Used Integrated amplifier Pls Help

Most of the vintage amps were built well, controle pots do suffer from severe oxidation and corrosion. DEOXIT is the answer. DeoxIT is a fast-acting deoxidizing solution that cleans, preserves, lubricates and improves conductivity on all metal connectors and contacts. DeoxIT dissolves the contamination and protects the surface

I recently bought 3 amps on ebay, they are built like a tank with solid milled alluminium knobs. Construction quality is top class. Just have a look at my vintage amps...PIONEER SA9100 was top of the line model in 1973, it still looks like new. It sells at ebay for $200, even today, sounds awsome...my towers handles them with great difficulty. It has extremely broad frequency response of 7 to 80,000 Hz.

As long as it's not abused, there is no problem, it can serve for years.


Anil

Hi Anil,
Great amps and in great condition! How would u compare the sound to the modern mid budget integrateds? I know these are built like tanks so build quality is not a concern at all.
Regards

I agree, in old times amps used to have a good build quality on average. But nothing lasts forever. Since you bought them off ebay (outside India presumably) they can be assumed to have been taken care of well. But in the hot, humid and dusty Indian conditions? Well, not everyone cares (or can care) as much. Specially if it was a budget gear. And if it was not really looked after very well, it can well turn out to be a bad buy. Though I see no harm in buying amps 5-10 years old, anything older than that, well, need to be very careful while buying it. Biggest problem being lack of maintenance support, should you need it. Not everyone knows how to hold a soldering iron

Ranjeetji,
These amps are actually sought after by collectors. I know a few in bbay who have a few vintage sansui,kenwood,luxman etc and they do play up from time to time and u will need to know a little more than just holding a soldering iron!!! I guess Anil sees it as a hobby and has the skill,knowledge, dedication to keep them running. Not my cup of tea 4 sure!
In fact i borrowed a kenwood from a friend and ran it on a B&W 704 and the loud thuds that came through the speakers everytime i switched inputs was enough to deter me. I also found that particular amp lacking in detail and pretty dull!!!
Regards

Dear Dins,

I do agree its a nice hobby and a very passionate one too. It feels so good when you hold a 30 years old amp in your hand. That sentiment was fully expressed in that one sentence Anil wrote earlier, "Own a piece of history". And I fully agree with that. Its like having a 1940 model Rolls Royce. You want to have one, even if don't/can't use it much

Yes there is a great difference in sound quality. These solidstate transister amps differ in sound. Vintage Marantz sounds warm like tube amplifiers. My Yamaha CA 610 is sweet sounding compared to Kenwood. I had Onkyo amp bought new in 1998, sounded crap....flat like am radio. I did compare with modren amps like Marantz & Denon....they sound flat, they do not sound like vintage Pioneer & Sansui. Sansui AU 717 is a real beast, even today it's sells at $400. I had no chance to compare with NAD & Rotel. Check the attached pic.

AU 717 is a true “DC” direct-coupled amp design. Not even one coupling capacitor is used in the circuit path or the feedback loop. Thus those factors which determine dynamic response, namely slew rate, transient response and TIM or transient intermodulation, are greatly improved. Frequency response now extends from DC (zero Hz) to an amazing 200kHz. A precision phono equalizer with eight transistors per channel. It keeps RIAA equalization inaccuracy within a nominal +-0.2db over a wide 20 to 20 000Hz range & twin power supply assures clean sound. Vintage sound is an addiction.

some vintage sites:

http://www.hifivision.com/general-ch...fications.html

Well, the one that I auditoned was old all right but everyone of the buttons/switches/rotary controls was functioning first class-abs noiseless.
I guess they did care for quality& durability even then...

Oh the feedback really overhelmed me. Thanks a lot folks. Thanks for inputs on Rotel, Nad 3020 and all other models. Mr Anilkumar happens to be collector of vintage gear. I saw your DIY speakers. They are fantastic. Sausui A-717 is also on my wishlist. Any info on Pioneer A-400. Thanks & I appreciate the response of menbers. Pls do keep posting.
Regards
Sandip

Hi
Anil,your amps look fantastic.

I agree with you the Sansui AU717 is a great amplifier and will beat most of the newer amps .A friend of mine had one driving a pair of IMF tls50 loudspeakers.The sound was simply fantastic.


I am attaching a picture of my Luxman M4000 power amp.I have had this amp since new (1978) It was designed by Tim De Parvicini of EAR fame,when he worked with Luxman.The amp sounds far better than some highly priced modern gear.

I use it to drive my Infinity RSII loudspeakers,which present a very difficult load but the Lux handles it with ease.

I am posting a link to a reveiw of Jean Hiraga's new speakers .I really like the last line "There's hifi and then there is music."

6moons industryfeatures: Munich High End show 2008


Regards
Rajiv

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Awesome stuff Anil and Rajiv.
That sansui and pioneer models are classics.... Good to see someone taking so much care of them.