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Onkyo A-10 or should I go modern?

Kirkstall

Kirkstall

New Member
Hi all,

First time poster, long time lurker.
Found a lovely Onkyo A-10 for sale near me. Its around £600.

I have just purchased a pair of ATC SCM7s (v1), and I own some Kef 105.2s which are my daily drivers.
I was thinking of pairing the Onkyo with them.

I've spent a lot of time reading and learning about vintage amps and I think the Onkyo is a goodie, obviously reading is not the same as listening.

Currently powering the Kefs with a Yamaha A-S201.

Can anyone come up with some other modern SS amps that come close in terms of sound/build quality?

There seems to be something in this 70s kit that is just so attractive...
 
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Agreed, the price did seem a little high. I can find the A-7 online for less than half that. Was looking at Sansuis but they are hard to come by in the UK.
 
Yes it is a lot of money, but it is also an awful lot of amplifier. Built around 1978.

Tell me, what can you buy brand new, with that level of build quality for the same money?
 
If that A10 has been gone through completely then the price isn't too far out of line, if it's all original and hasn't at least been checked out recently it's overpriced. Either way it's one hell of an amp.
 
Thanks guys. Condition looks excellent, not sure if it's had a refurb.

Going to listen to the Onkyo at the weekend so I'll report back here on the result.
 
Update:

Bought the Onkyo. I am extremely impressed by the sound. I've had it for just over a week.

The unit is in mint condition, fully serviced and bias checked. A beautiful and weighty thing. Every knob feels like it has a 'meaning' when turned. An excellent feeling.

Anyway back to the sound:
On the Kef 105.2s (3 way, 12in woofer). 16/44.1 FLACs with topping D10 doing the decoding.

Immediately before writing this, I listened to;

Talk talk - Spirit of Eden
Tradition - Captain Ganja & The Space Patrol
Jim Hall - Concierto
Aphex Twin - I Care Because You Do...
Interpol - Turn On The Bright Lights
The Band - Music From Big Pink

Bass is deep, even at low volumes.
Control is no issue, even for these fairly inefficient speakers. I feel like there is plenty of power. The rated 85wpc seems way off.. I'm only at 1/4 volume and the room is filled with sound.

The treble is pleasing and detailed, not fatiguing in the slightest in the time I have listened.

Background details are picked up with ease and presented as they should be, timbrally very neutral.

The all important midrange is much the same story. Powerful when it needs to be, detailed at the right moments, emotive and expressive in all the right ways.

So, assuming all these airy fairy descriptions are merely what the original mix engineers intended, all I have left to say is this is a wonderful piece of kit and very transparent. Anything that is 'added' to the sound is done so in such a subtle/pleasing way there is nothing to 'notice' but to sit back and listen to the music.

Thanks for the encouragement to take the plunge guys. Much appreciated. I couldnt be happier with my first 'serious' vintage amp purchase.
 
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