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Most Beloved Receiver

V

vintagestereo

Addicted Member
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This thread is not about specs or cost or size. It's about BONDING. Which of the Receivers you have EVER owned do you feel the CLOSEST to and why.

Me, it was my first "hi-fi", the lowly 1970 Lafayette LR-1500TA that I purchased used in 1974 from Recycled Stereo in North Hollywood, CA. It was an ugly mutt, but, somehow, when it played music I was tranported from the dreary life of academia to a "much better place". It got the job done to my complete satisfaction. And, never gave me any trouble. Just worked the way it was supposed to day in and day out.

I'm not really sure what happened to it, probably left behind in one of many moves, but, a few months ago I was fortunate to acquire another one, so the bond has been rekindled. Now that I've listened to most of the "greatest" I can see why that humble little Lafayette left such a lastining impression.....it was GREAT for what it was.

-- Chris
 
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My Maranrtz 2270

I bought it when I got out of the service in '72 and has beeen a member of my family ever since. It's been hooked up practically every day and played almost as often. Yeah, I've had the front end realigned once but it still picks the stations up like a bandit. ...and It's been with me since before my first marriage and after it ended.
 
My Kenwood 9600 has been with me since day one in '78 and has never let me down, but the sheer beauty of the wood cabinet enclosed Marantz 2325 with the blue face is the one that find myself drawn to the most. :)
 
Sansui 8080db.

Its been with me since I was a sophmore in high school in 1975. Got it at the Kadena Air Force base exchange in Okinawa, Japan while our family was stationed there. I had the SP-5500X speakers, but sold those at a garage sale for $50. Wish I would've kept them. The Sansui came out of retirement couple of years a go. After a bath it was good to go.

Cheers,
Carl
 
Marantz 28 Receiver

I bought a Marantz 28, AR 2ax speakers and an AR turntable when I was in the Navy and stationed in Hawaii in 1973. It was a big purchase for a poor sailor, but provided hours of contentment for my wife and I. BTW......I still have the wife, but none of the gear.
 
Technics SA-101

I wrote this in another thread and will repeat it verbatim as is answers this question:


Way back in my poverty stricken high school days, a friend sold me his SA 101 for peanuts. That little guy made it through my high school days, all of my college days, grad school and coexisted with my first foray into digital (cd player). It was the foundation of my system in all or parts of 3 different decades and 2 centuries.

It resided in DC, New York, New Jersey, and Texas and survived the trips between them all. It lived in all boroughs of New York City except Staten Island. It occupied 4 different dorms and 7 different apartments. It sat on desk, chests, and Ikea media centers.

It played everthing from Allman Brothers to Zappa. It was hit by beer cans, nerf footballs, and bongs. It provided the soundtrack to numerous spliff sessions, keg parties, and helped set the mood for more dates than I can recall.

That little guy watched me grow up. Was it better than a Pioneer of equal power? Probably not, but it was pretty close.
 
Kyocera R-851, which I own thanks to VS himself. I do wish it had pre-out/main-in jacks, though.

I've since found that Kyocera called it a "tuner-amp" rather than a "receiver". Snootiness? Nah. It's right on in my estimation.
 
Marantz 19

I had a Marantz 19 in college, with the champagne front panel and wood cabinet. To me it is the best looking receiver I have ever owned. I remember the tuner was very sensitive. It sounded very good through my AR 1's. It's the receiver I owned when I met my wife, so it has additional sentimental value. Unfortunately I was seduced by a trade for a Marantz 3800 preamp, and a Nikko Alpha One poweramp and the 19 passed out of my hands. (Still married to the same lady, though!) I hope to find another 19 some day.
 
Would you believe a Calibre 215?

Had one in high school and it played many a party with friends and never failed me! :no:

Picked up a Calibre 225 about a year ago... reminded me of good times gone by as I had
sold the 215 many moons ago. :thmbsp:

Scott
 
Sansui 3000A

I bought this off my uncle in 1977 after he purchased a Pioneer SX-1250 which I now have as well. He purchased the Sansui in Tokyo while in the Navy in 1968. The Sansui powered many parties back in college. It went into retirement in 1993 when I purchased my first Sony AVR (BPC). I remember the salesman telling me that the Sony would not sound nearly as good as my Sansui. Boy was he right. My dad used the 3000A until the late 90's when the power dropped and there was no bass in the sound. I've recently cleaned it up and relamped it and it will soon be off to one of the AK guru's for repair.
 

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The electrolytic coupling caps go bad in this model, causing the symptoms you mention. It is a great receiver, tubelike sound, and a very sensitive tuner.
 
My Yamaha ca-800

My father gave it to me and began my vintage love.He bought it new here in town in 1977 at Watkins Stereo .Thats (Watkins of Watkins woofer fame)I had to send it to him due to a dieing channel.It was fixed and I still use it today.Does cumputer duty.A really fine amplifier at 65 watts per channel.It still looks great .Maybe I can pass it to my daughter someday.
 
dr*audio said:
The electrolytic coupling caps go bad in this model, causing the symptoms you mention. It is a great receiver, tubelike sound, and a very sensitive tuner.
Click to expand...
Thanks, one of these days I'll get the Wharfedale W70D's that were purchased with the receiver. My uncle has had them stored for the past 30 years and there is not a scratch on the cabinets.
 
None. I owned two Pioneer SX-450s and a Technics SA-222, and in retrospect, realize that what I felt more than anything else when using them was "frustration". Frustration at the compromises, and the disappointing sensation of "That's as good as the sound's ever going to be?" I admit that these two models are both BOTL from their era, and if I'd had more powerful and flexible ones, I'd probably feel differently.
Tom
 
Definitely my Marantz 1550. For starters it is the same age as I am - sorta like some weird psychological time capsule from 1978. Plus, growing up, a friend's neighbour had a 1550. We spent quite a bit of time listening to music on it in his garage. Oh - and making fun of him because he couldn't set the thing up properly to save his life. We'd screw up his tone controls and they'd be in the same screwed up position the next time we'd go over. (At the time we thought this was hilarious.) The poor thing had been dropped, dented, scratched, and dragged through the snow by the cord (well maybe not that). The tunning knob would grind, several push buttons didn't work, and when you fired it up, it would give you a miserable look as if it struggled to light up half the dial. But it always sounded great.

So when I spotted a 1550 (thankfully not THE 1550) in a consignment shop years later I just had to have it for "old time's sake". Even if it did cost me $100.
 
Duffinator said:
I bought this off my uncle in 1977 after he purchased a Pioneer SX-1250 which I now have as well. He purchased the Sansui in Tokyo while in the Navy in 1968. The Sansui powered many parties back in college. It went into retirement in 1993 when I purchased my first Sony AVR (BPC). I remember the salesman telling me that the Sony would not sound nearly as good as my Sansui. Boy was he right. My dad used the 3000A until the late 90's when the power dropped and there was no bass in the sound. I've recently cleaned it up and relamped it and it will soon be off to one of the AK guru's for repair.
Click to expand...

Duff -- The 3000A is one BULLDOG of a Receiver. Glad to hear that you're giving her a second shot!!! :thmbsp:

-- Chris
 
RX-1203 was my first true monster, and the RX-1603 because I wanted it so bad. My 2500's are a very close second on the list.
 
Fisher 500-B. Great sound, and I got to hang out with one of my best friends (Leestereo) and look over his shoulder as he taught me a ton of restoration tricks!
 
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