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

[playittwice]

^^^^ Agree 100%. It’s been my fave for years as well. Sent my 9090 to a new home.

(I believe it’s 36watts, but who’s counting)

 

[markd51]

And to the original poster some other thoughts.

The assemblage of an audio system. An age old question, "does one choose the Speakers for the Amp used, or choose the Amp for the Speakers used?

In my life, I've done both, and I've also taken a blank piece of paper a few times, and started fresh.

Pair something like a smaller Receiver in the 40-75 watt class with like my buddy with a Sansui Seven does, a pair of Klipsch Conrwall II's, or say a pair of JBL L-200's, L-300's, 4412's, 4425's, 4430's, the cops will be banging down your doors if you get stupid with the volume.

At current day, I myself could live with a simpler set-up, I think the main thing I would strive for, and probably like all of us would wish and hope for, is extremely good quality of sound foremost.

Take into account with any vintage gear, you may one day be paying a visit to a local audio tech for needed, or desired work. That's part of the game I reckon.

 

[g..v]

As of recently, I wouldn't turn away Sanyo or Yamaha. IIRC, Sanyo was making Fisher in Japan, and maybe on some models their own product got more consideration. I had one bad experience with a Denon because it had a "heat pipe" for cooling

 

[old 2080]

I know one Receiver that was always a personal favorite of mine, I probably sound like a broken record as to how I really liked this unit above so many others of the day.

And that was the Sansui Seven Receiver.
Sure, this Receiver was highly popular the moment it hit the market 45 some years ago, and is still a sought after unit today.

No, it's not the power monster that so many people then and today want, but this IMO was just one totally kick ass Receiver. What, 45wpc? A mighty strong rock solid blow you outta the house 45 watts when paired with the right speakers.

The build quality, the weight, the connections on back, the superb performance. There were countless Receivers I've heard at twice the price, and still liked the Seven better.

These "sort of" fall under the radar perhaps, no it isn't the 9090, or G-8000 that everyone today is falling over to buy, but this IMO was some of the best gear Sansui ever made. I always felt the Seven was a masterpiece!

https://goldenageofaudio.blogspot.com/2014/07/sansui-seven-stereo-receiver.html

I owned a Seven several years ago and really liked it, still kicking myself for letting that one go, I know of another one nearby for sale, but is quite pricey and it looks like it just came of of a basement after being there for 30 years or more, could clean up, but I just can't find it in myself to take a chance on it, I have enough others to keep me in sound for the rest of my time....lol

 

[Donny]

@markd51 I have a sansui seven. One day for fun I compared it to my mcintosh ma252,sansui 551+au417. The seven to me sounded more like the mcintosh than the other sansui's. The seven didn't have an issue with the 4ohm load. It's a keeper that gets in rotation.
Speakers or amp first? I say what you do is spend years swapping out multiple speakers,amps,sub woofers,dac and then you settle on your fav dozen that you then rotate For me it's more like 12-16 amps and I think 5 pairs of speakers.

 

[Donny]

As of recently, I wouldn't turn away Sanyo or Yamaha. IIRC, Sanyo was making Fisher in Japan, and maybe on some models their own product got more consideration. I had one bad experience with a Denon because it had a "heat pipe" for cooling

I haven't heard a sanyo in decades. I had one with the analog and digital display when I was a kid running bose 301. I figured I'd buy one again if I ever found one local.I got rid of it when I "upgraded" to a magnavox rack with 12inch woofers and a remote! The magnavox does do a pretty good job with 8-bit and 16-bit video games...

 

[Akustic]

And to the original poster some other thoughts.

The assemblage of an audio system. An age old question, "does one choose the Speakers for the Amp used, or choose the Amp for the Speakers used?

In my life, I've done both, and I've also taken a blank piece of paper a few times, and started fresh.

Pair something like a smaller Receiver in the 40-75 watt class with like my buddy with a Sansui Seven does, a pair of Klipsch Conrwall II's, or say a pair of JBL L-200's, L-300's, 4412's, 4425's, 4430's, the cops will be banging down your doors if you get stupid with the volume.

