Most Beloved Receiver
- Thread starter vintagestereo
- Start date
skibjr
Super Member
Chris, what a great thread - thanks for starting it! :thmbsp:
When I was a 17-year-old kid I was fortunate enough to be a hifi salesman in the Chicago suburbs, and was able to get a great employee discount on a brand-new Marantz 2325. Beautifully smooth, musical sound at normal volumes, with reserve power to dim the room lights when I cranked 'er up! A high-school kid's dream!
Man, I loved that receiver, and kept her until I had to downsize about ten years later when I moved into a small apartment. I gave the 2325 to my best friend and picked up a little 20 wpc HK 330i. Amazingly, through my Advent legacies anyway, I thought the 330i actually sounded a little better at normal (apartment-level) volumes. More definition, better clarity, completely non-fatiguing. I've owned many, many receivers since then, but the 2325 and 330i remain my favorites to this day.
When I was a 17-year-old kid I was fortunate enough to be a hifi salesman in the Chicago suburbs, and was able to get a great employee discount on a brand-new Marantz 2325. Beautifully smooth, musical sound at normal volumes, with reserve power to dim the room lights when I cranked 'er up! A high-school kid's dream!
Man, I loved that receiver, and kept her until I had to downsize about ten years later when I moved into a small apartment. I gave the 2325 to my best friend and picked up a little 20 wpc HK 330i. Amazingly, through my Advent legacies anyway, I thought the 330i actually sounded a little better at normal (apartment-level) volumes. More definition, better clarity, completely non-fatiguing. I've owned many, many receivers since then, but the 2325 and 330i remain my favorites to this day.
roseskunk
Well-Known Member
my mac 4100. i just bought it recently from epray. it has a lamp out, the on/off sticks a bit, but otherwise a dandy receiver. it really makes music enjoyable again after a frustrating experience with a tube amp and after giving away my pionerr sx-737 that i had since '75. What was i thinking?!? :sigh:
skibjr said:
Ski -- I'd be careful about disclosing that you're a former "hi-fi salesman". They're not real popular in these parts.
I've got an "original owner" 2325, so I certainly share your sentiments. The 330i was a much later model than the one I sold. At that time it was the 330B. I can't begin to count all the folks that came into our store wanting "the Pioneer, the Marantz, the Kenwood, the Sansui" but, after lengthy A/B sessions left with the little H/K. In fact, it was the best-selling Receiver we had.
Good to hear from you!
-- Chris
VinylHanger
Navigaret ex ironia
vintagestereo said:Ski -- I'd be careful about disclosing that you're a former "hi-fi salesman". They're not real popular in these parts.
-- Chris
Says who?
Anyway, the unit I have been attached for life to is the Sansui Seven receiver my folks still use in their front room. I remember Anne Murray, Glenn Campbell, Gordon Lightfoot, and Chicago among others cranking through that unit. They bought it new around 73-74 and it has performed flawlessly ever since. I still fondle it's knobs on the rare occasions I get back home. Someday it will be mine and have a special place in the mancave.
The other unit is a mid 80's Kenwood KR-126V That I bought overseas. I rocked the barracks with that unit. Sold it to buddy and have been looking for one ever since. It was one of the first units with no knobs what so ever, just buttons. I liked it anyway. :yes:
alexkerhead
To High For Infinity
My most beloved receiver?
My 2265B, it was my first marantz, and it got me hooked on Marantz.
I am about to get a 2270 to pair with it on my two sets of L100s.
I do own/have owned the following:
Marantz 2220B(will be using on the rear room advents)
Pioneer sx-950(repairman destroyed)
Pioneer sx-434(sold to my dad)
Yamaha cr-2020(sold to a friend)
Yamaha cr-640(gave away after left speaker circuitry burned out)
JVC digital crap(cant remember model -threw away)
Pioneer SA-1280(digital crap, not sx - garage system)
Pioneer sx-9(possibly the worst I have ever owned -in closet)
Scott reciever(cant remember model)(both channels went out, was too cheap to recap -gave away)
2x onkyo digital receivers(cant remember mdoel numbers)(sold, because sound was raspy and too sharp)
Sherwood 7100-A(great reciever)(still have and use as computer speaker receiver on blowz 301s)
Harmon Kardon 230(still have loaned to brother to power his low wattage fishers)
Kenwood 504(about to sell, junky digital receiver)
I have owned several more, but cannot remember off the bat.
