Vintage Receiver: TANDBERG, MARANTZ, or…?

@Chrshanl37

That's interesting – thanks. As my system will be used in a room that is likely to add brittleness to the sound, I really want to steer more in the direction of warmth and non-bright components.

@Yogiboy

Thanks. I've always had real respect for Mac equipment, so it probably should be added to the mix. Also interesting to hear another anecdotal warning about Luxman.

@Chrshanl37

No doubt you're correct about all vintage equipment needing attention sooner or later. The Tandberg that I am considering was recently refurbished by a specialist in Germany, so while it is try that the company has been out of business for some time, I expect that it would provide many years of good service.

@Ebm

That's an impressive combination of poor spelling and ignorance. Well done!

As always, system synergy is the big unknown, and I have no way of guessing which of the contenders is most likely to click.

While certain Marantz and Sansui models are attractive, I think that I'm going to give the Tandberg a try. It has been serviced by a specialist, and at under $300 shipped, I can easily afford to sell it on and try one of the others, should it be unsatisfying. It's also a bit of a gut feeling, which, when shooting blind, could prove beneficial.

I appreciate all of the input, and will post some impressions after the components all arrive.

Cheers,

Tony C.

Thanks for the input thus far, guys.

@Loomisjohnson

Those are the reasons that I am inclined in that direction. I suspect that the warmth will match well with the VS-1s, and I've always had a soft spot for high-class tuners (once had a brilliant Accuphase).

@Lloydc

Thanks – that's consistent with what I have heard elsewhere. It seems the the Sansuis are a bit under the radar, but worth considering.

@Chrshanl37

I know that there are some huge vintage Luxman fans out there, but it sounds as though they were/are a bit less reliable than some of the others under consideration. I do seem to recall their components being beautiful, though!

@Chrshanl37

Thank you, Daniel. Which Sansui do you have?

@Swampwalker, @Czarivey

Thanks for the suggestion. It is possible that a long-standing bias of mine may get in the way of the Pioneer option. I don't doubt that some of their models are good, but way back (I was in high school when most of these were made), I used to hang around a nice store in Evanston, IL called Audio Consultants, and Pioneer receivers struck me more as mid-range, as opposed to elite. As I say, there's a bias at work, though.

Cheers,

Tony C.

@aktchi 

Thanks for the note! Given that Simon, the founder of AC, was in the store so much when I lived in Evanston, I suspect that it was the original location. It was interesting to see how careful he was to hire only people who were truly passionate about the gear, and how they were required to have a strong base of knowledge and a willingness to learn as the the landscape changed. Very different from the type of salesmen who I often encountered at other shops, who could have just as easily been selling cars, etc.

I spent about four years with vintage power as I was developing my system here in Portugal. The Tandberg, as beautiful as it was, and despite it having been recapped, was missing something, so I tried an Accuphase. It was a real step up, so I couldn't resist another step, and ended up with an E-303x (not easy to find). Outstanding sound, and attractive, understated looks.

I am actually not typically a flipper, and when I settle into a system, I tend to stick with it for years. But this recent period was my first experience with vintage gear and re-capping, and I enjoyed learning about the potential of such amps.

Over the past year, though, I transitioned to a contemporary integrated, and have to say that it has made a further, significant difference, and not only in terms of its digital capabilities. I bought a used Hegel H160 for around $1700, and would say that it represents outstanding value.

Cheers!