MacPhantom
Guest
Beautiful Onkyo - but from the wrong decade. The title explicitly says "80s". 
Best integrateds of the 80s?
- Thread starter jckonicek
- Start date
Karl vd Berg
Super Member
Indeed a beautiful amp.
GAP_FL
New Member
Digging an old thread out from underneath a dusty pile...
I'm not sure how it happened, but I seem to have found myself a little niche in this thread. I never really got into receivers. I just never listened to that much radio. I did for a while as a teenager in the early 80s, but after a few years of overseas service being force-fed the tripe dished out by AFRN, I was cured of any lingering FM appreciation outside of my car. Being overseas in the mid-late 80s did, however, create a lust for the big-meter separates of the era, but I didn't have the budget then.
Fast-foward a few decades to the era of crappy earbuds and MP3s... A kick in the ass from my brother-in-law and his Marantz/HPM-100 setup jolted my complacent ass back to what I used to take for granted. Like so many others, a combination of middle age and nostalgia started me eyeballing Craigslist and thrift shops. That's where I hit the onramp to this thread (stumbled across it tonight), and I've been slowly shifting a lane or two to the left. In the last three years, I've picked up three gems from this era:
1: Denon PMA-520. My first black-face 80s integrated. Set up in my 16-year-old's hip-hop annex with a pair of Infinity SM-125s (that I keep meaning to reinforce and add batting, and never seem to get around to doing) and an aux cord he can connect to his phone or laptop. Don't laugh. He can hear stuff that he misses in his shi**y earbuds and on his shi**y bluetooth speaker, so he's ecstatic. I picked up the 520 off of a CL ad for less than $50, haven't had to do a damn thing to it, and it seems to be suffering what it's being fed without complaint. I was given a Pioneer PL-05 TT that I can add to the setup, but I have to change the tonearm and tray belts, and it is missing a stylus that is almost as uncommon as a B&O. Time will tell if I can get it running or not.
2: Pioneer A-88x. Holy crap. Set up as my main system. I got this as a gift from my brother-in-law, partly as an incentive to get back into stereos and such, and partly as a "thank you" for a family matter. I had it professionally serviced (including a recap), which took it from free to very reasonable. On the front end, I have an AppleTV connected as a streaming device and a Denon DP-24F for records. On the back end, I have a pair of flawless Boston Acoustics A150s that I wouldn't trade, ever. I have yet to find the combination of whiskey and rock n' roll that makes this rig break a sweat. I always run it in Line Straight mode, and never feel like I'm missing a loudness button, even at low volumes. When I get all twisty with the big knob, I don't ever feel like I'm pushing it too hard. By far my favorite (so far).
3) Technics SU-V10x. My latest add, and I haven't done anything with it yet (6 months). I got it when I responded to a CL ad from a dude clearing out his father-in-law's estate. In addition to the V10x, He tossed in a pair of 901 Series IVs with EQ and tulip stands, an ancient Garrard SPG3 stylus scale and a 5VDC regulated power supply, all for less than three digits. I picked up a Yamaha P-550 TT today for another $30, so that rig is going to go into the study/office area. Eventually, I'll hook up another AppleTV to an aux input for the whole-house streaming I do from time to time.
I guess the bottom line is that there are still really nice deals out there for good quality integrated amps from the mid-late 80s. There is nothing BPC-y about any of the examples I have. I have an uneducated ear, and I don't care to get into a flame war over black vs. silver, or whatever. The kit I have sounds damn good to me, and I can crank to my heart's content, or sit and listen carefully to a really nice MoFi from time to time. I suppose I'll stumble across a deal for some big-meter separates at some point, but I really don't feel the lust as much as I used to.
I'm not sure how it happened, but I seem to have found myself a little niche in this thread. I never really got into receivers. I just never listened to that much radio. I did for a while as a teenager in the early 80s, but after a few years of overseas service being force-fed the tripe dished out by AFRN, I was cured of any lingering FM appreciation outside of my car. Being overseas in the mid-late 80s did, however, create a lust for the big-meter separates of the era, but I didn't have the budget then.
