2ch Receivers Have Come a Long Way

organ

boston1450 wrote: »

Organ thats a beautiful set up you have there. I have owned probably 8 HK's & boy they all did a great job . Enjoy the HK

Thanks:). I'm enjoying this h/k very much.

pearsall001 wrote: »

I've been beating that same drum for quite some time now myself. With todays advancements & the way technology finds it's way into gear that years ago was simply unheard of. The notion that a top flight 2 channel receiver or a flagship AVR can't hold it's own against separates is an outdated notion that doesn't hold water & some just can't come to grips with. Technology is a wonderful thing! Pass it on down.

That's what has been on my mind for the past few years. The right combo of affordable gear today can get you very good sound. I used to be a hardcore tube head. Now I love ss just as much, maybe more with this h/k.

mhardy6647 wrote: »

... amusingly enough, I've been using an hk power amp upstairs for the last few days...

Very nice looking amp. I've always liked h/k's style. I really like the ones around mid 90's also.

Nightfall wrote: »

I'm also with mhardy on the vintage Yammies being better than both the Marantz and Pioneer SX line. Organ, you're doing yourself a disservice by ruling out vintage gear. If you think that HK sounds good you should hear a CA-1010 or CA-2010 in class A mode...

Maybe I will try one in the future, but I worry about parts failing, cap replacements, etc. The hot and cold weather cycles here in Canada can get quite severe. People who use storage units to keep gear without a/c and heater are basically killing the units. Pcb boards can easily snap and crack, lose soldering joints, etc.
If I try a vintage unit, I'd have to get one in excellent to mint condition, and they don't go cheap . I do keep an eye on used units, so maybe I'll come across one for a good price.

dragon1952 wrote: »

I think the main issue here is power. I recently tried a 125wpc SS amp after living with my 35wpc tube amp for 8 yrs thinking it was the best thing ever and it didn't take but 10 seconds to go wtf!

LOL I know what you mean. Whenever I've been using tubes for a very long time, then swapping in my ss stuff, I go wtf!.
Not sure if that's the case this time though because it wasn't that long ago that I had my NAD separates on this very same set up.

RamZet wrote: »

I gave my buddy the 5.1 version of this unit. He too was very impressed with the sound and power from that unit. He has (had) 5 Polk Monitor 60s connected to it. ( I gave him my other Crestron CNAMPX16x60.)

That volume knob is so cool, one of my favorite knobs after the Krell 1200.

I like the knob too, but I set the dimmer to off 99% of the time. It looks very sexy with only the side LED glowing.

geppy1 wrote: »

I have a Sony STR 7065 which leaves me scratching my head as it has sent many items packing including seperates.

I think you found your sound signature. I see the different types of sound the way I see different types of women. There is one for everybody.



Well, this is it, folks. I'm in the process of making a crazy move. I'm working on something with my audio dealer for a pair of Klipsch RF-7 II. They're not cheap, so almost all my tube amps are going in for trade. I should find out in the next few days.

I'm not crazy. The H/K made me do it.

Mikey081057

Finding bargain Marantz, Sansui,Pioneer etc stuff isn't found on Ebay or Craigslist... You have to go pickin at flea markets and estate/garage sales... Yeah it's a hassle but every once in a while... I don't even have 5 hunge into this one yet and it is magnificent.
I see units not nearly as nice as this one go for $1200 and up on ebay.

That said I would like to hear a modern 2ch receiver go up against a vintage unit... I could be persuaded if a unit could have 2 channels with network connectivity adequate power and smartphone app.

Would that be the HK3700?

Mikey081057

Mikey081057 wrote: »

Finding bargain Marantz, Sansui,Pioneer etc stuff isn't found on Ebay or Craigslist... You have to go pickin at flea markets and estate/garage sales... Yeah it's a hassle but every once in a while... I don't even have 5 hunge into this one yet and it is magnificent.
I see units not nearly as nice as this one go for $1200 and up on ebay.

That said I would like to hear a modern 2ch receiver go up against a vintage unit... I could be persuaded if a unit could have 2 channels with network connectivity adequate power and smartphone app.

Would that be the HK3700?

hk3700

organ

Wow! Mikey, that's an awesome looking receiver. Looks mint too.
Would love to hear how the h/k compare to vintage units if you ever decide to try it out.

cnh

Mikey081057 wrote: »

hk3700

The 3700 is NOT even as powerful as the former 3490. It's main feature set is an upgrade for digital music, ipod use, DACs, etc.

The real comparison to your Marantz would be the far more expensive HK integrated at 150 watts x 2 @ 8 ohms and 300 watts x 2 into 4 ohms. the HK 990.


cnh

geppy1

Tonyb

Have you owned a 7065?? FYI I worked in the audio biz back in the day and was a product trainer. I can tell the difference between gear, cables in a heartbeat and used to win money doing it. I have owned Bel Cant, Vincent, Rega, Cambridge Audio, Creek, B & K NAD, (countless models) Rotel (countless models) Denon, (countless models) Harman kardon (same) Sony ES and on and on. Not to mention around 25 different vintage units.

