Classic integrateds
sucks2beme
Posts: 5,680
I've been using classic integration amps in my system for a while now.
I really enjoy working on them. They are a lot easier to deal with than a
lot of newer gear.
1st up, the Marantz 1150 at 75wpc. I had an 1150d when I was on Okinawa.
I stumbled on this one for $100 about 12 years ago. It had a missing balance
Slider. I jumpers it out and then recapped it. Sounded OK, but not as good as
I remembered. Did a power amp board rebuild, much better. After about 2 years
I found a balance slider. Then a couple years later, buzzzz. That pesky duel ps
cap blew. Fixed that and rebuilt the power supply added 5 way posts and it
sounds pretty good. Note- all classic unrestored Marantz gear sounds like poo.
I got the Kenwood ka7100 in filthy condition. But it worked. Cleaned it up, did a
recommended rebuild of caps and known troublesome components. Added
Binding posts. Waiting 9 years for a set of reasonably priced knobs that weren't
all scratched up.
Cheated on my favorite, the Sansui au717. Got a good deal on a clean unit
That someone else rebuilt. Sounds great. Just added the binding posts.
It sound like a good quality modern integrated.
The one mistake was selling my au-999 that I rebuilt. It was a beautiful unit
that came with the rare wood case. I was moving and thinned out a bunch of
stuff.
Yeah, I know. No Pioneer. I'll find one somewhere.
I really enjoy working on them. They are a lot easier to deal with than a
lot of newer gear.
1st up, the Marantz 1150 at 75wpc. I had an 1150d when I was on Okinawa.
I stumbled on this one for $100 about 12 years ago. It had a missing balance
Slider. I jumpers it out and then recapped it. Sounded OK, but not as good as
I remembered. Did a power amp board rebuild, much better. After about 2 years
I found a balance slider. Then a couple years later, buzzzz. That pesky duel ps
cap blew. Fixed that and rebuilt the power supply added 5 way posts and it
sounds pretty good. Note- all classic unrestored Marantz gear sounds like poo.
I got the Kenwood ka7100 in filthy condition. But it worked. Cleaned it up, did a
recommended rebuild of caps and known troublesome components. Added
Binding posts. Waiting 9 years for a set of reasonably priced knobs that weren't
all scratched up.
Cheated on my favorite, the Sansui au717. Got a good deal on a clean unit
That someone else rebuilt. Sounds great. Just added the binding posts.
It sound like a good quality modern integrated.
The one mistake was selling my au-999 that I rebuilt. It was a beautiful unit
that came with the rare wood case. I was moving and thinned out a bunch of
stuff.
Yeah, I know. No Pioneer. I'll find one somewhere.
"The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson
Comments
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The AU-717 was/is a fine amplifier then and now. Really nicely built, too.
Oh, and beautiful to boot.
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Always wanted to get a classic integrated even if only in a secondary system. One of these days maybe.Things work out best for those who make the best of the way things work out.-John Wooden
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I've had/have a few classic integrated amplifiers over the years. Sansui AU517 that was so so. Later I picked up a near mint 717 that has come and gone. A Yamaha CA2010, also gone.
Currently I have a Kenwood KA7300 with the matching KT7300 tuner. My latest acquisition is an AU919. Although it works flawlessly, sooner rather than later it's going to need some TLC.
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I've had a few vintage integrateds come and go here. Sui 9500 and 11,000, Kenny ka907, 9100 and 7300. Pioneer sa9500, a couple of Luxmans I can't remember the models and a Rotel 1412. My favorite of those was easily the Kenwood ka9100. All of them were brought home for under $200 with most under $100. Sadly those days have passed never to return.
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I've got an AU-999 from my dad's collection, currently sitting in storage. Cosmetically, the cover is a little rough. I bought a refurb kit for it, which I need to get done. One odd thing about those is that the volume knob is small, or rather, the same size as all the other knobs
"This may not matter to you, but it does to me for various reasons, many of them illogical or irrational, but the vinyl hobby is not really logical or rational..." - member on Vinyl Engine
"Sometimes I do what I want to do. The rest of the time, I do what I have to." - Cicero, in Gladiator
Regarding collectibles: "It's not who gets it. It's who gets stuck with it." - Jimmy Fallon -
Go look at the rebuild threads at audiokarma. There are some good
mods for the au999. The rated output as an integrated is about 20 watts
Lower than the amplifier output when used separately. There's a preamp
board mod that gives the full output. There are mods for better bass as
well. The modular design makes it one of the easiest units to service.
