Old Technics Recievers?

cnh

What would you guys say a Technics SA-800 (125 W x 2 at .04 THD--over 40 lbs and the model down from the monster SA-1000) that's in reasonable working order and pretty good cosmetic shape worth?

I'm trying to collect one upper level receiver model from a number of late 70s manufacturers--have a Pioneer, am looking at a Sansui G5500 or higher and this Technics.

Thanks.

cnh

geppy1

Not sure which Technics series it was in the late 70s but they tried to lower their THD spec (to look good on paper) by using negative feedback and ended up jacking up the the IM and TIM which is much easier to hear. That series tends to sound harsh and grainy in the high end as I remember.

stuwee

geppy1 wrote: »

Not sure which Technics series it was in the late 70s but they tried to lower their THD spec (to look good on paper) by using negative feedback and ended up jacking up the the IM and TIM which is much easier to hear. That series tends to sound harsh and grainy in the high end as I remember.

geppy1 is correct, and it was the SA's like cnh is looking for. Prices are all over the place on the 800's, everyone wants the 1000, what a beast 330wpc, prices sky high on those when they show up!! If you're just into collecting monster receivers, then buy one in very well cared for condition and expect to pay around $250 for it. Those Technics are very handsome, clean designs, especially the two big knobs on the right and the led power output, signal and strength meters discreetly below the dial bandwith facing.

stuwee

BTW cnh, I put together a Monster Receiver thread on another forum with pics, hope you enjoy it , http://forums.phxaudiotape.com/the-receiver-power-wars-t953.html

cnh

Thanks stuwee,

Great thread. Some nice stuff there. The SA-800 is coming in at about 100, the pics are very clean, all controls, lights, etc. are working. A small piece of the wood veneer is chipped off the right back side, nothing that can't be addressed.

I'll be checking it out next week at the 'original' owners house a retired guy who is trying to down size? The Pioneer is a piece from a Pioneer 'collector' also in good shape for its age. And I have a guy in the state capital about 20 miles from here who does all my repair work should I need any. Fingers crossed!

I've been getting nostalgic for my 'college' days and just wanted to own a few things I really could never afford to touch back then--poor student that I was; my music system consisted of an AIWA boombox and a set of headphones!

cnh

mhardy6647

harsh and grainy that line of Technics was indeed.
In terms of massmarket stuff of the era, the Yamahas, Sansuis, and Kenwoods were better (as were even the Marantzes of that era - and they were pretty unpleasant relative to my ears and tastes). The topline Pioneer and Sony stuff of that era was also OK to pretty good, but generally not "for the ages" in terms of sound quality.

I would take an SA-800 for $50 or less (FWIW).

cnh

What? No love for Technics? Just kidding. I value your input a lot mhardy! You make some interesting points.

It is true that I haven't heard any Vintage Technics recently...just memories from the late 70s and 80s. But 50 for what sold for 800 in the late 70's? Hmmmm....

I don't expect any of the above to sound as good as my current two way systems...it's really more about the memories than looking for ultimate sound. Passable sound would be OK.

I'll have to think about this some as 100 or a bit less sounded reasonable to me until I got your take.

I'm curious how often you use your Yamahas. You have a few of them, if I'm not mistaken, and what do you run them on. And although, I haven't heard any Marantz receivers recently, either...I remember really 'liking'' them quite a bit...so we may have a bit of difference in tastes there?

BTW, I'm going to run the Pioneer on a pair of Large Advents as a makeshift garage system.

Thanks again,

cnh

mhardy6647

Probably worth 100 smackers (just not to me) :-)

stuwee

I love Marantz , I've got two 2270's, 70wpc, I think you would love a 2325 with 125wpc, it's huge tho. Pretty blue lights, probably above your $ range, highly collectable beast. Search around, you never know.

