best looking vintage receivers?

[ryuuoh]

I'm still fascinated by this beast. May get one some day.
http://audio-database.com/AKAI/amp/as-980-e.html

 

[Zeke]

I've always been partial to this, in both appearance and quality.

Outlaw Audio RR2150

I run a Sansui G9000DB, refurbed by someone that I trust, daily. It is an excellent source and does everything that I desire. At this point, after six years of ownership with a power supply rebuild and re-cap, I've got about $1100 in her. She should last for twenty years.

But, years ago, when I was looking for excellent 2-channel that lead me to Sansui? Had the Outlaw been available?

I'd have gone that route.

No regrets, but the Outlaw is a beauty.

 

[anderslober]

Hitachi sr2004........Pioneer sx1280/1250..............torn between 'em!

 

[Gang-Twanger]

I used to be way-into the looks of Sansui's X0X0 series receivers (7070 and up - the ones with the tuning meters AND power meters), but since getting my 2000x, I've totally gotten hooked on the old-fashioned, green-lit looks of their early '70's models. There's something very-tasteful about them. They've got style. Not overly-flashy or gaudy in any way.

It really-helps to find one with a good cabinet. So many of the ones I see are brownish and have completely-lost their reddish luster (but that often happens with a 38 year-old receiver). Until I found mine, I had no idea that they looked so-good new, which is why I had no problem bidding an extra $10 or $20 (The catalog shots from that classicsansui site really-don't do them justice - The pictures don't capture that luster - Those new ones were had SMOOTH cabinets that actually had a gloss to them - In the catalog shots, they sort of look like the wood is unfinished instead of having a smooth veneer).

 

[LeeVing]

I'm sticking with the silver-faced, blue glow of a Marantz 22XX

 

[cwall99]

Maybe one of these.

Rob

I was gonna recommend a different Sansui (but very close to what you posted): The X700 series:

I still have my G-4700, and it still sounds as good as it looks.

 

[Gang-Twanger]

I am going to be different and suggest the B&O Beomaster 4000.

Unconventional and beautiful, extremely solid and built like a tank. Sounds good too. I don't love B&O but I admire the aesthetics- they never tried to look like a slowly evolving piece of test gear gradually morphing into a domestic appliance- they went straight for form and function first- something the Japanese took 40 years to do.

Is that the front or the back (I'm kidding). Yeah, I was definitely-drawn-in by the ultra-slimline styling of the B&O stuff back in the '80's and '90's (in part because everything else in the '80's was all-black and just plain..... well, ..... not pretty). The only thing that I was never sure about was the inner-build-quality - I was thinking, "How could something so-thin be heavy-duty? Where are the big power caps and heatsinks?".

[QUOTE/]they went straight for form and function first- something the Japanese took 40 years to do.[/QUOTE]

Like the Ipod?

 

[Gang-Twanger]

I'm sticking with the silver-faced, blue glow of a Marantz 22XX

I would have chosen a better picture, but I've already posted those two better-looking pictures I found on Google Images (One is from a German guy, I think, and I can't remember where the other picture's from - The German picture is best, but the wood cab on his is in rough shape, which explains why he refinished it). I'm still learning how to use my digital camera, so I need more time to get it right. I want a shot of mine that really-shows-off the tuning lights. I think it looks fantastic with them on in a not-terribly-well-lit room during the day. Hard to get that kind of shot with a digital camera. I need my old SLR Pentax - I took some incredible pictures with that camera - Great outdoor shots (I can't seem to get good indoor shots with digital cameras - Outdoor stuff is a breeze - I took a great picture of the sun setting on the lake up at our summer cottage in Maine - The cottage is pretty run-down at this point, but the lake is beautiful).

