Best Vintage solid state Integrated Amplifier

[Shujaa]

you have owned?

I owned SA-9900, it produces awesome sound.

To do list: I would like to try out Sansui AU-20000, Marantz 1300DC and Akai AM-2950

Thanks

 

[Will S.]

I had a Harmon Kardon HK 505 back before it was "vintage". Definitely worth owning.

Is 90s era NAD considered vintage? I got a lot of good (ab)use out of a 317, partly standalone and partly with the matching 214 power amp (both bridged).

 

[Shujaa]

Sounds like folks mostly use receivers. Not integrated amps or specs

 

[NickDanger55]

You didn't specify tube or solid state. I like my Eico ST-40 integrated tube amp with all necessary mods.

 

[Shujaa]

Yes, I was referring to solid state. Which brand speakers you use with Eico ST-40?

 

[Dr. Ears]

Sansui AU-7700

 

[Blue Shadow]

Luxman L-580 an awesome IA.

 

[Tube Sound]

To do list: I would like to try out Sansui AU-20000, Marantz 1300DC and Akai AM-2950

Of your list, have only owned the Akai AM-2950. I've owned two of them. Wonderful amps and still had for reasonable. I would add a Kenwood KA-9100 as another, still reasonably priced. Some of this gear has gone priced to the moon.

 

[jimfet]

Back in the late 70's I sold audio equipment. I also had a SA 9900, running a set of Altec 19's. I sold the 9900 to get a set of the Spec 1 an 4. Mistake. The 9900 sounded better with the 19's. Wish I hadn't of switched.

 

[just dave]

Some of the best ones were only released in Japan

 

[KentTeffeteller]

you have owned?

I owned SA-9900, it produces awesome sound.

To do list: I would like to try out Sansui AU-20000, Marantz 1300DC and Akai AM-2950

Thanks

Best integrated solid state amplifier I have owned, the McIntosh MA 6100. So fine, I've owned it twice.

 

[Catmanboo]

I have 4, Pioneer A-7, Marantz 1060, Sony TA-1150, SAE2 A-7. Toss-up between the Pioneer & Marantz. Don't like slide controls, as in the Sony. The SAE 2 I bought new in early 80's, had problems almost from day 1. Cool display, but would cycle in-out of protection or just stay in. Seemed to coincide with the seasons, believe it or not. So it sits in storage to this day.

 

[coonmanx]

Probably a recently acquired and recycle save Technics SU-V707. Just a nice unit. Fixed some bulbs, a speaker switch and cleaned it up. I also plan to have a tech go through it since it is a keeper. A bit beat up but I didn't pay a whole lot. I already went through the NAD phase... Started with Technics in 1980 and still running some today.

At 90 WPC of good clean power the SU-V707 is more than enough to run anything I have up to ear spliting levels, which is something I no longer do since I live in an apartment building.

 

[RT Fan]

I still have my first IA, a Sony 500ES, still doing duty in a basement rig, 30 years later. I also own 2 Rotel IA’s, a RA-12 I use a a pre in my main system and a RA-1070 in my apartment system. The 1070 was a great value when I was able to pick up the demo model and save myself a couple of hundred bucks. Great flexibility which allows me to burn cassettes to cd as well as albums while running those through an EQ. Love me some Integrated Amplifiers.

 

[David_NC]

I'm pretty fond of my Kenwood KA-9100, though I also really like my Marantz 1060. They are kinda opposites, in a way - the Kenwood is direct coupled, has 90 watts / channel, and feels a bit more modern while the Marantz is capacitor coupled, has 30 watts / channel, and def has a more vintage feel. I'd say the Kenwood is closer to the ones you mentioned, especially the Akai. Early-mid 70's Sony equipment is really nice, too, though I don't recall model number at the moment.

 

[Shujaa]

Some of the best ones were only released in JapanView attachment 2111307

Darn

 

[Grenadeslio]

seen in my avatar along with the matching KT7300 tuner

 

[Shujaa]

Looks pretty clean and nice.

The vintage equipment were very solidly build. They are still alive after that many years ... unfortunately they are no longer affordable

 

[Lavane]

I'm pretty fond of my Kenwood KA-9100, though I also really like my Marantz 1060. They are kinda opposites, in a way - the Kenwood is direct coupled, has 90 watts / channel, and feels a bit more modern while the Marantz is capacitor coupled, has 30 watts / channel, and def has a more vintage feel. I'd say the Kenwood is closer to the ones you mentioned, especially the Akai. Early-mid 70's Sony equipment is really nice, too, though I don't recall model number at the moment.

Slap a DC power amp on that 1060. I've been using my 1060 as a preamp for a model 140 power amp for some time. Recently I connected a Sony ES330 to it. You still get the same overall tone without the bass getting flabby at higher volumes.

 

[David_NC]

Slap a DC power amp on that 1060. I've been using my 1060 as a preamp for a model 140 power amp for some time. Recently I connected a Sony ES330 to it. You still get the same overall tone without the bass getting flabby at higher volumes.

I'll eventually do that, though I'm not sure that it'll be a better preamp than the TA-2000. There's one way to find out, though! I recapped my 1060 and used higher rated caps, as recommended, and the bass did improve a good bit, but I'm sure it's not as good as the that ES. I've been looking for a nice TA-3200 to go along with that Sony, but those ES330's look good, too!