My 2265B, it was my first marantz, and it got me hooked on Marantz.
I am about to get a 2270 to pair with it on my two sets of L100s.
I do own/have owned the following:
Marantz 2220B(will be using on the rear room advents)
Pioneer sx-950(repairman destroyed)
Pioneer sx-434(sold to my dad)
Yamaha cr-2020(sold to a friend)
Yamaha cr-640(gave away after left speaker circuitry burned out)
JVC digital crap(cant remember model -threw away)
Pioneer SA-1280(digital crap, not sx - garage system)
Pioneer sx-9(possibly the worst I have ever owned -in closet)
Scott reciever(cant remember model)(both channels went out, was too cheap to recap -gave away)
2x onkyo digital receivers(cant remember mdoel numbers)(sold, because sound was raspy and too sharp)
Sherwood 7100-A(great reciever)(still have and use as computer speaker receiver on blowz 301s)
Harmon Kardon 230(still have loaned to brother to power his low wattage fishers)
Kenwood 504(about to sell, junky digital receiver)
I have owned several more, but cannot remember off the bat.
Re: Pioneer SX-9. What makes it the worst you have ever owned? Granted, the styling is rather controversial, however, the performance was certainly "state of the art" for its time, being one of the very frist Receiver to have a "non-switching" amp. section. Have you listened to it recently?
-- Chris
-- Chris
shacky
Addicted Member
Sony 6050. Not the biggest or best I've ever known but first high quality stereo my brother and I got while I was in highschool - and he was going in air force. Coupled with Garrad ? TT, Pickering Cart, and Wharefdale W40D speakers. It rocked our bedroom - blew two sets of woofers in the Wharfedales. One under warrantee and one after.
Took the Sony with me when I moved out and it served regular duty up to ~ 1990 ~ 20 years. It's in basement waiting to be brought back to life.
Took the Sony with me when I moved out and it served regular duty up to ~ 1990 ~ 20 years. It's in basement waiting to be brought back to life.
yrly
Breaking records is good?
Tough call... I've had a few receivers that have a special place in my heart.
Fisher RS-1060, it makes me comfortable to fire it up and listen to it. Like going home after the long day at work, it has the sound quality I've come to expect, performance I've come to expect. Guess thats why I've got three of them.
Fisher RS-1080, took me about two years to track down a good working one, after the long quest it is the sound of victory.
Marantz 4400, same as above, spent nearly a year looking for one in good shape with a good scope, got lucky and got one in nearly flawless shape, working scope. To have it in the wood case? Pure eye candy.
There are others I like out of my 106 or however many I've got now, but those are the special ones for their own reasons.
Fisher RS-1060, it makes me comfortable to fire it up and listen to it. Like going home after the long day at work, it has the sound quality I've come to expect, performance I've come to expect. Guess thats why I've got three of them.
Fisher RS-1080, took me about two years to track down a good working one, after the long quest it is the sound of victory.
Marantz 4400, same as above, spent nearly a year looking for one in good shape with a good scope, got lucky and got one in nearly flawless shape, working scope. To have it in the wood case? Pure eye candy.
There are others I like out of my 106 or however many I've got now, but those are the special ones for their own reasons.
bozak ron
Super Member
I'm really into seperates but have had a few receivers in my time. For me, my sentimental favorite is my Sansui 9090db. I drooled when I first saw them enter the market years ago, but there was no way I could afford one. Now that I'm much older and have worked hard for a long time, I finally could purchase a nice one. For me, it might not have the absolute ass-kickin' specs of other receivers, but it sounds fantastic in my set-up and, for me, looks like a vintage receiver should - great silver-face and real wood.
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pioneernut
I need help
I'd say for me the reciever that has the most sentimental value to me was my Dad's Pioneer SX-1500TD. Darn thing is as old as me and its really what got me into stereos. When it finally died on my dad about 10 years ago, I snagged it from him and just this past year I went through it. Fixed the problem, recapped it and restored it to its former glory. It may not be the best, but it reminds me of good times, and I'll never sell it. I'll probably drag it to the old folks home when I'm 80
- Mike
- Mike
Lefty
Super Member
Well I'm down to two receivers these days. Pioneer SX-1980 and a Marantz Model 19. I have to say the 19 is the more special one for me.
