OK, good question and this requires some understanding of how manufacturing and the ethos of manufacturers has changed. Put simply, nothing you can buy now for sensible money is made anywhere near like your old hi-fi equipment. Even the bottom-end older stuff is better made than most newer stuff now. The clincher is that the older stuff sounds better too.

Your surely thinking “But what about all the improvements in technology..?” There have been no new circuits, no significant new parts or technology in audio for decades. New technology in audio gear is simply around materials engineering – in other words, how to make something that looks similar, but is more cheaply built, saving money.

If ever in doubt, ask yourself this: how many items of audio gear that you buy now, will be working in 5 years time..? I regularly service and repair equipment that has only just come in for its first service in 30 YEARS!

Sadly, I get this question all the time and the answer is no. Why then would a hi-fi salesperson tell you this? Simple, they want you to throw away your perfectly good turntable that just needs a little service, and sell you a new deck – it’s how they make money!

Can you imagine walking into a hi-fi store, asking the question and them saying: “Well no sir, I recommend you keep your older, better made turntable, it’s a much better option that this new deck with wooden platter!” And yes, you read that right, the cheapest new decks use a plastic or wooden platter…

I’ve never heard an older deck that doesn’t beat cheap newer stuff in terms of sound quality, once cleaned, serviced, lubed. Turntables from the 70’s and 80’s were made during the golden age of analog and turntable engineering. Nothing affordable is made like this now.

Actually no, usually the reverse is true, even with digital. Older equipment usually sounds better, but don’t just take my word for it, go and listen to some older gear and compare it. I do this every day and am still amazed by how good some of the older gear sounds. Much of this comes down to the use of better parts and fewer cost saving techniques and materials in older equipment.

Yep…

Liquid Audio is my passion. It is my hi-fi service and repair business, specialising in delivering premium quality service and repairs to classic and vintage hi-fi stereo equipment. In particular, I specialise in turntables, amplifier and CD players, plus the rejuvenation and restoration of classic hi-fi gear.

I’m driven by some very simple ethics and understandings:

• I work ethically and honestly.
• I hate waste and throwing out perfectly good gear that just needs servicing.
• Attention to detail is everything in audio – just using the right type of capacitor, for example in a critical audio circuit, can positively influence the sound of that circuit.
• I have a lifelong background in science and working scientifically and believe in doing things once, properly.
• I am passionate about older equipment and how good it can sound, compared with new gear, especially when given a little TLC.
• I actively avoid audio BS and instead focus on what really improves the performance of audio equipment.
• My driving force is to work with precision and attention to detail that others simply don’t have. It brings customers back to me again and again.

Perhaps because you are as passionate about hi-fi as I am and you want someone like me to look after you and your gear. Maybe you want the best possible result for your hard-earned dollar. Investing in a Liquid Audio service, restoration or modification will give your gear some of the best TLC available, anywhere.

My core business involves servicing, repairing and restoring classic and vintage hi-fi equipment from the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and 2000’s.

Most classic and vintage hi-fi stereo gear, from around 1970 onwards. I specialize in turntables, but do lots of work on vintage amplifiers and turntables and have perhaps the only proper setup in WA for aligning FM stereo tuners.

Most stuff that isn’t actually hi-fi gear, like radiograms and stereograms, three-in-one systems, tape decks, home cinema gear, toasters, video recorders, kettles etc!

Carine, Perth, Western Australia. Contact me for a more precise location!

Easy, the fastest way to check my current inventory is to visit my For Sale page.

Easy, use the contact form form to reach out to me – Mike, anytime!

My mission is to get your classic hi-fi equipment working perfectly. To achieve this, I offer a complete service for your gear. I don’t operate a retail store, so I don’t generally sell parts to the public, unless they are part of a service or repair.

I will happily supply and fit these parts to your deck as part of a service that will maximize the benefits of fitting those parts.

No, and if you want the work done properly you might want to avoid anyone who reckons they can!

That depends, but probably not. Often, audio gear will exhibit faults that cannot be understood until digging a little deeper. I generally need to inspect equipment properly to be able to make sensible estimates. Some service costs are standardised, ask me about those.

No, I’m a completely independent repairer, with no particular brand affiliations and nothing particular to sell you, except work done carefully.