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Vote Results: Your Favorite Receivers...

Gary D Olson

Gary D Olson

Skilled Tightwad
I looked through Unshriven's thread where he asked people to list their favorite receiver. This thread was active for 3 years, and was full of helpful information which served me well when I began my search for a vintage receiver. Over 270 favorite models were specified from 34 different manufacturers. Most models received 1-3 votes. This list starts at 4 votes. Here's his OP:

Unshriven 6/3/2010: "What's the best receiver you ever heard? If you had to pick one and it would be the only receiver you'd ever listen to again, what would it be? Which one was the best you ever heard?"

I added my own vote (Luxman R-117), and tallied them all up. And the thread winners are...

#8 - CONCEPTS 16.5 = 4
#8 - ROTEL RX-1603 = 4
#7 - SANSUI 9090 = 5
#7 - MARANTZ 2275 = 5
#7 - KENWOOD KR-9600 = 5
#6 - MARANTZ 2385 = 6
#5 - HARMON KARDON 930 = 8
#4 - PIONEER SX-1980 = 9
#3 - SANSUI 9090DB = 10
#2 - LUXMAN R-117 = 14
#1 - PIONEER SX-1250 = 15 (WINNER)

Here's a complete list of all the brands (in order of most votes):

SANSUI - 52
PIONEER - 44
MARANTZ - 35
LUXMAN - 23
HARMON KARDON - 19
SONY - 14
KENWOOD - 11
SHERWOOD - 8
FISHER - 6
NAD - 6
YAMAHA - 6
CONCEPTS - 5
ROTEL - 5
NAKAMICHI - 4
ONKYO - 4
TANDBERG - 4
KYOCERA - 3
SCOTT - 3
AKAI - 2
DENON - 2
MCINTOSH - 2
REALISTIC - 2
TECHNICS - 2
BANG & OLUFSEN - 1
CYBERNET - 1
KLH - 1
NEC - 1
Nytech - 1
Optonica - 1
Proton - 1
Sanyo - 1
Sunfire - 1
Superscope - 1
Toshiba - 1
 
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Goes to show, bigger isn't always better. Had I not seen the results, I would've guessed the Pioneer SX-1980 and Marantz 2500 and 2600's would've been top of the list. Thanks for sharing.
 
Here's each model and those who voted for it...

tiga said:
Very interesting. Thank you for pulling this together.
Click to expand...
It was my pleasure, and the least I could. After all, the original thread lead to the purchase of our Luxman R-117. We’d have been pleased with any model from the list, but the Lux was the first to become available. She ain’t pretty like the 1970’s models, but she more than makes up for it in sonic prowess.

SoCal Sam said:
The HK 930 is the surprise result.
Click to expand...

Karmices said:
Goes to show, bigger isn't always better. Had I not seen the results, I would've guessed the Pioneer SX-1980 and Marantz 2500 and 2600's would've been top of the list. Thanks for sharing.
Click to expand...

The last 2 posts got me wondering if anyone might like to see the data on which the results were based; more specifically, the complete list of models along with the names of each person who voted for it. Bear in mind some of these votes are 3 & 4 years old. Here's the list…


AKAI
akai aa-1175 melofelo
Akai aa-1020 budkor

BANG & OLUFSEN
B&O Beomaster 8000 Soren Hammer

CONCEPTS
Concept 16.5 KR7600
Concept 16.5 bully
Concept 16.5 zombie1210
Concept 16.5 scott1019
Concept 12.0D plinya77

CYBERNET
CYBERNET CA 110 thomo57

DENON
Denon AVR3000 dan-c
Denon AVR-2809ci joel27

FISHER
Fisher 400 Sam Cogley
Fisher RS-Z1 gsoravil
Fisher 500C biggguy
Fisher 500c nikosan
Fisher 500C ALBQ
Fisher 800c AlTinkster92

