Favorite Orphans

[Marek]

Hello All

Ok, we all know that the big names like Sansui, Pioneer and Marantz made some great stuff.

1) But what about the store brands, smaller less famous brands and discontinued brands that were well made and sounded good (and now sell for very little)?

What are some of the brands that people remember and like? Any Pics?

2) Also post any links that show the forgotten classic gear.

For me I'd say
MCS
Optonica
and Rogers Sound Labs

I like this post:

http://audiokarma.org/forums/showpost.php?p=847635&postcount=1

 

[onepixel]

Hey Marek,

Welcome to AK.

I've always had thing for Olson receivers. Old and funky. Optonicas were sleek and pretty cool too and Rogers speakers can still fetch a pretty penny and sound great.

Cheers

 

[Kernel86]

Definitely Sylvania for me! I also like the older Panasonic equipment and have an odd soft spot for K-Mart branded gear. I have pics of a bunch of my Sylvania gear in the Gallery here, their 4 channel receivers usually sell for a decent amount when they show up.

 

[bully]

Concept, of course.
My Optonica turntable is pretty nice, too.

 

[acronym]

finally matched my apt holman preamp to an apt 1 power amp (was using a hafler dh200)

... heaven ...

so now I'm looking for another apt power amp so I can biamp the ar9s

 

[SoCal Sam]

Rotel for me. Not a full blown big name back in the day, the TOTL such as the RX-1603 and the RA-1412 have amazing looks and sound as good as the big names. Not cheap anymore, the only bargain in this series is the RX-1203 which has the looks of the 1603 but not the price tag.

 

[mea2112]

Project/One made some really excellent receivers, especially the 150 wpc Mark 1500.

 

[alexkerhead]

I like my Sound Tech System Receiver. Well built 20wpc receiver with decent sound.
I also have a Rolecor STA-620 Receiver. Neat oddity.

 

[vintagestereo]

Rotel for me. Not a full blown big name back in the day, the TOTL such as the RX-1603 and the RA-1412 have amazing looks and sound as good as the big names. Not cheap anymore, the only bargain in this series is the RX-1203 which has the looks of the 1603 but not the price tag.

Concept
Rotel
Hitachi
Kyocera
Setton
Toshiba
Lafayette
Wintec

 

[winters860]

The Sanyo JCX-2900K receiver stands out in my mind as besting a large chunk of the competition in terms of looks and build quality.

 

[Marek]

Hello Onepixel

Thanks for the welcome

Olson is a new one for me, I saw some of there stuff in the gallery, they look good.

Hey Marek,

Welcome to AK.

I've always had thing for Olson receivers. Old and funky. Optonicas were sleek and pretty cool too and Rogers speakers can still fetch a pretty penny and sound great.

Cheers

 

[Marek]

That Sylvania's pretty cool, I loved those super size pics in the gallery

I would like to learn more about the older panasonic stuff as well :yes:

K-Mart, now I would like to see some of there stuff as well. (that's something I would never have thought of otherwise)

Definitely Sylvania for me! I also like the older Panasonic equipment and have an odd soft spot for K-Mart branded gear. I have pics of a bunch of my Sylvania gear in the Gallery here, their 4 channel receivers usually sell for a decent amount when they show up.

 

[bigmacc]

Nikko

Nikko under valued. under appreciated - great prices when on ebay.

 

[1 Starr]

and...

Any AKAI Receiver fans, What were their better models? :smshot:

 

[CUlater]

Any AKAI Receiver fans, What were their better models? :smshot:

AA-1200: 120 wrms/ch, dual trannys, great tuner. very underappreciated.

 

[Marek]

Concept

Ahhhhhh Concept, can't get enough of them :drool: :drool: :drool:

The silver n.a.d.'s are new to me and I like 'em :yes:

Concept, of course.
My Optonica turntable is pretty nice, too.

 

[Vinyl Rules!]

Setton: Maybe The Biggest Orphan of All???

We picked up the Setton line of receivers, tuners, and integrated amps back when I worked in a store. They were great looking, French-designed products and the most we could ever get out of our rep was that they were developed and built to spec by the French importer of Pioneer products into France. He said he never knew who built them - They just said "Manufactured in Japan" on the back, so we figured maybe Pioneer built these products?

Unlike French cars, we never had any service problems with Setton.

Unfortunately, they never were popular with our customers and we sold very few. Setton folded here in the US after only a few years.

This line is pretty rare and only a piece or two pops up for sale each year on eBay, so I don't even have any pics to post.

We had a standing joke with our Setton rep. He would always inquire how his Setton products were doing when he visited our store. And we always replied, well, they're still just a settin' on their display shelves :tresbon: :tresbon: :tresbon: :tresbon: :tresbon:

He didn't appreciate our Gallic gallows humor. And we never sold a single piece (not from lack of trying) so it became the merchandise we donated to places like the Ronald McDonald house, etc.

 

[Marek]

Setton

Setton are unique and gorgous...


Never heard about them when they were current:tears:

the styling is quite good, but the knobs are taking a little time to grow on me.

Found this pic on the web

We picked up the Setton line of receivers, tuners, and integrated amps back when I worked in a store. They were great looking, French-designed products and the most we could ever get out of our rep was that they were developed and built to spec by the French importer of Pioneer products into France. He said he never knew who built them - They just said "Manufactured in Japan" on the back, so we figured maybe Pioneer built these products?

Unlike French cars, we never had any service problems with Setton.

Unfortunately, they never were popular with our customers and we sold very few. Setton folded here in the US after only a few years.

This line is pretty rare and only a piece or two pops up for sale each year on eBay, so I don't even have any pics to post.

We had a standing joke with our Setton rep. He would always inquire how his Setton products were doing when he visited our store. And we always replied, well, they're still just a settin' on their display shelves :tresbon: :tresbon: :tresbon: :tresbon: :tresbon:

He didn't appreciate our Gallic gallows humor. And we never sold a single piece (not from lack of trying) so it became the merchandise we donated to places like the Ronald McDonald house, etc.

 

[Marek]

apt holman

the dad of a friend had the apt holman preamp in his his system when they were current

I remember they were very highly rated in the high end.:thmbsp:

finally matched my apt holman preamp to an apt 1 power amp (was using a hafler dh200)

... heaven ...

so now I'm looking for another apt power amp so I can biamp the ar9s

 

[rickr15]

http://www.soundcraftsmen.com/

My favorite off brand. I love every thing I own by these guys and the one SAE integrated I have sounds/looks pretty good as well.