Underdogs - Undervalued Vintage Receivers
- Thread starter Triumph65
- Start date
Triumph65
New Member
@Fleischer - Thank you, great info.
Triumph65
New Member
@yesshows77 - Great info. My brother has an extra Nakamichi TA4A in Dallas. Just needs to get the one channel fixed on the second unit. I don't mind the black faces at all.
Triumph65
New Member
@NH-MAN - That's a beast!! I'm afraid I'd be run out of the neighborhood. We are in a "zero lot line" neighborhood with neighbors I can touch on each side. If I want to listen to loud music I have to close all the garage and shop doors. Even then I can't run a sub
All I'll be running in the garage/shop is a pair of NHT SuperOnes (inside the garage) and a pair of outdoor speakers (outside of garage) facing pool. We had all the zones when we moved in but now I'm enjoying 2-Channel in each location.
Maybe I should keep it in in mind for my big shop when we move to the country
All I'll be running in the garage/shop is a pair of NHT SuperOnes (inside the garage) and a pair of outdoor speakers (outside of garage) facing pool. We had all the zones when we moved in but now I'm enjoying 2-Channel in each location.
Maybe I should keep it in in mind for my big shop when we move to the country
Does it really matter what Country they come from?
It's well documented on here that the Viking looks a lot like the Lafayette LR-5555a.
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I love these 'underdog' threads
I agree with nearly every post.
But I would not worry about brand name so much or about max. power output.
Even my humblest receiver (Pioneer Sound Project 300) sounds good given appropriate expectations.
I would definitely not overlook 1980s gear.
I have something like 15 receivers, with 2 set up and operating, a late-2000s Yamaha receiver, and a Realistic STA-90.
I put the STA-90 back into service this week because I am working from home for now.
It dropped a channel today and then the other started fading.
A bit of poking and prodding indicates it's the Tape 2 switch.
It's surely an easy fix, but it seems that nearly every receiver I have other than the Yammie requires occasional intervention.
I don't mind a minor repair now and then, but some folks do.
That Yamaha hasn't bothered me in 2 years of use.
As a pure practical matter, an early-ish AV receiver is an excellent choice.
I agree with nearly every post.
But I would not worry about brand name so much or about max. power output.
Even my humblest receiver (Pioneer Sound Project 300) sounds good given appropriate expectations.
I would definitely not overlook 1980s gear.
I have something like 15 receivers, with 2 set up and operating, a late-2000s Yamaha receiver, and a Realistic STA-90.
I put the STA-90 back into service this week because I am working from home for now.
It dropped a channel today and then the other started fading.
A bit of poking and prodding indicates it's the Tape 2 switch.
It's surely an easy fix, but it seems that nearly every receiver I have other than the Yammie requires occasional intervention.
I don't mind a minor repair now and then, but some folks do.
That Yamaha hasn't bothered me in 2 years of use.
As a pure practical matter, an early-ish AV receiver is an excellent choice.
Harvestor
Addicted Member
OMGCat!
Super Member
In the 'near vintage' realm, aside from older AV receivers, Onkyo made a nice line of two channel receivers. I've got the small 50wpc TX8211 in the bedroom but I found the 100wpc TX8511 at a thrift and was surprised that the thing must have weighed 25lbs. I had no use for it so left it for someone else to score but I bet it would have made one heck of an amp if it sounds anywhere near as nice as it's smaller sibling.
The prices on these are next to nothing. I paid $5 for the 8211 in the original box with remote and the 8511 was priced at $18.
The prices on these are next to nothing. I paid $5 for the 8211 in the original box with remote and the 8511 was priced at $18.
yesshows77
Well-Known Member
I don't know if you will be able to pry that extra Nakamichi from your brother, but that was their TOTL model (100 watts/ch) and is well worth having repaired as they can be quite pricey. Those Nakamichi receivers used Stasis circuitry in the amplifier section under license from Nelson Pass and they sound fantastic. Another advantage of the 80's receivers are the availability of a remote control. I had a Nakamichi TA-3A with matching CD player and I could control both with a single (Nakamichi) remote. The Luxman R-115 (I've owned multiple) is a seriously good sounding unit with excellent dynamic power. I've also owned a Yamaha R-8 and can attest to what a terrific sounding receiver it is and they can be found for very little coin.