HARMON KARDON
Harman Kardon 330c miniman24
H/K 430 tarior
Harman/Kardon 630 Twin Power The Swede
HK 670 yosl
HK 680i shimniok
HK 680i Hokieman
HK 690i SoCal Sam
Harman Kardon 730 oldenuff
H/K 730 tarior
HK 930 sfox52
H/K 930 hatrack71
Harman Kardon 930 oldenuff
H-K 930 batrider
HK 930 sfox52
HARMAN KARDON 930 Frenchkris
h/k 930 Tweak48
Harman Kardon 930 strat10
HK 990VXi SoCal Sam
H/K "The Citation Arkay
HK Citation sonix

KENWOOD
Kenwood KR-5400 The Swede
Kenwood KR 6030 Martin G.
Kenwood KR-6600 johnda
Kenwood KR-7200 jleon92f
kenwood kr-9400 hardrock94
Kenwood KR-9400 The Swede
Kenwood KR-9600 EchoWars
kenwood kr-9600 hardrock94
Kenwood KR 9600 jcamkll
Kenwood KR-9600 GOYA
Kenwood KR-9600 scott1019

KLH
KLH Model 52A Toasted Almond

KYOCERA
Kyocera R-861 SoCal Sam
Kyocera R-851 fitshoeman
Kyocera R-861 scott1019

LUXMAN
Luxman LV-103u AudioPeru
Luxman lv-104u elias333
Luxman R-115 SFBayArch
Luxman R-115 jhoyt
Luxman R-117 superdog
Luxman R-117 Bigears
Luxman R-117 SoCal Sam
Luxman R-117 2DualsNotEnough
Luxman R-117 doodledog
Luxman R-117 w1jim
Luxman R 117 sonix
Luxman R-117 Frenchkris
Luxman R-117 CohibaJoe
Luxman R-117 skeetdaddy
Luxman R-117 HeathS
Luxman R-117 scott1019
Luxman R-117 SFBayArch
Luxman R-117 Gary D Olson
Luxman R-1040 clydeselsor
Luxman R-1050 Coconuts 500
Luxman R-1050 Junknewbian
Luxman R-1070 zenith2134
Luxman 1120 ghamilton

MARANTZ
Marantz 18 Meaudio1
Marantz Model 19 Gravelyguy
Marantz Model 19 onemug
Marantz 150 thereal
Marantz 2015 Rocko81
Marantz 2215B michaelhigh
Marantz 2220R Frank I
MARANTZ 2230 quadklipsh
Marantz 2230 2526
Marantz 2230 hatrack71
Marantz 2230B tarior
Marantz 2250B RocknRum
Marantz 2270 jn229
Marantz 2270 mattsd
Marantz 2275 oldmanind
Marantz 2275 hatrack71
Marantz 2275 cfinchrist
Marantz 2275 All-Trac
Marantz 2275 legalalien
Marantz 2285B Arkay
marantz 2325 MIKE47
Marantz 2325 Rob Burns
Marantz 2325 ManyMoonsAudio
Marantz 2330 RocknRum
Marantz 2330 john145
Marantz 2330 tarior
Marantz 2385 tarior
MARANTZ 2385 Frenchkris
Marantz 2385 statman122
Marantz 2385 4_everyman
marantz 2385 joel27
Marantz 2385 BOUXY
Marantz 2500 JimInLhc
Marantz 2500 titanstats
Marantz 2600 JimInLhc
Marantz 2600 Negotiableterms
Marantz 4300 fiddlefye

MCINTOSH
McIntosh MAC 1900 KentTeffeteller
McIntosh MAC 4100 KentTeffeteller

NAD
NAD 7020 RandyFloyd76
NAD Monitor Series 7100 mcdan
NAD 7120 Ron Pilgrim
NAD 7140 coonmanx
NAD 7240 rnorton
NAD Monitor Series 7400 mcdan

