Vintage audio hobby

The hobby of collecting vintage audio equipment is not simply about acquiring old devices such as amplifiers, speakers, turntables, cassette tapes, and full-range speakers. It's also a journey to find and preserve the raw, authentic sound that hasn't been digitalized.

Collecting vintage audio equipment requires passion and a deep understanding of the devices to be able to use, repair, restore, and empathize with the old music of the 1950s and 60s. Perhaps that's why the hobby of collecting vintage audio equipment seems to have few followers, but those who have fallen in love with it find it hard to give up.

In his house at 309 National Highway 9, Dong Ha Ward, Mr. Nguyen Duc Hoa is still diligently and carefully cleaning vintage audio equipment, cassette tapes, and other items.

"These devices and tapes are quite old, so they need meticulous care and strict preservation using dehumidifiers to prevent damage. For me, vintage audio equipment is not only a passion but also a memento, a source of nostalgia, and a pride associated with difficult times. Vintage sound has its own unique quality, especially the simplicity and authenticity that modern equipment can hardly replicate. For me, listening to old music through vintage audio equipment brings a sense of contemplation, relaxation, and immense refreshment," shared Mr. Nguyen Duc Hoa.

From 1999-2000, Mr. Hoa began collecting cassette players, radios manufactured in the Soviet Union, and other equipment such as Akai players and full-range speakers. "I have a lot of audio equipment manufactured between 1950 and 1963, and many before 1975, more than a third of which were made in the Soviet Union. Especially over 20 years ago, seeing my passion for music equipment and listening to music, my mother decided to sell her pig so I could buy a cassette player. That cassette player is a priceless treasure to me," Mr. Hoa shared.

Currently, Mr. Hoa and his wife run the Thao Nguyen coffee shop at 246 National Highway 9, Dong Ha Ward. Here, he displays many vintage audio equipment to create a unique atmosphere, and also serves as a place to share his passion with those who love old music.

Although he's over 70 years old this year, Mr. Bui Thac Long, residing at 138 Hung Vuong Street, Nam Dong Ha Ward, is still very healthy, agile, and full of artistic spirit. Coming from a family with a tradition in the arts, Mr. Long has been passionate about music and musical instruments since childhood. For nearly 30 years, he has been collecting antique audio equipment, deeply attached to the sounds of old music.

"To date, I've spent nearly 30 years collecting, repairing, and restoring vintage audio equipment. Currently, I have around a thousand pieces of audio equipment, including reel-to-reel records, cassette tapes, horn speaker cabinets, Akai players, full-range speakers... among them are pieces worth tens of millions of dong, manufactured by European countries, Japan, and the Soviet Union from the 1950s to the 1970s. I use a corner of my house to display my vintage audio equipment, both to satisfy my passion and as a place to chat and share experiences about the hobby of collecting vintage audio," Mr. Bui Thac Long happily said.

For those passionate about vintage audio equipment, especially Mr. Nguyen Duc Hoa and Mr. Bui Thac Long, this is not just a hobby but also a way to contemplate and preserve personal memories.

"Many of my contemporaries and I grew up during difficult times, and we were once deeply passionate about the beauty, human nature, and life philosophy in old music. Therefore, listening to modern music is often difficult for us to appreciate and doesn't suit our age. I listen to old music on vintage audio equipment to relive nostalgia and to contemplate life, which is filled with many beautiful memories from a bygone era."

"Whether music played from vintage audio equipment is good or bad depends on the individual's perception, and only those who love old music, understand and empathize with it, can recognize its beauty, and from there contemplate and preserve memories of their lives," Mr. Bui Thac Long confided.

For many years, the house at 309 National Highway 9 and the Thao Nguyen coffee shop at 246 National Highway 9, Dong Ha Ward, have become a destination for many enthusiasts of vintage audio equipment and lovers of old music.

"I have a rather unusual way of listening to music. I often admire vintage audio equipment at night and play my favorite songs. The quiet night air, free from distracting noises, makes listening to music feel wonderful. I have hundreds of vintage audio devices, but I always prioritize the cassette player my mother bought for me when she sold pigs."

"I consider it a memento, a treasure of my life. Now that my mother is no longer in this world, every time I listen to music from this cassette player, I cry because I miss her so much. Listening to music and looking at vintage audio equipment helps me slow down, reflect more on my own life, and nurture beautiful memories over the years," Nguyen Duc Hoa confided.

The vintage audio equipment collected, repaired, and restored by Mr. Nguyen Duc Hoa and Mr. Bui Thac Long is associated with many memories and a sense of pride that have lasted through the years. Nearly 30 years ago, events such as weddings, engagements, and celebrations of family and friends were incomplete without the contributions of cassette players, full-range speakers, and Akai reel-to-reel tape recorders... brought by Mr. Hoa and Mr. Long.

With these audio devices, parties and celebrations become more joyful and impressive, transforming into musical spaces that connect people of all generations to share in the festivities. Now, in the age of modern digital music, these vintage audio devices are hardly used as they once were. Their golden age has passed, fulfilling their "mission" in many celebrations, and they return to serving their owners as close companions and confidants...

Content and images: Nhon Bon

Presented by: Le Truong

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/phong-su-ky-su/202509/thu-choi-am-thanh-co-1c4684c/