Vintage Audio Advisor

Common questions — click to ask

Why does my amp hum?

How do I bias a tube amp?

Best beginner turntable?

How to clean dirty pots?

MM vs MC — what's the difference?

Is my Marantz 2270 worth restoring?

What is VTA and does it matter?

Safe to power up an old amp I found?

How do I know if my stylus is worn?

What's the best way to store vinyl?

Advisor not configured. Open the file in a text editor, find YOUR-API-KEY-GOES-HERE, and replace it with your Anthropic API key.

Welcome. Set your experience level above, then ask me anything about vintage audio. Use the navigation buttons to find a technician, look up what gear is worth, or get a personalized system recommendation.

No question is too basic here.

Find a Vintage Audio Technician

Finding a truly qualified vintage audio tech is one of the hardest parts of this hobby. Enter your location and I'll search for vetted technicians near you, explain what to look for, and point you to the best community resources.

Your city, state, or zip code

Equipment type (optional — helps narrow results)

Searching directories and forums...

What's This Worth?

I'll search eBay sold listings, AudiogoN, Reverb, and current asking prices to give you a real-world valuation — what it actually sells for, not just what people ask for it.

What do you have? (be as specific as possible)

Condition

Your situation

Searching sold listings and current prices...

Build Your System

Answer a few questions and I'll recommend 2–3 complete system options at your budget with specific model names, what to pay, and where to find them. First — how deep do you want to go?

Building your personalized recommendations...