Vintage integrated amps on ebay

[HD-5000]

As of now, to be finished before this year, I am planning a speaker-based system. Right now, I'm looking for around $300 integrated amps. Then, a quick search on ebay turned up many older integrated amps that look very juicy...

The problem is, I cant choose between the brand-spanking-new amps and the vintage Sansui/Marantz amps on ebay. I want to know how these vintage amps would compare to the newer NADs and whatever.

 

[royboy2k]

But do the vintage receivers have remotes? Something to think about, at least that was something I required for my amp.

Also, you don't have to buy brand-new, you could get a great deal on a slightly used amp. I got a used Creek 4330R on Audiogon for ~$370 (retail 600-700 I think), and it's in perfect condition and sounds wonderful. I believe there's another one on right now for even less ($335obo). I've also heard good things about the Cambridge Audio A500, and if you've listened to some NAD stuff then go for that I guess.

 

[aeberbach]

Did you check out the Sansui AU-20000 that is being sold right now? It's being sold with a TU-9900, one very highly regarded tuner - so it's going to go for way too much. I'd like an AU-20000, or any of the cool old Sansui amps with meters.
Most of these vintage classic don't have a remote but it's not a big deal.

 

[Dan H]

Many SS amps from the 70's don't have the best reputation for quality sound reproduction.

Perhaps a low power unit (<80w) from the early to mid 90's? From what little I know many of the newer single MOSFIT amps sound very nice. $300.00 on Audiogon could work. Let us know what you find!

What kind of speakers were you thinking of using? Do you have an overall goal for this new system? Have you thought about tubes?
If you buy a SS amp (not integrated) you could get tube Preamp with a good headphone out like a Melos or whatever.

 

[aeberbach]

One more thing, it would be a good idea to read http://groups.yahoo.com/group/classicsansui/ and similar places before deciding what you want. If nothing else it would tell you about eBay thieves like "mcsolaar2002" - but the fact that this guy has to keep his feedback private should tell you that he shouldn't be trusted. He has multiple IDs and also sells lots of ONkyo and Accuphase stuff. And of course anyone who describes an item as "minty" is not only inventing his own vocabulary but is probably lying. Right now he's selling the same Sansui TU-X1 tuner that he seems to have sold around six times before. There are some great stories about him on the sansui group but of course eBay won't do anything about him. Buyer beware.

 

[kentamcolin]

The vintage gear is indeed cool, but I have not always had the best luck with reliability. I currently use an Adcom 535 amp with an Adcom SLC-515 straight-line controller (passive pre-amp). The amp is rated at 60WPC, but really has some guts. I bought the amp gently used for $200, and the SLC with an Adcom tuner for another $200. I've seen SLC's on ebay for well under $100. I don't know how most people feel about Adcom, but I have been VERY happy with what I have purchased. Slightly used gear can be had cheap! One potential problem is no headphone jack, but if you have a dedicated headphone system that's no problem. Good luck!

 

[FCJ]

Quote:

Originally posted by Dan H Many SS amps from the 70's don't have the best reputation for quality sound reproduction.

Is that true of the Marantz 1970s stuff?

 

[wallijonn]

Quote:

Many SS amps from the 70's don't have the best reputation for quality sound reproduction.

And many do.

http://www.retroaudio.ru/marantz/index.shtml
http://www.classicaudio.com/value/mz/

this baby went for $450 on ebay:
http://www.retroaudio.ru/marantz/amp/SM-6.shtml
25watts per channel class A, 150wpc class B.

basically, in 1980 a lot of the amp manufacturers went to lower grade parts, mass production, etc.

there are companies who are making a nice living repairing and restoring a lot of the old equipment.

have you checked carver equipment on ebay lately?

 

[mkmelt]

HD-5000, you did not say how the amp will be used. In some applications, 20 watts/channel will be more than enough power, in other situations, 200 watts/channel will not be enough to drive loudspeakers to required acoustic output levels.

I suggest you decide on your speakers first, then determine how much power they will need in your listening room. This is partially determined by the efficiency of the loudspeakers, by the size of the room, and by the type of room furnishings. Also, the type of music you prefer along with your listening habits will determine how much power is needed.

In general, the only things that an integrated amplifier gives up to a separate amplifier and preamplifier is the maximum power available, placement of the power amplifier in relation to the speakers, and possibly some switching flexibility when compared to a dedicated preamplifier.

Although there are examples of integrated amplifiers capable of providing more than 150 watts/channel into 8 ohm loads, typical integrated amplifier is 100 watts/channel or less. Many integrated amplifiers are in the range of 30-70 watts/channel. This may be plenty of power for your particular application, or you may need more power. Remember, to gain any audible benefit from a higher power amplifier, you must double the power. So the minimum upgrade in power from a 30 watt/channel amp would need to be at least 60 watts/channel. Any less just won't make an audible difference. A 300/watt channel amplifier can provide 10x the power of the 30 watt unit, but it's maximum level will sound only twice as loud to the listener as the lower powered one, not 10x louder.

There were vintage integrated amplifiers that sounded great, and some that sounded so so, and some that were pretty much crap. Same is true today. The vintage 70s amplifier and integrated amplifier manufacturers that were the most highly regarded in their day included:

Harman Kardon
Luxman
McIntosh
Marantz
Pioneer
Rotel
Sansui
Technics
Yamaha

Technics and Pioneer had some good products, but also much of their stuff was mediocre.

McIntosh was known for the excellent separates, much more than for their integrated amplifiers and receivers.

Yamaha had a full line of integrated amplifiers, including several models that could be switched to run in full Class A (non switching mode), although with much lower power.

Rotel has been designing audio components in the UK and manufacturing product in Japan for more than 20 years. It is not as well known as the other brands, but Rotel products are consistently excellent quality audio gear.

Marantz, great sounding solid state gear without the harsh or brittle edge that sometimes comes with solid state audio. For the money, you can't do better than a well maintained piece of vintage Marantz including their integrated amplifiers and their receivers as well as the separate amplifiers, preamplifiers, and tuners. If after trying a Marantz unit in your system, you find that really don't like it, you won't have any trouble finding a buyer for this gear.

Sansui offered a full line of integrated amplifiers, at a price that was considerably less than Marantz at the time. Worth considering is their mid-70s line of discrete solid state component equipment such as the AU-5900/7900/9900 series.

 

[elrod-tom]

Quote:

Originally posted by wallijonn have you checked carver equipment on ebay lately?

My introduction to true audiophile-grade hi-fi equipment was an old college roommate's Carver system. F%*#ed me up for life!!

I keep seeing a lot of their old stuff on eBay, and I'm always tempted (even though I don't really NEED it).

The prices are right, and I understand that it's still relatively easy to get it serviced (Carver went belly up) Of course, if you wanted new stuff, Bob Carver is still cranking out great gear at Sunfire.

Good luck, and hope this helps.

 

[mkmelt]

Carver audio manufactured separates including: amplifiers, preamplifiers, tuners, CD players, and also several models of a Carver Receiver. I do not believe that Carver ever offered an integrated amplifier in their line of equipment.

Carver equipment almost always included innovative, one of a kind, circuitry in an attempt to step beyond commonly accepted limits of performance. Whether they succeeded depends of your own taste and opinion of what is important when listening to an audio system.

Much has been written about the less than quality assembly of most of the Carver products and based on personal experience, I would have to agree.

This past year I purchased a working Carver TX-11 tuner on eBay. The unit worked fine until one day not to long ago when it suddenly died. I unplugged it for a minute, plugged it back in and it worked for about 3 minutes, before dying again. Right now it is in the repair shop, so I don't know what part failed, and if it can even be repaired.

I hope so, as this tuner is the only one that lets me listen to a commercial free classical music station located about 50 miles from my home, with noise-free reception in stereo thanks to the proprietary Carver CCD noise reduction and multipath reduction circuitry. On a strong local classical music station however, in comparison with a Marantz tuner and a Marantz receiver I own, the Carver TX-11 sounds kind of flat and two dimensional. So I don't know if I will purchase another one if this unit cannot be repaired.