View Full Version : Your favourate Receiver / Integrated Amp?
Just finished cruising through a used / audio antique store. They can be expensive but can have really great, obscure stuff, both solid state and tube.
Fisher tube receivers. Dynaco SS integrated amp. Heathkit tube receivers. Eico tube pre and amp (and a tuner!). Cambridge Audio ('70's British). The odd McIntosh piece. Krell (I know it's not old but they have some used pieces!) They used to have some Dynaco ST70's. No more... :(
What is your favourate vintage piece? What does / did it sound like?
aashton
12-05-2002, 02:03 PM
Well it isn't vintage but it was my first amplifier - it was a Musical Fidelity - A1 you could fry eggs on the top and the first time it played music all the hairs on the back of my arms and neck stood up :) Still have it ( I'm not very good at getting rid of anything )
All the best - Andrew
Andrew, my first integrated amp was a NAD 20 watt per side amp (NAD 3020, I think). :)
It was a cute little egg fryer, too. :D After about an hour it would give up and shut down. But it was a plucky little thing, and went back at it after a rest! :)
Reminds me of Naugas....
KeithH
12-05-2002, 03:20 PM
I am newer to the audio world in terms of caring about components. Just two years ago, I had a $250 JVC home-theater receiver, so by comparison, my NAD C 370 integrated is high-end. I love NAD amps, as they are outstanding for the money.
My experience with vintage components is extremely limited, but I have my dad's Marantz Model 8B tube power amp and Model 7 tube pre-amp. I have not yet hooked them up, frankly, because I don't know how to connect speaker wires to them. I also need to learn how to adjust the bias and find out if the tubes work. I haven't had the chance to look into it.
jeff e.
12-05-2002, 03:50 PM
Right now I'm using a circa-'78 Yamaha CA-810 integrated and it's really an amazing piece. More than enough power at 65 w/ch, clean neutral sound, adjustable phono impedance, brushed aluminum faceplate, big sexy VU meters. What more can you ask for?
Yes, I know, tubes... I also love that fabled "tube sound". I actually have a Sherwood S-5000 tube integrated and S-8000 III receiver, but both of them have nasty hummmmmm problems and will have to remain idle until I can afford to have them repaired.
Jeffrey
12-05-2002, 03:58 PM
Originally posted by KeithH
My experience with vintage components is extremely limited, but I have my dad's Marantz Model 8B tube power amp and Model 7 tube pre-amp. I have not yet hooked them up, frankly, because I don't know how to connect speaker wires to them. I also need to learn how to adjust the bias and find out if the tubes work. I haven't had the chance to look into it.
Hi Keith,
That's a great gift your dad gave ya! :) In mint condition, they are worth lotsa dinero. Ya may wanna find the time to get those babies up and running so ya can enjoy them. IMO, it would be more than worth the effort!
-Jeffrey
KeithH
12-05-2002, 04:48 PM
Jeffrey, yeah, I know. My dad remembers how to do get them going, but we just haven't had the chance to do it. I'll have to get him over here to give it a shot.
Ronflugelguy
12-05-2002, 05:22 PM
Originally posted by Gary
Andrew, my first integrated amp was a NAD 20 watt per side amp (NAD 3020, I think). :)
It was a cute little egg fryer, too. :D After about an hour it would give up and shut down. But it was a plucky little thing, and went back at it after a rest! :)
Reminds me of Naugas....
A great preamp section!
My vintage piece was 1973 or 74 Pioneer SX-434 and it's still running today in perfect condition.:)
sgraham
12-05-2002, 05:57 PM
Just a minor reality check: Just because it's old and tubed doesn't mean it's going to be great. There was a lot of junk in the tube era too.
Gary Freed
12-05-2002, 08:09 PM
There is a company in CANADA that makes the Athem line. Sonic Frontiers
I saw their integrated being used at the top of the Eifel Tower.
It was a real beauty. Combination tubes and solid state.
Sckott
12-05-2002, 08:22 PM
Originally posted by sgraham
Just a minor reality check: Just because it's old and tubed doesn't mean it's going to be great. There was a lot of junk in the tube era too.
There are exceptions, but some of the weirdest, sometimes ugliest tube units still beat the pants off of new, elegant units.
Jeffrey
12-06-2002, 06:57 AM
Hey David,
What exactly do ya mean by that? :)
-Jeffrey
David R. Modny
12-06-2002, 07:03 AM
Originally posted by Jeffrey
Hey David,
What exactly do ya mean by that? :)
-Jeffrey
Aahhh...I didn't like what I wrote and tried to delete the entire message. Wouldn't let me do it, so I had to make do with a little "creative editing"...lol.
pigmode
12-06-2002, 07:16 AM
I almost picked up a Fisher 400 Reciever not too long ago. I think I'm destined to own one. (I've heard the headphone jack is pretty nice.)
pigmode
12-06-2002, 07:07 PM
I've seen a couple of nice ones go for just under $300. at eBay. I've been told they have a selenium rectifier that needs to be changed, and there are also rebuild kits available as well. Very nice looking components...
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