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Recommend me some vintage integrated amps - Page 2

post #16 of 31
8/25/07 at 9:40am
Sansui the AU series for power amps. for DC integrated are A-40, A-60 and A-80. mine A-80...
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post #17 of 31
8/25/07 at 5:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hermitt View Post
I have a Nak TA-4A which is the 100wpc tuner/amp with STASSIS. Just one step below the PA-7. The last of it's breed I also have a matching CR-4A Cassette recorder and both sound magical with my B&W DM-1800 loudspeakers. Don't know what this stuff goes for these days, but was quite a chunk of change when I bought it all new in the mid 80's. don't think I will be parting with any of it soon
PA-7 is more expensive. But TA-4A you can get for $200 to $300. I got mine for $75 shipped. It got a channel imbalance problem. Took sometime to deoxit it. It has just simply gorgeous sound and a wonderful headphone out. I think this is the best value considering what Threshold is going for.
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post #18 of 31
8/25/07 at 6:09pm
Thread Starter 
So I went to both Goodwills near my city today, and neither of them had any sort of audio equipment. The closest thing was a Fisher-Price boom box

Oh well, time to check out eBay/Craigs...
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post #19 of 31
8/25/07 at 6:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dvw View Post
PA-7 is more expensive. But TA-4A you can get for $200 to $300. I got mine for $75 shipped. It got a channel imbalance problem. Took sometime to deoxit it. It has just simply gorgeous sound and a wonderful headphone out. I think this is the best value considering what Threshold is going for.
I looked at a lot of Threshold amps before I bought my TA-4A, (in '89) The 100wpc stereo STASSIS (S/200)amps were $1950 and the 250wpc (S/500) was $3950. A SA/4 (100w stereo) was $5500 and needed a preamp (FET 9 - $1950) at the time. I paid $1500 for my Nakamichi brand new, and at the time it was very worth it

(the numbers I got from the price sheet that Threshold sent me in '89 )

Edit: At the time, I was also looking seriously at the Tandberg TPR 3080A which was going for $2500
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post #20 of 31
8/25/07 at 6:22pm
You find a Mac at Goodwill, good day to play the lotto!
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post #21 of 31
8/26/07 at 12:23pm
Is Sansui 5050 for $50 a good deal?
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post #22 of 31
8/26/07 at 4:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by goldenratiophi View Post
So I went to both Goodwills near my city today, and neither of them had any sort of audio equipment. The closest thing was a Fisher-Price boom box

Oh well, time to check out eBay/Craigs...
Thrift stores are hit or miss. You need to go on a regular basis and larger ones are probably better. In 10 trips, 1 time there was higher end equipment.
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post #23 of 31
8/26/07 at 4:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by scompton View Post
Thrift stores are hit or miss. You need to go on a regular basis and larger ones are probably better. In 10 trips, 1 time there was higher end equipment.
Agreed, from my experience, thrift stores like the Goodwill sucks in general for great audio finds. Yes occasionally, I would find a decent $25 turntable but for the most part, it's rare to find something worthwhile. I do like the Goodwill for vinyl records though and have found some cool oldies.

That said, don't be discouraged from checking out thrift stores. The other day, I saw a nice Sony home theater receiver for around $49. It's probably not an audiophile receiver but for the price, ya can't beat it.

I prefer craigslist or ebay for the better vintage gear. It's easier and there are good deals available if you keep checking.


edit:

Be careful when purchasing from a Craigslist from another city. It's at your own risk. I was lucky however when I bought my Marantz 2270 from a Craigslist in Portland, Oregon (about 3,000 miles away from me). Fortunately, The seller ended up being legitimate and honest as I bought from him based on no feedback record from him. He was able to Fedex the amp to me but I can't say if all Craigslist sellers are able to do business this way.

Good luck! Part of the adventure is the search in this hobby.
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post #24 of 31
8/30/07 at 2:31pm
Kenwood's for cheaper vintage audio, yeah!

