My first ever component system had a Harmon Kardon 330B. It was 1976 or 77. I was 16 years old. It was a system sold by a local small electronics chain called Schaak Electronics. It had the receiver (20 wpc), large 3-way speakers called Omega 3's with 12 inch woofers and a lower-end Technics turntable. It was a very loud and clear system. I recall like yesterday the first time I played Steely Dan's Katy Lied LP, when Black Friday tails off, there is a high-hat that is hit multiple times in rapid fashion. I was so shocked, not accustomed to a nice-sounding system that I looked around the room quickly to see what it was! I thought something was in the room, until a second later I when realized it was the LP! I still recall that every time I play the LP to this day. I do not recall what I did with the receiver, but because of nostalgic purposes, if I find a nice enough one at a good price, I will buy it. Don't need it. ha.
But I was watching this video and the guy (about the 10:30 mark on the video) said the 330B is a capacitor coupled amp and the 330C is a direct coupled amp. I have no clue what that means, but he said some people claim a cap coupled amp sounds better than a direct coupled amp. The former sounds tube-like to some people he said. He didn't make the claim as his own opinion.
But that is interesting to me that this little receiver may have been the cat's a$$ and might rival some known great ones. My question is: what do you make of this? Hogwash? I had the opinion that as far as vintage amps, the best sounding ones would be Sansui, Marantz and Pioneer. Should this particular Harmon Kardon make that list?
btw, this little amp has pre-outs! Not bad for sort of an entry-level amp.
Photos below are the 330B
Here is the video:
