Vintage amplifiers that could challenge or approach current state of the art amplifiers

[killdozzer]

Yes, Sony could do it, of course they could:

 

[killdozzer]

Onkyo's former glory is not without merit, of course (M504/P304):

 

[killdozzer]

M510 was one of the giants:

 

[killdozzer]

Hitachi had a couple of them up their sleeves:

 

[killdozzer]

This used to be mine:
It's a Class E - highly tuned fast switching

 

[EJ3]

Yes, Sony could do it, of course they could:
View attachment 316522

The just did not always want to.

 

[Videopac]

Yamaha MX-10000:
View attachment 316516

See https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?goto/post&id=1439447

 

[Bridges]

Never heard that phrase before. We used tens of 700B at Abbey Road studios during the 70s and none burned, neither mine did.

They run hot, they produce 0.7 KILO watt! If you are stupid enough not to give enough ventilation, what do you expect?

Why did they use such powerful amps? All their monitors were very efficient.

 

[Mart68]

I thought I'd weaned myself of wanting those old classics but seeing the photos above...

Good job they are not so easy to get hold of in UK.

 

[thewas]

Top tier was quite something. Showing here the SE-A3:
View attachment 316518

I know and had visited one of the biggest Technics collectors worldwide which had a couple of the ultra rare handmade TOTL SE-A1 SU-A2 combinations, just the preamp weighs almost 40 kg!

 

[EJ3]

Why did they use such powerful amps? All their monitors were very efficient.

I don't think that there is any such thing as "efficient" monitors when dealing with TRUE BASS!

 

[killdozzer]

I know and had visited one of the biggest Technics collectors worldwide which had a couple of the ultra rare handmade TOTL SE-A1 SU-A2 combinations, just the preamp weighs almost 40 kg!

Wow, that's impressive. Is it a sort of a museum-collector or is it meant to be re-sold like in Reverb.com or audioscope.net?

 

[killdozzer]

See https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?goto/post&id=1439447
This amp is a beast. . .the only vintage I would buy.

I knew I was repeating, but went for it any way. I'm really impressed with these top class Yamahas and the OP just ask for our suggestions, he didn't set any rules. Hope my bumping is not annoying.

 

[killdozzer]

The just did not always want to.

I absolutely agree. A lot of poor performing stuff came from this shop, but they did have the know how and the resources to make some truly great stuff. I have an insiders list of parts companies use to produce their stuff. You'd be amazed (or not, of course, you may as well know this and probably do) how many very expensive, audiophool-grade BS, sky-high overpriced, boutique cr*ap buys parts from; Panasonic, Sony, Teac, Philips and the rest, all those companies that are frowned upon among the high-brow golden ears.

Sometimes you really do pay just for the brushed aluminium face-plate and with it buy the parts from a company you'd be ready to criticize with all those "mid-fi" BS terms if you're an audiophool.

 

[killdozzer]

An honest question, does the amplification section of these deserve to be mentioned here:

The Pioneer SX-1980​

The Pioneer SX-1980 was introduced right at the peak of the stereo receiver wars in 1978. The Pioneer SX-1980 produces a conservative 270 watts RMS per channel at no more than 0.03% total harmonic distortion (THD).

Sansui G-33000​

The Sansui G-33000 is capable of 300 watts per channel with no more than 0.009% THD killing the Marantz 2600’s THD of 0.03%. That is even more impressive than the Pioneer SX-1980.

Technics SA-1000​

With 330 watts per channel with no more than 0.03% THD, Technics was the winner.

 

[thewas]

Wow, that's impressive. Is it a sort of a museum-collector or is it meant to be re-sold like in Reverb.com or audioscope.net?

No, he is a thankfully a hardcore Technics collector, possibly the biggest in the western world, for a Technics fan like me his place was out of this world.

 

[killdozzer]

No, he is a thankfully a hardcore Technics collector, possibly the biggest in the western world, for a Technics fan like me his place was out of this world.

Did you get the chance to hear some of these speakers:

I'm curious on how they sound.

 

[thewas]

Did you get the chance to hear some of these speakers:
View attachment 316776
View attachment 316777

I'm curious on how they sound.

Yes, he had most of the their rare TOTL loudspeakers like SB-8000, Monitor 2 and SB-E500, which sounded surprisingly balanced considering their age and lack of room correction.

 

[Omnivor]

Hewlett Packard made a hifi amplifier!
http://hpmemoryproject.org/timeline/betty_haines/barney_amplifier_01.htm

I was a young engineer there then and couldn't afford the parts to have one. HP was a hot bed of hifi enthusiasts at the time. Our lab stock had hifi parts in it just for them. Two guys I worked with were Sigfried Linkwitz and Russ Riley (Linkwitz-Riley filter anyone?).

 

[JP]

No, he is a thankfully a hardcore Technics collector, possibly the biggest in the western world, for a Technics fan like me his place was out of this world.

What's his first name, or initials?