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List of capacitor coupled solid state receivers and integrated amplifiers

GyroTuner

GyroTuner

AK Subscriber
Subscriber
The latest list of capacitor coupled integrated amplifiers and receivers (dated 04/08/2023) is now attached to this message, the first message in a long thread.

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Due to my own interest, sparked by the discussion on this site, I’ve assembled a list of capacitor coupled integrated amplifiers and receivers, using information from various sources. Some of this is from just trusting what shows up in Internet searches, but some is from attempts to look at schematics and nudies.

The list is limited the list to two-channel, solid state, and pre-1974 (when nearly all cap coupled equipment was built) receivers and integrated amplifiers. This means that it excludes quadrophonic receivers, tube amps, modern gear, and power amps. The watt per channel rating for each device is listed in parentheses.

I’m far from being an expert, so the list likely has lots of errors, and I know that it has many omissions. I hope to make it more correct and complete. If you have additions, deletions, or corrections to this list, please post them here. Thank you!

Receivers

Akai AA-910 (14)
Akai AA-920 (30)
Akai AA-930 (42)
Harman Kardon 230A (10)
Harman Kardon 330A (20)
Harman Kardon Nocturne 330 (30)
JVC 5001 (25)
JVC 5010 (13)
JVC 5020 (25)
Kenwood KR-4140 (18)
KLH 27 (30)
Marantz 2210 (10)
Marantz 2215 (15)
Marantz 2220 (20)
Marantz 2230 (30)
Marantz 26 (14)
Pioneer SX-424 (12)
Pioneer SX-440 (12)
Pioneer SX-525 (13)
Pioneer SX-626 (20)
Pioneer SX-770 (15)
Sansui 210 (10)
Sansui 350 (18)
Sansui 441 (11)
Sansui 800 (20)
Sansui 1000x (28)
Sansui 2000x (39)
Sansui 3000A (45)
Sony STR-6040 (22)

Integrated Amplifiers

Fisher TX-50 (18)
Kenwood KA-2000 (13)
Kenwood KA-2002 (13)
Kenwood KA-2500 (20)
Kenwood KA-4002 (18)
Kenwood KA-4004 (18)
Marantz 1030 (15)
Marantz 1060 (30)
Nikko TRM-300 (16)
Pioneer SA-500 (13)
Pioneer SA-600 (19)
Pioneer SA-700 (27)
Rotel RA-310 (15)
Sansui AU-101 (15)
Sansui AU-222 (18)
Sansui AU-505 (16)
Sansui AU-555 (20)
Sansui AU-555A (25)
Sansui AU-777 (25)
Sansui AU-777A (30)
Sansui AU-777D (30)
Scott Stereomaster 260 (30)
Sony TA-1010 (15)
 

Attachments

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There are probably tons more.
I'm not trying to thread crap. I'm a little confused, why.
Clearly not a knock on cap coupled units. Just that it was pretty much SOP until mid 70s (?) Nearly everything was (even most tube gear before)
 
nj pheonix said:
Just that it was pretty much SOP until mid 70s (?) Nearly everything was (even most tube gear before)
Click to expand...

Not true. The higher powered gear was usually direct coupled even in the same product line (i. e. Marantz, Sansui, Pioneer), and some makes for the most part stayed away from capacitor coupling (i. e. Sony) even in the early 70s. There was also some transformer coupled gear, Sherwood, for example.

As for the reason for making a list, none really, other than that I'm interested in the topic. Solid state only as noted above. If you have corrections, deletions, or additions, it would be much appreciated. Thanks.
 
Here are a couple more for your list:

Integrated Amplifiers:
Kenwood KA-6000 (60)
H H Scott 299-F (15)
H H Scott 299-T (15)

Receivers:
H H Scott 342 (15)
H H Scott 342B (15)
H H Scott 382 (15)
H H Scott 382B (15)
H H Scott 344 (18)
H H Scott 348 (22)
H H Scott 348B (22)
 
I had a strange receiver that appears to be cap coupled and has transformers in the driver stage of the amp section. A pretty odd duck even for RS. A Realistic STA-65C. It's the one on top of the Fisher. I gave it to someone along with a couple Realistic speakers.
20200423_123120.jpg
 
GyroTuner said:
Is it the other way around? I've read elsewhere that the S-7100 is transformer couple and the 7100A is cap coupled. Thanks.
Click to expand...
They're both cap coupled to the speaker terminals according to the service manuals. The S-7100 is also transformer coupled between the driver and output transistors.
 
Sony TA-1120, TA-1120A (50)
Pioneer SA-900 (50)

Maybe OP should edit #1, so we all can see what are in the list and add the missing ones.
 
Also have to watch the power ratings. The specs in the manual for the Pioneer SX-1500TD only give one channel driven into 8 ohms it is assumed that is a 1 kHz sine that is stated as 58 watts. The SX-9000 gives the single channel driven as 62 but does give a both channels spec it drops to only 50 watts (1 kHz).

The FTC clamped down on power ratings and numbers used in advertising around 1974. Both channels driven 20-20 kHz under specific conditions. I think for the most part the cap coupled designs were gone from the market by then.

Add to the list:
Sansui 2000A (35)

Having overhauled an old Sansui 3000A it was not a cap coupled design. Early 70s service bulletin has adding bi-polar caps on the output (effectively a high pass crossover blocking DC) with some other modifications because too many apparently fried woofers. Apparently not one of Sansui's most stable amplifier designs.

Little information seems to be out there on the Fisher 190B, guessing it is in the mid teens power wise. Figuring it is similar to the 180 etc but with push buttons.
IMG_20190414_013003.jpg
 
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yeah early power numbers were a bit nonsense. I think the Sherwood S9500a claims 70 watts on the face. The number I gave comes from HifiEngine and does reasonably match what mine measured but my test was single channel, 1khz. I was making the centering adjustment for equal clipping. It would not make 25 watts under FTC standards, guessing it would probably do 15-20 under those conditions. Its definitely not doing 70 watts or 35 per channel. I don't think I ever did a power output test on my Allied 495, which is an SX-1500TD under the hood. If I did, I have no particular memory of what the results were.
 
dly66 said:
Little information seems to be out there on the Fisher 190B, guessing it is in the mid teens power wise. Figuring it is similar to the 180 etc but with push buttons.
View attachment 1842297
Click to expand...

Thank you for all the information and corrections. I'll post a new list soon with all the corrections and additions posted by everyone. I found a Fisher 190B spec sheet from an old listing on Reverb.


Picture_Fisher_190b_spec_sheet.jpg
 
Thank you all for the corrections/additions. The list is getting better!

Here is an updated list. I'll continue to update the list periodically when new corrections/additions become available. The watt per channel ratings (in parentheses) are sometimes "guesstimates", due to changes in the FTC standards and other reasons, but most are taken are from either hifiengine or the original manuals.

Receivers

Akai AA-910 (14)
Akai AA-920 (30)
Akai AA-930 (42)
Allied 495 (50)
Fisher 190B (16)
Harman Kardon 230A (10)
Harman Kardon 330A (20)
Harman Kardon Nocturne 330 (30)
JVC 5001 (25)
JVC 5010 (13)
JVC 5020 (25)
Kenwood KR-4140 (18)
KLH 27 (30)
Marantz 2210 (10)
Marantz 2215 (15)
Marantz 2220 (20)
Marantz 2230 (30)
Marantz 26 (14)
Pioneer SX-424 (12)
Pioneer SX-440 (12)
Pioneer SX-525 (13)
Pioneer SX-626 (20)
Pioneer SX-770 (15)
Pioneer SX-990 (28)
Pioneer SX-1500TD (58)
Pioneer SX-9000 (50)
Sansui 210 (10)
Sansui 350 (18)
Sansui 441 (11)
Sansui 800 (20)
Sansui 1000X (28)
Sansui 2000A (35)
Sansui 2000X (39)
Scott 342 (18)
Scott 342B (18)
Scott 344 (18)
Scott 348 (22)
Scott 348B (22)
Scott 382 (18)
Scott 382B (18)
Sherwood S-7100A (18)
Sony STR-6040 (22)

Integrated Amplifiers

Fisher TX-50 (18)
Kenwood KA-2000 (13)
Kenwood KA-2002 (13)
Kenwood KA-2500 (20)
Kenwood KA-4002 (18)
Kenwood KA-4004 (18)
Kenwood KA-6000 (45)
Marantz 1030 (15)
Marantz 1060 (30)
Nikko TRM-300 (16)
Pioneer SA-500 (13)
Pioneer SA-600 (19)
Pioneer SA-700 (27)
Pioneer SA-900 (50)
Rotel RA-310 (15)
Sansui AU-101 (15)
Sansui AU-222 (18)
Sansui AU-505 (16)
Sansui AU-555 (20)
Sansui AU-555A (25)
Sansui AU-777 (25)
Sansui AU-777A (30)
Sansui AU-777D (30)
Scott 260 (30)
Scott 299-F (18)
Scott 299-T (17)
Sherwood S-9500 (20)
Sherwood S-9500B (20)
Sherwood S-9500C (35)
Sony TA-1010 (15)
Sony TA-1120 (50)
Sony TA-1120A (50)
 
Heed Audio Obelisk Si Integrated
Heed Audio Obelisk PS/PM amplifiers

Probably the Elixir integrated as well...
 
I was under the impression that all of the early Marantz solid state was capacitor coupled until the "DC" series came out in 1978, DC meaning "Direct Coupled."

I have two 170DCs power amps and an 1180DC integrated and each has a rear switch for Direct or capacitor coupled. It is my understanding that the Direct Coupled setting was prone to problems, and all of mine, and every one I've seen, is set to the capacitor coupled position.
 
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