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Calling All "Vintage" Integrated/Receiver Owners - Page 451

post #6751 of 7303
3/18/13 at 7:23pm

I have both a Harmon Kardon 670 and McIntosh 4100. I don't use the HK much any more since the McIntosh happened along. The Mac is unquestionably better -- but I've found the difference is more subtle than their reputations (and current prices) imply. Considering the HK 670 is going for around $100, I think it's a bargain for anybody who is more interested in sound than collectibility.

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post #6752 of 7303
3/18/13 at 8:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ardgedee View Post

I have both a Harmon Kardon 670 and McIntosh 4100. I don't use the HK much any more since the McIntosh happened along. The Mac is unquestionably better -- but I've found the difference is more subtle than their reputations (and current prices) imply. Considering the HK 670 is going for around $100, I think it's a bargain for anybody who is more interested in sound than collectibility.

I absolutely loved my HK Citation V gear and would have put it up against Similar Mac gear all day long. Didn't have the sexy blue lights though... Mac and Marantz lights are the best.
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post #6753 of 7303
3/18/13 at 8:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ardgedee View Post

I have both a Harmon Kardon 670 and McIntosh 4100. I don't use the HK much any more since the McIntosh happened along. The Mac is unquestionably better -- but I've found the difference is more subtle than their reputations (and current prices) imply. Considering the HK 670 is going for around $100, I think it's a bargain for anybody who is more interested in sound than collectibility.

I absolutely loved my HK Citation V gear and would have put it up against Similar Mac gear all day long. Didn't have the sexy blue lights though... Mac and Marantz lights are the best.
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post #6754 of 7303
3/18/13 at 9:02pm

what low powered stuff from pioneer marantz and yamaha have you had issues with?
 

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post #6755 of 7303
3/19/13 at 3:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by BigCabDaddy View Post

I absolutely loved my HK Citation V gear and would have put it up against Similar Mac gear all day long. Didn't have the sexy blue lights though... Mac and Marantz lights are the best.

Heh. The 4100 has no blue lights -- only red and amber LEDs, including the VU meter. It's the least Mac-looking of McIntoshes. The seller had the 1700, 1900, and this one available, and while the 1900 was a flat-out beauty, I liked the sound of the 4100 more.
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post #6756 of 7303
3/19/13 at 5:45am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rawrbington View Post

i think the bargains in the vintage receiver market is yamaha and lower powered pioneer and marantz stuff. though some people still seem to want too much for the lower powered marantz.

yam cr 820/1020 or pioneer sx 650/750 or marantz 2230/2235b

somehting in those ranges.

 

A real sleeper is the Sherwood S-7100A.  I have done many comparisons to the Marantz 2215B, 2220B, and 2230.  IMHO a recapped S-7100A blows away any of the Marantz I listed (recapped or not).  I realize this opinion won't be shared by many - but I do love the old Sherwood gear.

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post #6757 of 7303
3/19/13 at 6:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by SpeakerBox View Post

A real sleeper is the Sherwood S-7100A.  I have done many comparisons to the Marantz 2215B, 2220B, and 2230.  IMHO a recapped S-7100A blows away any of the Marantz I listed (recapped or not).  I realize this opinion won't be shared by many - but I do love the old Sherwood gear.

Sherwood has flown under the radar for as long as I've been around. Excellent value.
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post #6758 of 7303
3/19/13 at 8:27am
Quote:
Originally Posted by BigCabDaddy View Post


Sherwood has flown under the radar for as long as I've been around. Excellent value.

 

I took a chance on an EBAY listing for a S-7100A and S-7300 that had their power cords cut.  I got the pair for $91 (including shipping).  Last night I unpacked them and the S-7100A does not power up and will require some work (I may even use it for parts).  After this I did not have much hope for the Sherwood S-7300, but pulled it out of the box, slapped a PC on it, replace the fuses, and turned it on.  The glorious sound of my FM Jazz station filled the room - it sounds awesome!  All the lights work and the case is in good shape too!  I am now considering keeping the S-7300 and selling my recently recapped 2230.

