history of Vector Research 7000

I sold vector research receivers briefly about 30 years back aT Tech Hifi in the NY/NJ metro area.

It was decent sounding stuff and somewhat popular for a while as a step up from the Pioneers, Kenwoods and TEchnics receivers of the day for a bit. It had a different looking dark brown front panel aesthetic that was unique but I do not recall ever being particularly taken with anything really unique or better about the sound. Not in the same league as the better Tandberg, Nakamichi, Onkyo, or Yamaha receivers of the day as I recall.

I also do not know how well these were made. You do not see many around in nice condition these days for sure.

Hi Alan:

Your Vector Research is probably 20+ years old ... which is a good thing, given that the tuner sections of the older receivers were pretty decent. A rule of thumb with tuners ... upgrade the antenna before you upgrade the tuner, the difference will surprise you.

Regards,

Rich

Thread Jack what antenna should I get if I dont want to climb up to the roof.

I was never able to find anything indoor, even amplified, and I've tried, that worked better than the good old standard FM dipole antenna from Radio Shack.

I live in a NYC coop/ apartment house with metal door and window frames, so I can only use indoor antennas. I get good, but not great results with rabbit ears antennas. If I could use the fire escape or attach an antenna to the side of the house, I think that this antenna from Magnum Dynalab looks promising.

Regards,

Rich

I had a couple of Vector Research pieces (receiver and a VCR) that I bought during their heyday in the mid-'80s. Vector Research was a design group in the Camarillo/Westlake area of CA. The gear was outsourced to various far East mfrs, including NEC for VCRs and the mfrs that made the gear for NAD and Rotel. Read the description under Damark Industries here.

In amplification VR made a point of having higher current designs that could earn an FTC rating into 4 ohms (also similar to NAD and Rotel). I have one of their receivers (9100?) that was rated 60wpc into 8 ohms and 90 into 4. Compared to the receivers coming from Yamaha, Kenwood, and Pioneer at the time, that was significantly better current delivery. My receiver also had a switch on the back that enabled you to decouple the preamp from the power amp, and flip the amp into 200w mono mode. They also made a companion 60wpc power amp that you could switch to 200wpc mono mode. It provided an inexpensive upgrade path to take a receiver and turn it into either a biamping or 200wpc system.

As stated before, the built-in frequency synthesizer tuner was excellent.

I still have mine, but I accidentally blew the output stage by shorting the speaker leads when I thought the unit was turned off.

I bought a Vector Research VR-5000 when I was in college in the 80s.  It is still working great, and have never had a problem with it.  A great sounding, well made, workhorse (I play albums almost every single day) piece of audio equipment that has stood the hands of time.  
I often marvel that it has lasted this long and what a great investment I made back in the day!  

I also do not know how well these were made. You do not see many around in nice condition these days for sure.

Sorry but I meant to put this quote in my post.  
I just wanted anyone who is looking at a vintage VR-5000 to consider how happy I have been with mine and how reliable it has been.  I still find it amazing that it has endured as much use as it has and still plays great,  no problems, and no maintenance on it either. I also forgot to add that I bought it new.