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TripathFan
Vladimir Shushurin >>> All
Looks decent enough. How does it sound?
AstroZon
Well-Known Member
I did a side by side comparison of this Hitachi against my Onkyo TX-80, another receiver that uses STK power ICs. I had them connected to a Denon DCD-620 CD player and a pair of NHT Model 1.3 speakers. The Hitachi was made in 1978, right at the beginning of the power IC era, while the Onkyo is about 10 years newer. The Hitachi specs at 60 wpc (which sounds dubious - more like 30) and the Onkyo is properly rated at 33 wpc. The Onkyo has inputs for Phono, CD, Tape In/Out, and Aux. The Hitachi has no Aux, just Phono and Tape I/O. So you can connect a CD player or a tape deck, but not both.
For looks, the Hitachi is the clear winner. You just can't beat its clean look with brushed aluminum and knobs. Also on the Hitachi, the FM signal stength and tuning LEDs double as peak power indicators with the push of a button. Oohhh flashing LEDs!, turn off the lights and break out the Donna Sommer record.
FM reception is apples and oranges with the Onkyo's quartz synthesized tuning vs the Hitachi's analog 2 gang variable capacitor. The little 2 gang needs help from an antenna, but sounds great when it locks in. It must use a good filter because there was virtually no noise when it was tuned in. The Onkyo can pick up several stations with no antenna, and with an antenna it's very clear, strong, and doesn't drift at all.
With the CD player, the Hitachi sounded very clean with very clear highs. But the Onkyo sounded better overall - tighter, more pronounced bass, much better mids, and punchier transients. Still with its brilliant highs, the Hitachi would do well connected to a pair of speakers with 2" paper cone tweeters like Bose 301s or many 70s Japanese speakers. I suspect that it was engineered with that type of speaker in mind.
Here's a pic of the Onkyo:
For looks, the Hitachi is the clear winner. You just can't beat its clean look with brushed aluminum and knobs. Also on the Hitachi, the FM signal stength and tuning LEDs double as peak power indicators with the push of a button. Oohhh flashing LEDs!, turn off the lights and break out the Donna Sommer record.
FM reception is apples and oranges with the Onkyo's quartz synthesized tuning vs the Hitachi's analog 2 gang variable capacitor. The little 2 gang needs help from an antenna, but sounds great when it locks in. It must use a good filter because there was virtually no noise when it was tuned in. The Onkyo can pick up several stations with no antenna, and with an antenna it's very clear, strong, and doesn't drift at all.
With the CD player, the Hitachi sounded very clean with very clear highs. But the Onkyo sounded better overall - tighter, more pronounced bass, much better mids, and punchier transients. Still with its brilliant highs, the Hitachi would do well connected to a pair of speakers with 2" paper cone tweeters like Bose 301s or many 70s Japanese speakers. I suspect that it was engineered with that type of speaker in mind.
Here's a pic of the Onkyo:
Drumolator
Super Member
Cool find. Enjoy. Peace and goodwill.