I wouldn't necessarily stay away from anything, just because of the name. Price, yes. Name, no. Several months ago I picked up a Sansui 5000a (with the good boards and no issues) for $70.
EVBoy
Super Member
I see them all the time and they are, like you say, dirt cheap. I guess it is because they look like BPC and Onkyo doesn't have much of a following. They are worth grabbing.
That Heathkit AR1500 could be had for cheap here on Craigslist. Guy selling a working one for only $20. https://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/ele/d/bonney-lake-heathkit-ar-1500/7105398744.html
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quiet
Addicted Member
I've not seen a deal such as that in a long time.
superdog
AK Member
I am with you on the pre hdmi or totl HT receivers.Best bang for the buck.That input board then goes to what Im guessing is the audio driver board. Again loaded with Gold caps. I like seeing the heatsinks on the opamps.
View attachment 1826824
I also like seeing the power regulation / distribution board has heatsinks in two places. Its hard to see with this pic.
View attachment 1826826
The amp section also uses a push pull fan config. And if you jamming this thing loud enough for the fans to spin at max your not going
to be able to hear those fans LOL.
Heat kills electronics and thats why I like what I see within this giant.
Theres MANY other model's from Integra and other brands. Im just showing my particular unit for a reference point.
I also prefer monster HT receivers that are pre HDMI era. Again just my preference. IMO that era was kinda pre water down of HT receivers.
Not to say good ones dont exist or anything that have HDMI. Again just a generalization on my part. Also some of the HDMI boards on even
high end HT receivers over heated and cause something the entire unit not to work or just parts.
Food for thought. And I enjoy seeing detailed nudes of gear
markshan
Sir Thrift a Lot
Unless you need a phono stage (usually).
David_NC
Super Member
I was going to mention these two brands as well. I've got an 18 watt Sony STR-7025 that sounds pretty amazing with a pair of Dahlquist DQM-9's; the only thing I've found that sounds better on these speakers is a Sherwood S-5000ii tube integrated amp (which is truly one of the best sounding integrated amps I've heard). For more power and features, upper models in that series, such as the STR-7055 I'll be recapping soon, are also very nice. If integrate amps are options, I really like my Kenwood KA-9100 and Marantz 1060, though they are sort of opposites in some ways; the Kenwood is a 90 watt direct-coupled amp with tons of features, and the little capacitor-coupled Marantz puts out 30 watts (the Marantz is also a really simple model to refurb).
However, if you go back to the early 60's, quite a few integrated tube amps really are outstanding. The nice things is that even restored, they often sell for quite a bit less than a mid-line 70's Marantz or Pioneer receiver does. Along with Sherwood, Fisher and Scott are all great brands of amps from this era (early 60's).
I'll second the use of nice but obsolete AVR's. I picked up a Sony V333ES for $35 on sale at a Goodwill in perfect condition. It's a nice receiver that sounds good in stereo / 2-channel mode, has a phono input, and a remote control is always nice. Also, Denon stereo receivers can be good and seem to be built really well; I have had to do absolutely nothing to them. I picked up a couple - a DRA-425 and a DRA-635R - for $35 and $70 (I think) respectively. The 635 is a nice unit from around 1990, from what I remember.
Since I'm mentioning black models, a Luxman R-115 is a nice unit from around '89-90 or so with 70 watts and is one of the cleanest sounding receivers I've owned. This one did need a bit of work - I had to Deoxit the volume control, which is surprisingly simple. R-117 is a step up in performance and about four steps up in price! Also, check out some of the 70's Luxman models; many seem quite affordable.
I also look for preamp outputs on receivers or integrated amps. I've used them mostly for adding a subwoofer. For some reason, not having preamp outs really annoys me, and a unit not having them seems cheap.
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BilboBaggins
Addicted Member
I have to admit, Pre-Out, Amp-In are required for my keepers. My kids have all benefited from my hobby. My two daughters have good AVRs I found for them and my son has a nice system with my old Kef Concerto's.