The Golden era of Japanese integrated amps, are we missing out?


Maybe it’s just me but.....
I just threw together an el cheapo system with a Sansui A-2100 integrated at its heart and diminutive Wharfedale Diamond 220 speakers.

And I still cannot get over just how good and right it sounds.... All for $240 total shipped!

So this got me thinking about the golden era of Japanese equipment and while tuners , tape decks and turntables appear to have large followings and a large knowledge and fan base, I do not get the same vibe on integrated amps?

Are there devotees of these amps out there?
I very rarely hear anybody talking about them and so many can be picked up for peanuts, I mean $75 shipped in perfect working order and decent cosmetics( and built in mm phono to boot!).
Are they likely to be the next " big thing" or?

Thoughts?
uberwaltz

Showing 4 responses by mapman

The store I worked at in 1978 sold Cerwin Vega and many other well known quality brands of the day. People loved the muddy bass of the Cerwin Vega. I hated them...my least favorite. So there you go.
I liked the good vintage stuff just fine until I replaced that recently with a new $80 45w/ch amp with blue-tooth that is efficient, sounds it and is about the size of a pack of cigarettes.

Having heard liked and even sold many classic Sansuis in years past, I am pretty certain it sounds nothing like Sansui in its prime though.

If you need or want the fancy controls, lights, and multiple inputs for less than most anything new that might be considered "mid-fi" or better, then the classic vintage stuff used but fixed up as needed by a reliable tech is the way to go.  Just keep in mind buying old electronic gear can be a risky proposition.  
Hey Uber, google search on that model Sansui comes up blank.

Is A-2100 the right model #?
Lots of very cool vintage integrated amps out there. One less obvious thing to watch with this stuff, besides the age and operating condition, is that many popular modern speakers tend to be smaller and less efficient compared to when these units were popular.