What’s Up With Monster Receiver Pricing?

[JohnVF]

In this post, I’m going to make some very broad generalizations, and no one needs to tell me about their favorite behemoth as a counterpoint.

I’ve had a mountain of vintage monster receivers in the last 15 years. I think they’re way overhyped and that the sale prices I’ve seen in the last two years are clinically insane.

If you like the look of vintage receivers, go for one in a secondary system that pushes fewer watts. That way, you won’t have so much money (or potential money) wrapped up in it. Or, buy just a vintage tuner, and most of your friends won’t even be able to tell.

There’s so much vintage gear that runs rings around monster receivers. And so much “used” gear that runs rings around vintage.

Of course, if I could find a line on another SA-7150, I might change my tune…

There's an HK 560 on ebay for about $300 that I'd like just as much as my Citation Receiver as I think its prettier, its smaller, and it'd be fine for my 3rd system. But I just HAD TO HAVE the Citation to complete my quest, from when I collected receivers. It was like a video game that you had to finish just because of the time you put in, even though you weren't really enjoying it much at the end.

I have to say, I think its both SUPER cool and I'm also glad its hiding in my wife's system that I don't have to listen to much.

 

[mhardy6647]

You gave me a heart attack. I thought Monster Cables was now making receivers.

The problem with those would be Monster's proprietary Turbo cabinetry technology. You'd stick one into a shelf on your component rack,and that sucka'd fit so tight that you'd break stuff if you ever tried to get it out again.

 

[fiddlefye]

There's an HK 560 on ebay for about $300 that I'd like just as much as my Citation Receiver as I think its prettier, its smaller, and it'd be fine for my 3rd system. But I just HAD TO HAVE the Citation to complete my quest, from when I collected receivers. It was like a video game that you had to finish just because of the time you put in, even though you weren't really enjoying it much at the end.

I have to say, I think its both SUPER cool and I'm also glad its hiding in my wife's system that I don't have to listen to much.

I really like the HK560 in our kitchen system. It looks nice, sounds just fine for the purpose and the tuner in it deals with the multipath issues in that location far better than anything else I've run there - a huge consideration. Most of the other receivers/tuners I've tried couldn't get a signal in stereo, but the HK560 seems to be immune for some reason.

 

[prime minister]

I'll trade it for the Sony 808es . We can go back to ur status quo.

Hmmmmm

 

[prime minister]

There's an HK 560 on ebay for about $300 that I'd like just as much as my Citation Receiver as I think its prettier, its smaller, and it'd be fine for my 3rd system. But I just HAD TO HAVE the Citation to complete my quest, from when I collected receivers. It was like a video game that you had to finish just because of the time you put in, even though you weren't really enjoying it much at the end.

I have to say, I think its both SUPER cool and I'm also glad its hiding in my wife's system that I don't have to listen to much.

Ugh. I had one of those (hk 560) and I still feel it was the homeliest pieces of audio equipment I ever owned. I had the 505 also, and sold it because I couldn’t stand to look at them. I think, in all of my time in audio, those were the only Pieces of gear I ever sold because I absolutely hated How they look.

 

[JohnVF]

Hmmmmm

It’s funny now that you’re half heartedly encouraging it I’m inside going “no no no I want the cool one with shiny buttons and lights!”

 

[JohnVF]

Ugh. I had one of those (hk 560) and I still feel it was the homeliest pieces of audio equipment I ever owned. I had the 505 also, and sold it because I couldn’t stand to look at them. I think, in all of my time in audio, those were the only Pieces of gear I ever sold because I absolutely hated How they look.

I don’t know why I like this series so much but I do. It just has the Scandinavian modern look, even though it’s not. This is the 670.

 

[mpholland]

I traded my 2270 for a McIntosh MA-6100 years ago. I still have the 6100 which mates well with the MR-74 out in the garage. I also have a 2245 which sounds better to me than the the 2270 did. The 2270 was beautiful in the pristine cherry cabinet I made for it though.

 

[Muddskipper]

I don’t know why I like this series so much but I do. It just has the Scandinavian modern look, even though it’s not. This is the 670.