At current day, I myself could live with a simpler set-up, I think the main thing I would strive for, and probably like all of us would wish and hope for, is extremely good quality of sound foremost.

Take into account with any vintage gear, you may one day be paying a visit to a local audio tech for needed, or desired work. That's part of the game I reckon.

And Quality of sound is what it's always been about ..
When it comes to sound quality the classics are classics for that reason ... not how they look ..
It's a system .. a chain of components and it only sounds as good as it's weakest link.

And the current Vintage purchasing frenzy aside, and excepting some separates, there aren't many, if any 70's SS pieces
that are held up as icons, and desirable simply for their sound quality .. If you like their looks, well go for it ..
But it's about making music ...

 

[Akustic]

It's a weird funny looking square box, but a Quad 405 amp playing into a set of Quads will make fine sounding music as long it's functioning ..
That's why they're classics ..

The only maybe classic receiver that I can even think of would be the Advent and that's for it's phono stage, and it's ability to be a good sound vinyl preamp with a separate amp ..
I think that it came out in the 70's late..

 

[rickb119]

there aren't many, if any 70's SS pieces
that are held up as icons, and desirable simply for their sound quality

My Sansui AU-919 takes offence at that statement. The Pioneer SX-1010 is another one that is held in very high regard for it's sound quality. (I still regret selling mine. )

 

[Quadman2]

Just cross The Pond, the Brits put out some decent stuff back then.

I've got a "Quad 405" amp, a workhorse that just keeps going, with decent RMS.

Had a "303" to start with, then moved up for more power...along with a 33 pre-amp.

For a long time they shut the "Quad" factory down, but the Chinese have picked up the "ball" now cranking these out. However, can't say how these newer builds are working out.


Q

 

[Bodyblue]

And to the original poster some other thoughts.

The assemblage of an audio system. An age old question, "does one choose the Speakers for the Amp used, or choose the Amp for the Speakers used?

In my life, I've done both, and I've also taken a blank piece of paper a few times, and started fresh.

Pair something like a smaller Receiver in the 40-75 watt class with like my buddy with a Sansui Seven does, a pair of Klipsch Conrwall II's, or say a pair of JBL L-200's, L-300's, 4412's, 4425's, 4430's, the cops will be banging down your doors if you get stupid with the volume.

At current day, I myself could live with a simpler set-up, I think the main thing I would strive for, and probably like all of us would wish and hope for, is extremely good quality of sound foremost.

Take into account with any vintage gear, you may one day be paying a visit to a local audio tech for needed, or desired work. That's part of the game I reckon.

I have always liked the mid line 40 to 80 wpc units. After owned 40 or so vintage receivers I have come to regard my Sansui G 5700 as my favorite so far. 75wpc means it can drive any speaker I would want and it sounds nice doing it. I have kept one monster, Kenwood KR 8010, just to say I have one (it is truly an ass kicker) but of the few I have left, most are 35 to 50 wpc.

I will say one thing regarding separates vs receivers: I will always have a few receivers because I find them beautiful (yes, how something looks is part of the appeal to me) and interesting. I am not sure just why vintage receivers seem to piss off so many on this forum. Some of us actually like them while still liking modern and vintage separates.

 

[Akustic]

My Sansui AU-919 takes offence at that statement. The Pioneer SX-1010 is another one that is held in very high regard for it's sound quality. (I still regret selling mine. )

It is all about ears and opinions ..
I thought my 1010 was dark and syrupy .. but that was a long time ago .. like 1972 ..
And the big Sansui was darker, and the big Yamaha was sterile..
Gave up on receivers and went to integrated and separates after that ..
Had a pair of AR LST's that were teaching me that all amps sound different .. before those speakers I thought that amps were just about power and features.


I imagine we all got here on separate paths ..

 

[rickb119]

I thought my 1010 was dark and syrupy

Many would describe it a being rich and full. Perhaps not a accurate as (some) separates, but far more so than many (most) other receivers. What sets it apart, IME, is it's ability to envelope the listener with a very musical sound, without sacrificing too much detail (as compared to separates). It actually compared favorably to my B&K ex4420. Not quite as good, but close.

