day, making it as valuable, if not more, as it was when it was first built.
Another question to ponder is this: If modern technology has improved design and manufacturing, why is vintage gear often more expensive?
Shouldn't new technology outperform old technology and, therefore, drive down its price?
While audio technology has certainly kept up with the digital age, there is still a huge market for “old” technology. Much new gear aims to replicate the “vintage sound” and does a fantastic job doing so. However, for some, the authenticity of vintage gear is all too alluring.
For example, transistors have replaced tubes in practically every electronic device category since they were invented in the late 1940s.
However, the distinct “tube sound” of tube audio equipment is still cherished across the audio industry. Vacuum tubes are still found in audio equipment (and microwave ovens).
This brings us to our next point about the rarity of vintage gear, vintage components and “vintage” sonic character.
The law of supply and demand would state that as a product becomes less available, the price of said product (if needed and/or wanted by the people) would go up.
As discussed, a lot of vintage gear has been discontinued. Many specific electronic components that were part of original designs have also been discontinued, making cloning/replicating difficult (and an art form in and of itself).
Of the models in existence, some will eventually become unusable or unable to perform as they once had. Others will be held onto by professionals who use them to make a living or collectors who may not use them.
For the highly sought-after items that do end up on the used market, there will be buyers who will pay top dollar.
So, to recap, vintage gear is expensive because:
- It performs incredibly well and sounds amazing.
- It's rare and highly sought-after.
Examples Of Vintage Audio Equipment With Asking Prices
So now we know why vintage audio equipment can be so expensive. How expensive can it get? Let's consider a few examples of vintage equipment, notably in the following categories:
- Vintage microphones
- Vintage amplifiers
- Vintage receivers
- Vintage guitar amplifiers
- Vintage audio processors
- Microphone preamplifiers
- Compressors
- Equalizers
- Effects
- Vintage mixing consoles
Note that since these devices are no longer in production, the price will show some fluctuation over time. Also, I'll avoid linking to marketplaces to avoid broken hyperlinks in the future. I encourage you to look for yourself and try to find the best prices (and the best item condition) possible!
It's also worth noting that these are only examples and are by no means the average price or maximum price of each category. Prices are also affected by the unit's condition and the sale's location. I've sourced information from Reverb, Vintage King, Sonic Circus and eBay.
With that, let's get into it:
Vintage Microphones
Vintage tube microphones are highly sought-after for their warm character and “vintage” performance. Many of the top vintage microphones have reached legendary status among audiophiles and industry professionals, and so they are also seen as symbols of professionalism in high-end recording studios.
The Neumann U 47 (1950s) has a recent price history between $7,000 at the low end and $20,000 USD at the high end.
The AKG C 12 (1950s) has a recent price history between $11,000 at the low end and $17,000 USD at the high end.
The RCA 77-DX (1950s) has a recent price history between $1,100 at the low end and $2,500 USD at the high end.
The Neumann U 47 is featured in the following My New Microphone articles:
•
• Top 11 Best Microphones For Recording Vocals
• Top 12 Best Vintage Microphones (And Their Best Clones)
The AKG C 12 is featured in the following My New Microphone articles:
•
• Top 11 Best Microphones For Recording Vocals
• Top 12 Best Vintage Microphones (And Their Best Clones)
The RCA 77-DX is featured in the following My New Microphone articles:
•
• Top 12 Best Vintage Microphones (And Their Best Clones)
Neumann and AKG are featured in My New Microphone's Top 11 Best Microphone Brands You Should Know And Use.Neumann and AKG
Vintage Amplifiers
Vintage amplifiers are also sought-after for their sonic performance and reliability. Vintage amplifiers in the consumer market will often be serviceable with simpler designs and replaceable components. Professional-grade amplifiers (like those mentioned below) may be more difficult to service if needed, as some original high-end components have been discontinued.
The Marantz Model 2 (1950s) has recently been priced at $15,000 USD.
The McIntosh MC275 Original (1960s) has a recent price history between $5,000 and $12,500 USD.
The Pioneer M-22 Class A (1970s) has recently been priced at $2,200 USD.
McIntosh is featured in My New Microphone's Top 11 Best Power Amplifier Brands In The World.McIntosh
Vintage Receivers
Receivers are practically all consumer-grade devices, offering amplification and radio transmission in a single unit. However, the best of the best receivers can cost a notable amount of money. This is true of modern receivers and also of vintage receivers.
Consider the examples below.
The Sansui QR-6500 (1970s) has recently been recently listed at $2,500 USD.
The Fisher 800-C (1960s) has recently been recently listed at $2,500 USD.
The Yamaha CR-1000 (1970s) has recently been priced at $1,400 USD.
Yamaha is featured in My New Microphone's Top 11 Best AV Receiver Brands In The World.Yamaha
Vintage Guitar Amplifiers
As a guitarist, I know firsthand how solid-state amps just don't perform like tube amps. The non-linear response of tube amps allows for beautifully natural tone changes as levels increase.