God, how I love putting the tunes on when I first wake up ("Keep on truckin', babe!"). My upstairs neighbors do the same thing in the morning, so they don't mind a little volume, which is awesome. I get all-charged-up and I start dancing while I'm doing whatever I'm doing. That's what I love most about my Sansui - I've never ENJOYED the music so-much before. That smooth bump of the bass drum, those silky-smooth horns, and vocals that sound like the backup singers are in my living room.... I love it, man. Beauty is not just looks. I'm listening to a 6CD set right now called "Can You Dig It? '70's Soul Experience", and it's just kickin' my ass....... but in a good way (Another set I recommend is a 5CD set called "In Yo' Face - The History Of Funk" - That one's REALLY-good).

 

[eedork]

I like the looks of many vintage receivers. One make that I really gravitate towards is Yamaha. I just wish they weren't so damn huge. If the CR1020/2020 were normal sized they'd be perfect.

I also like the look of the early black faced Optonica and Phillips Lab Series receivers. Both are very nice looking in my opinion.

-Matt

 

[Gang-Twanger]

I have a mid '70's Rotel receiver, and while it sounds great and everything, I've never liked the looks of it (The fact that some idiot took a permanent black marker and wrote "ROTEL" in big letters about an inch away from the factory "ROTEL" logo really did not help things much - I STILL haven't figured that one out). Even the RX-1603 doesn't thrill me in the looks department (and that's one of the best receivers ever made, for sure). I don't like the white-lit glass (which makes it look a bit yellow), and the way the glass panel is shaped, among other things. If those had blue or green lights, I think they would have sold more of them back in the day. I think vintage receivers need the colored display (but I DON'T like LED and digital displays though - I never have). Even when I was shopping for a guitar tuner, I had to get one of the old-fashioned ones with the VU-type meter (I think the old analog guitar tuners work better than digital ones anyway).

I'm also not fond of fake, vinyl veneers. I actually see that on a lot of big, expensive receivers like Sansui's G-Series stuff. Not my thing.

 

[jan_stevns]

Now see - this is a Vintage Receiver ....

Whut ? No Tandberg's mentioned yet ?

This is my favourite receiver of all - The model 2075mkII from Tandberg

 

[albireo13]

That looks sensational !!!

Whut ? No Tandberg's mentioned yet ?

This is my favourite receiver of all - The model 2075mkII from Tandberg

 

[jdurbin1]

I am borrowing these pics from a current Craigslist ad, simply because they are stunning images that show just how nice this receiver can be when it's in mint condition.

John

 

[71Challenger]

OMG, it must have been in the box all this time, simply gorgeous. :thmbsp:

 

[SoCal Sam]

I was gonna recommend a different Sansui (but very close to what you posted): The X700 series:

I still have my G-4700, and it still sounds as good as it looks.

When you see the insides of a G-9700 and behold the cost cutting from the previous year's TOTL G-9000, you might think differently.

 

[SoCal Sam]

Whut ? No Tandberg's mentioned yet ?

This is my favourite receiver of all - The model 2075mkII from Tandberg

Tandberg build quality is superb as well. The chassis is extruded aluminum.

 

[Brian]

There has been at least one other thread asking this question.
For me:
I prefer the Marantz 18 looks over the 19.
Most of the stuff looks like it comes from a cookie cutter, a slide rule dial on top, green, blue, pink/purple lighting (Superscope) and knobs, switches or sliders all over the place.
Make my vote for the little KLH 27. It dared to be different and is just lovely. Also, the AR receiver for its simplicity in design and looks. On the other end of the scale from the AR is the Scott 399. The Scott may be the most beautiful receiver ever while the KLH and AR are more of a personal taste. Interesting that 2 of my 3 have verier dials, I must have a thing for big knobs that I can twist and play with.

 

[SoCal Sam]

There has been at least one other thread asking this question...The Scott may be the most beautiful receiver ever... Interesting that 2 of my 3 have verier dials, I must have a thing for big knobs that I can twist and play with.

 

[Brian]

Go ahead and rub it in. For some reason I've never been able to land one. They were rare back in their day and expensive. The few owners who I knew would part with their wives first and those I had no desire to acquire.

 

[Descartridge]

Marantz 4270

Here is another offering- 28 switches.
Weighs a ton.
It's at my tech's for the needed fuse lamps so I cannot show it lit up. .