NEC
NEC AVR-1000 scott1019

Nytech
Nytech 252 XDII supermanu

NAKAMICHI
Nakamichi SR-2A Splatter Pak
Nak TA-3A davidb1
Nakamichi TA-4A SFBayArch
Nakamichi SR-4A SFBayArch

ONKYO
Onkyo TX-7000 Turner-Table
Onkyo TX-7000 bowtie427ss
Onkyo 8500mkII just dave
Onkyo TX 8500 Mk II BBQDad

Optonica
Optonica SA-5905 Firby13

PIONEER
Pioneer Elite SC-27 JohnVF
Pioneer Elite VSX-82TXS cwall99
Pioneer SX-434 mattsd
Pioneer SX-750 Water
Pioneer SX-780 johnda
Pioneer SX 828 VintagePlus
Pioneer SX 838 Bill S
Pioneer SX-850 mattsd
Pioneer SX-890 mattsd
Pioneer QX-949 Splatter Pak
Pioneer SX 950 AnalogDigit
Pioneer SX-950 tarior
Pioneer SX-990 burgerbob
Pioneer sx1010 strat10
Pioneer SX-1010 dumptruckz36
Pioneer SX-1080 Grog
Pioneer SX-1080 parvo
Pioneer SX-1250 EchoWars
Pioneer SX-1250 DENNYDOG
Pioneer SX-1250 slow_jazz
Pioneer SX-1250 ManyMoonsAudio
Pioneer SX-1250 Isotonic
Pioneer SX-1250 bowtie427ss
Pioneer SX-1250 hatrack71
Pioneer sx1250 jt45
Pioneer SX-1250 vitalsigns65
Pioneer SX-1250 tarior
Pioneer SX-1250 JosephH
Pioneer SX-1250 VintagePlus
Pioneer SX-1250 w1jim
Pioneer SX-1250 Arkay
Pioneer Sx 1250 ronrico
Pioneer sx-1280 hardrock94
Pioneer SX-1980 w1jim
Pioneer SX-1980 Big Tuna
Pioneer SX-1980 Arkay
Pioneer SX-1980 Edriz
Pioneer SX-1980 BOUXY
Pioneer SX1980 darren
Pioneer SX-1980 scott1019
Pioneer SX1980 Caminokid
Pioneer SX-D5000 Retro Stereo
Pioneer SX-D7000 Retro Stereo
Pioneer SX-9000 Rhetor

Proton
Proton D940 jheu02

REALISTIC
Realistic STA 2100 AnalogDigit
Realistic STA 2000 AnalogDigit

ROTEL
Rotel Rx-404 meandog
Rotel RX-1603 scott1019
Rotel RX-1603 BrocLuno
Rotel RX-1603 hatrack71
Rotel RX-1603 Blown Z-06

SANSUI
Sansui Eight Deluxe Robisme
Sansui Eight Deluxe captouch
Sansui Eight Deluxe RandyFloyd76
Sansui 771 Martin G.
Sansui G-871DB RPMz
Sansui 881 silvernutsaq
Sansui 881 hatrack71
Sansui 890 joekid
Sansui 990DB ALBQ
Sansui 1000A dandevin
Sansui 2000x prisoners
Sansui 3000 SFBayArch
Sansui 4000 pl50
Sansui 4000 Hifirob2
Sansui 4000 SFBayArch
Sansui G-4700 Junknewbian
Sansui 7000 silvernutsaq
Sansui G-7000 cfinchrist
Sansui G-7700 jojosm
Sansui 7900Z mattsd
Sansui 8080DB michaelhigh
Sansui G-8700DB fish mojo
Sansui G9000 tybrad
Sansui QRX-9001 Daunia 70
Sansui G-9000 scott1019
Sansui 3000A zenith2134
Sansui G-7700 Vintagear
sansui 881 hardrock94
Sansui 771 michaelhigh
Sansui G-8000 mattsd
Sansui G-8000 dr*audio
Sansui 8080DB onepixel
Sansui G-9000 tarior
Sansui G-9000 dr*audio
Sansui QRX 9001 joekid
Sansui 9090 orionkc
Sansui 9090 nosirrah
Sansui 9090 hatrack71
Sansui 9090 Arkay
Sansui 9090 cfinchrist
Sansui 9090db JohnVF
Sansui 9090db superdog
Sansui 9090DB onepixel
Sansui 9090db Cactus Bob
Sansui 9090DB tarior
Sansui 9090DB zombie1210
Sansui 9090DB tnsilver
Sansui 9090db HiFiGuy9
Sansui 9090db Vintagear
Sansui 9090db strat10
Sansui G-22000 w1jim
Sansui G-33000 JohnVF

