Reading one post they were known as flame throwers that is because of people pushing them too overload like a junky the more you turned them up the better they sounded until blow up time if kept under the o dB point no problem. I've got two 400's that have never been touched but the ones heavily used will need the electrolytes on the circuit boards as they definitely need to be replaced to last another 30 years Even with the rebuild they still would be a lot cheaper than some new ones
Amps from the 1980's -- What gear holds up sonically? Reliably?
Hi Everyone,
For me, the 1980s were a real "golden age" of amplifiers. Dr. Leach’s paper on building a low TIM amplifier had been widely distributed and relied on by budding designers, and lots of boutique brands came. It was also the era of the biggest of the Conrad Johsnon tube amps as well and the invention of the MOSFET.
For me, brands I cared about:
I’m curious who is still listening to these vintage pieces, and which brands you think have stood up both in terms of reliability and / or sonics ?
For me, the 1980s were a real "golden age" of amplifiers. Dr. Leach’s paper on building a low TIM amplifier had been widely distributed and relied on by budding designers, and lots of boutique brands came. It was also the era of the biggest of the Conrad Johsnon tube amps as well and the invention of the MOSFET.
For me, brands I cared about:
- Threshold
- Sumo
- Perreaux (New Zealand, very pretty)
- Tandberg
- Hitachi
- Kyocera
- Nikko
- Krell (of course)
- CJ
- ARC
- Yamaha (professional)
- Carver
- Mark Levinson
- Amber
- Tandberg
I’m curious who is still listening to these vintage pieces, and which brands you think have stood up both in terms of reliability and / or sonics ?
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My vintage Mark Levinson ML-9 has been re-capped at the store where I bought it used several years ago, and my technician brought it back up to spec awhile back, and it sounds amazing! You can see it in my system at the link below: https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/5523 |
I must be the only one here that likes Parasound. I have had a few with the HCA-1500A the best one so far. I have two I run in mono to drive Vandersteen 3A’s, which sound really nice. At $350 each, I think it’s not only reliable, but a great value! I’m pretty sure that most of the gear listed so far costs more. So I think it’s important to differentiate price point. I think John Curl is a top circuit designer. It’s too bad the amps don’t have a more distinctive "cool" look like some of the amps mentioned here. |
I am the "Computer Audiophile on the Cheap" and have been considering a NAD 3020, that has been re-capped and tuned up for $269 (e-bay). Any opinions about that legendary 'entry-level' integrated that was such the rave back in the day? I have an h/k 330i and a Yamaha RX-350 recently updated by my technician, but everyone still speaks about the NAD with great reverence...it looks like there are a steady supply of them from that vendor. |
- 165 posts total