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Your Favorite Low-Power (70s) Receiver

I'm still surprised the HK 330 is getting so much more love on this thread than the 430.

I haven't compared them head-to-head, only listened to them in different settings. However, I am convinced the Twin-Power (dual mono) topology of the 430 is the way to go given the choice. So much better soundstage and separation for a 25w receiver.

Just sayin'
 
dogwan said:
I'm still surprised the HK 330 is getting so much more love on this thread than the 430.

I haven't compared them head-to-head, only listened to them in different settings. However, I am convinced the Twin-Power (dual mono) topology of the 430 is the way to go given the choice. So much better soundstage and separation for a 25w receiver.

Just sayin'
Click to expand...


Here’s the thing that many people don’t know: the early 330s were cap-coupled and the 330c and beyond we’re direct-coupled. That is a big change in “sound” or “character”.

The twin power supplies in the 430 and up make for a cleaner, more dynamic capability. That said, none of the direct-coupled models will sound as “warm” or “colored” as the earlier cap-coupled ones.

None of that makes any unit or either design “better” or “gooder”; these are just facts one should know when comparing them.
 
dlucy said:
Here’s the thing that many people don’t know: the early 330s were cap-coupled and the 330c and beyond we’re direct-coupled. That is a big change in “sound” or “character”.

The twin power supplies in the 430 and up make for a cleaner, more dynamic capability. That said, none of the direct-coupled models will sound as “warm” or “colored” as the earlier cap-coupled ones.

None of that makes any unit or either design “better” or “gooder”; these are just facts one should know when comparing them.
Click to expand...

Interesting, I was not aware of that about the 1st gen 330. I had an early 70's Hitachi IA-1000 integrated amp that was cap coupled and it definitely had that laid-back warm 70's vibe. I knew it was cap coupled and just enjoyed it for what it was. Kind of miss that amp. It was 55w/ch so not necessarily pertinent to this thread. But, for circa '71 or '72 it was pretty damn impressive.
 
dogwan said:
Interesting, I was not aware of that about the 1st gen 330. I had an early 70's Hitachi IA-1000 integrated amp that was cap coupled and it definitely had that laid-back warm 70's vibe. I knew it was cap coupled and just enjoyed it for what it was. Kind of miss that amp. It was 55w/ch so not necessarily pertinent to this thread. But, for circa '71 or '72 it was pretty damn impressive.
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Yep. The low-power, vintage, quasi-complementary, all-discrete (in preamp and amp) Harmon Kardons were:

Cap-coupled:
  • Three Thirty (nocturne face, metal can output transistors on the rear panel) - has Germaniums :(
  • 330 (no letter) 18-20 wpc - has Germaniums :(
  • 330A 20-22 wpc - has Germaniums :(
  • 330B B-1 series 20-22 wpc
  • 330B B-2 series (a re-badged 330A but no Germaniums) 20-22 wpc

Direct-coupled
  • 330C 20-24 wpc
  • 430C (which is a 330C with two power supplies) 20-24 wpc
 
Last edited:
dlucy said:
Yep. The low-power, vintage, quasi-complementary, all-discrete (in preamp and amp) Harmon Kardons were:

Cap-coupled:
  • Three Thirty (nocturne face, metal can output transistors on the rear panel) - has Germaniums :(
  • 330 (no letter) 18-20 wpc - has Germaniums :(
  • 330A 20-22 wpc - has Germaniums :(
  • 330B B-1 series 20-22 wpc
  • 330B B-2 series (a re-badged 330A but no Germaniums) 20-22 wpc

Direct-coupled
  • 330C 20-24 wpc
  • 430C (which is a 330C with two power supplies) 20-24 wpc
Click to expand...

Off topic, but I suppose it could be argued that save for using single full-range drivers, all amps are 'externally' cap-coupled at least through the mids and/or highs if there is a series cap in the crossover. LoL.

Sorry, couldn't help myself.
 
