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Nikko history, info...

I've been listening to a Nikko NR-819 receiver for the better part of today. Excellent 3 gang tuner in this receiver with outstanding stereo separation. It was manufactured in February, 1979.
 
Bottleflow said:
I have never had gear with XLR 's. Why have them if they are not balanced?
Are they worth using over the RCA's on an Alpha 650?
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The XLRs were for the convenience of pro users, who could use their XLR cables and interface with balanced preamps/processors, just that the signal would not be balanced. The XLRs are also more secure than RCA's, including the locking type. In pro use you would not want your ICs to pop out while you're playing a gig. There is no benefit to using the XLR over RCA connections in a home environment.
 
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Cheap!

I don't have any good stuff, only receivers. I like them a lot though. There's a NR 320, silver face, analog tuner and a black one whose model number I disremember.

I'm cheap so I have cheap stereo equipment. But the Nikko stuff sounds the least cheap.
 
I owned a Nikko TRM-750 integrated amp (purchased new) in the mid to late 1970s. The TRM-750 was extremely well constructed and did nothing wrong to the music signal that it was amplifying. I later moved on to "audiophile" amps and preamps, most tubed, some mono blocks, but I'm not sure that anything has sounded better for the $$$ than the 55 rms Nikko integrated.
 
Back in the day during the Japanese Hi-Fi boom, when I was in the Navy overseas (Asian area including Japan), I always heard real good words spoken about Nikko. The people who had them really 'loved' them! I do specifically remember that. I've seen them but never heard one, but the guys that had them really were hooked on em. I remember they were really quality products. Always wondered how they sounded. Bet they really do sound Fine!!
 
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I have always liked Nikko. It offered a lot and I could afford it, when I bought most of my initial audio equipment, I compared it to Sansui, Yamaha, Carver, Crown, SAE. Those were the brands I was considering. Audibly I couldn't hear any noteable difference (at least in the audio showrooms). So I made my purchase based on looks, features and value...Nikko won hands down (for me). Also SAE was right there with them, but a little more money if I recall.

Never went back; started collecting (all the Nikko stuff I wanted when I was young) more models about 5 years ago. For some reason I'm fascinated by it and have quite a collection at this point. Now ...what to do with it all.
 
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I always thought Nikko was on par with the other big Japanese brands, especially in Japan. They just didn't market themselves as much. My favorite is the little STA-501 receiver. It looks great and it sounds great!
 
(ramble on...) My first components were late 60's integrated amp and tuner made by nikko and marketed under the Olsen electronics name. Later came unusual style and colors: STA 301, 501, 1101, 6010 and 9010 (looked like a miniature TV!). They also did a lot of early OEM - besides the olsen, they made recievers for Concord, Pacific stereo (Spectrasonic 110, 210 310 and probably some others- I went off to the East Coast by then) They greatly improved their products by the mid to late 70's, peaking in the Jumbo receiver market with the 1415 (160 WPC) and began making high quality separates by the end of the 70's to early eighties. I was in the electronic repair end of the HIFI market from 1975 to 1984. I currently don't own any, but would gladly pick up most amps or receivers made in the mid 70's or later. (Ramble off) Steve
 
My experiences with Nikko gear are all excellent, and I would rank its TOTL stuff with the best of other Japanese hifi brands of the mid 70´s and 80´s. My bedroom system has a Nikko Beta 2 pre, a Alpha 2 power amp (both in silver) and a Gamma 1 tuner. My main system still has a Gamma V tuner and an equalizer EQ-1 that I use in my tape loop only, mainly for historical classical music recordings playback.
 
I am on my second Nikko unit, both of which I got from thrift stores. I challenge all to visually discern between Nikko and any other of the major manufacturers of the era. It looks like they used many of the same domestically sourced components as Pioneer, Kenwood, etc. As far as sound goes, they were top notch IMHO:yes:
 
Hi,

If someone could tell what are the true specs for the Alpha 450. Actually a potential seller told me that it is a power amp, 220 watts in 8 ohm and 440 watts in 4 ohm. In another advise (on ebay if I remember) I’ve seen 220 in 8 ohm and 240 in 4 ohm.

Whatever the truth is, I’m very skeptical about those 440 watts in 4 ohm, and as I will drive 4 ohms speakers, I need to know. On the other hand, 26 kgs for this power amp inspire a certain respect and trust. So I’d like to know what wattage could deliver this amp in 4 ohm and generally speaking if it is able to drive difficult load speakers.

Thank you.
 
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Nikko amps were not designed as high current ones. I used to own a Alpha 220 and the power figure for 4 ohms was just a bit above the 8 ohm mark. I would say that most likely the 240 watts spec for 4 ohms seems to be closer to reality.
 
Thanks to both of you.

I believe it might be a great amp but not a high current one, what makes me avoid it. It’s a shame because I do think Nikko stuff is underrated but in my case I never know with what kind of speaker I might end up, so I need to be prepare to drive difficult load as well.
 
Have recently acquired a Nikko Beta V preamp, looking for service manual or schematic.
in Japan, was domestically known as a C-201 PRO.
Any info, other than the catalog page I have, is appreciated.
BH
 
hifi_nut said:
Paul,

Hope this enlightens you somewhat.

Nikko Audio
A division of the Japanese company Nikko Electric Works that specialises in manufacturing electric and communications equipment, company established in December 1948 and the audio division was closed in the early 1990's. Their line of hi-fi was noted for excellent value for money and in particular their electronics (i.e. amps and tuners) were considered extremely impressive on a value basis, however the company never got the hang of the glittery marketing tactics that other Japanese brands used and only gained limited distribution, mostly confined to North America and Australasia, the audio division was also know as ASTI Pacific. There is an highly unusual twist to the company's history, so unusual that I am going to include it here even it happened after the company left the audio business, when the Asian markets started to slump due to the "Asian Flu" of the mid 90's Nikko's chairman and principal shareholder Goto Tsunemoto was one of the first Japanese CEO's to try western methods to in responding to the slowing sales, he initiated a series of layoffs that were done without consulting employees and unions in stark contradiction to local tradition. This backfired spectacularly when the employees used a novel method of revolting, as collectively they owned just over 10% percent of the company due to bonuses and such, and under Japanese commercial law a shareholder with 10% or more of ownership can request a liquidation of the company the employees forced the company into bankruptcy protection even though the finances of the company were basically sound, so in 1998 Taunemoto-San was forced to resign from the company's board and it was taken over by a investment company controlled by the Rotchilds later that year. Please note that the company never made televisions or suchlike, the sets and video recorders that appeared with this name in North America were sold by someone that appropriated the trademark.
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As a whole, Nikko had the quality. Nikko built very nice, excellent sounding, quality gear. Their biggest weakness was marketing. They were something of a quiet company. But I've never seen any Nikko item in good order, that didn't perform well. Their products were excellent value for the money!
 
I've mentioned this before in another thread...but my wife had an NR 315 receiver when I met her. Probably BOTL or close to it.
It was in continuous use in her studio for 38 years. All I ever had to do was clean the pots once in awhile.
One thing that always impressed me about the unit was the number of fuses inside. Never had one blow, but compared to other amps, there were a fair number.

Also, I bought a used Beta II preamp in the mid 90's. Never had to do a damn thing to it for 20 years.
Finally had it recapped last year.
 
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