Though there are certainly plenty of modern tube amplifier options, some vintage guitar amplifiers stand out amongst the rest and demand a higher price tag for their superb sound.
The Hiwatt DR201 200-watt (1970s) has recently been priced at $7,000 USD.
The Fender Vintage Vibroverb 40-watt (1960s) has recently been priced at $5,800 USD.
The Marshall Super PA JMP Plexi 100-watt (1960s) has recently been priced at $4,800 USD.
Fender and Marshall are featured in My New Microphone's Top 11 Best Guitar Amplifier Brands In The World.Fender and Marshall
Vintage Audio Processors
In the early days of electrical recording, most processing was done in a recording console. As studios began expanding, external processors started to show up in the market, offering superb effects/processes with flexible routing capabilities.
Though there are plenty of audio effects, let's focus our attention on vintage compressors, equalizers and general audio effects.
Microphone Preamplifiers
Many of the best microphone preamps are included in vintage consoles.
However, as studio technology advanced, more about more standalone preamplifiers were manufactured to keep up with the modular trend and the need for different tools in the studio.
A pair of EMI REDD 47 (1980s) has recently been priced at $55,000 USD.
A pair of Telefunken TAB V76m (1960s) has recently been priced at $19,500 USD.
A pair of Neve 1058 (1960s) has recently been priced at $20,000. USD.
AMS Neve is featured in My New Microphone's Top 13 Best Microphone Preamplifier Brands In The World.AMS Neve
Compressors
Many vintage compressors have reached legendary status. Many of them offer historic feats of design and engineering.
There are several types of compression circuits, and many of the high-priced vintage compressors on the market were the first units to offer their respective types.
The Teletronix LA-2a Original (1950s) has recently been priced at $11,000 USD.
The UREI 1176 (1970s) has recently been priced at $5,700 USD.
The Gates STA-Level Tube Compressor (1950s) has recently been priced at $4,000 USD and $4,600 USD.
Equalizers
Vintage equalizers are quite a bit simpler than our modern digital, fully parametric EQs. They are cherished for their simplicity, overall performance, and sound.
The Pultec EQP-1 and MEQ-5 pair (1950s) have recently been priced at $18,500 USD.
The Neve 2064 (1960s) has recently been priced at $3,000 USD.
The API 550B (1960s) has recently been priced at $1,000 USD.
Pultec, Neve and API are featured in My New Microphone's Top 11 Best Audio Equalizer Brands In The World.Pultec, Neve and API
Effects
Vintage effects units are often cherished for their nostalgia and sonic characteristics that are difficult to recreate.
While many older effects units have been forgotten and replaced by superior modern designs, a select few have solidified their name in the lore of audio production.
The Lexicon 224 (1970s) has recently been priced at $5,000 USD.
The Eventide SP2016 (1980s) has recently been priced at $3,800 USD.
The Roland RE-201 Space Echo (1970s) has a recent price history between $1,700 USD and $2,200 USD.
Vintage Mixing Consoles
Though mixing consoles are certainly being built for modern-day engineers, they have certainly fallen in popularity among mid-level and amateur audio enthusiasts. The digital age makes it possible to achieve incredible results from a laptop.
The size and price of consoles are simply too great for most people in today's world.
However, for those who want vintage consoles, there is a market. Many of these consoles are still serviceable, and some offer incredible history (like the EMI TG12345 of Abbey Road Studios).
The size, functionality and price of vintage consoles (and modern consoles) vary greatly from unit to unit.
At the high end, the custom-made EMI TG12345 MK IV (1970s) mixing console sold at auction in 2017 for a whopping $1,807,500 USD.
The Neve 8038 (1970s) has recently been priced at $260,000 USD.
The Studer 189 (1970s) has recently been priced at $22,000 USD.
Most sellers of such vintage consoles do not have a direct asking price. Negotiation of these high-ticket items is commonplace.
Studer is featured in My New Microphone's Top 10 Best Live Sound Mixing Board/Console Brands.Studer
Why Do Some People Prefer Vintage Audio Equipment?
It is often believed that the vintage versions of these brands are better than the models of today because they have the following qualities:
- Reliability
- Build quality
- Sound quality
- Serviceability
All of these brands are great for anyone looking to execute the perfect sound and performance with their music.
Modern Alternatives To Vintage Gear
We've discussed why [some] vintage gear is so highly sought-after, what makes it so expensive and some examples of price points. The laws of supply and demand play a big role in driving these prices.
However, supply and demand have also brought forth an entirely new market of vintage clones and, more recently, digital plugin emulations.
So, if you can't find or afford the original models, you may be able to find soundalikes. If you're willing to settle for something besides the original, then recreations/clones/soundalikes are a fantastic choice.
Many are spot on in matching the sonic character and performance of the original, and many even offer additional functionality.
As discussed, these soundalikes can be designed as hardware or software. Let's revisit the categories and examples from the section Examples Of Vintage Audio Equipment With Asking Prices.