"The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson -
I’d give up my two 700 amps for a Krell FBI Integrated in a second.
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Thanks for the tip, and yes, that modular design is one reason I am willing to tackle a rebuild.sucks2beme wrote: »Go look at the rebuild threads at audiokarma. There are some good
mods for the au999. The rated output as an integrated is about 20 watts
Lower than the amplifier output when used separately. There's a preamp
board mod that gives the full output. There are mods for better bass as
well. The modular design makes it one of the easiest units to service.
I also have a 9090 (not a 'db'), and a kit for that, but it might not be as user-friendly; and, of course, it's not really an integrated
"This may not matter to you, but it does to me for various reasons, many of them illogical or irrational, but the vinyl hobby is not really logical or rational..." - member on Vinyl Engine
"Sometimes I do what I want to do. The rest of the time, I do what I have to." - Cicero, in Gladiator
Regarding collectibles: "It's not who gets it. It's who gets stuck with it." - Jimmy Fallon -
I like that Sansui series. I bought a 8080 in 1977 on clearance.
Great looking receivers. Definitely not as easy to work on as the
Au999. That amp is a breeze compared to most to work on.
Putting in modern binding posts makes it much easier to connect
up modern speakers with quality cables. I believe I cheated a bit
and used flush mount banana jacks. They fit in cleanly without
having to hack things up. Ebay may have some custom solutions
For this now like the 3d printed au717 speaker connections."The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson -
Vintage integrated amps are my soft spot. I find the styling of the early to mid-70’s models hit my sweet spot. I just love the machined knobs and overall aesthetics of these units. I also find them very easy to listen to. I have a Sansui AU-888, Pioneer SA-8100, Kenwood KA-5002 & KA-6004 in various systems. They are even better when paired with a matching tuner!
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A Kenwood KA-7300 and the matching KT-7300 that I have as my garage setup. -
I keep a vintage rig set up at all times.
Currently rocking this:
Kenwood KA-701 Classic Integrated
Kenwood KA-815 Tuna
Tandberg TL 5010 Speakers
Seriously considering sending the speakers to Trey for another crossover upgrade. -
sucks2beme wrote: »Go look at the rebuild threads at audiokarma. There are some good
mods for the au999. The rated output as an integrated is about 20 watts
Lower than the amplifier output when used separately. There's a preamp
board mod that gives the full output. There are mods for better bass as
well. The modular design makes it one of the easiest units to service.
Where are you located ?HT SYSTEM-
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1420
lsi 9's -
Near Memphis."The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson
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The Sansui drives a set of Sennheiser hd650's pretty well. Not quite
as well as my dedicated tube headphone amp. If I'd never heard the
Senn on tubes, I would be happy with the Sansui."The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson -
I got my Yamaha CA-800 with CT-800 AM/FM receiver combo back from Aaron a few months ago for my basement bench system. It's seen quite a bit of use. I only had room for a pair of Mission MS-50 bookshelf speakers, which sound pretty good. A Mitsubishi LT-5V vertical table was a perfect fit for the shelf.
Yeah, a little messy... I have an antenna in the attic for FM.
Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 * -
The CA-800 is a redoubtable little amplifier. I love mine.
EDIT: The CT-800 was/is also a well-documented sweet spot in Yamaha's long and rather distinguished line of tuners, too.
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I really enjoy my vintage integrated amps, particularly when paired with a tuner. Here is one of my office sets;
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Kenwood was/is first and foremost a radio company -- they made some mighty nice tuners over the years.
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My Dad had a Kenwood HAM radio. It was something to see.
I’d sit for a couple hours drooling over that radio while listening to my Pop using skip to talk to folks on the other side of the world.
Brings to mind some fond old memories. -
There's an old Lafayette Radio Electronics general coverage receiver upstairs that I am pretty darned sure was Kenwood (TRIO)-produced.
source: https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Catalogs/Lafayette-Catalogs/Lafayette-1966-660.pdf
But I digress.
Yeah, inconceivable, right?
Ahem.Kenwood (TRIO) did indeed (also) make some very fine hifi audio products -- and, AFAIK, Accuphase (founded by ex-Kenwoodians) still does.