 

[Akustic]

Many would describe it a being rich and full. Perhaps not a accurate as (some) separates, but far more so than many (most) other receivers. What sets it apart, IME, is it's ability to envelope the listener with a very musical sound, without sacrificing too much detail (as compared to separates). It actually compared favorably to my B&K ex4420. Not quite as good, but close.

Preferences ..
I listen to a B&K ST 140 every day on my streamer ..same warmth and richness but more detailed ..
I know what you're describing .. but for me it's all about the detail and accuracy so I'm not gonna sacrifice it .. makes it sound more like real music ..

 

[Donny]

It is all about ears and opinions ..
I thought my 1010 was dark and syrupy .. but that was a long time ago .. like 1972 ..
And the big Sansui was darker, and the big Yamaha was sterile..
Gave up on receivers and went to integrated and separates after that ..
Had a pair of AR LST's that were teaching me that all amps sound different .. before those speakers I thought that amps were just about power and features.


I imagine we all got here on separate paths ..

I was using mass market rack systems before I discovered AK. I switched to vintage,some of them died then back to modern. I dug a few vintage pieces out and really enjoyed them. Started acquiring more receivers mainly but also a few speakers. I'm done chaising audiophile buzz words. Just want to enjoy good gear with good tone and good music.

 

[Akustic]

I was using mass market rack systems before I discovered AK. I switched to vintage,some of them died then back to modern. I dug a few vintage pieces out and really enjoyed them. Started acquiring more receivers mainly but also a few speakers. I'm done chaising audiophile buzz words. Just want to enjoy good gear with good tone and good music.

Hear ya ..
Being addicted to music is a good thing ....
I just started chasing making it sound more real long, long ago ..

 

[KentTeffeteller]

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

4 ohm can be a problem, especially if it's a reactive load which dips lower than nominal 4 ohms.

 

[Old HiFi Guy]

Surprised that Sony is not mentioned. Over the years I have owned a lot of stereo equipment includind a boatload of Sansui, Pioneer, Marantz, Kenwood, Sherwood, Phase Linear, SAE, Allied, Yamaha, Soundcraftsmen, Optonica, Nikko, Harman Kardon, Concept, Akai, and of course Sony. Sony was just as good if not better in the 70's. I present;y own 2 STR-7055's and a STR-V-4. Sony usually sells for a little less nowadays and more of them are still in nice condition. Still wish I had my Sony TA-3200f power amp and Sony TA-1130 integrated amp I used as a preamp for the TA-3200f. It was really the best sounding of all my 100-200 wpc receivers or amp-preamp combinations.

 

[Buanadha]

High praise on the Dynaco!

I've found most modern gear to be a bit lean bass wise. Even my NAD that all the reveiwers commented on the strong bass. The NAD put out as I can best describe as fake bass. I've been more impressed with vintage,the bass may not be as well defined but at least it's there!

The more modern NAD's I've tried do have a leaner bass than some of the older ones. You might like something like a 3240/7240 or a 2400/3400/7400. They might have the bass that you like. The overall power is very good, and the bass is pretty well defined, but with a definite grunt that comes through.

 

[Donny]

Surprised that Sony is not mentioned. Over the years I have owned a lot of stereo equipment includind a boatload of Sansui, Pioneer, Marantz, Kenwood, Sherwood, Phase Linear, SAE, Allied, Yamaha, Soundcraftsmen, Optonica, Nikko, Harman Kardon, Concept, Akai, and of course Sony. Sony was just as good if not better in the 70's. I present;y own 2 STR-7055's and a STR-V-4. Sony usually sells for a little less nowadays and more of them are still in nice condition. Still wish I had my Sony TA-3200f power amp and Sony TA-1130 integrated amp I used as a preamp for the TA-3200f. It was really the best sounding of all my 100-200 wpc receivers or amp-preamp combinations.

A deal fell through on a 6065 but I still keep an eye on the sony's.