I have this beautiful, rare preamplifier 
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I think most discrete components (Caps, Diodes, Transistors, Resistors) can be replaced these days with similar. It’s the bespoke components that may be an issue. Thankfully it’s the discrete components that are most likely to fail I believe. As surface mounted based gear becomes vintage, who can say?
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Surface mounted gear will become obsolete. Naim should be congratulated that they still don’t use them.
I have this theory, based on some reading I did a very long time ago but I don’t remember the science behind it.
I think the copper used in the wiring sounds best after decades of use. Eventually the conductivity does diminish but I think the best sound is achieved after at least a decade of use.
There are brands that adopt this theory such as Abbas esoteric audio. They use vintage copper rather than new copper because they believe it sounds better.
I often think this is why vintage gear has a distinct sound to it. Another brand that tries to offer the vintage sound by a completely different method is Duelund. They have cables that are tinned copper and then soaked in oil.
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I’m very sure I could move my pots 8 Nac52
Fast and at a profit 
Never going to happen.
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I’m not so sure. I sold my very late production NAC 52/Supercap and nap 135s about 3/4 years ago. IIRC £800 less than I had bought them for. And this is my point. NAC 52/SC/135 is such a thrilling amplification setup and I don’t know the figures but I imagine they didn’t sell in the tens of thousands and yet they don’t go up in value. Strange no?
I picked up a mint 401 in SME plinth and 3009 arm for £100 year 2000 ish at the nec vintage audio fair, now worth much more than I let it go for to a mate.
Perhaps thats why audio companies release special limited editions like the nait 50, Musical Fidelity etc to give them more cache appeal.
Some vintage kit clearly goes up in value, lets not also forget there is lots of medico gear made over the years.
Where I live here in NZ, there are few to none on the local market, so an up to date serviced units can fetch reasonable money, mind you now that Focal have changed things around as far as local support I guess that dream is going to end.
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snap!
lol ok I stand corrected. What I should be saying is that they don’t use surface mounted parts on their high end gear I.e. classic series and statement series.
They certainly do. All these have microcontrollers in them which are surface mount as are various components related to those on the control boards.
They do try and avoid them in the analogue signal path.
Either way, both discrete and surface mount parts can be replaced, it just takes a different type of skill. Hifi is no different from vintage cars. Left to rot, they aren’t worth much of anything. Cared for and restored, they can be worth quite a lot.
But being vintage in and of itself isn’t enough. It has to be a worthwhile bit of kit. No one wants a mint condition 1987 Triumph Acclaim. A Lamborghini of the same era however is another matter. Age is also a factor. The point at which something becomes “vintage” is somewhat fuzzy. Prior to that they need to pass through just being “old” (not worth much) and then enter “vintage” and be regarded. Which also may not happen until they are re-evaluated after some decades.
I have gotten rid of a few clapped out “old” bits of junk that in hindsight became “vintage”.
I was lucky. I bought my Garrard 301 when it was in the “old” phase and under appreciated. Once it hit “vintage classic” the prices rocketed!
In the Naim world the NAC72 always seems more loved than its successor the NAC102. The secondhand prices now seem to have crossed over with the 72 worth more.
Surface mount is generally used by Naim where it is at its best - i.e. with digital circuits. For pure analogue, through-hole is still preferred, where space and budget permit, and componentry is still available.
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In the far east people tend to think high quality SQ of HiFi=warm, smooth, soft, slow, no attacks, along with all the myths around old caps and valves. That’s why LS3/5a got its place.
Perhaps, at least in the UK, from what I can tell, nobody is spending any money on new, s/h or vintage…….
ATB, J