Been following prices on vintage equipment over the last few months. Asking prices continue to be frothy, and seemingly, rather ridiculous for the Pio/Marantz/Sansui silver faces. But I've also noticed this: pieces don't seem to be selling, and the increases seem to be stopping. I've also noticed that prices on the next level; Kenwood, Onkyo, Sony, Yamaha, etc, where prices seem more reasonable, are also not trading, unless its an auction with no reserve and ends at a price seemingly lower than what we've experienced recently. Seeing more best offer options, and no offers being submitted. Many auctions end with no offers, and consequently, no trades.
Also noticed the same thing with turntables. Some eye-popping asks on Denons, Yamahas, etc. And the tables are not selling.
Lastly, R2R asking prices for "last produced" models has gotten positively silly. Saw a Pioneer RT 909 with a $2,500 number put on it. Would be very surprised if it sells anywhere close to that.
Have prices peaked? Is it seasonal as we move into the holidays, and spending focus is not on vintage gear? Have the boomers who have accumulated multiple pieces of many units finally reached a saturation point where they may no longer be net buyers, but realize liquidation/lightening up makes sense?
$1,000 tables and $2,000-$2,500 R2Rs are rather expensive to operate and maintain, let alone, buying the source material (albums both old and new as well as pre-recorded reels) and consumables (blank reel tape) to make sense just to listen to music. There are many more economical ways to listen, and certainly there is more to it than just $$$ for those who choose this route, but at what point are the dollars just too much when compared with digital storage and streaming? Particularly for potential new entrants into a market niche? And as digital quality continues to improve, the pricing continues to go down. Sure, other models and vintages can be had for less, but price pressure on the TOTL and hi-demand models will translate across---and down---the price spectrum and pressure the mid and bottom line units.
Are others seeing this, or is just me?
Also noticed the same thing with turntables. Some eye-popping asks on Denons, Yamahas, etc. And the tables are not selling.
Lastly, R2R asking prices for "last produced" models has gotten positively silly. Saw a Pioneer RT 909 with a $2,500 number put on it. Would be very surprised if it sells anywhere close to that.
Have prices peaked? Is it seasonal as we move into the holidays, and spending focus is not on vintage gear? Have the boomers who have accumulated multiple pieces of many units finally reached a saturation point where they may no longer be net buyers, but realize liquidation/lightening up makes sense?
$1,000 tables and $2,000-$2,500 R2Rs are rather expensive to operate and maintain, let alone, buying the source material (albums both old and new as well as pre-recorded reels) and consumables (blank reel tape) to make sense just to listen to music. There are many more economical ways to listen, and certainly there is more to it than just $$$ for those who choose this route, but at what point are the dollars just too much when compared with digital storage and streaming? Particularly for potential new entrants into a market niche? And as digital quality continues to improve, the pricing continues to go down. Sure, other models and vintages can be had for less, but price pressure on the TOTL and hi-demand models will translate across---and down---the price spectrum and pressure the mid and bottom line units.
Are others seeing this, or is just me?
