The "Knob-to-Button Ratio" as a measure "Vintage-ness" in receivers!
- Thread starter illinoisteve
- Start date
illinoisteve
Super Member
I think I would count those dual tone controls, as two knobs each, or as stacked knobs. I assume they give you separate tone adjustment on each channel, no? Although, all along, I have been open to others refining how different things might be counted.
Then, too, the whole question of why more buttons came in and what this idea of a ratio between knobs and buttons might mean is also open. Maybe what people engaging in this conversation get out of it, by considering these elements of receiver (or other component) design and function has little to do with the "vintageness" idea I first asked about.
I get the impression some responders never considered how many of different kinds of controls a favorite receiver of theirs had, and it's kind of fun to pay attention to that, and post pictures, and wonder why those controls and their layout matters to them.
I, personally, am still am interested in the vintageness issue. I especially like my '71 Kenwood KR-5150. I just got a pair of KLH Model 24 speakers, circa 1968. They sound so much better connected to the 5150 than they did connected to the circa 2015 system the fellow I bought them from let me hear them on. The 5150 only has a few more knobs than it has buttons, and not nearly as many controls total as some of the machines people have posted about, but it has enough. I've had some much more recent receivers, circa early 2000s, and they really didn't impress me, despite their inflated wattage specs and other bells and whistles. And I do like the look of older equipment more.
I recall that with probably the best of those more recent receivers I had, one of its knobs could have very different functions, depending on what button had just been pushed. And some the buttons, also, scrolled through levels of choices. If you forgot what level of what feature you had to go to in order to change a certain adjustment it was very frustrating -- AND NOT AT ALL intuitive. That receiver did not offer what I would call simple and direct control.
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I don't care what it sounds like, just tell me it's "knob to button ratio" - then I'll know if it's vintage and likely to sound good.
Gang-Twanger
Resident Wharfedaliophool
Fisher 400 is way less knobby than the 800 :nono:
I'm going to call it: an even distribution of knobs to buttons is to be striven for, both aesthetically and aurally.
Whoops, I forgot about the 400. Same series, so... That looks beautiful by the way. I could never get my front panel to light up nice like that, especially in pictures. Here's mine, just after the restore: https://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=nyeY4SHQLdM
cnolanh
Ad astra
Yamaha CR-840 in my bedroom system has a 10:8 ratio and a beautiful panel layout.
McIntosh C33 preamp does even better with a 13:8 ratio, counting the concentric knobs separately because they're differing diameters.
Bogen AP 200 integrated has a clean 1:1 ratio unless you count the concentric volume, bass, and treble knobs in which case we're at 8:5.
It's a funny measuring stick, but I'll acknowledge the tactile appeal of a well-made knob.
McIntosh C33 preamp does even better with a 13:8 ratio, counting the concentric knobs separately because they're differing diameters.
Bogen AP 200 integrated has a clean 1:1 ratio unless you count the concentric volume, bass, and treble knobs in which case we're at 8:5.
It's a funny measuring stick, but I'll acknowledge the tactile appeal of a well-made knob.
illinoisteve
Super Member
1981-ish JVC R1X Receiver. Was my first thrift-shop-find receiver, over 20 years ago. Was my main receiver for a while, but mostly a handy back-up unit. 7/4 Knobs-to-button ratio. I hadn't realized it was that high. The green lights are a bit unusual. It has some red indicator lights, not showing in this photo.
tubeampking
Chronic dabbler
Let's see...my Magnavox 8802 has neither knobs nor buttons...so 1:1. My Bell 2221B has 4 knobs, 1 rotary switch and 4 slide switches. Most of my stuff is pretty 1970 so very few buttons..
Mostly knobs..
The simpler the better go this Polski..[emoji1]
Sent from my Z667G using Tapatalk
Mostly knobs..
The simpler the better go this Polski..[emoji1]
Sent from my Z667G using Tapatalk
An old friend of mine used to say, "There's a fine, thin line between genius and insanity. Therefore, we are not insane, we are merely geniuses who have overstepped our bounds."
I have to respectfully disagree. Sane people don't like me very much and I ain't no genius.
The best thing about lots of so-called "features" is that you can turn them off. My receiver is usually in pure direct unless, I'm listening to music that I can't enjoy without loudness. Even then, tone defeat is on. Anything else that might impose unwanted character on the signal is off.
I found that all of those other things just corrupt the signal and take away from my enjoyment of the music or movie sound. Not only that, most of them require power which they draw from the one and only power supply in the unit. That's less current available to the power amp during difficult passages. In the early 90s as HT was gaining momentum, a lot of the crap was taken away from stereo receivers and given to HT units. Good place for them! They can have it all! :yes:
ToasterBin
Toasterbin
Shhh, don't tell the guv'mint cuz they will want to spend millions of dollars researching this potential correlation...
Eywadude
Lunatic Member
I hate to be "that guy", but looking at that beaded chain hanging down on your Cambridge Azur 651A drives the OCD side of me insane. Just the thought of it scratching the face or edge of it makes me cringe. lol IDK, that's just me I guess. Cheers.
