Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle: Vintage Music System Edition

January 2, 2020 6:06 AM

What are options for finding new homes for vintage music system components short of discarding them in municipal electronics recycling facilities? Details below the fold.

The equipment in question is mid-1980s vintage, clean, fully operational and in original packaging:

Onkyo
Integra T-4015 (B)
Tuner

Onkyo
Integra Model T-8015 (B)
Amplifier

Sony
Model PS-LX410
Turntable

I did some web surfing, and made a few inquiries of parties advertising the purchase of vintage equipment (e.g., www.stereobuyers.com, www.theoldstereoguy.com). Stereobuyers.com seems focused on higher end equipment and took a pass; the others never responded. I also contacted Goodwill and Habitat for Humanity; neither responded.

I'm moving house and taking my high end system with me, and just don't have the use (or space) for these bits. But I would rather not toss them if it can be avoided.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

posted by cool breeze to Grab Bag (12 answers total)

Best answer: For Goodwill or something like that I'd simply take the equipment to the closest facility and drop it off. They'll put it out on the floor and sell it, but they're probably only motivated to send people out to collect things they know they can get a good price for or large lots.

You could try eBay, there's a bunch of older equipment on sale - not sure how quickly it'd move. Consider selling it as a set, that may expedite things. Your Tuner is listed by one seller for about $110, turntable for about $130.

Depending on how long you have until you move and where you are, etc., you could also print up a little flyer and put it up in local record stores. My town has a handful of places where you can buy new and used vinyl, I imagine putting up a little flyer in those stores would help find a home for your equipment with somebody who likes vintage stuff. A friend of mine does vinyl exclusively and went to some trouble assembling a set of vintage (not high-end, AFAIK) stereo equipment. I doubt she's unique in wanting to do that.
posted by jzb at 6:33 AM on January 2, 2020 [2 favorites]

Most thrift stores will take the amps but possibly not the turntable.

If you post them for free on Craigslist, someone will scoop them up, but with the usual flakiness of Craigslist free transactions and they may go to someone that will horde them or try to flip them and then toss them when they fail to move.

If you want them to have the best shot of being actually used, putting up a flyer at a store that sells vinyl or a local University (especially near the music and art departments) may find them a loving home.

Keep any asking price to a minimum - they have some nominal value as you can see from eBay but will take a very long time to sell for anything other than a few bucks. They aren't terribly notable in a way that will cause someone to be searching for them and capacitors fade with time (especially electrolytic ones) in ways that will affect their sound and/or eventually cause a failure and they're not likely to be worth the bench time to swap them out.
posted by Candleman at 6:40 AM on January 2, 2020 [1 favorite]

Seconding jzb that showing up to Goodwill or Habitat in person with the equipment would be the way to go if you are willing to just donate it.
posted by soundguy99 at 7:07 AM on January 2, 2020 [1 favorite]

That seems like some very nice gear - some hipster would be very happy to get their hands on it.

Here are a few suggestions:

Record stores that sell vinyl sometimes sell used stereo gear - I unloaded a bunch of vintage stuff at one for not much $$$ but they were happy to take the gear.

I would avoid Craigslist free as it is a massive waste of time, but I have had success with a local Facebook group (closed and moderated) for free items. It's basically the only reason I have Facebook.

+1 to suggestions to do a physical drop off at a thrift store or Goodwill.
posted by sol at 7:34 AM on January 2, 2020 [1 favorite]

Best answer: There's a growing market for vintage audio gear. If you're looking for top dollar (or even middle dollar), look at instagram accounts that focus on vintage gear, like retrosound77.

Some ideas, from least to most effort:

1. see which of their hashtags are most popular and post your sale pics with those hashtags
2. tag the account when you post your sales pics; they might repost them to their followers!
3. message the account directly to find out their advertising rates, where they would likely repost your equipment
4. create instagram ads targeting people who follow that account

Love,

someone who really wants their late-80s component stereo back
posted by homodachi at 10:33 AM on January 2, 2020 [2 favorites]

Give them away or sell them on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. Or offerup/letgo if you use those. Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist (electronics section) are free and easy to use.

Don't give them to Goodwill or a similar store if you want them to find a good home--many thrift shops just bulk out electronics as scrap, or toss them if they think they're not working.
posted by Slinga at 11:08 AM on January 2, 2020

If you don't mind a little hassle, you could try offering them up to whoever wants to pay shipping (or is local) on the vintageaudio subreddit.
posted by snuffleupagus at 11:26 AM on January 2, 2020 [1 favorite]

Maybe give a weight estimate, too, for anyone who'll pay to ship them.
posted by dustpuppy at 12:08 PM on January 2, 2020

Best answer: Bit of a long shot, but if there are any libraries (public or academic) in your area with a media lab, they might be interested in the turntable at least.

Source: self, I run a media-rescue lab in a library.
posted by humbug at 2:50 PM on January 2, 2020 [1 favorite]

Vintage stereo gear should be worth something (to all those kids with Crosleys who are ready for the next level). Advice above to try to flog it at a downtown hipster shop that sells vinyl, ask them about it. Otherwise, go to pawn shops or antique markets.
posted by ovvl at 5:14 PM on January 2, 2020

If they are tested and working, say so. A lot of equipment has been in the attic and the lubrication has dried out or whatever, and it doesn't necessarily work.
posted by theora55 at 9:52 AM on January 3, 2020 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Thank you for all your ideas!

With so much to do before this move, I'm tempted to take them to Goodwill and be done with it. (When I called again the other day, they answered. They won't take speakers but they will take the electronics.)

That said, I don't have easy access to vinyl / hipter / college town shops here in Northern Westchester County, NY, but in Asheville, NC, where I'm going, I just might, it being a funky, quirky type of place with colleges and such like. Maybe I should take them with me, and deal with them there?

However, @homodachi: "someone who really wants their late-80s component stereo back": Do you want them?

Thanks again guys!
posted by cool breeze at 2:05 PM on January 4, 2020