Questions regarding vintage SUTs

[Lautreamont]

Dear all

Thanks once again for letting me join these forums. There's a lot of wisdom and knowledge on these boards and I really appreciate it.

I have been doing some research and found some interesting and passionate people (Stefano Bertoncello for instance https://twogoodears.blogspot.com/) that use blogs, YouTube or other websites to talk about their HiFi journey.

A common thing that I landed upon is that some of these passionate and very wise HiFi-people (it seems that some of them have devoted their lifes - and economy - for the search of perfect sound) are very fond of old, vintage gear. I tried to make a small list of vintage SUTs that are being mentioned for their astonishing sound:

Peerless 4685
Western Electric 618B
The Head TX4
Altec 4722
Altec 15095

Now my question might be silly, but some of these SUTs are available used for a reasonable price. Modern high end HiFi has astronomical prices whereas these SUTs might be easier to finance.
Can these old SUTS - in the right combination - compete with modern SUTs? If I were to choose an Altex 4722 for my Denon 103 cartridge versus some of Audio Notes fine SUTs?

I will be upgrading my Project Phono Tube Box S2 anyway, so it could be fun to see if there were some vintage alternatives.

 

[Peak Mike]

Can only comment on the Altec 4722, which in short if you are willing to pay more you can do better.
I settled on some Hasimoto HM7s which seem a sensible balance for real world budgets.

 

[bonzo75]

I have The Head TX4. I might sell it in a couple of months, at same price I bought it. Stefano prefers it to all the vintage SUTs including WE 618a and partridge.

 

[Lautreamont]

I have The Head TX4. I might sell it in a couple of months, at same price I bought it. Stefano prefers it to all the vintage SUTs including WE 618a and partridge.

What is your experience with it? Why is The Head preferred to high end SUTs by Audio Note, Phasemation or alike?

I never heard it. Would it match a Denon 103 or the Ortofon SPUs?

 

[Lautreamont]

Can only comment on the Altec 4722, which in short if you are willing to pay more you can do better.
I settled on some Hasimoto HM7s which seem a sensible balance for real world budgets.

Thanks. Can you please elaborate?

 

[bonzo75]

What is your experience with it? Why is The Head preferred to high end SUTs by Audio Note, Phasemation or alike?

That is Stefano’s (the author of the blog you linked) preference. Consolidated audio silver, phasemation T2000, and Slagle Silver are the modern SUT sv that are the one to beat but considerably more expensive than the head

 

[Peak Mike]

I found the Altec 4722 were somewhat rolled off compared to more modern units and missing a lot of hf information.

For stereo I preferred Hasimoto units and find their flexibility useful. Slagle and tribute both well worth considering and at a similar level. Ive not heard Consolidated or Phasemation.

 

[Lautreamont]

I have The Head TX4. I might sell it in a couple of months, at same price I bought it. Stefano prefers it to all the vintage SUTs including WE 618a and partridge.

I'm very interested in buying yours!

 

[bonzo75]

I'm very interested in buying yours!

I buy things for compares and let them go. I will be testing mine out with the Dava field coil cart at a friend’s place in a few weeks when in get round to it, and will PM you. It was 1500 euro including the shipping

 

[Scott Naylor]

bonzo75, when the time comes would you post a for sale ad here so others might have a shot at it as well? Many thanks