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Technics for $5?

guitarplyr

guitarplyr

Active Member
Hey guys,
After using a vintage Hitachi receiver for a couple of years, I decided to take the next step for critical/serious listening and go the seperates route. I found this Technics integrated amp at the local GW for $5. It's a SU-Z800 and I can't find any info on it-I've even looked on a couple of vintage Technics databases and came up empty. It looks to be from the mid-80s, which I know is the dark ages for home audio, but this thing is pretty heavy, says "Made in Japan" on the back and still has some of the cool eq buttons from the 70s (high/low filters etc) so maybe it still has some redeeming values. I know there are a lot of Technics fans on here so if anyone can provide any info/opinions, it would be much appreciated.
 

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An integrated amp isn't really considered a separate. Also, Hitachi is regarded about the same as Technics, both have their fans. This is in fact a mid-80's middle to low-end amp. It probably sounds okay, YMMV.
 
I'm with dspear on this one. The Technics components I bought new in the mid-eighties were flashy but had short shelf lives, were not well built with not great sound. Also, I never liked the models with slide control volume, always seemed cheaply made. I owned a few and they didn't hold up well. To me the mid-eighties is the period to avoid concerning most of the big names of the day.
 
Dr. Music said:
I'm with dspear on this one. The Technics components I bought new in the mid-eighties were flashy but had short shelf lives, were not well built with not great sound. Also, I never liked the models with slide control volume, always seemed cheaply made. I owned a few and they didn't hold up well. To me the mid-eighties is the period to avoid concerning most of the big names of the day.
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I have a couple of 80's technics receivers.
The one in the OP looks like more fun than the ones I have.
They are not bad at all, but the slider volume is a pain, and both have battery compartments on the back for the radio memory that get grungy when you forget to do the batteries .
Mostly they sound pretty good .For $5 definite scroe.
 
jimash said:
I have a couple of 80's technics receivers.
The one in the OP looks like more fun than the ones I have.
They are not bad at all, but the slider volume is a pain, and both have battery compartments on the back for the radio memory that get grungy when you forget to do the batteries .
Mostly they sound pretty good .For $5 definite scroe.
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I agree, it's a definite scroe at $5, but calling it a step up into separates for some serious listening? Nope.

To me, there was a period around the early to mid-80's up until Technics started selling black faced components where they made their gear cheaply and badly. Thin metal, ugly faces, poorly made press buttons and sliders for volume and tone controls. I owned a few, and they paled in comparison to the late 70's-early 80's gear built by Technics. It wasn't just amps/receivers, their cassette decks were pretty cheap looking and didn't hold up well, either. Their CD players of the period seemed to fare better. I was foolish enough to stay loyal to the brand name in that period, so I spent plenty of cash finding out first hand. I'd even go so far as to say their early BPC entries were better built than the mid-80's stuff.

When I'm out looking I tend to avoid mid-80's components across the board. It seems like all the major players were building junk as far as their midrange gear was concerned.
 
Keep your eye open for a Technics amp like this.............

4505506969_e29722f23f_b.jpg
 
Dr. Music said:
To me, there was a period around the early to mid-80's up until Technics started selling black faced components where they made their gear cheaply and badly. Thin metal, ugly faces, poorly made press buttons and sliders for volume and tone controls.
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While I won't deny that early '80s Technics gear can't compare to their '70s gear, the '80s silver stuff isn't that bad for what it is. A few weeks ago I found a circa 1981 SA-222 - a solidly mid-fi, low powered receiver - sitting on the curb, waiting for the trashman (!!). I took it home, cleaned the buttons and knobs, and it works perfectly. Who knows how long it sat in a basement or closet unused? - yet it powered right up without any problems. A typically well-made Japanese product. I also own a Panasonic clock radio from the early '80s that also works 100%.

My wife uses the free SA-222 in her workshop with a pair of decent Denon bookshelf speakers ($10 at the GW!), and it sounds terrific.
 
Sa-425

I have a Technics SA 425 that sounds great. It's a "New Class A", whatever that means.

The unit looks great and sounds pretty good. I can't find info on the thing, though.
 
My SA-936 I got for $5 last year is still going strong I really like like it.It has the slide controls for the volume,bass,treble and balance they never give me any problems,it has the black face.Some people don't like Technics but myself I really enjoy it,I wouldn't be afraid to buy another if the chance came up.If you like your Technics and like the sound that's all that matters ,can't go wrong for 5 bucks. Keith
 
I gave one away

Like stated in an earlier post, the volume slider sucks.
fair power transistors. wish they had stayed with a rotory not lateral pot.
Technics early intro into a heatpipe type cooling. may be why the heatsink looks small.
Had a Marantz from the same era. BPC and about 80 -100 watts.
kind of like the technics sound better.
 
For 5 dollars it's a good deal but certainly not serious seperates.

If you have maybe a 150 to spend you could get a Kenwood C1 or C2 preamp and a small Hafler power amp like a 9130 and have an IMO world class system.

Also consider something like a Pioneer SA 9500 or SA 9500 II, or Sansui AU-999, AU-9500, AU-717, etc. There also some very nice Yamaha units like C2 preamp or M45 amp that runs just a little more but again are excellent.
 
That Technics looks like good build quality, almost any amp with a moving coil cartridge setting is at least shooting for the big leagues.

I am going to guess it's a 25+ pounder, which is another way of buying amps that rarely fails by weight. Oh and I like the fux Yamaha knobs, if you are going to steal, steal from the best. 1/2 :)
 
barredowl said:
That Technics looks like good build quality, almost any amp with a moving coil cartridge setting is at least shooting for the big leagues.

I am going to guess it's a 25+ pounder, which is another way of buying amps that rarely fails by weight. Oh and I like the fux Yamaha knobs, if you are going to steal, steal from the best. 1/2 :)
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34 pounds.....its one heck of an amp, in every way........
 
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