- Vintage microphones
- Vintage amplifiers
- Vintage receivers
- Vintage guitar amplifiers
- Vintage audio processors
- Microphone preamplifiers
- Compressors
- Equalizers
- Effects
- Vintage mixing consoles
Modern Versions Of Vintage Microphones
The market of vintage microphone clones has some impressive models.
Modern versions (clones or approximates) of the Neumann U 47 include:
- ADK Berlin-47 T
- ADK Z-47
- Advanced Audio CM47
- Bock Audio 47
- FLEA 47 NEXT
- JZ Vintage V47
- Lawson L47MP MKII
- Neumann U 47 FET
- Pearlman TM-47
- Peluso 22 47
- Telefunken U 47
- Warm Audio WA-47
- Wunder Audio CM7
Modern versions (clones or approximates) of the AKG C 12 include:
- ADK Vienna-12 T
- ADK Z-12
- Advanced Audio CM12SE
- AKG C 12 VR
- Cathedral Guitar C 12 GC
- FLEA 12
- JZ Vintage V12
- Peluso P12
- Telefunken C-12
- Wunder Audio CM12
The RCA 77-DX has no clones.
Modern Versions Of Vintage Amplifiers
Vintage amplifiers generally won't have modern “clones,” though manufacturing of some vintage models has been carried on to the modern day.
The McIntosh MC275 is an example of an amplifier that has been in production for many decades, adapting to modern needs as necessary.
Modern Versions Of Vintage Receivers
Being on the consumer market, there aren't many, if any, recreations of vintage amplifiers since there aren't really any “legendary status” receivers.
Though technology has evolved from these vintage designs and is in many ways based on the original designs, we won't find modern clones of high-end vintage receivers such as the aforementioned Sansui QR-650, Fisher 800-C and Yamaha CR-1000.
Modern Versions Of Vintage Guitar Amplifiers
Like vintage amplifiers, vintage guitar amps aren't generally cloned, though certain design aspects are certainly carried forward.
Some models have had great success with continued manufacturing. Some others have been modelled into guitar amplifier simulation software.
For example, the Fender Vintage Vibroverb has been modelled in the following gear:
- IK Multimedia Fender Collection for AmpliTube software
- Positive Grid Bias Amp 2
- Strymon's Iridium Amp & IR Cab simulation pedal
Modern Versions Of Vintage Audio Processors
The broad category of “audio processors” is teeming with modern recreations, descendants and models of vintage gear.
From direct copies to software versions to “inspired-by” type products, you'll pretty much be able to find well-known vintage effects units/processors in modern packages (whether hardware or software).
Let's get into the aforementioned vintage gear to see whether there are modern versions.
Modern Versions Of Vintage Microphone Preamplifiers
Modern hardware versions/recreations of the EMI REDD 47 include:
- Hardware
Modern plugin versions/recreations of the Telefunken TAB V76m include:
Modern Versions Of Vintage Compressors
Modern versions/recreations of the Teletronix LA-2a include:
- Hardware
- Plugins
Modern versions/recreations of the UREI 1176 include:
- Hardware
- Plugins
Modern versions/recreations of the Gates STA-Level Tube Compressor include:
Modern Versions Of Vintage Equalizers
Modern versions/recreations of the Pultec EQP-1 and MEQ-5 include:
- Hardware
- Plugins
Modern versions/recreations of the API 550B include:
- Plugins
Modern Versions Of Vintage Effects Units
Modern versions/recreations of the Lexicon 224 include:
- Hardware
- Plugins
Modern versions/recreations of the Eventide SP2016 include:
- Plugins
Modern versions/recreations of the Roland RE-201 Space Echo include:
- Hardware
- Plugins
Modern Versions Of Vintage Consoles
Most vintage consoles and, indeed, most modern recording consoles are custom-made or have limited production runs. Modern functionality, notably the need for compatibility with digital audio workstations and audio plugins, is practically a must-have with new consoles.
With so many components required to build a console, recreating vintage consoles with exact specifications can be difficult. However, with custom builds, it's certainly possible.
That being said, channel strip emulations from legendary consoles are quite popular in the plugin market.
Modelling real-world vintage consoles and programming software to recreate the original performance has become a viable business model for plugin manufacturers and an affordable way for engineers to get their favourite strips without forking out tens or hundreds of thousands (or even millions) of dollars.
Modern gear inspired by the EMI TG12345 includes:
- Hardware
- Plugins
Modern gear inspired by the Neve 8068 includes:
Vintage Or Modern Audio? You Decide
Now that you have all of the answers you're looking for, it is time for you to decide which audio equipment will be right for you. Use the knowledge that you gained from this article and let that determine if you'll stick with the vintage audio, opt for a modern recreation, or move on to something newer in design.
Have any thoughts, questions or concerns? I invite you to add them to the comment section at the bottom of the page! I'd love to hear your insights and inquiries and will do my best to add to the conversation. Thanks!Leave A Comment!
This article has been approved in accordance with theMy New Microphone Editorial Policy.
