Most Underrated/Overrated Component or Brand
- Thread starter Marantzaholic
- Start date
marantz1300dc
Marantz Remember
Overrated: Mac
Underrated: Spectro Acoustics
About those marantz's.................mine are all late 70's and at 30 or almost 30 years of use none have ever been in need of repair. Zero! Zip! They all sound great to my ears and look so dam good too
Underrated: Spectro Acoustics
About those marantz's.................mine are all late 70's and at 30 or almost 30 years of use none have ever been in need of repair. Zero! Zip! They all sound great to my ears and look so dam good too
You folks aren't even close - MCS is the most under-rated by far. It's rated as next to nothing and most cases sounds as good as the big boys and one or two pieces sound better than most (like their TT's). Their TOTL receivers were very nice - not esoteric, but very capable 125 WPC beasties.
I'll bet MitsuMan will pipe in here, but many Mitsubishi pieces are under-rated too. The feature sets on their receivers are impressive (MM, MC, high filter, lo filter, 2 tape and really good FM sections (once aligned and tuned)). I have really nice Scotts too. I like under-rated
Keeps the prices down!
I'll bet MitsuMan will pipe in here, but many Mitsubishi pieces are under-rated too. The feature sets on their receivers are impressive (MM, MC, high filter, lo filter, 2 tape and really good FM sections (once aligned and tuned)). I have really nice Scotts too. I like under-rated
Keeps the prices down!
panhead
Mac owner for life.
Sounds like a Roger Russell speach,i like it :yes:
nailer
audionerd
I don't consider Bose overrated. When the 901 first appeared I can not recall anyone in the informal audionerd society I was a part of liking it in any way, shape, or form.
With all the positive things I've read on AK regarding vintage Yamaha, Kenwood and Sony, no way these can be considered underrated.
For those into the cache owning the best - Mercedes, McIntosh, and Rolex pop immediately to mind - one cannot overrate them because they are simply the best. That said, I wouldn't trade my IWC for a Rolex except to sell the Rolex, buy another IWC. Then I could buy another tuner with the leftover $$. Not that Rolex doesn't make a nice watch, because they do, it's just that there are better watches out there to be had.
Underrated - Berning, Music Reference, original VTL lineup.
With all the positive things I've read on AK regarding vintage Yamaha, Kenwood and Sony, no way these can be considered underrated.
For those into the cache owning the best - Mercedes, McIntosh, and Rolex pop immediately to mind - one cannot overrate them because they are simply the best. That said, I wouldn't trade my IWC for a Rolex except to sell the Rolex, buy another IWC. Then I could buy another tuner with the leftover $$. Not that Rolex doesn't make a nice watch, because they do, it's just that there are better watches out there to be had.
Underrated - Berning, Music Reference, original VTL lineup.
speakerfritz
Well-Known Member
most underrated - shanling
I obtained a shanling stp-80 tube amp as part of a transaction and during it's check out was very surprised with it's performance and system build. If you get an opportunity to audition one, you will be surprised indeed.
I obtained a shanling stp-80 tube amp as part of a transaction and during it's check out was very surprised with it's performance and system build. If you get an opportunity to audition one, you will be surprised indeed.
PeterFCassidy
Nikko+Apt-Holman = OMG!
Nikko
Tuners, amps some pre-amps, some receivers, just really finely crafted pieces, readily upgradable, all over CL and eBay at nutso prices given their build quality.
Tuners, amps some pre-amps, some receivers, just really finely crafted pieces, readily upgradable, all over CL and eBay at nutso prices given their build quality.
Most Underrated: REALISTIC STA series rcvr's and the higher end OPTIMUS speakers.
Most Overrated: Yamaha and Sony rcvr's and speakers. Bose Wave Radio sucks (I sent one back for refund) though I had an all bose car stereo that came with the car's "extra's" pkg that sounded fantastic.
Most Overrated: Yamaha and Sony rcvr's and speakers. Bose Wave Radio sucks (I sent one back for refund) though I had an all bose car stereo that came with the car's "extra's" pkg that sounded fantastic.
bricktop
Couch woofer
this might have been mentioned, but for underrated: old solid state H/K receivers, especially the twin powered *30 series. I just got a 730 for 60 bux shipped 
that i'm really liking. I'm usually a tube person (for now), but this amp sounds great, nice phono stage too. I even have 96 dB/1m-1W speakers and there is barely a hiss out of em', pretty quiet for a SS amp.
