Harman Kardon 330B

S

Steddie1

New Member
Always loved music and a good sound, but as a young parent was always on a budget. Put together some good second hand systems (Sansui, Rotel, Pioneer) and developed a love of getting good sound at a cheap price. 30 years later I can afford top line gear, but still have a hankering for vintage gear at a good price.
Found a Harmon Kardon 330B at a stupid price ($30) and connected it to my Wharfedale Varus 400 speakers, and I can’t believe the sound. Maybe it’s the long narrow room it’s in, but it’s amazing!
Clear, detailed, deep and warm with some punch. Has me listening to the radio more than ever, and great phono reproduction.

Does anybody out there in Ak land share this opinion or are my ears deceiving me? Am I biased because it was a bargain??

Interested in some feedback....
 
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sfox52 said:
The HK 330's are one of the best of the low powered classic receivers, lots of support for them here on AK if you should need it. Enjoy!
Click to expand...
sfox52 said:
The HK 330's are one of the best of the low powered classic receivers, lots of support for them here on AK if you should need it. Enjoy!
Click to expand...
Yet to see how it goes with digital input. One of the first amplifiers I’ve had that sounds great with neutral bass and treble....but perhaps that’s because I’ve never owned ‘audiophile’ gear. Is expensive equipment significantly better in quality or is it what your ears get used to?
 
I completely recapped one a few years ago as a project. It sounded really nice but I already had too much equipment to keep. Internally, it was very clean and uncluttered. Easy to work on except for one power supply cap. You are probably unfamiliar with the JBL SA600 amplifier from the late 60's but this model copied the uniquely styled knobs.
 
Steddie1 said:
Found a Harmon Kardon 330B at a stupid price ($30) and connected it to my Wharfedale Varus 400 speakers, and I can’t believe the sound. Maybe it’s the long narrow room it’s in, but it’s amazing! Clear, detailed, deep and warm with some punch. Has me listening to the radio more than ever, and great phono reproduction.
Click to expand...

The HK Three Thirty, the 330A and the 330B are great-sounding receivers and they get their particular "sound" from having big capacitors between the power amps circuit and the speakers. Modern equipment does not use this design. They also have individual transistors instead of amp-on-a-chip and quasi-complementary designs. These elements all add up to a particular "sound". There are a good number of other models from other manufacturers (Pioneer SX-626 is very similar) with these same designs and very similar "sound".

Enjoy the sound! You'l want to recap the unit soon as the electrolytic capacitors inside are aging and will fail sometime. Until then, enjoy the sound and share with firends who've only ever heard the very-neutral sound of today's designs. It's a treat to hear the difference.
 
dlucy said:
The HK Three Thirty, the 330A and the 330B are great-sounding receivers and they get their particular "sound" from having big capacitors between the power amps circuit and the speakers. Modern equipment does not use this design. They also have individual transistors instead of amp-on-a-chip and quasi-complementary designs. These elements all add up to a particular "sound". There are a good number of other models from other manufacturers (Pioneer SX-626 is very similar) with these same designs and very similar "sound".

Enjoy the sound! You'l want to recap the unit soon as the electrolytic capacitors inside are aging and will fail sometime. Until then, enjoy the sound and share with firends who've only ever heard the very-neutral sound of today's designs. It's a treat to hear the difference.
Click to expand...
Has anyone on this thread ever taken the faceplate off of a Three Thirty (nocturne) ?? I took the little nut from near the headphone jack, but the opposite side seems still attached..
 

Faceplate removal is at approx the 32 min mark.

Great receiver!
 
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