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Best "value" vintage receiver to buy today
- Thread starter 34dean
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tusntuk2
Active Member
Kinda like buyin a new car, right? I mean, it makes you start to understand what is most important, the "why" of the choice. For me, I would consider the listening environment, the type of music, the type of speakers, even the normal listening volume. These all can influence the choice. It's a very functional approach, to think of how it will best function. Vinyl or CD or FM, background office or home theatre support, garage or music studio, they all matter.
And then I would go get that same amp I had in college that I so dearly loved! Ahhhh, the good times. You gotta love it!
That's the key, just get what you love to listen to.
And then I would go get that same amp I had in college that I so dearly loved! Ahhhh, the good times. You gotta love it!
That's the key, just get what you love to listen to.
Blue Shadow
Waiting for Vintage Gear from this century
Starting to get into collecting instead of just building a stereo or two?
Blue Shadow
Waiting for Vintage Gear from this century
What do you mean by "value"? Performance for the money? Ability to sell for more tomorrow? curious what you goal is on this one. Seems you got your Marantz research done and moving forward with your next project. As always more input from you will help folks give you a ideas.
tusntuk2
Active Member
OK, I wasn't entirely fair, I didn't answer your valuable and often discussed question. There are many fans of many brands, as noted in the many AK forums. Marantz is generally very good, well made, serviceable, and it usually presents a popular sound (color). Personally I find the Marantz color warm and friendly, like a good brandy. But too much brandy and... Pioneer can be like that in their earlier series, kind of bassy, but they changed their tone in the later '70's. Some mid '70 Kenwoods have a fine balanced sound, not overly bassy or too crisp. Yamaha featured a clean, some say sterile sound. Like comparing digital to old tubes. And others, say a Sherwood S-7100A for example, have a certain "It" factor that just makes you want to keep listening for the next tune.
My favorite is a Pioneer SX-626. It's small, maybe 30w or less, but it is cap coupled, full of bass, plenty of features, sounds full at low volumes and it can rock my Klipsch bookshelves in the office, where it plays 12 hours a day. Oh, did I mention I was a Bass player?
So how will you apply the receiver? Speakers might have the most direct influence.
My favorite is a Pioneer SX-626. It's small, maybe 30w or less, but it is cap coupled, full of bass, plenty of features, sounds full at low volumes and it can rock my Klipsch bookshelves in the office, where it plays 12 hours a day. Oh, did I mention I was a Bass player?
So how will you apply the receiver? Speakers might have the most direct influence.
Hak Foo
Active Member
Contrarian opinion: if you aren't wedded to the 70s aesthetic, there's some amazing values to be had in the 80s gear before it went completely to AV focused. You can get a decent unit like a JVC R-X80 or NAD 7100 for a lot less than a serviced Marantz of similar wattage, and that leaves more in your budget for other sources and better speakers.
The big risk factor is that repairability is lower-- most of a 70s unit can be replaced out of the Mouser catalog, but a lot of newer units have unreplacable-except-for-scrapping-another-for-parts computer controls and/or custom components (like STK or SVI amplifier-in-a-pack units).
The big risk factor is that repairability is lower-- most of a 70s unit can be replaced out of the Mouser catalog, but a lot of newer units have unreplacable-except-for-scrapping-another-for-parts computer controls and/or custom components (like STK or SVI amplifier-in-a-pack units).
Ya Kenwood made some awesome stuff back in the day and would look killer with your new table, but never being a receiver guy can't really make any recommendation other than integrated models. With that in mind, first I must ask if radio is that important? And if so a schveet tuner can always be added and looks awesome when matched with the amp. And here's the thing, Kenwood has a rep for making outstanding tuners.
Here's an example, notice the clean architectural layout of the true dual mono design.
With the matching tuner.
And a table very similar to yours, how convenient lol.
Here's an example, notice the clean architectural layout of the true dual mono design.
With the matching tuner.
And a table very similar to yours, how convenient lol.
Oldsansui441
Super Member
Hi, if you are not specifically set on a Marantz then just about anything else is better value for the money as you won't be paying that unjustified Marantz tax. Pioneer and Sansui are probably next down the line with the brand tax. Best value for the money would be Kenwood, Sherwood (already mentioned), Sony, Akai, Yamaha, Technics, JVC, Sanyo, Hitachi etc....
edit: I forgot to mention Luxman, HK, Rotel and Realistic.
For the same money as a 2230 you could get a receiver in another brand with 50-70 wpc, 4 gang FM tuner etc.
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There are several words that I never associate with "good value" in the same sentence. They include "Marantz" and "Sansui". I'd also throw in big Pioneer gear and rarer flagship monster receivers like the Yamaha CR-3020, which goes for 2-3 times the price of the similar 2020. The real value now seems to be in low powered "brand name" receivers from Pioneer, Kenwood, Yamaha and similar manufacturers, and all receivers from less-popular brands like Hitachi, Toshiba, Akai, Radio Shack, etc. If I had to single out one brand as good value, it would probably be Sherwood, especially if you like the "Marantz sound".
Oldsansui441
Super Member
Yes but the CR-3020 is nearly twice as heavy (37kg) as the 2020 and with an estimate of only 2000-2500 built.
The Harman Kardon 330B and Pioneer SX-626 are both cap-coupled with a distinctive, sweet or warm "vintage" sound. They are ~25 wpc, so good for smaller spaces or less-than-super-loud listening, have good to very good discrete FM reception, nice PHONO stages (for MM, not MC), and the Pioneer has two PHONO inputs (if you need that). Neither has a remote control nor start up mute. Either can be had, recapped, for well within your budget.
The Harman Kardon 730 "twin power series" receiver is direct-coupled, so more true or neutral sound, has two power supplies to make each channel a little a stronger, has more watts, and should ring in with a recap under or at your budget. The 730s have a strong fan base here on AK... and for good reason.
Just two contenders for you.
The Harman Kardon 730 "twin power series" receiver is direct-coupled, so more true or neutral sound, has two power supplies to make each channel a little a stronger, has more watts, and should ring in with a recap under or at your budget. The 730s have a strong fan base here on AK... and for good reason.
Just two contenders for you.
tanker 200
Super Member
Have you looked at Sanyo receivers? they made some very nice sounding stuff that you never hear about, I have a little Sanyo amp that sounds great,I'm sure their receivers sound just as good.
BlackHoleBam
Active Member
Hilarious he said Marantz but one sentence of all these posts acknowledged it. OP nobody wants you to get a Marantz hah, sorry bud!
BlackHoleBam
Active Member
I spotted a tx9500II for my neighbor years back and inside is laid out. Dual power supply. All the models have that real beveled glass. He has the 4500II as well. Unsung heroes they are.
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