overrated: those hideous boomboxes at consumer retail stores
uke:, you know the ones i'm talking about, where more thought went into making it blink blue lights and volume knobs bigger than the drivers...:thumbsdn:
that i'm really liking. I'm usually a tube person (for now), but this amp sounds great, nice phono stage too. I even have 96 dB/1m-1W speakers and there is barely a hiss out of em', pretty quiet for a SS amp.overrated: those hideous boomboxes at consumer retail stores
uke:, you know the ones i'm talking about, where more thought went into making it blink blue lights and volume knobs bigger than the drivers...:thumbsdn:
mplsbob
Active Member
Late 70s Technics - 5x70 series. Up to 165 w/ch., I think this line is great for those who (like myself) are in their 30s, and expected the power we heard in older neighbor's houses growing up to carry through to today. If you've looked wide-eyed with shock and hopelessness at a purportedly 'substantial' new A/V reciever (in my case Pioneer Elite) when it showed polite, appropriate accuracy, this is a good power-reclamation route. Is it the best out there? Likely not. But if you're looking to put out a good, chunky sound for your basement xmas party, these are the ticket. I find my 5270 (38 w/ch) more satisfying as a room-shaker for house parties than my Sansui G-5500 (60 w/ch).
And they're cheap.
And they're cheap.
Kiwi
Active Member
Great thread
I think Technics gear is underated , But like most manufacturers it becomes model specific . I have a SLP 555 Cd player thats OK and an SLP 990 CD player thats brilliant .They are very different , the 990 having quad Burr brown Dacs where its cousin has generic stuff inside. an SUV 460 amp thats good and an SUVX 800 thats again awesome .
I have a Yamaha AX 700 thats nearly as good as the SUVX 800 but its not quite , yet a Yammy AX 900 may be a completely different beast.
Denon is another brand that has some very good gear.
I think Technics gear is underated , But like most manufacturers it becomes model specific . I have a SLP 555 Cd player thats OK and an SLP 990 CD player thats brilliant .They are very different , the 990 having quad Burr brown Dacs where its cousin has generic stuff inside. an SUV 460 amp thats good and an SUVX 800 thats again awesome .
I have a Yamaha AX 700 thats nearly as good as the SUVX 800 but its not quite , yet a Yammy AX 900 may be a completely different beast.
Denon is another brand that has some very good gear.
ManFromPorlock
Super Member
bricktop said:
Yes, but they do go to eleven.
:
Paul C
Super Member
zenith2134
Lunatic Member
My vote goes to Sanyo. Guys you can say what you will, but this was a quality make of Japanese mid-fi in the 1969-1979 era. Bought an amplifier off of an old repair tech in my neighborhood. This was almost three years ago, the week I joined AK. :yes: Well, he told me it sat there for almost 15 years unclaimed, but fixed, and he was selling it for the repair cost. 20 dollars I have a mint 60wpc DCA series amp, paired with some Criterion 2 ways and it was awesome. Gave that amp to my best friend on this planet, and it currently resides in the next town still cranking out the tunes. :thmbsp: My repairman friend unfortunately passed away this summer. So yeah, Sanyo is okay in my book :yes:
KentTeffeteller
Gimpus Stereophilus!
Overrated:
Bose (though their receiver is very nice and well made. Sounds fine)
Magnum-Dynalab tuners (Gutless wonders)
Monster Receivers
Krell
Mark Levinson
Rega turntables
Underrated:
1970's era Kenwood equipment
Early Solid State HH Scott equipment
Early Solid State Fisher equipment
Early Sony equipment (the higher end tuners, receivers, and turntables are superb)
The better Technics turntables
Crown equipment (especially the tape recorders and amplifiers)
KLH receivers
Braun/ADS speakers
EPI/Epicure speakers
Ampex gear
Bose (though their receiver is very nice and well made. Sounds fine)
Magnum-Dynalab tuners (Gutless wonders)
Monster Receivers
Krell
Mark Levinson
Rega turntables
Underrated:
1970's era Kenwood equipment
Early Solid State HH Scott equipment
Early Solid State Fisher equipment
Early Sony equipment (the higher end tuners, receivers, and turntables are superb)
The better Technics turntables
Crown equipment (especially the tape recorders and amplifiers)
KLH receivers
Braun/ADS speakers
EPI/Epicure speakers
Ampex gear
I'll second the "KLH receivers" mentioned above. I have a 52, and it sounds as good as almost anything I own. Looks good, too. I also have a 27 that isn't working, but probably gets the most attention of my "shelf" units due to its classic design...looks like a big Tivoli radio (no coincidence, of course). Love those two big dials!
Also underrated: record cleaners. Clean records make much more difference in my system than cartridges/pre-amps/etc.
-john
Also underrated: record cleaners. Clean records make much more difference in my system than cartridges/pre-amps/etc.
-john
shocley
Well-Known Member
I guess Sanyo has been denied respect because they did make a lot of cheap junk. But they seemed to be serious about making a mark in the hi fi world at one time. I was alerted to Sanyo gear when I saw a Sanyo integrated amp in a record store in the seventies powering some Dynaco A-25's. The sound was heavenly.
My personal experience with Sanyo hi fi came when I found a Sanyo TP-601 belt drive turntable. Overall, it's pretty substantially built, with a fairly heavy platter and an arm with some class.
The brands that make the crap along with some good stuff are actually great, as the crap keeps them under the radar, and prices low.