View attachment 42939

 

[Muddskipper]

I traded my 2270 for a McIntosh MA-6100 years ago. I still have the 6100 which mates well with the MR-74 out in the garage. I also have a 2245 which sounds better to me than the the 2270 did. The 2270 was beautiful in the pristine cherry cabinet I made for it though.

I must be missing something here. I have a Pioneer SA-9800 and just checked it out on EBay.

Vintage Pioneer SA-9800 Amplifier Face Plate - Good Condition - Extremely Rare!​

Pre-Owned
$349.95
or Best Offer
+$35.00 shipping
⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣

That doesn't seem like a lot to me.

I just scrolled a bunch more and noted this one, along with many others, for under $100. This one is under $0.30/watt. I can't tell if that's RMS or not, but that's pretty inexpensive. And that's IF you want to BUY NOW! and not bid.

VINTAGE Technics SA-EX400 270 Watt Receiver STEREO​

Pre-Owned
$48.34
or Best Offer
+$29.68 shipping


What am I missing?

I hate asking you guys that kind of question.
⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣

 

[Audionut]

I had this rare little fella. To think I sold it for 1/4 what it’s worth now!
I sold it because the Mcintosh integrated I had sounded just a little bit better. This unit was definitely more fun though, with all its feat and buttons/knobs and meters…

 

[jarrod2750]

We've had a 9090db on our CL for $2850 that's been sitting there for months. Same with a regular 9090 that sits there for $1250. I bought the one I had for $300 back in 2006 or 2007 from a store, serviced, and it had sat on the shelf there for some time. Times have changed!

Thank Craigslist ad is a scam. If the poster‘s name is Dave, just google his full name. He’s duped a lot of people over the years!

 

[JohnVF]

Thank Craigslist ad is a scam. If the poster‘s name is Dave, just google his full name. He’s duped a lot of people over the years!

Yeah I think he was scammin' with a reel to reel around the same time. I've no interest in expensive 9090dbs, so Dave can stuff it.

 

[Deli]

Yeah I think he was scammin' with a reel to reel around the same time. I've no interest in expensive 9090dbs, so Dave can stuff it.

 

[mhardy6647]

(showing my age -- at least in terms of intellectual maturity)

 

[JoeThePop]

I've noticed lower wattage vintage receivers are mostly still in the non-stratospheric price range. Except for some specific brands/models.
I've seen some locally and other on-line sites.

 

[mhardy6647]

Well, there's always that 1970s (and even slightly beyond) "second tier" -- which aren't always so second tier in actuality, but they don't say Marantz or Pioneer or Sansui -- or even Technics or Kenwood on 'em, so they are relegated to farther (or is that further*) to the back of the bus.

I think of,e.g. (and in no particular order):
Hitachi
Nikko
Toshiba
AKAI
AIWA
Sanyo
Sherwood
H.H. Scott
MCS

... oh, and there were others that I am sure I'll think of as soon as I hit Post reply.
I should probably just go upstairs and see what's on the shelves.


_______________________
* Or perhaps even Furthur

 

[mhardy6647]

Does that guy on the top, two away from Kesey, with the star on his chest have a cell phone?
That would explain his furtive demeanor as his photo was being taken...

 

[4.5]

New guy here: The Golden Age of solid state monster receivers peaked in 1979 (IMO). I was 19 then, but i think kids who were as young as 9 or 10 also lusted after those monsters (maybe their family had one), and they are now 52 years old (on the young side). Those of us who were kids and young adults then, can now afford to buy them. Our desire to collect that which we couldn't afford then, but can now, is the driving force behind the escalation of TOTL monster prices. I don't see any reason for that to change until the burgeoning collectors age out (30+ years). In the meantime, there are young people who are seeing their parents/relatives acquire these beautiful monsters, now (continuing the first cycle).

I am 63 and continue to add to my collection. Unless we have another 2008-like recession, I don't see the escalation in vintage audio prices slowing.

 

[Gene_StL]

I always admired the Pioneer SX-1250 back in the day. But the current prices are pretty insane. And of course by the time you can afford to buy one , you no longer can move it without injuring yourself.