Sometimes they're made of better quality materials, but more often than not it's all about the nostalgia factor. I use a lot of old equipment because it either belonged to a loved one, or it reminds me of someone or of a happy time in my childhood. That's why I'm currently rocking out with some humongous floor speakers that were made by Zenith. They get pretty hot, and they look out of place, but since they were my late father's it makes me happy to use them.