Given to me as a fixer upper and took 6 months to research parts and restore. The Pioneer is a big bad boy and has it's follwers but the 19 was unique in it's day and TOTL at the time and has a class and style that will forever make me smile :yes:
Lefty
Given to me as a fixer upper and took 6 months to research parts and restore. The Pioneer is a big bad boy and has it's follwers but the 19 was unique in it's day and TOTL at the time and has a class and style that will forever make me smile :yes:
Lefty
nukeme
Well-Known Member
My first real receiver was a marantz 2215b, it will always be my best beloved. I owned it for about ten years and ended up giving it to a friend....I wish I still had it. It had great sound for a 15 watt receiver!
Urizen-I have to say that you have some of the best avatars on this site! Love your 3 stooges!
Urizen-I have to say that you have some of the best avatars on this site! Love your 3 stooges!
eThink
Well-Known Member
harman/kardon 930
I still own and love my h/k 930 receiver. It was purchased in the Fall of 1972 from Tech HiFi in Syracuse, NY. Purchase price was $335 which was a lot of money for a college student in 1973.
The other components in this system were a Philips GA-212 TT and KLH 17 speakers.
Like others in this thread, this system has been part of my life for over 25 years and it has seen a wide varied of music and other components.
I still own and love my h/k 930 receiver. It was purchased in the Fall of 1972 from Tech HiFi in Syracuse, NY. Purchase price was $335 which was a lot of money for a college student in 1973.
The other components in this system were a Philips GA-212 TT and KLH 17 speakers.
Like others in this thread, this system has been part of my life for over 25 years and it has seen a wide varied of music and other components.
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most beloved Yamaha cr 1020
and I,ve had a lot of receivers. Scott 340b Tube. AR receiver, and last receiver
Yami cr1020. which was replaced after 17 years and sold to a fellow tuner freak for $125. It was great but just did not have the soundstage my present set up has. nor the power . but soundstage is the biggest plus,
and I,ve had a lot of receivers. Scott 340b Tube. AR receiver, and last receiver
Yami cr1020. which was replaced after 17 years and sold to a fellow tuner freak for $125. It was great but just did not have the soundstage my present set up has. nor the power . but soundstage is the biggest plus,
eThink
Well-Known Member
KLH 51 Receiver
This was suppossed to be my first "real" audio receiver.
I remember seeing the KLH 51 at Sam Goody's in NY in Summer of 1971 (they sold audio equipment in those days). Growing up in Massachusetts, KLH was well known as serious audio equipment and this KLH receiver looked the part.
I was especially impressed with the styling of this unit, specifically the two vertical slider controls for treble and bass and the smaller selection levers for options and switching. I personally found the blue backlit dial attractive.
The people at Tech HiFi convinced me that the harman/kardon line of receivers were better made and better sounding than the KLH 51 receiver. It was good advice, which I am glad that I followed, but I still wanted a KLH 51.
It took 30 years, but I did purchase a KLH 51 on ebay for $20. It has a warm sound, especially on FM. I have teamed it with a pair of KLH 17 speakers, purchase for $70 in Syracuse, NY in 1972 and my Philips GA-212 TT.
I use this system to enjoy the music of the 1970s, including Joni Mitchell, The Allman Brothers and Gordon Lightfoot.
This was suppossed to be my first "real" audio receiver.
I remember seeing the KLH 51 at Sam Goody's in NY in Summer of 1971 (they sold audio equipment in those days). Growing up in Massachusetts, KLH was well known as serious audio equipment and this KLH receiver looked the part.
I was especially impressed with the styling of this unit, specifically the two vertical slider controls for treble and bass and the smaller selection levers for options and switching. I personally found the blue backlit dial attractive.
The people at Tech HiFi convinced me that the harman/kardon line of receivers were better made and better sounding than the KLH 51 receiver. It was good advice, which I am glad that I followed, but I still wanted a KLH 51.
It took 30 years, but I did purchase a KLH 51 on ebay for $20. It has a warm sound, especially on FM. I have teamed it with a pair of KLH 17 speakers, purchase for $70 in Syracuse, NY in 1972 and my Philips GA-212 TT.
I use this system to enjoy the music of the 1970s, including Joni Mitchell, The Allman Brothers and Gordon Lightfoot.
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