After using vintage units it almost makes me sick to touch much of the new mid priced stuff as it feels like crap. Technology is the most overused word. To me it means they found ways to make stuff for less money. I have compared countless items side by side. Most mid priced new gear sounds like ,gear not music. The big drive now is hyper detail and resolusion which does not even sound slightly like real music Little harmonic structure. Have someone stand in front of you with a guitar and play it I have had gear that sounds somewhat like it. Most of it older gear Most of the new stuff sound etched, bright and digtial for lack of a better term. I do not need to hear the guys foot tap because I never hear that when he is in front of me.

I stood in front of a $20,000 system and three of us looked at each other and could not believe how annoying it was. I know a guy who has a friend in Chicago with a mega buck system of new stuff He cannot stay in the room for more then 10 minutes because it so hyper detailed

There seems to be a huge backlash .I have heard this stuff fron countless folks in the last 3 years. They feel the same way The only argument one hears about new gear is the" it must be better because it is new and more TECHNOLOGY " BULL !! There is great sounding new gear and great sounding old gear but on whole based on my comparisons the the older stuff sound more like music to me and many others not mention it is a joy to use from a feel standpoint. I am sure I will end up with new item because I want remote.

JUST MY OPINION and YOU MILAGE MAY VARY

cnh

There is a small cult following of those vintage Sonys. Unfortunately, I've never heard one, but they're on my list!

I agree with a lot of what Keith has written above. My own experience confirms much of it. When I turn on my HK 430 (730) which is tethered to some Dynaco A25s what pours out is liquid. Liquid music. Yeah, it's not the MOST detailed, and you might not be able to locate "every" instrument. But if you're really enjoying the "music" you shouldn't be distracting yourself with those kinds of details or you'll miss the "magic" and be nothing more than some anally fixated stereophile. lol

It really depends on what you hear and what you "like" to hear, as a LOT of vintage integrateds and receivers do have a tube-like sound to them. Why else would guys who are into Klipsch classics run them off an HK 430 and the like?

cnh

geppy1

I love the HK 730 and 430 They sound different then each other but they are in my top 5 Keith

gmjungbluth

I had a 7065 and a 7045. Very nice units. The sound was great, especially in the 7065. But my examples were a little dirty and tired.

I can say that my Pioneer SX-1250 pours liquid honey. What a great sound.

cnh wrote: »

There is a small cult following of those vintage Sonys. Unfortunately, I've never heard one, but they're on my list!

I agree with a lot of what Keith has written above. My own experience confirms much of it. When I turn on my HK 430 (730) which is tethered to some Dynaco A25s what pours out is liquid. Liquid music. Yeah, it's not the MOST detailed, and you might not be able to locate "every" instrument. But if you're really enjoying the "music" you shouldn't be distracting yourself with those kinds of details or you'll miss the "magic" and be nothing more than some anally fixated stereophile. lol

It really depends on what you hear and what you "like" to hear, as a LOT of vintage integrateds and receivers do have a tube-like sound to them. Why else would guys who are into Klipsch classics run them off an HK 430 and the like?

cnh

dromunds

Picked up a vintage HK 670 dual powered DC receiver from Geppy awhile back and its a very fine sounding unit indeed.

cincycat13

Wow, that HK 990 looks like quite an interesting piece. Googled some reviews and they have some interesting features. I'll have to google on the PK site to see if any members have done reviews.

nspindel

I think it's a poor choice of model number, though. I used to own a HK 990vxi, purchased in 1989. That was an awesome receiver. Bad practice to reuse such a close model number.

cincycat13

Well... the anticipation is on. After researching the 990 I found the "Z" refirb version for like 40% of msrp and placed an order. I reaaly thought i could live without a remote but it was not working for me.

Got a confirmation but then no updates for over a week so I emailed support. I figured i ordered from a dead page. 48 hours after acknowledging my status inquiry I finally got shipping confirmation with delivery by 5/30. I am wondering what will arrive as the 990Z link now says no inventory and my order status now lists the 990 not 990Z.

schwarcw

cnh wrote: »

There is a small cult following of those vintage Sonys. Unfortunately, I've never heard one, but they're on my list!

I agree with a lot of what Keith has written above. My own experience confirms much of it. When I turn on my HK 430 (730) which is tethered to some Dynaco A25s what pours out is liquid. Liquid music. Yeah, it's not the MOST detailed, and you might not be able to locate "every" instrument. But if you're really enjoying the "music" you shouldn't be distracting yourself with those kinds of details or you'll miss the "magic" and be nothing more than some anally fixated stereophile. lol

It really depends on what you hear and what you "like" to hear, as a LOT of vintage integrateds and receivers do have a tube-like sound to them. Why else would guys who are into Klipsch classics run them off an HK 430 and the like?

cnh

Funny, I sold my Sony 6050 with a wood case today for $40. Works perfect. Not a overly powerful amp, but a reat sounding and looking piece of vintage gear.

Regards,

kappclark

I had a 3380 for years, and was always pleased with the sound..sold it to replace with HT receiver

gmjungbluth wrote: »

I love my 3380. Very honest sound. Nice warmth. It's currently pushing my B&W DM601s in my bedroom. I think that's a good combination - the B&Ws sounded pretty harsh on my NAD 7100.

Has anyone tried the phono on these units? Is it any good?

mhardy6647

.... speaking of two-channel harman/kardon receivers:

hk FA3000x 2 by mhardy6647, on Flickr