The greatest amps circa 1977-80?
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From my experience the late '70s Sansui AU717 and Harman Kardon HK505 integrated amps are up there at the top.
I'm partial to the Yamaha CA-1010.
BayouTiger
Super Member
I know I sure miss my JVC A-X9 still my favorite integrated amp I ever owned. Just a phenomenal piece of gear!
Citation-Fan
Active Member
My favourite from 70ties
THE Citation Receiver!
THE Citation Receiver!
Dynaco 400 and 150, GAS Ampzilla, Quad. IME&O these sounded better than Mac and Crown at the time. The Dynaco 400 threw a soundstage with depth that went out the window and into the street.
By 1980 you're getting into early American "high end" SS gear like Levinson too, Levinson made several formidable amps in the late 70s; I remember back then hearing Dayton-Wright electrostats driven by big Levinson monoblocks, very impressive.
By 1980 you're getting into early American "high end" SS gear like Levinson too, Levinson made several formidable amps in the late 70s; I remember back then hearing Dayton-Wright electrostats driven by big Levinson monoblocks, very impressive.
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I agree about the Dynaco 400. I repaired one last year and was amazed at how good it sounded driving a pair of vintage EPI M180 speakers. The bass extension and control were as impressive as the soundstage, and the midrange and treble sounded very fine, too.
bktheking
Gitter Done!
I have one, it blew up once already for no reason. The protection circuit is overly sensitive as well, I did some caps and replaced all the leds and lamps.
BayouTiger
Super Member
So Pretty much the best amps from 77-80 were that ones that we owned!!! 
Nostalgia is a powerful drug!
OK, I loved my A-X9, but that really meant that I really wanted the M-L10, so I guess that should make it better though I can't actually vouch for that!
Nostalgia is a powerful drug!
OK, I loved my A-X9, but that really meant that I really wanted the M-L10, so I guess that should make it better though I can't actually vouch for that!
So Pretty much the best amps from 77-80 were that ones that we owned!!!
Well, you will never get a hundred people to agree on one amp....
Hard to get 2 people to agree
rlisin
Quad 4 life
Here are some of my favorites from that vintage:
One we all know: NAD 3020 and its receiver counterpart 7020. Actually I prefer the latter - sounds the same, looks way better (in a Technics kind of way, but still), and has a decent tuner. 30+ years later it still puts many pricey amps to shame. Marty Borish, NAD founder, called it his favorite NAD product. I have the nicer champagne version. 1979 (NAD 3020) and 1980 (NAD 7020)
The opposite of NAD 7020: powerful, big, heavy, stylish DENON GR-535. Now this thing is one of the best looking and best sounding receivers. It has a bigger brother, GR-555. 1978-79
And back to England. This is the first amp built by A&r Cambridge, today known under the name Arcam. One of the best looking English amps ever built, and a damn good sounding one. Beats NAD 3020 every time 1976-early 1980s
Philips was making some really cool gear at the time as well. Their Sound Project series was great, big, fairly powerful amps and receivers sold under several brands (Philips, Dux, Loewe, Erres, Schneider, Aristona, the list goes on). Made ~ 1979 by Philips Nihon,Japan. Good sounding stuff, and especially the ones with Exotic brands can be had for cheap. Here's an example, Erres A-8000:
And now the thing that convinced me that Philips was a brand worth looking into: 1979 mini separates 22AH109/209/309. The specs are unbelievably good, and these things actually sound as good as they look on paper. If the Sound Project amps are punchy beasts with cool sound, this is hi-fi for purists. These were also made in Japan. I use 209 preamp with two 309 power amps as monoblocks in my main system, soon to add more cables to use the now idle channels on the power amps for bi-amping.
Cheers,
Raf
One we all know: NAD 3020 and its receiver counterpart 7020. Actually I prefer the latter - sounds the same, looks way better (in a Technics kind of way, but still), and has a decent tuner. 30+ years later it still puts many pricey amps to shame. Marty Borish, NAD founder, called it his favorite NAD product. I have the nicer champagne version. 1979 (NAD 3020) and 1980 (NAD 7020)
The opposite of NAD 7020: powerful, big, heavy, stylish DENON GR-535. Now this thing is one of the best looking and best sounding receivers. It has a bigger brother, GR-555. 1978-79
And back to England. This is the first amp built by A&r Cambridge, today known under the name Arcam. One of the best looking English amps ever built, and a damn good sounding one. Beats NAD 3020 every time
1976-early 1980s
Philips was making some really cool gear at the time as well. Their Sound Project series was great, big, fairly powerful amps and receivers sold under several brands (Philips, Dux, Loewe, Erres, Schneider, Aristona, the list goes on). Made ~ 1979 by Philips Nihon,Japan. Good sounding stuff, and especially the ones with Exotic brands can be had for cheap. Here's an example, Erres A-8000:
And now the thing that convinced me that Philips was a brand worth looking into: 1979 mini separates 22AH109/209/309. The specs are unbelievably good, and these things actually sound as good as they look on paper. If the Sound Project amps are punchy beasts with cool sound, this is hi-fi for purists. These were also made in Japan. I use 209 preamp with two 309 power amps as monoblocks in my main system, soon to add more cables to use the now idle channels on the power amps for bi-amping.
Cheers,
Raf
