Underrated or under valued Gear

[dshoaf]

I'm assuming you mean items that can be had for cheap yet can shine when properly dealt with:

- HK Citation 11 preamp (must be recapped, though)
- Lux L-31 integrated amp (ditto as above)
- HK Citation 16 and 17 (ditto as above)
- Magnecord 724 tube tape deck - amazing sonics if restored
- Harman Kardon/Rabco ST7 linear tracking turntable (made only a couple of years but excellent when rebuilt)

Cheers,

David

 

[bigaltx24]

Pioneer SX3800/3900 Receivers
Altec Santana & Santana II Speakers
70s & 80s Denon Integrated Amps
Ohm Conventional Speakers
Kyocera CD Players

 

[richamor]

Sansui 5000 receivers
EPI/Epicure speakers
Dual 1229 turntables
Technics SL-Q turntables
Most power amps without VU meters

 

[sejose]

I'll second the Sanyo Plus series, I have a set and they just sound way too good to get rid of, and the tuner is superb!

 

[Sam Cogley]

Most anything by Kenwood, outside of a few extremely well-known pieces like the Supreme separates and the L-07D TT.

Pretty much anything by Sony - though the damage to their reputation was entirely self-inflicted.

Same goes for JVC/Victor.

..and Realistic.

 

[Tinman]

Concept Receivers.

 

[jhoyt]

Kenwood KA-7100

 

[fiddlefye]

Of the gear that I own I'd say that the most under-appreciated yet most enjoyable pieces I have are a Scott 348 receiver (and the rest of their early SS gear) and an Epicure M1 power amp which I love. Both pieces fly under most anyone's radar and (for me at least) both have a bit of magic in them. I'd also say that the 70's Onkyo and Technics receivers certainly aren't slouches, either.

 

[e_just]

I would like to add the Pioneer SA-5200 integrated amp to the list. Only 10 watts a channel but works wonders with the right speakers. (KLH 17 in my case) These things often sell for under $50

 

[melofelo]

vintage aiwa and akai..late 70's to very early 80's...

http://audiokarma.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=156100&d=1245750410

 

[r_deming]

I'm assuming you mean items that can be had for cheap yet can shine when properly dealt with:

Well you know you have your Mac guys, your marantz guysand pioneer guys, and there is certain gear that is highly sought after by those makers. just the diamonds in the rough...cheap or expensive.

RD

 

[darth]

Philips ( High Fidelity Laboratories) Integrated Amps USA or Japan Made Models
Kyocera Receivers ( SUPERB Quality for little $$ )
Thorens TD-150 mk2 ( similar to a Linn LP12 for little $$$ )

 

[day67]

Maybe some of the Fisher line up, RS 10XX series. KLH 5's...I like that!

 

[boreas]

A lot of the stuff folks are listing wouldn't fit my description of "underrated" but I'd have to give a +1 to Sanyo Plus Series and early HH Scott solid state components. To those I'd add Hitachi receivers, particularly the Class G stuff.

John

 

[dkelley]

yes, in north america, both hitachi and sanyo are terribly under rated. sanyo deservedly so LoL, their north american stuff is more often than not bottom of the line crap. However Sanyo's high end stuff is very very good, yet still cheap due to the bad name it has around here. Hitachi is great stuff, and their TOTL stuff (either under the hitachi or uber-high end Lo-D japanese brand names) is some of the best gear I've ever used, tons of R&D behind it and every bit as brilliant and original as other totl gear from brands that are more popular in north america.

Anything by radio shack that was rebranded from one of those same high end lines from another manufacturer is also great. Some of the least likely radio shack speakers are very good. all of it from the past here, I don't think they have had anything really good for decades though afaik.

telefunken, great stuff, some really ugly and stupid cases from my experience, but exceptional performers and build quality (and sound). I owned one, a wierd receiver, was extremely strange. had it back in the 80s and it was old then. solid state. anyway it sounded exceptional.

 

[onepixel]

Well post em up, your top 5 sleepers. underrated gear, the forgotten classic if you will! preamp, power amps, turntables, receivers, etc...

RD

Creating a sleepers shopping list?

 

[Isotonic]

I have a little 30 watt Akai receiver that holds it's own against any mainstream vintage Japanese receiver. Excellent tonal balance and exceptionally smooth highs.

 

[dstroyr]

Dokorder 800A. Nearly unknown. Mine has the neighbor pounding on the wall at "2"

 

[dkelley]

+1 JVC I had a receiver of theirs that was class A (only Class A receiver I've ever used), had the sea eq, incredible machine, sounded absolutely amazing. great speakers although I've found the cabinet build quality to be crap from my personal experience, but drivers/crossovers/designs were astounding for the price. turntables went from very good to astounding as well (as the earlier post shows, a totl jvc DD model that I drooled over in the 80s and still do today).

 

[barkerd]

my first entry into audio : I was 16 and wanted seperates : I bought the most I could afford : a pioneer SA6500 / that thing (within reason) still kicks butt. It still sounds good / never been touched , never failed / has led a tough life / played at max for more yrs than I care to remember and STILL woops amps rated many times more it's output. It has that classic "silver" look (and in mho pioneer did it best) and best of all they fly under the radar : Ive seen them regularly sell for well under $100 / the matching tuner sells for less than $50