Fast-foward a few decades to the era of crappy earbuds and MP3s... A kick in the ass from my brother-in-law and his Marantz/HPM-100 setup jolted my complacent ass back to what I used to take for granted. Like so many others, a combination of middle age and nostalgia started me eyeballing Craigslist and thrift shops. That's where I hit the onramp to this thread (stumbled across it tonight), and I've been slowly shifting a lane or two to the left. In the last three years, I've picked up three gems from this era:
1: Denon PMA-520. My first black-face 80s integrated. Set up in my 16-year-old's hip-hop annex with a pair of Infinity SM-125s (that I keep meaning to reinforce and add batting, and never seem to get around to doing) and an aux cord he can connect to his phone or laptop. Don't laugh. He can hear stuff that he misses in his shi**y earbuds and on his shi**y bluetooth speaker, so he's ecstatic. I picked up the 520 off of a CL ad for less than $50, haven't had to do a damn thing to it, and it seems to be suffering what it's being fed without complaint. I was given a Pioneer PL-05 TT that I can add to the setup, but I have to change the tonearm and tray belts, and it is missing a stylus that is almost as uncommon as a B&O. Time will tell if I can get it running or not.
2: Pioneer A-88x. Holy crap. Set up as my main system. I got this as a gift from my brother-in-law, partly as an incentive to get back into stereos and such, and partly as a "thank you" for a family matter. I had it professionally serviced (including a recap), which took it from free to very reasonable. On the front end, I have an AppleTV connected as a streaming device and a Denon DP-24F for records. On the back end, I have a pair of flawless Boston Acoustics A150s that I wouldn't trade, ever. I have yet to find the combination of whiskey and rock n' roll that makes this rig break a sweat. I always run it in Line Straight mode, and never feel like I'm missing a loudness button, even at low volumes. When I get all twisty with the big knob, I don't ever feel like I'm pushing it too hard. By far my favorite (so far).
3) Technics SU-V10x. My latest add, and I haven't done anything with it yet (6 months). I got it when I responded to a CL ad from a dude clearing out his father-in-law's estate. In addition to the V10x, He tossed in a pair of 901 Series IVs with EQ and tulip stands, an ancient Garrard SPG3 stylus scale and a 5VDC regulated power supply, all for less than three digits. I picked up a Yamaha P-550 TT today for another $30, so that rig is going to go into the study/office area. Eventually, I'll hook up another AppleTV to an aux input for the whole-house streaming I do from time to time.
I guess the bottom line is that there are still really nice deals out there for good quality integrated amps from the mid-late 80s. There is nothing BPC-y about any of the examples I have. I have an uneducated ear, and I don't care to get into a flame war over black vs. silver, or whatever. The kit I have sounds damn good to me, and I can crank to my heart's content, or sit and listen carefully to a really nice MoFi from time to time. I suppose I'll stumble across a deal for some big-meter separates at some point, but I really don't feel the lust as much as I used to.
Welcome, Gap_FL!! I like the stuff you're rocking. I had a chance to score that Pioneer, but dude chickened out.
Sounds like you're having fun. That's the whole point of this hobby.
Best of luck (oh, and I too have some Boston Acoustic A150's I restored myself. While idle, I won't ever sell them).
Sounds like you're having fun. That's the whole point of this hobby.
Best of luck (oh, and I too have some Boston Acoustic A150's I restored myself. While idle, I won't ever sell them).
Soun!
New Member
What a GREAT source of information on the QUALITY integrated amps from the Golden Era of Hi-Fi, the time past!
