Is it worth buying these two vintage amps?

nesticle

Kenwood KR 3600 and Pioneer SX 650. The Kenwood is $30 and the Pioneer is $40 (Canadian). I don't have the money for the really good stuff like Marantz and McIntosh. So would these two be good purchases?

amulford

For that price, sure. Try them out and see if they work for YOU. You're the one who really matters. Worst case is you don't like them and you turn them over.

nadams

As long as they're in good shape. The Pioneer is 35wpc @ 8 ohms nominal. But for that time period, the wattage is good for some smaller, or efficient speakers. The Kenwood is probably a little less. Both look remarkably similar. Must just be that time period.

BTW- I have a Pioneer SX-450 that I use in my garage rig, and it drives some fairly inefficient speakers very well. I used to use it in the house, but I don't have any smaller speakers anymore. They give a nice warm sound... almost tubelike.

nesticle

Yeah jumped as soon as I saw the Pioneer because I know they made some pretty good audio equipment in the 70's. I'm only 18 and I'm just getting into this, so money is a pretty big factor. I'm also having trouble establishing "connections" per se... like finding people with a similar interest in vintage audio that could help me find good deals on good equipment. Most of my friends are more into car stereos and mega bass.

F1nut

nesticle wrote:

I'm also having trouble establishing "connections" per se... like finding people with a similar interest in vintage audio that could help me find good deals on good equipment.

Try www.audiokarma.org You'll be right at home with your vintage Pioneer.

michael_w

Yep it can be tough finding decent deals in and around vancouver. (I myself live in richmond)

Check out Canuck Audio Mart. Usually some okay deals to be had there. I've bought two things out of those classifieds so far. Some nice cables and polk monitor 7b's, both at great prices.

organ

nesticle wrote:

Most of my friends are more into car stereos and mega bass.

You're absolutely right. You listen to music to appreciate it and feel the emotions. Your friends pump up retarted and crappy bass to pick up chicks. It's not easy finding audiophiles outside of the internet. That's why Polk gave us this forum.

What speakers will you be using? If you want really good deals, wait until around the summer time when Future Shop starts blowing off their current Polk models.

You can also check out the Flea Market forum for good deals from members of this board.

Maurice

ttrentt

I buy most anything from the 70s that looks decent.

nesticle

I just picked up the Kenwood amp today. Everything looks great on it except a tiny metal piece of trim around the glass looks like it was cleaned with the wrong product, and the wood sides are a little tired (nothing a little sanding/staining can't fix!) but the lightbulbs are all new, and it sounds fabulous!

Not bad for $30.

I'm picking up the Pioneer tomorrow. The Kenwood will be going in the rec-room, hooked up to a pair of large advent speakers (once I fix the surrounds on the woofers) and the Pioneer is going in my bedroom to power a pair of Polk R15's I got on boxing day for a good deal. I'm hoping maybe in the summer or next boxing day I can get a higher end Polk bookshelf speaker for a good price, cause they're damn good speakers. It says a lot about a company when their lowest product outdoes a lot of companies mid-range products.

I'll keep my eye on the flea market and see if any vintage amps come up. I'm a sucker for seventies stuff.

George Grand

You're spending far too much money for items like that. Those are a couple of $5 or $10 pieces you have there. Do thrift shops and yard sales.


George Grand (of the Jersey Grands)

ttrentt

George Grand wrote:

You're spending far too much money for items like that. Those are a couple of $5 or $10 pieces you have there. Do thrift shops and yard sales.


George Grand (of the Jersey Grands)

Isn't $30 Canadian $10 American?

nesticle

Eh I spent a few weeks tracking local thrift shops and all they had were crappy mid 80's Kenwood and Pioneer speakers and dozens of tape players. I actually couldn't find ANY recievers. As for yard sales, the only things I ever see at them are crappy books, old clothes, and generally garbage that most people dont want. But then again, I haven't really taken yard sale hunting seriously.

Are flea markets good places to find cheap equipment?

dorokusai

Everywhere is a good place to find cheap equipment....the key is to be patient and consistent.

nesticle

I think im done for now. No more buying equipment unless its a really really good deal. I got the Pioneer in my room and it kicks total ****! 35 wpc RMS sure goes a long way. It drives my Polk R15's beautifully, with much more bass than my previous reciever (A so-called 60 wpc machine). I love the build quality of this old stuff. All the dials have weight to them, and selectors click solidly into place.

muddywatts

I think you got more than a fair deal on the Kenwood and Pioneer. You spent $70, and now have 2 fine 70's units that are considered to be vastly superior to anything made today in their class. You've got to start somewhere. I probably paid too much for my first vintage unit - the 2275 Marantz at $325 which included shipping, but I just had to have it. I spent another $100 to have it future proofed with over a dozen new capacitors, and another $100 for a nice walnut case. But this wasn't enough - I've now added 6 more vintage units to the stable - as if I really need them! I don't know, it's kinda like collecting art - I view them as metal sculptures almost. You really ought to consider getting a pair of M5's with the Peerless tweeters. You'll be amazed at how good they sound!