Blue Shadow
Waiting for Vintage Gear from this century
I was thinking that, too.
Is Optonica good equipment??
- Thread starter slow_jazz
- Start date
Blue Shadow
Waiting for Vintage Gear from this century
What was it that didn't stand out, or what units do you have and why do they stand out?
I looked at a few of the Optonica receivers and they are showing on the back by the speaker connections that they can drive a 4Ω load. Maybe you have a different experience with them or maybe some of the units didn't specify that they can be used with 4Ω speakers.
knotscott
Super Member
Depends on how you define "good equipment". It's always relative to what you've been exposed to. For every piece of audio gear ever made, however modest or advanced, there is someone who's an enthusiastic fan. I've never owned any Optonica, but it was one of the lines a store that I worked for carried. It never left the impression that was anything special among the slew of other mass market mid-fi gear. Luxman was their more elite of the mid-fi stuff.
That’s funny, I feel Luxman is nice and yes I actually have owned Luxman amps, a few of them actually I feel optonica is a better brand. Luxman used STK chips in a lot of there amps too. I actually compare my optonica amps to Luxman, they have a very similar sound stage. If you know Luxman you know they generally have a lot of warmth, same goes with optonica.
So have you actually listened to an optonica amp?
Dorkelstein
Super Member
Hard to remember but one was a 5205 low powered with analog tuner and a 5407 which I believe was 60wpc digital tuner. I think they just didn't stand out to me. One mans poison is another man's meat they say. They were laid back sounding. I'm not disparaging them, just didn't go whiz-bang for me.
knotscott
Super Member
I've certainly listened to them, but not in my system. I've never owned either, but if I'm being honest, I don't consider most of the Luxman amps of the late 80s anything more than better mid-fi.
Blue Shadow
Waiting for Vintage Gear from this century
Dorkelstein
Super Member
Hifi isn't an era. I guess it's the quality of the sound reproduction. I guess in a way Hifi represents pre-stereo hi fidelity recordings.
Dorkelstein
Super Member
Had a Luxman from that period and it was a lot like the Optonica for me. Ok but nothing special.
knotscott
Super Member
On the relatively affordable side - B&K, Discrete Technology, Adcom, Dynaco, Hafler, Belles, Melos, Cary, Bryston, Willsenton, Vincent are a few that come to mind..
Dorkelstein
Super Member
I'd throw Parasound in there for good measure.
doctor fuse
Super Member
Interestingly, I have a Sharp receiver I got for free, SA-250, 22wpc, small form-factor, but very heavy for its size with a large power transformer inside. It sounds much better than higher-powered amps and receivers from the same time frame (late 70s/early 80s). Almost like an even cheaper and bare-bones NAD 3020.
With ya there, I feel they are on par or better than Luxman. Most people consider Luxman of that era to be good. Clearly there are better amps, for me I am happy with the optonica gear I have and I do try to hunt for it over other brands. I like the styling of the slim line amps; they sound good to my ears too. the phono stages are rather impressive. I don’t think I’d use the word “mid-fi” tho; more so HiFi of its era. I like it and I will keep buying it
more for me! Their integrated amps for me are just great, same with the early National Panasonic stuff… can’t seem to get enough of them
Ohhhh I like it!!! Looks killer I love that layout!
doctor fuse
Super Member
Haha! Layout is just haphazard storage in my awkward front room. It’s where free and cheap gear I pick up ends up, and gets tested out. I am shocked by how good the little green amp is - I had given it to a friend with a turntable, thinking it was bottom end stuff, but she returned it a year later because she hadn’t ended up getting into vinyl and felt it should go to someone who would actually use it.
If you find this amp for cheap, get it!
The Sharp SA-250 receiver has a similar aesthetic to my excellent sounding Sanyo Plus T35 tuner with its moving led station readout. stock video:
I hunt for shape and optonica and gear also fisher of the era often.
there are some gems out there and if you know your looking for you can find some cool stuff. I do like some of the STK chips and know they can be a lot of fun.
Brewer probably snagged it.
Brewer probably snagged it.
Ha I wish lol
