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Looking for opinions on less popular brands of 70's receivers. Sherwood etc

Donny

Donny

Big Damn Hero
I'm on a bit of a vintage kick lately. Considering picking up a sherwood 8900a/7900a but I may not need that much power but I do need good bass. Would a 7100a be up to the task? My speakers are 98dm 4ohm. I rarely get over 80db. I'm thinking of also getting the old jvc with the 5band eq something like a 5551 but I may not be able to get that particular model. May need some alternatives there. Then there's realistic! Maybe the sta 225?

For the most part I'm a sansui guy and rank mine from fav to less 551,4000,au-417,seven
 
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Donny said:
I'm on a bit of a vintage kick lately. Considering picking up a sherwood 8900a/7900a but I may not need that much power but I do need good bass. Would a 7100a be up to the task? My speakers are 98dm 4ohm. I rarely get over 80db. I'm thinking of also getting the old jvc with the 5band eq something like a 5551 but I may not be able to get that particular model. May need some alternatives there. Then there's realistic! Maybe the sta 225?

For the most part I'm a sansui guy and rank mine from fav to less 551,4000,au-417,seven
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Harmon Kardon too... they were hard to sell, had to sell them on merit which could be explained... twin power, ect. ... as well as listening. Most salesmen wouldn't take the time and let manufacture's ads and commercials do most of the talking... and, in the back of their minds, they didn't want to talk themselves out of a sale. Sherwood had good sound as did Sansui, that is, they were noted for it. Pioneer and Marantz always caught the eye and people gravitated towards them, much of that 'charm' is why they command higher prices today. Sansui was known in the four channel world for it's QS matrix which helped them during those years and beyond, the top, or near top of the line command high prices still as does their higher powered stereo units... 9090 and after.
 
I don't think this era vintage likes 4 ohm speakers very much. But that's for you to decide.

The Sherwood 8900a is the last of the made in USA. After this manufacturing shipped offshore. Nothing wrong with that but it was a new direction.
 
Tom Brennan said:
Back in the 70s quite a few audiophiles thought Sherwood made the best sounding SS receivers.
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I've read good things and that's what put them on my radar. There's just not the vast wealth of info and opinions on them like the pioneers,marantz and sansui. I'm trying to find the right model for me :)

spicer said:
Harmon Kardon too... they were hard to sell, had to sell them on merit which could be explained... twin power, ect. ... as well as listening. Most salesmen wouldn't take the time and let manufacture's ads and commercials do most of the talking... and, in the back of their minds, they didn't want to talk themselves out of a sale. Sherwood had good sound as did Sansui, that is, they were noted for it. Pioneer and Marantz always caught the eye and people gravitated towards them, much of that 'charm' is why they command higher prices today. Sansui was known in the four channel world for it's QS matrix which helped them during those years and beyond, the top, or near top of the line command high prices still as does their higher powered stereo units... 9090 and after.
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I have a hk 330a awaiting recap and repair. It will be my first real ss project. I started vintage years ago with pioneer the sx1010 was my fav of the bunch but pioneer just wasn't my sound. I've only had one marantz a 2270,it's a battle between it and my sansui 551 for the vintage top spot. Currently on the look out for an 881 maybe a non db 8080 as well. I don't think I want anything newer than the 8080.

2011etec said:
Hitachi is a great brand often overlooked.
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I'll look into those.

Moving Ahead said:
I don't think this era vintage likes 4 ohm speakers very much. But that's for you to decide.

The Sherwood 8900a is the last of the made in USA. After this manufacturing shipped offshore. Nothing wrong with that but it was a new direction.
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I think you are right on the 4ohm load. Sansui's no problem but my marantz 2270 sound signature changes dramatically as volume increases. I know this is somewhat normal,every amp seems to have a sweet spot. I think the 4ohm load makes it a little narrower.
From what I've read the 8900a has a big sansui type sound and the 9910 leans more towards a marantz sound. Not a whole lot of people talking about the sound signature.
 
Have the S-8900A and the S-7200. The 8900A has more power find it more neutral sounding than the S-7200. The S-7200 has been one of my favorites to listen to in the workroom, strains a bit in the living room setup. 8900A around 60 wpc the S-7200 claimed 40 wpc. I have a very favorable impression of the old Sherwoods. The S-7100A gets a lot of positive talk cap coupled design was the model below the S-7200.

Can also be on the lookout for a Phillips High Fidelity Laboratories receiver. American built, Phillips had acquired Magnavox. Picked up a 785 fix and repair and like the sound of it too. Many respects reminded me of the S-7200 in sound. Another likeable unit, 1980 vintage model but amp circuit more like some of the early to mid 70s direct coupled designs with all NPN outputs like the S-7200. A number of people say they were built at a Magnavox plant in Greenville TN. I did notice the main board in the 785 was labeled "TN 30W". The 785 is the lower end of the line, the 787 would be in the same power class as the 8900A. It has 785 on the front panel, but the stock number on the back is 22AH785/44. Created some confusion when I was getting familiar with the series, some just mention the three digit number other sources used the stock number. This one is silver faced but they also did black faced versions too.

Sherwood Best Buy Ad 1974.jpeg Sherwood-S-7900A-Stereo-Receiver-Chicagoan-with-Clout.jpg
 
Don't overlook the Sony STR series, particularly the 6065 and 7065......Sony made some high quality gear in the 70's....built like tanks and very good looking with the real wood cabinets.....plenty of power for your mentioned needs.......also the Mac 4100 would fill the bill, but would cost a few bills as well.
 
Harmon Kardon sounded far better than the Japanese brands.. but move up to the 80's ..
There really wasn't much SS gear that sounded good in the 70's no matter the brand ..
 
I had a Zenith MC-7040 receiver that I thought sounded good. I believe it was around 25 watts per channel.
 
Akustic said:
Harmon Kardon sounded far better than the Japanese brands.. but move up to the 80's ..
There really wasn't much SS gear that sounded good in the 70's no matter the brand ..
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Not sure if you worded your response correctly to say not much SS Gear sounded good in the 70's?

I found that there was so much of it, it was astounding, and confusing. There was only one thing to do back then, and that was to literally hang out for hours in the audio stores, and play with everything in house. And we commonly did.

Plus there'd be many other customers auditioning gear also, those truly were the heydays.

I think there was also probably some persuasion-pressuring from salesmen, pushing certain brands due to inventory that needed to be moved-sold. Thus, certain brands were often sold at basically near close out prices. And sure, many walked away with many fine units.
Or to sweeten a deal, were sometimes sold as "packages". Perceived lesser brands-models.

There were as mentioned, Sherwood, Kenwood, Tandberg, Revox, HK, Fisher, Luxman, and quite a few smaller brands. All were pretty decent to varying degrees. Of course the big brands were Marantz, Sansui, Pioneer. Usually not many could afford McIntosh. Or didn't like McIntosh for aesthetic reasons, they didn't have all those wonderful crazy vast arrays of knobs, switches, lights, (bells and whistles) brushed faceplates, etc. and sort of looked plain jane in comparison in their own way I guess.
 
Lafayette and Radio Shack are oft overlooked for 70's era receivers of decent quality.

And thru the wall of smoke looking back...cough cough...I seem to recall the 80's was the decade receivers went to the garish looking mish-mash of buttons, sliders, graphics, and SQ went in the dust bin.
 
Early JVC are well regarded by those that understand builds, I have not heard one in 40+ years.
Sansui Receivers like 771 were sleepers, not sure if still the case.
Onkyo 2500 or 3500 (I or II) also were sleepers.

Of course sleepers is relative since many also knew of these but they did not garner the hype like the big names.

Back in early 70's my first "serious" stereo had a Kenwood receiver (likely 40 watt, no idea of model), then Pioneers of varying sizes over the years ending with the 949 that got stolen.

Currently I am hoarding:
SX 950
SX 750
Sansui 771
Onkyo 2500 II
Marantz 2235b
Yamaha CR 1020
Yamaha separates = 820 series.
MAC 1900

Running:
Fisher 500b
MC2205 X 2
 
markd51 said:
Not sure if you worded your response correctly to say not much SS Gear sounded good in the 70's?

I found that there was so much of it, it was astounding, and confusing. There was only one thing to do back then, and that was to literally hang out for hours in the audio stores, and play with everything in house. And we commonly did.

Plus there'd be many other customers auditioning gear also, those truly were the heydays.

I think there was also probably some persuasion-pressuring from salesmen, pushing certain brands due to inventory that needed to be moved-sold. Thus, certain brands were often sold at basically near close out prices. And sure, many walked away with many fine units.
Or to sweeten a deal, were sometimes sold as "packages". Perceived lesser brands-models.

There were as mentioned, Sherwood, Kenwood, Tandberg, Revox, HK, Fisher, Luxman, and quite a few smaller brands. All were pretty decent to varying degrees. Of course the big brands were Marantz, Sansui, Pioneer. Usually not many could afford McIntosh. Or didn't like McIntosh for aesthetic reasons, they didn't have all those wonderful crazy vast arrays of knobs, switches, lights, (bells and whistles) brushed faceplates, etc. and sort of looked plain jane in comparison in their own way I guess.
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Like everything depends on the comparison measure.. we probably tripped over each other in those stores ..

Compared to the tube amps available .. no ..
Compared 80's amps when the SS technology matured .. no ..
Compared to the early high end or AR and Conrad Johnson gear .. no

SS was having growing pains in the 70's .. no damping factors ... edgy transistors ..
Mostly dark and syrupy or edgy to my ear .. but everyone has their standard.
I'd take any of their tube amps over their early transistor amps every time ..

Every one talks about build quality but all I ever cared about was sound quality ..
 
I always enjoyed the sound produced by Sherwoods tube stuff. It was easier to listen to than the Scott and Fisher pieces I owned. But the plastic face plates and knobs just turned me off so I passed. Early Scott Fisher and Sherwood SS gear was not that dependable and didn't sound all that great. So when we went to our first CES show in Chicago we became Sansui and Pioneer dealers. We wanted Marantz but there was a dealer 6 blocks down the street already well established. When Technics introduced the SL 1200 we had to buy the whole line in order to get the Turntables. We basically gave the electronics away at spring and fall clearance sales just so we get get the turntables. I am afraid its the same today. You want to be a TT dealer you buy the electronics, too.

Then the big dealers in the big cities got what ever product they wanted, while the smaller dealers were left fight over what little else was available.
 
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