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Concept 16.5: Photos posted (some nudity)

N

Njord Noatun

Super Member
Banned
I just returned from a trip to the Bay Area where I picked up a Concept 16.5 from a family member (only owner) who no longer wanted it. Spent the day cleaning the pots and blowing/wiping away 27 years of dust and grime. It came out pretty good and I have attached some lo-res photos for your perusal.

Will do another review when I have it hooked up.

Enjoy!

Regards,

PS! Apart from being useful for celebrating Christmas, if you are wondering what the green and red LED lights on every single push-button are for: A green light indicates an activated service, red light that a service is defeated, and no light that a service is not activated. Better yet, the power button lights up red until the relay clicks, and then changes to green. Very cool!

PPS! Each of the tone control buttons (treble, bass) have two rings - each controlling the upper and lower end of their respective bands, for a total of four separate tone controls - a de facto basic equalizer. Also has variable loudness - Yamaha-style.
 

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Njord Noatun said:
PS! Apart from being useful for celebrating Christmas, if you are wondering what the green and red LED lights on every single push-button are for: A green light indicates an activated service, red light that a service is defeated, and no light that a service is not activated. Better yet, the power button lights up red until the relay clicks, and then changes to green. Very cool!
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Very nice ideed. It adds a nice touch. It is a beautiful looking piece of equipment. How does it sound?
Vito
Click to expand...
 
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I had both the 16.5 (still have it!) and an SX-5590 (the black SX-1250).
The SX-5590/1250 is fractions of an inch larger WxHxD, but the 16.5 is heavier at 67 lbs to 64 lbs.
Guts are really a draw, but the 16.5 is rated for 250 wpc into 4 ohms, the SX-5590/1250 200 wpc into 4 ohms.
Both are tremendous receivers. I sold the SX-5590 for a big power amp, and still have the 16.5. Sold the G-9700, The Receiver, KR-9600, KR-9400, and a restored SX-1050. Still have the 16.5. Comprende, eh?
 
Vitopanch said:
Very nice indeed. It is a beautiful looking piece of equipment. How does it sound?
Vito
Click to expand...

I had a few hours to myself this afternoon and, after having checked the DC offset (6mV, 11mV), I decided to hook up the Concept 16.5 to my main speakers (Rectilinear III).

I turned on some of my reference favorites: Steely Dan, DSOTM, Dire Straits. I don't have the ability to describe in words what I hear that well, but let's just say I am blown away by the Concept: Gutsy, tight, punchy, gut-thumping bass, detailed middles and crystal clear highs. Very detailed and "roomy" sound, offering a lot of nuances and detail to the music.

It is entirely unfair to compare a 165 WPC unit to a 105 WPC one, but my Yamaha CR-2020, which I adore, will have to go into "rotation" - the Concept will without any doubt become the core of my main rig.

Regards,
 
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I've never even had the pleasure to hear one, all i've got to go on is the enthusiasm of the owners here. Maybe that will be my thrift find of the year...yeah, right!
 
Pioneer SX-1250 and 1050, Technics SA-1000, Marantz 2325, Sansui 5000 and G-9000, a couple of Yamahas, several Denons, Sonys, etc.

The 16.5 was more like a cluster of separates than a receiver, to my ears. The amp section was extremely dynamic and the tuner was excellent, though I think the Pioneer TX-9500II is a better tuner.

The 16.5 seems to me to be the most modern stereo receiver built in the 70's.
 
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