I own two - KR-3500 integrated amp, at 35W RMS and KR-6600 receiver, at 60W RMS. Both are incredible sounding, and got them for quite cheap in great condition! 100USD for the 6600, and it was worth it. Very clean unit, recently serviced. Minty-fresh, that one. 60USD for the 3500, and it was in pretty good shape. A little bit of De-Oxit and elbow grease got it back in top shape.
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post #25 of 31
8/30/07 at 7:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spareribs View Post
When I got my vintage Marantz, I did get it serviced. I payed 3 hundred dollars to get it diagnosed and inspected by a vintage audio specialist. He repaired a minor crack in one of the boards, realigned the tuner, cleaned up the the insides and replaced the lamps with better quality ones. He said the caps were fine and did not need replacement. Maybe I payed too much, I don't know.

But it gave me peace of mind that my Marantz is working to it's potential and there are no internal defects. I don't think it's necessary to get an old vintage amp serviced and inspected by a professional but it's up to you if you have the money and if you highly regard the amp.

To me, I regard my vintage Marantz as a relic of history, an icon of the 70's so that was the reason why I went the extra mile of getting it inspected by a professional and serviced.

If you are on a budget, a 70's Kenwood amp usually goes for around $50-$60 more or less on Craigslist. They are considered to be fine amps as well. An old Yamaha amp is probably less than $100 and good too.

Man I only would have charged you $295 for that repair. If you are looking for amps more taylored for speakers look at the Pioneer SA series.
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post #26 of 31
8/30/07 at 8:35pm
NAD 3020 intgerated amps are great...
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post #27 of 31
8/30/07 at 11:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tjohnusa View Post
Man I only would have charged you $295 for that repair.
It's only a $5 difference.
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post #28 of 31
8/30/07 at 11:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrSlacker View Post
Is Sansui 5050 for $50 a good deal?
Although my audiophile experience was born on head-fi, I love talking with people over at audiokarma. You can always ask them - and they know their vintage gear. I'm getting my hands on a Sansui 6060 in 3 weeks. Can't wait.

For the going rates on Sansui stuff, Audiokarma keeps a database of the street-prices of Sansui vintage gear. You can check it out at http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/sho...ansui+database.

AK and HF = audiobliss, past and present.
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post #29 of 31
8/30/07 at 11:43pm
I couldn't agree more on the Nak STASIS. These have GOT to be the best deal in audio- reliable, smooth, detailed, powerful, and yet (somehow) well behaved under any load. Insanely cheap for what you get. I consider my lil' 2A a sweet bedside rig (with a Sony D-25, and a Thorens TD-147). I spend more time listening to this set up than the main rig downstairs because it's where I sleep. But the sound ain't bad at ALL!!

About the integrated STASIS line- I'd go for something higher than the 2A. I picked mine up for $25 at a garage sale, so I can't complain. If I were out shopping for one, however, I'd consider that the 2A has no remote and the tuner display messes with the sound quality. The tuner display is always on- no matter what you're listening to. I bypassed my display because I never listen to radio, and it helped reduce the noisefloor. It's now graveyard quiet. A VERY respectable headphone output, too. The phono ain't so bad, either....as far as solid state phono stages go....
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post #30 of 31
8/31/07 at 1:56am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bluetick View Post
I couldn't agree more on the Nak STASIS. These have GOT to be the best deal in audio- reliable, smooth, detailed, powerful, and yet (somehow) well behaved under any load. Insanely cheap for what you get. I consider my lil' 2A a sweet bedside rig (with a Sony D-25, and a Thorens TD-147). I spend more time listening to this set up than the main rig downstairs because it's where I sleep. But the sound ain't bad at ALL!!

About the integrated STASIS line- I'd go for something higher than the 2A. I picked mine up for $25 at a garage sale, so I can't complain. If I were out shopping for one, however, I'd consider that the 2A has no remote and the tuner display messes with the sound quality. The tuner display is always on- no matter what you're listening to. I bypassed my display because I never listen to radio, and it helped reduce the noisefloor. It's now graveyard quiet. A VERY respectable headphone output, too. The phono ain't so bad, either....as far as solid state phono stages go....
Nak receivers just don't get the respect except for the PA7. That means you can get a good deal with Nak. But $25 for a STASIS is robbery. Wish I can get a deal like that just once.
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