experiences with Technics SU-7600 integrated amp?

Ebster
Ebster Posts: 11
edited October 2011 in Electronics
Need an amp or integrated amp for vintage altec 891A floor models and marantz 7600 cd/dvd player, and flatscreen TV. This Technics SU-7600 is up for sale on EBay. For a starting system, would this suffice, or am I missing something re vintage amps and newer cd players? Anyone use this unit? The 41 Watts the amp is listed at should run the speakers.
Post edited by Ebster on
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  • gidrah
    gidrah Posts: 3,049
    edited October 2011
    They should go great together. The 891A isn't power hungry but could use more power than the Technics will provide. I've not used that particular combo but have a few Altec speakers and have used vintage Technics before.
    Make it Funky! :)
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  • Ebster
    Ebster Posts: 11
    edited October 2011
    gidrah wrote: »
    They should go great together. The 891A isn't power hungry but could use more power than the Technics will provide.

    The little I could read about it, someone said it had more power than the 41W it puts out. People often say that, but how do they know? ANyway, I never crank the Altecs.....mostly jazz and classical. Got 'em at auction for ten bux, had 'em refoamed by a fellow in St. Louis, with shipping, for 80. Sweet speakers for around 100 bux.
    Have you replaced caps in any of the ALtecs, and did it help clarify voices in low/mid range?
    I've not used that particular combo but have a few Altec speakers and have used vintage Technics before.

    Can it be said in general that vintage pairs well with vintage? I realize that's probably an over-simplification, but what's your experience? Anyone else?

    Anyways, I appreciate your input!
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited October 2011
    Don't know that Technics but I do know that 'seller' and I've bought a couple of things from them. My experiences have been very good!

    Good Luck!

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 34,916
    edited October 2011
    PREFACE: I can offer nothing but opinions; therefore take 'em for what they're worth (virtually nothing) and as-is.

    page4.jpg
    http://www.lansingheritage.org/images/altec/specs/home-systems/891a-897a/page4.jpg

    The 891A isn't really a classic Altec loudspeaker... even though it dates from the era of the classic Altecs. Not that it is a bad speaker, but don't be expecting a Valencia in a little box. I do believe the woofer is a true Altec product, but the tweeter is a phenolic surrounded cone tweeter, most likely CTS was the OEM. Still should be a fairly sensitive loudspeaker and lively in that forward, Altec way (of which I am a big fan, by the way).

    You won't hear them at their best driven by an SU-7600. Now, the SU-7600 is an older and better made Technics (Matsushita/Panasonic/National) product than the later amps (e.g., the SU-7300, from the next model year)... but the consumer-grade Technics gear still cut significant corners compared to even the other Japanese massmarket stuff of the time (Pioneer, Kenwood, Marantz, Sansui, etc.) with both cosmetic ans sonic consequences. I find the Technics amps and receivers of the mid-late 1970s to have a constricted, rather lifeless or "two-dimensional" sound, with noticeable amounts of good ol' solid state "graininess". If you want a mid-powered solid state receiver to go with the fairly sensitive Altecs, I'd opine that the equivalent level Yamaha amplifier (1976 and 40-ish wpc would be the CA-600) would be a good choice. The CA-800, with switchable Class A power amplifier bias (ca. 12 wpc and inefficient as all getout, but very transparent and clean sounding) would be an even better choice.

    ... and something like an early 1960s vintage HH Scott 222C or Fisher X-101 integrated amp would be an even better choice, if you ask me :-)


    su7100catalog.jpg
    http://www.vintagetechnics.co.uk/integrated/su7600.htm
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  • Joe08867
    Joe08867 Posts: 3,919
    edited October 2011
    I second mhardy on all counts.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 34,916
    edited October 2011
    a brazen strategy ;-)
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  • Ebster
    Ebster Posts: 11
    edited October 2011
    mhardy, since you put up that ad, please clarfify something. I see info about these bookshelf 891A's but I swear mine are also 891A, but are 28 inches tall and have 10 inch woofers. Am I wrong as to what mine are? Its hard to find info on the latter.

    Have you had before/after experiences with replacing caps in them? The resistor?


    Anyone suggest upgrades to the 7600 to omit the graininess? I run audioquest connectors, which help.

    I also notice it has a basic LAMP CORD! Would ditching that help?

    I got the unit in less than 48 hrs, and it looks better than expected. Minimal corrosion. Will test it tonight.
    My wife dislikes it because it does not match the black components. Sheesh. She just doesn't get it.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 34,916
    edited October 2011
    According to the scan at www.lansingheritage.org the woofers are indeed 10" (EDIT - oops, sez 12"). There could've been a couple of flavors of them for all I know.

    No experience in XO rebuild of these; probably worth replacing the capacitor - DEFINITELY worth replacing if the original's a nonpolarized electrolytic! Modern caps actually are better than the vintage ones (even when the latter were new) - and the nonpolarized electrolytics were awful even back then (but they were - and are cheap!).

    The wire is probably right at the limit of "worth" replacing.

    The best upgrade is to switch amplifiers; sorry :-(
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  • Ebster
    Ebster Posts: 11
    edited October 2011
    Thanks again. I'm pretty handy, and will consider replacing the non polar caps later. RIght now, it does not have any hiss nor hum, and I'm happy with it. Well, except.............is there any way to mod old equipment with remotes? I just need to change volume from a cozy, lazy position.
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited October 2011
    Good luck with that, you have a lot more skill than yours truly. BTW, I, occasionally, run a set of Monitor 5As on an '80s Technics New Class A integrated. Looks pretty much like BPC, but seems to have nice 'synergy' with Polk Monitors....go figure! Perhaps you may also find that the Technics you have is actually pretty good? As for the Lazy factor, I'm with you there. I now own guite a few vintage receivers and, yep, I have to get up to change settings!

    Enjoy!

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 34,916
    edited October 2011
    cnh wrote: »
    Good luck with that, you have a lot more skill than yours truly...

    Duuuuuuude! It's easy! :-)
    Coupla snips with a pair of dykes (not that kind; the diagonal cutter kind) and - if you're not comfortable with the idea of blobs of molten solder and snorting lead fumes (my favorite part, truth be told) - you could even use wire nuts* to install the new caps if they're "point to point" wired and not on a PC board!

    * of course, if one chooses to use wire nuts, it will be important to select audiophile-approved examples. The color, too, is very important. Critical, really.
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