(VOVworld) - While audio equipment manufacturers have continuously introduced new technological devices and audio formats, some people still passionately collect vintage cassettes and tape recorders, vinyl records and turntable, and speakers made in the 1950s and 70s, as they enjoy the sound of the old equipment. Nguyen Huu Long is one of them. Many admire his collection of thousands of old-fashioned audio players of various kinds.
Nguyen Huu Long’s house lies down a small lane in Phan Dinh Giot street, in Hoang Mai district in Hanoi. It looks like a small museum of audio equipment, all produced before 1980. Pham Tuan Ngoc and other enthusiasts discuss the paraphernalia. We come here regularly to see if he has found a new item and test the combined devices to enjoy the sound. This place is for people to play, not to buy things. He has a huge range of vintage audio equipment for lovers who share his hobby.” Ngoc says.
Long’s love for vintage audio equipment since his childhood has become a central of his life. “In 1997, my grandfather gave my family cassette players. At the time, they were luxury items and I was lucky enough to get to use them. My passion grew and since then I have tried to collect as many as I can.”
Long and his friends often gather in the evening to talk about the new discoveries they have made. Nguyen Quoc Khanh, an old friend of Long shares. “I have known Long since he opened up his shop here. Our passion has come together and now has more opportunity to develop. Long is a professional collector and he has experience in recording and mixing.”
Long said that since the appearance of CDs and DVDs, vinyl records and tape players had fallen into oblivion and many old speakers, tape recorders, and amplifiers were stacked up. Later, people recognized that analogue equipment produces the most natural sound and they tried to get the old devices back into life again. Long says: “The trend to play nostalgic sounds has developed well in the last 5 years. People should have a basic knowledge but many of them have used the equipment before. I am passionately fond of nostalgic audio as the sound is so clear and precise. Analogue sound is the ultimate sound.”
In his house, Long has reserved a corner to display his old radios, which he has made a lot of effort to collect. “I restore some equipment, as some designs are very beautiful, for example the ones produced in the 1930s and 40s. They are embedded with the soul of the designers and the collectors of the past. These radios have wooded covers, and bronze or wooden controls. The speaker was made up of a beautiful piece of cloth, sometimes even hand-made cloth.”
Nguyen Van The is a photo journalist who loves to take pictures of vintage audio equipment. “I was overwhelmed by Long’s collection. I grew up with information and music from the Voice of Vietnam Radio. Radio is a great medium for connecting people. When I come here, I’m able to relive my memories. Long is a very knowledgeable collector.” The says.
Long says that nostalgic audio has become as essential in his life as his daily meal. His hobby not only excites him put puts him in touch with friends with the same passion.