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Optonica SM-4646 MIND BLOWN!

RandyFloyd76 said:
I have an Optonica SA-5151 receiver that I have always thought was way under-rated. Sharp was late into the game with the Optonica line, starting around 1978, right about the time the whole stereo market was declining. Top quality build, you truly scored!

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Thanks! As soon as i saw it my jaw hit the floor. It runs very cool, even at louder volume. The more i listen to it the more i fall in love with the "Optonica" sound.
 
I think your honeymoon period could last a long time! It's a great feeling. You can't wait to fire it up every day.
Glenn
 
Metalownz said:
It hasnt worn off yet! Still enjoying the heck out of this amp!
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Hi
I understand you completely. I also have the Optonica SM 4646 (Blackface version) I did experience the same when I first took a listen to it, . Very clean sounding and powerfull with an excellent phono section. When operating the buttons/ switches, one really feel the quality. You can read about it on The Vintage Knob.
I still use it in a second vintage system together with the also astonishing Optonica RP 3500 granite base turntable. Main system is from Conrad Johnson which I really love. Sometimes however, I fire up the old components , put on a record, and enjoy this "time machine" listening to still stellar sound through my Sennheiser HD 650. Yes, the SM 4646 is a great headphone amplifier too. I used to collect a lot of uppershelf vintage gear like Yamaha Luxman, Sansui and even vintage Accuphase. Sound signature wise, Optonica is unique, but share some of the soundsignature from finer Yamaha and Sansui gear. Optonica can definitely be compared with the big names in audio if compared within the same "weight class" Needless to say that I never part with theese components :)
 
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Acusta said:
Hi
I understand you completely. I also have the Optonica SM 4646 (Blackface version) I did experience the same when I first took a listen to it, . Very clean sounding and powerfull with an excellent phono section. When operating the buttons/ switches, one really feel the quality. You can read about it on The Vintage Knob.
I still use it in a second vintage system together with the also astonishing Optonica RP 3500 granite base turntable. Main system is from Conrad Johnson which I really love. Sometimes however, I fire up the old components , put on a record, and enjoy this "time machine" listening to still stellar sound through my Sennheiser HD 650. Yes, the SM 4646 is a great headphone amplifier too. I used to collect a lot of uppershelf vintage gear like Yamaha Luxman, Sansui and even vintage Accuphase. Sound signature wise, Optonica is unique, but share some of the soundsignature from finer Yamaha and Sansui gear. Optonica can definitely be compared with the big names in audio if compared within the same "weight class" Needless to say that I never part with theese components :)
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This amp will be part of my main system for the long haul. Rated at only 65 watts per channel, it has headroom that has to go well beyond that limit. Its so powerful and never runs out of steam. Very impressive. But the sound oh the sound is so detailed and deep in soundstage.
 
I can remember selling that stuff in late seventies. Look was gorgeous with the black and rosewood panels. It was reliable and well built. Cant remember it being great sounding cuz everything was STK powered at the time, and I was never a fan of that technology, Should be a ton of it in Southern New England as we sold the crap out of it. Jim
 
A friend has a nice smoked glass Optonica tt. I keep hassling him to sell it to me, lol. Smoked glass - now why didn't that catch on?? Damned plastic lids seem to scratch just by looking at them the wrong way.

It's a very nice tt.

To OP, great gear, and be sure to have someone check bias/DC offset. With fresh caps, it'd still sound like an Optonica, but a better one. I've had 4 classic receivers restored - that "sound" was still there, but tighter, cleaner and stronger. Do not be afraid, rather realize, a restoration is sorta in the cards at this stage, and you should plan accordingly.

Superb luck shining on you, man!

Free......jesus wept.
 
onwardjames said:
...

To OP, great gear, and be sure to have someone check bias/DC offset. With fresh caps, it'd still sound like an Optonica, but a better one. I've had 4 classic receivers restored - that "sound" was still there, but tighter, cleaner and stronger. Do not be afraid, rather realize, a restoration is sorta in the cards at this stage, and you should plan accordingly.
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+1

And also, some caps/diodes being now out of specs after 35+ years could put those rare modules in the red zone...
 
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Five or so years ago when I was out checking out a community yard sale, a lady offered me the opportunity to purchase her Optonica System.
I balked as my car was parked three blocks away and the pieces were pretty heavy. Whatta fool I was.
I've heard nothing but great things about Optonica.
Somebody slap me!
:(
 
Burney, just last week I literally scoped out and had dibs on a pair of Klipsch Heresys. Didn't see the seller (huge yard sale, people everywhere) and so I left to go to the bank.
20 minutes later, gone. They went for 40 bucks.

So, don't feel so bad. The next score is right around the corner.
 
I just picked up an Optonica SM-4646 tonight. It's in excellent shape and sounds very clean. The guy I purchased it from bought it while stationed in Japan while in the Air Force. He had a lot of other equipment for sale, but mainly run of the mill units and I was not interested. He started out asking $150 and I paid $100. I have been looking for one for years and when I see them, they are either way overpriced (for me) or already sold. I still have my first receiver I ever bought. It's an Optonica SA-5901 and it's still my "daily driver".
 
tmbrwlvs said:
I just picked up an Optonica SM-4646 tonight. It's in excellent shape and sounds very clean. The guy I purchased it from bought it while stationed in Japan while in the Air Force. He had a lot of other equipment for sale, but mainly run of the mill units and I was not interested. He started out asking $150 and I paid $100. I have been looking for one for years and when I see them, they are either way overpriced (for me) or already sold. I still have my first receiver I ever bought. It's an Optonica SA-5901 and it's still my "daily driver".
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Its a gem of an amp. Even the phono sections are incredible.
 
I have an SM-1515B black face(designer series) - very nice little amp, good looking with power to spare. Kinda rough when I got it but cleaned it up - made some new brazilian walnut end panels and installed some blue leds in the power meters. The board layout is really nice and accessible so if you need to recap, it should be fairly easy
 
I tend to gravitate to the oddball gear like Nikko, Toshiba, etc. just to check them out and compare to the more well known brands. I finally came across an SM-1515 amplifier at a thrift for $20. Its in near mint condition visually but has a dead channel that I can't chase down (yet). Can't wait to get her fixed and fired up. Then I will need to search for the matching tuner.
 
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