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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 2 responses by oregonpapa

oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa
4,867 posts
 
I have a secondary system, the heart of which, is a 1970s Sherwood 7100 receiver. The thing is a little killer and has a VERY good headphone amp to boot. The one I have was bought at Goodwill for $20 and works perfectly. The 7100 has a sound that is tube-like in nature. The 7100-A has more of a solid-state sound. Both receivers make for good music.

https://classicreceivers.com/sherwood-s-7100-and-s-7100a

https://www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/sherwood/s-7100.shtml

Frank
oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa
4,867 posts
 
^^^ I also had a Yamaha CA 1000 back in the day. It had a switch where you could run it in class A. The only difference I noticed was it ran a lot hotter in Class A with no difference in SQ in either mode. It was a nice sounding unit for sure.

Its not Japanese, but these were some really good sounding receivers in the day ...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/TANDBERG-TR-2045-FM-STEREO-RECEIVER-SOUNDS-INCREDIBLE/183917204224?hash=item2ad251d300:g:vlEAAOSwvdxdUGMl
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