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post #6759 of 7303
3/19/13 at 4:27pm

I know this is a vintage solid state thread.  But even earlier tube receivers or integrateds with headphone outputs are most excellent.  My Fisher X-101-C sounds amazing with headphones.

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post #6760 of 7303
3/19/13 at 5:54pm

Absolutely! I love my Fisher KX-100, which is similar to your X-101C.  It's awesome with headphones.

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post #6761 of 7303
3/19/13 at 6:04pm

That's 'cause it's THE Fisher!

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post #6762 of 7303
3/19/13 at 6:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BmWr75 View Post

I know this is a vintage solid state thread.  But even earlier tube receivers or integrateds with headphone outputs are most excellent.  My Fisher X-101-C sounds amazing with headphones.

Not saying yours is but the thing you have to watch out for with old tube gear is the noise floor. Of course that is all part of getting old tube gear up to snuff. My old HK Citation V had these massive tone pots or whatever they are. Finally just did a straight wire bypass that solved a whole bunch of the noise and made it sound better as well. I'm now a big believer in tone circuit defeats.
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post #6763 of 7303
3/19/13 at 6:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BmWr75 View Post

I know this is a vintage solid state thread.  But even earlier tube receivers or integrateds with headphone outputs are most excellent.  My Fisher X-101-C sounds amazing with headphones.

Not saying yours is but the thing you have to watch out for with old tube gear is the noise floor. Of course that is all part of getting old tube gear up to snuff. My old HK Citation V had these massive tone pots or whatever they are. Finally just did a straight wire bypass that solved a whole bunch of the noise and made it sound better as well. I'm now a big believer in tone circuit defeats.
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post #6764 of 7303
3/19/13 at 7:57pm
Thread Starter 
Originally Posted by BmWr75 View Post

I know this is a vintage solid state thread.  But even earlier tube receivers or integrateds with headphone outputs are most excellent.  My Fisher X-101-C sounds amazing with headphones.

 

 

This thread is not limited to solid state. It just so happen they are much easier to find, and more importantly much easier to find in good working condition. When  I created this thread my only vintage piece was a fisher x-100c. It's the amp that started it all for me, and a ton of vintage gear has come and gone through my house, but I can never imagine myself without my fisher. And to add, finding a vintage "working" tube amp can be expensive as well. I was fortunate enough to get mine which was partially restored for less than 300.00. I see them go for more than that now broken and needing repairs. 

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by BigCabDaddy View Post


Not saying yours is but the thing you have to watch out for with old tube gear is the noise floor. Of course that is all part of getting old tube gear up to snuff. My old HK Citation V had these massive tone pots or whatever they are. Finally just did a straight wire bypass that solved a whole bunch of the noise and made it sound better as well. I'm now a big believer in tone circuit defeats.

 

Well I remember reading in the w3000anv thread that so many people were having difficulty finding "modern" tube amps that didn't hiss or hum with their w3000anv which are both highly sensitive and have a low impedance. Some of these amps people were speaking of were high end amps as well. The funny thing is, I never have that problem with mine out of my fisher. In fact, I only get a small(and I mean barely noticeable) amount of hiss with my jh13's.  But with my w3000's the background is completely black. 
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post #6765 of 7303
3/20/13 at 4:49am
Quote:
Originally Posted by BigCabDaddy View Post


Not saying yours is but the thing you have to watch out for with old tube gear is the noise floor. Of course that is all part of getting old tube gear up to snuff. My old HK Citation V had these massive tone pots or whatever they are. Finally just did a straight wire bypass that solved a whole bunch of the noise and made it sound better as well. I'm now a big believer in tone circuit defeats.

 

True.   Old tube gear if still all original needs at a minimum replacement of all the electrolytic caps and I go ahead and replace all the small value caps too.  Tubes can be noisy too, so sometimes you have to switch them out to isolate and eliminate the noise.  I've not run into noisy tubes much though.

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