Classic Integrated Amplifiers!

[HoweSound]

Here's my entry:

View attachment 344697

This was the cheapest of the Kenwood integrated amps of the day (1977). Specs are modest: 40wpc, 0.8 distortion, 90 dB S/N ratio, and a damping factor with 8-ohm speakers of 50. So, it's not the amp for big spaces or difficult speakers. But for the Advents mine drove for decades, in smaller listening spaces, it was and continues to be an excellent performer. For me, it's yet more evidence of how we overestimate the importance of distortion in amps sized appropriately for their spaces and applications.

I currently have this powering a pair of Canton GL260 speakers, with an old Tascam CD player as the source, in a smaller bedroom.

Rick "for playing music" Denney

I had the same Kenwood KA 3500 for many years together with the matching receiver. I made walnut endplates to tie the amp and receiver together. They were my entry to the audio world along with a pair of Bose 301 bookshelf speakers. I owe a debt of gratitude to the Bose speakers - the quality and componentry were so bad, they made me realize that I could DIY much better speakers myself.

 

[Mikig]

But now you can buy. Just figure out a reasonable used price and you can buy and sell for roughly the same price, .. BUT why do that if you can't hear a difference? Or rather, I hear no difference with my speakers. Maybe you would, what do I know as the old saying goes:
Put most of the gunpowder on the speakers.

Top notch modern speakers plus various EQ tricks together with a boring, but perfectly ok/good $50 receiver from the early 1990s, .well just because it can be done.
I like that approach. Therefore, I will have my vintage Luxor 7082A amp in my main system going forward.

Why take them if I don't listen to differences?

Because the system I mainly use is the one I listen with, and it's the one that absorbs most of the effort, the rest is just a collection!!

They are like RC cars, every now and then when I get a chance I buy them and I assemble them and... then they stay there!! I have an untouched Associated, never used, I did the same a few years ago with a Schumacher!!!

It's the subjectivist part in me!!!!

 

[DanielT]

Why take them if I don't listen to differences?

I do not know.I listen and try to tell them apart but hear no differences.Or rather from the beginning of my regained HiFi interest I thought I would hear some differences, but I realized that I didn't. Nowadays I don't buy new or used amplifiers. If I were in need of an amplifier, I would assemble this one, copying daniboun's DIY project :

"Bamboo Project" : Dual Mono 3E Audio 480-1-29A Amplifier

Hi amigos, Following the ASR review of the 3E Audio 480-1-29A Module, I decided to roll up my sleeves and show you that with a little elbow grease, you can create a very beautiful amplifier based on these nice 3E Audio modules. I called this project, "Bamboo"> the pictures will speak for...

audiosciencereview.com

 

[polmuaddib]

This was my first. Hitachi HA-4500
Unfortunately, I don't have it anymore. But it found a good home.

 

[Mikig]

I do not know.I listen and try to tell them apart but hear no differences.Or rather from the beginning of my regained HiFi interest I thought I would hear some differences, but I realized that I didn't. Nowadays I don't buy new or used amplifiers. If I were in need of an amplifier, I would assemble this one, copying daniboun's DIY project :

"Bamboo Project" : Dual Mono 3E Audio 480-1-29A Amplifier

Hi amigos, Following the ASR review of the 3E Audio 480-1-29A Module, I decided to roll up my sleeves and show you that with a little elbow grease, you can create a very beautiful amplifier based on these nice 3E Audio modules. I called this project, "Bamboo"> the pictures will speak for...

audiosciencereview.com

That Bamboo Project seems really beautiful to me!! I've clearly never listened to it.

I stopped buying amplifiers for my main system since a Halcro DM38 came into existence. At first I perceived it as boring, then, after some time, I began to understand that the other members I had "interpreted" the music. It's not the Halcro that's boring! no, the Halcro is simply the most neutral and correct amp I own.

It was as if to say the first step towards objectivism, and towards the search for a neutral system.

I went from an average listening time of 30 minutes to now easily touching 2 hours....and, not wanting to go to bed at night!!!!

 

[AlfaHolic]

My first integrated amp . . . Scott 222C

 

[mhardy6647]

In re: the aforementioned Kenwood (Trio) KA-3500.
Randy was impressed.




In re: the HH Scott 222(c). A beautiful and very nice sounding little integrated amplifier. One here, but she's currently (still) a shelf queen. I started rehab on it when I acquired it, but - being lazy - have yet to complete it.