Sanyo
Sanyo JCX-2900K cdfac

SCOTT
H H Scott 342 tcdriver
H.H. Scott 390-B rnorton
Scott R74S birchoak

SHERWOOD
Sherwood RX-4109 johnda
Sherwood S-5000 Dr Tinear
sherwood s-720059volvo
Sherwood S-7300 cwmartin
Sherwood S-7800 Flammaster
Sherwood S8900A rgk5
Sherwood S9910 jammasterj13
sherwood S9910 r_deming

SONY
Sony STR-V7 Turner-Table
Sony STR-GX9ES scott1019
Sony STR-GX10 ES VINTAGCHRIS
Sony STR-GX10ES scott1019
Sony STR-GX90ES scott1019
Sony STR 6050 SFBayArch
Sony STR-6055 johnda
Sony STR 6055 SFBayArch
Sony STR-6060 sony6060
Sony STR 6060 SFBayArch
Sony STR-6200F FauxHall
Sony STR-6800SD Theebadone
Sony STR-7065 cornwallguy
Sony ES 9000 Freo-1

Sunfire
Sunfire Ultimate Reciever TNRabbit

Superscope
Superscope R350 AnalogDigit

TANDBERG
Tandberg TR2075mkII jan_stevns
Tandberg TR 2075 Deubi
Tandberg TR-2040 MisterFishey
Tandberg TR 2080 jdurbin1
TECHNICS
Technics SA-700 catch 22
Technics SA-GX130 Compgeke

Toshiba
Toshiba SA-7150 falcon377

YAMAHA
Yamaha CR 2040 ehoove
Yamaha CR-1040 Isotonic
Yamaha CR-3020 Turner-Table
Yamaha RX-V990 ouimetnick
Yamaha CR-2020 The Fez
Yamaha CR-2040 fredcohiba
 
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After seeing this last post with the "who voted for what" results, it seems some members voted more than once for different equipment. If we throw out those votes, it may be different. Interesting still nonetheless.
 
The order I listen to the most...Pioneer SX-1250, Sony STR-GX10ES, Luxman LV-109, Mac 1900 then Luxman R-117.

For me no 1 is the Best...Each piece has there own Sound Signature and that makes them #1 to my ears.
 
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What a great compilation, great work.

I'm ABCD a few receivers and amps (as usual) and it's tough to pick a winner. I now own Matt's Sansui G8000 and it's fantastic. I was advised to check out the HK730. I did and it won the fight against several other receivers and amp that it was pitted against. Now, I have the R117 and R115. I'm AB them against the Yamaha A-S1000.

This thread had a lot of information that was compiled and I appreciate it. I want to know more. I wonder how many voters had several receivers and how old or new were the receivers, had they been refreshed? People get locked into only one brand and don't give other brands a fair chance...such as pickups, motorcycles, beer and such.

Blonde, Brunette or Redhead.
BUMP
 
My vote didn't get in there (late to the party?), but I'm a long-time fan of the SX-1250, played it against all of the best back in the '70s & early '80s, never felt that any other receiver sounded as good. There were separates (ex: Mc) that I liked and like better, but not receivers.
 
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