You can't beat that 3 martini Marantz sound :cool:

skrol

Technics started it all for me with the SA-303. Hardly in the same league as what you're looking at but you sparked a memory. I think my sister still has it along with a Technics TT that I found for her in a yard sale.
Stan

[Deleted User]

skrol wrote: »

Technics started it all for me with the SA-303. Hardly in the same league as what you're looking at but you sparked a memory. I think my sister still has it along with a Technics TT that I found for her in a yard sale.
Stan

Nice picture. I have an SA-202 that I use for an Ipod system in my laundry room. I have owned it since 1980 and had to replace one of the output devices back in the mid eighties. The thing sees use almost daily, doesn't have the greatest sound but won't die. I don't have the heart to put it out to pasture. Cheers. :cool:

geppy1

If you want a Technics that is not grainy sounding I would look at the earlier 77-78 5560 5570 ect Check this out

http://www.vintagetechnics.info/receivers.htm

mhardy6647

I think that is good advice - the earlier ones are, if nothing else, a bit more substantially built.

Somewhere in the rubble downstairs is an SA-5370; never really listened to it carefully, though. The 5270 also shown (not to scale) went off to DaveMuell and may still be in his menagerie for all I know :-)



Had a dump find SA-500 which I gave away; very ordinary-sounding piece of hardware (looked nice, though).



... and Mrs. H's SA-303 is still in its box up in the attic. Pretty mediocre sounding piece of kit.

Just to be very clear... the Technics receivers of the 1970s were not junk... they just weren't up to the hardware nor sonic quality standards of the better massmarket stuff. Panasonic/Technics (i.e., Matsushita), by the same token, made some superior products in the same time frame (e.g., their best DD turntables and the "last" of their reel to reel decks). Don't want to go down in PF infamy as a Technics hater :-P

Joe08867

Yeah, I agree with mhardy, that era Technics is brittle and grainy. Almost like the loudness button is always pressed but the radio signal isn't quite locked in.

I would think a hundy is a good price for it in either case. But not for me either.

nadams

Not to hijack the thread... but don't forget Onkyo

TX-7000

DollarDave

mhardy6647 wrote: »

.... The 5270 also shown (not to scale) went off to DaveMuell and may still be in his menagerie for all I know :-)...

Yep, still have it. Still haven't put a glass in the faceplate, but it works just as you described. Good receiver for a garage system because the fidelity just isn't part of her game. Good looks certainly are though.

mhardy6647

nadams wrote: »

Not to hijack the thread... but don't forget Onkyo

Onkyo is well worth not forgetting (and here I forgot them)! :-)

They made excellent tuners, and quite good amplifiers and receivers... and they still make some very respectable consumer hifi/HT equipment. Good call.





heh, apprpos of nothing, a coupla more photos of that SA-5270...






... and then, there was the little SA-80... which is even hard to take apart...

cnh

Thanks guys,

Interesting distinction on the Technics units. And it goes without saying that I've been an Onkyo fan from way back. The majority of my AVRs including my current (beast, pound for pound) TX-SR 805 have been Onkyos--good power, decent sound! And I've heard a few older 2 channel Onkyos as well. Definitely have to put them on the list. Truth be told I have an Integra P-304 that is one heck of a pre-amp IMO!

As far as the build quality of SA Technics I couldn't tell you--don't know much. But here are the shots of the SA-800 and they look OK to an amateur like me. At least the Receiver is purdy?

http://www.vintagetechnics.info/receivers/sa800.htm

Keep 'em coming. Any one have any thoughts on the Marantz 2230, rumored to be one of the best sounding of that crop even though only 30W X 2 at 8 ohms? Early '70s so you have to be thinking 'recap' at least!

cnh

stuwee

The thing with the Marantz 2230 is it's phono section, Saul did some magic on that one. I'm not sure exactly what makes it different from the other 22xx's, but I know I feel in love with the ones in my 2270's (I haven't heard a 2230 in my system). The bonus of the 2230, is you can use it as a pre-amp and add a higher power amp if you need to and still get that magic sound from Lps

And yes, a refurb on any early 70's gear is advised!

FTGV

mhardy6647 wrote: »

Onkyo is well worth not forgetting (and here I forgot them)! :-)

They made excellent tuners, and quite good amplifiers and receivers... and they still make some very respectable consumer hifi/HT equipment. Good call.

Interesting "you can hear the spec's" slogan.In my early days in the hobby(81 ish) I mistakenly purchased a Technics SU V6 integrated amplifiier based on the spec sheet.It used their variation on the dynamic or sliding bias scheme that was becoming the rage amongst the Japanese companies at the time they dubbed it New Class A. The numbers may have looked good on paper but the excessive feedback used sucked the life out of the SQ,sounding overly clean and clinical.It was replaced by a much better sounding NAD 3020 that was less cosmetically appealing,poorer spec'd lowered powered and half the price.

stuwee

That Onkyo can barely get out of it's own way in 4ohm over 8, not a got sign for me.

EDUBAG

cnh wrote: »

what would you guys say a technics sa-800 (125 w x 2 at .04 thd--over 40 lbs and the model down from the monster sa-1000) that's in reasonable working order and pretty good cosmetic shape worth?

I'm trying to collect one upper level receiver model from a number of late 70s manufacturers--have a pioneer, am looking at a sansui g5500 or higher and this technics.

Thanks.

Cnh

i do not know where you live but i saw a technics receiver for sale in the south florida craiglist that seemed like good condition for us$30

i do not know how to add the address but i am sure you can find it there.

I bought two turntables from the seller and so far no problems (they were both for 35 bucks)

good luck

cnh

EDUBAG wrote: »

i do not know where you live but i saw a technics receiver for sale in the south florida craiglist that seemed like good condition for us$30

i do not know how to add the address but i am sure you can find it there.

I bought two turntables from the seller and so far no problems (they were both for 35 bucks)

good luck

Thanks EUBAG,

But I'm too far North. Florida is the other end of the East Coast for me. But it sounds like a nice deal.

cnh

EDUBAG

Also,

i own a 1978 marantz 2285b and for my ears it sounds very good and has lots of power. I have asked constantly here of any shop in miami to do a proper cleanup and check.

But eventhough i have not restored it in any way i am very impressed.

It might be colored compared to other gear but it seems that they colored it the right way

cnh

I agree, though it's been a while since I've heard one. The 'three martini' metaphor does capture what those of us who like this sound seem to be hearing.

cnh

disneyjoe7

Why are you wasting your time on that?

There so much better stuff out there.

cnh

Gotya Joe. I know that. Just collecting a few pieces from my youth. You know, it's like that guy who just has to buy that '68 mustang because that's what he remembers; even though he might be able to buy a much newer/faster/better car; heck he probably owns a couple!

It's all 'nostalgia'.

cnh

stuwee

cnh wrote: »

Gotya Joe. I know that. Just collecting a few pieces from my youth. You know, it's like that guy who just has to buy that '68 mustang because that's what he remembers; even though he might be able to buy a much newer/faster/better car; heck he probably owns a couple!

It's all 'nostalgia'.

cnh

That pretty much sums it up for me too , get whatever trips that trigger, the smells, the emotion, the songs you heard, it all comes flooding back in a special way, rock on cnh!!!

disneyjoe7

Ok I understand now... Carry on.


Sorry

mhardy6647

stuwee wrote: »

The thing with the Marantz 2230 is it's phono section, Saul did some magic on that one. I'm not sure exactly what makes it different from the other 22xx's, but I know I feel in love with the ones in my 2270's (I haven't heard a 2230 in my system). The bonus of the 2230, is you can use it as a pre-amp and add a higher power amp if you need to and still get that magic sound from Lps

And yes, a refurb on any early 70's gear is advised!

"Saul" had nothing to do with the 2230; it came along well after Marantz had been acquired by Superscope and production moved to Japan. Only the earliest Marantz ss receivers were pre-Superscope.

geppy1

Do not forget about some of the MCS stuff and for sure the gear made by NEC for MCS Very impressive.