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Top vintage receivers vs. modern high-end equipment

I am considering pairing an old amplification system to my JBL Paragon -- the idea of getting an all vintage system is very attractive to me. Among other things, I am looking into classics such as the Pioneer 1980 receiver or the Marantz 2600. Does anyone have direct experience in comparing this kind of equipment (very high-end but 40 years ago) to current high-end equipment, imagine an integrated Pass Lab amplifier? How do they stack up? Thank you. 
ggavetti
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riaa_award_collectors_on_facebook
981 posts
 

The Pioneer 1980 or Marantz 2600 are nowhere near the BEST SOUNDING Receivers made by either company. Don’t be a knucklehead and think that the number of Watts = Best Sound/Performance. That’s ridiculous. The 80 Series Pioneers are inferior to the 50 Series as cost cutting started at that time. Sure the 80 series LOOKS better but do you want better looks or sound? I have had about 100 different receivers from the 70’s...still have about 40-50 laying around. NONE compare to anything made today so don’t bother going down that road

Here is my list of the best SOUNDING 1970’s receivers that I have owned. SANYO JCX 2900, Onkyo 8500, Kenwood KR-9600, Sansui Eight Deluxe, Sansui G9000 Series, Sherwood 9910, Pioneer SX-1250, Marantz 2325,2330,2285, Luxman 1070,1120. You will probably prefer the 9000 Series Pioneer Integrated to the standard 50 or 80 series receivers. (I have a Mint 9100) They don't look as cool but again its a Looks vs Sound thing. Use with a Pioneer SG-9800 Equalizer.

The Pioneer and Marantz are not in the same league as the Sanyo/Onkyo/Sherwood/Kenwood or Sansui’s listed above. Luxman probably gives the greatest clarity/level of detail BUT not the best for Rock music.

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geeqner
28 posts
 
In my opinion:

The Consumer-Grade Electronics have always had their "better" stuff AND their "cheap JUNK".  And some brands tended to build a more solid unit than others (Vintage Pioneer, Marantz, and Harman-Kardon's better offerings) in Solid-State.  Also, some of the premium Japanese stuff that was actually MADE in Japan in the late-70's thru 1980's was also supposed to have been pretty darned good.

I can't speak much for Vintage Tube Gear - but that does not sound like the era of stuff that you would be looking-for.

Likewise, in Audio, there has almost ALWAYS been the "Consumer Stuff" vs. the "Esoteric Audiophile Stuff".  I think that the key difference was that less of the "Classic" Audiophile equipment was as far out-of-reach financially as a lot of the Modern-Era Audiophile stuff (some of it was even sold as "assemble it yourself" kits and was supposedly pretty darned GOOD [Dynaco and some H-K Citation]).

Products offered by various companies usually changed over time - some for the better.  (Heck - in TV, look at what used to be the junk that one used to find at "Monkey Wards" - stuff like Goldstar and Samsung, which are now premier brands in that market.)  And some for the worse - usually, when a good up-and-coming company sells their soul to a Corporation that gradually replaces the founders and cheapens the products.

If you are into Vinyl - it DOES make sense to look at something from the "heyday" of HiFi Vinyl recordings (1960s thru early 1980s).  After that, with the advent of the CD and the "Digital" hype - most consumer electronics companies stopped putting much effort into their Phono circuitry.  But, as others have said - get a mid to high-end product and spend a few bucks on restoring it (cleaning controls / replacing Electrolytic Caps, etc.)
ggavetti OP
143 posts
 
This is all very interesting. Perhaps a better choice than high-powered vintage receivers is some classic tube equipment, like the Marantz 7 preamplifier, and Marantz 8b amplifier combo. I once had a Model 7 and was impressed with it. The 8b has a simple circuit with what might be the best output tubes out there...that might be a good way to go: you stay in the vintage era like the Paragon, and get very good (although not very high-powered) amplification.
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noromance
9,769 posts
 
Agreed. Lose the receiver unless you really need a tuner. I run 1960s EICO HF35 monoblocs. Why? Because, given that I don't need power, they sound as good as the best I've heard.
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