(sorry it's a little grubby in this image )

 

[Mart68]

In re: the aforementioned Kenwood (Trio) KA-3500.
Randy was impressed.




In re: the HH Scott 222(c). A beautiful and very nice sounding little integrated amplifier. One here, but she's currently (still) a shelf queen. I started rehab on it when I acquired it, but - being lazy - have yet to complete it.


(sorry it's a little grubby in this image )

That Tandberg is juicy.

I don't think we ever got Scott over here. I only heard of them (and Soundcraftsman) when I started reading Audiokarma.

 

[MAB]

I have fond memories of my Pioneer SA-9100. Currently running a silver Parasound Hint, which I consider to be a reliable modern-day take on classic integrateds.
View attachment 313265

Stereo Review carried multi-page Pioneer advertisements for years. I found a four page in the January 1974 Stereo Review with the SA-9100 and family:

 

[MAB]

Awesome - integrated amps will always be my preference, and classic ones rock it! My Dad owned the Sansui in there - what a tank it was and how awesome it was. I "borrowed" it when he bought a Revox integrated amp. Anything made by Sansui/Revox/Accuphase remains stellar (as are several others).

View attachment 313246

The clean instrument look is really attractive when stacked:

From December 1979 Stereo Review.

 

[jkasch]

Stereo Review carried multi-page Pioneer advertisements for years. I found a four page in the January 1974 Stereo Review with the SA-9100 and family:
View attachment 345008
View attachment 345009

Thanks for the memories. I remember some of that verbiage from reviews and product brochures.

 

[norman bates]

Are those older pioneer tuners good ?

I'm looking at a tx-7500 fully aligned with a 90 day warrantee with it..............

Seems pricy to me, I'd not think twice if it was a recap, then realignment................

 

[Eulipian]

Kenwood KA- 7002. It was my second ever piece of HiFi gear. Replaced my Kenwood KR-4140 in my senior year of college (1972). Had it measured at a McIntosh clinic at the audio store I went to work for after graduation. FR was flat and both distortion and noise were low. Lovely piece of kit.

The Kenwood 4140 was truly solid in every way and one of the many great values to come out of Nippon. I, too, had one in the 1970s and kept it until I replaced it with the Hafler separates I have until this day.

 

[norman bates]

yea, a kenwood kt6500 tuner slipped through my fingers (sold b4 xmas).

 

[restorer-john]

Are those older pioneer tuners good ?

I'm looking at a tx-7500 fully aligned with a 90 day warrantee with it..............

Seems pricy to me, I'd not think twice if it was a recap, then realignment................

Yes, they are good, if they are operating to spec and have been properly aligned. A full tuner alignment is an enormous job and requires specialist equipment and knowledge, something most 'repair shops' or 'techs' simply don't have. The test gear required is also getting very old and replacements are limited to sourcing working units that are ~40 years old.

I recently had to scrap my Panasonic AM/FM sig gen due to an irrepairable issue and with it, all future rebuilds of tuners and receivers, unless I track down an expensive and frankly not worth it, sig gen.

Recapping a tuner is pointless- there's a few audio coupling caps, a few power supply caps and then a whole bunch of caps that can throw off the entire tuner if a full alignment isn't done afterwards. Basically, a recapped tuner is likely to be worse than an original one.

 

[norman bates]

wow, thank you very much for all that info.

I've been on the fence on either get a new rotel T11 tuner (because I may get one of their snazzy newer integrated amps down the line), or get an older "charming" 70's tuner to aesthetically match a marantz 1060.

 

[001]

@restorer-john, and at the risk of going off-topic again; How did you get started in the wild, wild world of electronics?

 

[Count Arthur]

I have now won The Internet!

 

[BeeKay]

I'm not quite sure whether 23 years is perhaps still a little "too young" for this list. At the moment, the good piece is in its original box in the attic. But the Amp99 from Lindemann still works perfectly. I love the design.

 

[001]

View attachment 345091View attachment 345092View attachment 345093I'm not quite sure whether 23 years is perhaps still a little "too young" for this list. At the moment, the good piece is in its original box in the attic. But the Amp99 from Lindemann still works perfectly. I love the design.

To my amateur eyes this looks so nice and clean, better than the inside of my old amp. Maybe I should clean my more regularly... What do others think is an acceptable cleaning regime?