I just rescued this little Sony STR-6036A from the original owner. She was in pretty bad (filthy) cosmetic condition, and had a few mechanical issues that I was able to repair. The wood veneer case was pretty scratched up as well, but some light sanding and refinishing brightened it up. The unit is only 15 watts per channel, but sounds pretty good to me. The low-watt Sansui and Kenwood stuff also sounds great to me, as I've had several.
IMG_1129.jpeg
 
slev said:
All - I have a pair of 16ohm single driver speakers (92/watt), and I'm looking for your favorite low-power 15-40 watt) receivers from the '70s. Speaker manufacturer suggests damping factor around 40. I want a GREAT tuner section and an overall engaging sound. Some ideas I have are: Sansui 771, 5000A/X, 1000A (tube); Pioneer SX636/838, HK X30, Sony earlier models... Are there any "under the radar" that can be had for $400 or less? What are your thoughts?

Looking forward to your replies.
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Big fan of the Sansui’s . I have a 5000x that sounds great. All it needed was a little deoxit and bias. Also a 1000 that actually sounds really good. Qrx 3500 and qrx 7001. All they needed was deoxit and biasing.
 
I did bypass the output caps on the 5000x with a film cap. Still warm and fat but better detail. Sounds a bit faster.
 
dogwan said:
I'm still surprised the HK 330 is getting so much more love on this thread than the 430.

I haven't compared them head-to-head, only listened to them in different settings. However, I am convinced the Twin-Power (dual mono) topology of the 430 is the way to go given the choice. So much better soundstage and separation for a 25w receiver.

Just sayin'
Click to expand...

I own a 430 that I recapped, and while it’s a nice receiver, it really needs the right speakers to shine. Through the wrong speakers, it just sounds blurry and muddy, but it absolutely sings with the right ones. So far, it doesn’t gel well with Sansui SP-2000’s or KLH Model 6’s, but it brings home the bacon with Bose 301’s and Boston Acoustics A120’s. It does have some other teething issues that I need to sort out (namely an ugly idle hum and shitty tuner), so I have a feeling it’s still not at it’s best yet. I am curious what the whole point of the twin transformers is, though.

Still, my (unrecapped) Yamaha CR-620 sounds GREAT with all of those speakers. Now THIS is an underrated receiver. One of the best I’ve ever heard, period. Clean airy highs, incredible instrument separation, and nice tight bass, and that loudness knob is incredibly useful for low-level listening and taming unruly speakers. Great-sounding tuner, and an incredible phono stage to boot. Big bitch, too-a full 20” wide, and 16” deep. Only thing that could make me ever get rid of it is a bigger Yamaha...and even then, the CR1020/2020/etc. just doesn’t look as nice, in my opinion. All those buttons and switches kinda ruin the clean, understated look.

That’s kinda my stance on most of the “monsters”, though. The lower-powered units are much more pleasing to look at, and aren’t cluttered with now-useless features like AM stereo adaptors or Dolby FM calibration switches, reverb tanks, or drum machines. However, I can see the fun in those, so rock on if that’s your bag.
 
Wanted to mention the Sansui Six. It's only 34 wpc but has top-notch build quality and is quite hefty for its size. Also an absolute breeze to work on -- everything is accessible and the amp boards are socketed. And it has a great sound that's slightly warm without sacrificing too much detail.
 
While I have since passed it on, I had a Technics SA-200 that was just fantastic sounding; I would expect the SA-300 to be the same, just more of it.
Son has my brother's Technics SA-80 from same era which is a very nice little girl as well. If these have a failing, its that they were built to a price point, and present
cosmetically as more "Panasonic" than Technics...

Presently I have a Sansui G-3000 in the rotation, with a Pioneer SX-626 in waiting. Again, both excellent, though completely different sound timbres. Each has a
hot tuner. And let no one kid you, each will drive Bose 901 II's loud and clearly enough that you will want to leave the room ;)
 
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