I have learned quite a bit already from you, dear experts, but would still very much like to have the benefit of your advice: I am looking for an amp (with neutral or, perhaps, slightly on the warmer side presentation) to drive a pair of 98dB Sansui speakers. I usually like to listen at 65 – 70 dB level, and, therefore, do not need a lot of power: I am after quality, not quantity Watts here for sure…
In my neck of the woods I do not have many opportunities for audition, and, will have to rely heavily upon your advice…
I noticed a few correspondents mentioned (quite favourably) Denon PMA-900V integrated. How would you compare it to Luxman L-480 or NEC A-910 or Technics SU-8077, please (I can probably find these for about $500)? I do not think the Hitachi HA-7700 was mentioned here. Is it comparable with the above-mentioned integrated amps, in your opinion?
Alternatives I should try to hunt down?
And “a million dollar” question: am I barking at the right tree here at all? What about the reliability of the vintage amps (40+ years in service, capacitors and transistors are likely at the end of their lifecycle…)? Should I just save a bit more and get Marantz PM8006 integrated amp and be done with it?
Please chime in and help this newbie!
I have learned quite a bit already from you, dear experts, but would still very much like to have the benefit of your advice: I am looking for an amp (with neutral or, perhaps, slightly on the warmer side presentation) to drive a pair of 98dB Sansui speakers. I usually like to listen at 65 – 70 dB level, and, therefore, do not need a lot of power: I am after quality, not quantity Watts here for sure…
In my neck of the woods I do not have many opportunities for audition, and, will have to rely heavily upon your advice…
I noticed a few correspondents mentioned (quite favourably) Denon PMA-900V integrated. How would you compare it to Luxman L-480 or NEC A-910 or Technics SU-8077, please (I can probably find these for about $500)? I do not think the Hitachi HA-7700 was mentioned here. Is it comparable with the above-mentioned integrated amps, in your opinion?
Alternatives I should try to hunt down?And “a million dollar” question: am I barking at the right tree here at all? What about the reliability of the vintage amps (40+ years in service, capacitors and transistors are likely at the end of their lifecycle…)? Should I just save a bit more and get Marantz PM8006 integrated amp and be done with it?
Please chime in and help this newbie!
That.
Is.
Gorgeous.
You have the nicest toys, Ds2000
Is.
Gorgeous.
You have the nicest toys, Ds2000
wmgwizard
Addicted Member
Not quite the 80's but the Yamaha AX-1050 from 90-92 is a gorgeous powerhouse.
https://www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/yamaha/ax-1050.shtml
Great phono stage and enough power to run just about anything you could throw at it.
Available in black or a dark charcoal.
https://www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/yamaha/ax-1050.shtml
Great phono stage and enough power to run just about anything you could throw at it.
Available in black or a dark charcoal.
Did I ever mention how much I love my AU-G99X Sansui??
I won't ever let that one go. Been with me since the age of 19. Pics aren't of mine.
EDIT - YES, I DID MENTION HOW MUCH I LOVE THE AU-G99X. Just see page 4, lol.
I won't ever let that one go. Been with me since the age of 19. Pics aren't of mine.
EDIT - YES, I DID MENTION HOW MUCH I LOVE THE AU-G99X. Just see page 4, lol.
Last edited:
GD70
Lunatic Member
Thanks onward! Love that amp! Does a very nice job driving the AR3's.
You had the Sansui since 19? That's impressive! I've had my R-S77 since I was 23.
As Barry White says, "Staying Power!"
GD70
Lunatic Member
That may have been either the R-S11 or 33. Don't think there was a 22 IIRC. But yeah, nice pieces.
Oh, I goofed. Mine was a JA-S22, and I think was from the late 70's. My bad.
Still, a cute little devil, again, not mine.
Still, a cute little devil, again, not mine.
I wanted one of those back then, but I was on a teen summer and after school job budget. So I settled for photos of it instead while rocking my garage sale Pioneer SX-838.
The big Onk above is a charm, and a good sounding one at that,
Yes, these are really nice.
I have a Sony TA-AX6 that I really like:
http://www.thevintageknob.org/sony-TA-AX6.html
It has one of those strange heat-pipe designs.
http://www.thevintageknob.org/sony-TA-AX6.html
It has one of those strange heat-pipe designs.