Optonica 5201

[chaz]

Visiting My folks in Toronto and picked this up off a local online classified site for a very reasonable price. It's nice to see my folksand all but I can't wait to get home.

 

[comish4]

Optonica was the first audio line we added to our store when we opened it up many years ago. Great equipment built well and great looks I don't think you will be disappointed. Good Luck

 

[chaz]

I bought this to try out with my rega planar 3, swapping out the Sansui 331. Wanted to give the Dynaco A-25 X's some more power to open them up a bit and see what they can do, but then there is the option of swapping it with the Marantz 2215b and pairing it with my Optonica RP 7205. Guess I'll have to try it both ways and see which I like best.

 

[Vaughn]

I've got an Optonica RM 4646 that I like quite a lot, I'm curious to hear your impression of the 5201

 

[chaz]

Well it doesn't have the power of the 4646 (is that like 95 W?), but the little I've read about it sure has me looking forward to getting it plugged it in to the system.

 

[jfzea]

I remember Optonica, it was the Hi-Fi division for the Sharp brand, something like National and Technics. They did some equipment with good specs and beauty faceplates too, above all in the beginning of the 80s.

 

[Ds2000]

Nice! 45 wpc should make some good music.

 

[dzkfraser]

I have the SM1515B amp - well built, attractive and sounds very nice. Optonica is definitely under the radar gear, you won't be disappointed

 

[chaz]

Well so far I've been listening to the Optonica SA-5201 in the main system replacing the Sansui 331. The Optonica is nice. I like it very much. If the Sansui is described as 'warm' in it's overall sound then I would have to say that the Optonica is very 'clean' - not as thick in the bottom end as the 331, but in no way is it 'bright'. To be honest when comparing it to the Sansui the Optonica occurs as much less 'coloured' (I do realize intellectually that it is more likely just a different kind of colouring), the overall sound seems more natural and even-handed.
The tuner on the Sansui seems to be more sensitive, as in my basement, with no antenna, it can still pickup local the station in clear stereo where as the SA-5201 will only pick it up with that classic 'HISSSSS' until I hook the antenna up to it.
Haven't tried the Optonica in the secondary (living room) system ( the one with the Optonica RP 7205 turntable) and not sure I'll bother as the Marantz works well there and my wife likes the looks of it, plus I really like the sound of the Dynaco A-25X's with the extra power of the SA-5201.
Now the question is what am I gonna do with that Sansui 331? I still really like it and don't wanna get rid of it. Tomorrow I am going to look at a AR-XA with a Shure M91ED that's supposed to be in fine running order and has a very reasonable price attached to it, so maybe I'll pair the 331 with the AR-XA in a bedroom system. If I do I'm gonna need some speakers. . . HMMMMMMM, I wonder what would work well with those two units?

 

[Vaughn]

I'll always vote for a pair of EPI 100 if you are looking for a very clear sounding speaker at low to moderate volumes. I just built some into some cabinetry I made in our master bedroom remodel. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the 5201 vs 331, I've got a Sansui 771 that I need to rebuild and I'm curious how that will compare to my SM-4646 when rebuilt. So much to do!