Hi Fi Hall of Fame?

[WmAx]

After my recent experiences, Phase Technology. They invented the soft dome tweeter.

I am rather suprised that a certain user who's name starts with j and ends with n, has not suggested a certain classic[20+ year old design] headphone which has a model number that starts with 7 and ends with 6.

-Chris

 

[jaxvon]

I am equally surprised that a certain OTHER user whose name starts with W and ends with X has not suggested that starts with D and ends with 6

I guess it really is hall of fame material though (the 'phones), seeing how they have become and remained the industry standard for pro monitoring applications. Seems like every time you see a mixing board, there's a pair of 7506's laying on it.

 

[JJMP50]

Reel to Reel

I don't remember seeing the Akai M9 mentioned here. It was one of the most popular machines around back in the late 60's. I believe it was marketed in the US as a Honeywell model. And what every happened to Sansui as a manufacturer? Another one of my favorites was the AR turntable. You could hit it with a hammer and it wouldn't skip.

 

[The Dukester]

Here's a couple for the list
Altec Lansing KZ500 "Voice of the Theater" speakers Talk about behemouths!
Myuncle still has and plays his for the rest of the neighborhood at the bottom of the hill. At 82 he is a liitle hard of hearing, but hey; he still rides his motorcycle so it's all good. He still insists they are the greatest speaker ever. His rationale: it takes a horn to acurately reproduce a horn. He also still has a Scott receiver and Rek-o-kut turntable in the kitchen.

Anyone remember the 4 channel eight tracks??? I have to admit I was impressed when my buddy played "Frankenstein" on his in the parking lot one night after work. Hearing the synth go around in a circle was cool.
And who can forget the Jensen 6x9 s. Although now who would want a pair?

 

[Duffinator]

Earlier someone mentioned an older Pioneer. Pioneers pinnacle was the SX 1250/80 made in the mid and late 70's. They were huge and had tons of power. It's got to be one of if not the largest receivers ever made.

http://www.silverpioneer.netfirms.com/SX-1250.htm

I also have a Sansui 3000A from 1968 that still works well although it's not in use now. And no I'm not that old, it was a hand me down from a relative that has an SX 1250.

What about Fischer? I know the name turned to junk later but didn't they make some quality products back in the infancy of home audio back in the 50's?

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Pioneers pinnacle was the SX 1250/80 made in the mid and late 70's. They were huge and had tons of power. It's got to be one of if not the largest receivers ever made.

They did one better. The SX-1980. It was 270 watts per channel. To quote the site: This receiver had 12 Field Effect Transistors (FETs), 11 Integrated Circuits (ICs), 130 transistors and 84 diodes! Pioneer designed large heatsinks to dissipate the SX-1980's full-tilt operating temperature. The SX-1980 was the largest and heaviest receiver Pioneer had ever built. The receiver measured 22.0 inches wide, 19.50 inches deep, and 8.25 inches high. It weighed a staggering 78.0 pounds. If Pioneer built a receiver with this level of power and build quality today, what do you think it would sell for? According to S. Morgan Friedman's Inflation Calculator, it would list for $3638.00!

What about Fisher? I know the name turned to junk later but didn't they make some quality products back in the infancy of home audio back in the 50's?

They made fantastic equipment through the 70's. Back in those days, so did Sansui, Kenwood, Marantz, Technics, HK, Sylvania, Sherwood, Teac, Luxman,
Realistic, believe it or not, Denon, Hitachi, Toshiba, Sears - I have an old Sears tube amp!, JVC, and Akai. Sears sold out to LXI, which really cheapened up their hifi products. (Didn't most of the above do the same?) I think a lot of these companies lost out to brands like Emerson and Sound Design which sold in budget department stores.

 

[Duffinator]

So how would those Pioneer receivers hold up compared to todays equipment? For two channel audio quality would they be as good as a mid-fi receiver like our 3805's? Compare to a moderate seperates system? Or has technology simply passed them by? Seems an Adcom GFA555 still holds up well although it's almost 20 years old.

 

[The Dukester]

I can't say much about the Pioneers, because I never was into them. I can say a little about the Sylvania. Mom gave me one when I was in high school (yeah Duffinator, I am that old) back in the early 70's. I'm sure it wasn't their flagship, as mom was not even close to rich, but I thought it sounded great. It was their CR 2743. I used to go look at the Sansuis, however and lust. A few years later, I would go into the high end stores and listen to the equip, then come home a couple hours later and listen to my Sylvania and think hey, their just is not that much difference. Wrong. The Mac dealer (my aforementioned 82 yr. old uncle got me looking at Mac) let me bring in my Sylvania speakers and do an A/B on the Mac XR14s. Needless to say mine sounded like they had a beach towel over them. A few months later I took home a MC4100 reciever to try. Ditto. It was like going from the ol' Craig eight track to a CD. I bought the receiver and speakers in '81. In about '83 I moved up to a pair of XR16s. I still use the receiver but preamp it out and use the MC352 for the amp.
I have a Dennon AVR3200 for my HT system right now and it can't come close the Mac, even using it's internal amp. Granted, they are in a different league, but I paid nearly the same amount for them, just one 20 years ago.

I traded the XR16s in on a pair of XRT20 Macs. I have not heard the XRT30s yet, as the Mac dealer here went OB. I am afraid to go hear them though, as I know I would have to have a pair. At around 30K they are a bit pricey, too. When I bought the 20s it was one of the final nails in my divorce coffin, even though I sold my coin collection, etc to buy them trying to keep the peace. That was back in '86. I still don't have a wife, but I still use the 20s!
Someone mentioned the Sony CDP101 earlier as a hall of famer. I bought a CDP302 when they came out and still have it in the closet. At the time, it was one of the best players on the market, especially at the price point. They sold as fast as they came in almost everywhere so were hard to find. We could possibly throw it in as a candadite for the hall as well.

 

[B3Nut]

So how would those Pioneer receivers hold up compared to todays equipment? For two channel audio quality would they be as good as a mid-fi receiver like our 3805's? Compare to a moderate seperates system? Or has technology simply passed them by? Seems an Adcom GFA555 still holds up well although it's almost 20 years old.

I've never owned a mid-fi surround receiver, but I did own a Denon DRA-435R 2-channel from the 90's that died recently...I think the vintage Pioneers are superior units. The vintage machines often need new electrolytics, but once recapped or restored are usually considered superior to today's digital surround receivers for 2-channel. There are a lot of vintage fans at www.audiokarma.org, bunch of us into the classic gear. As far as amplification goes, the amplifier circuits in the new surround receivers (excluding the digital switching amps that are coming out) are just regular Class AB or B solid-state amps, and those basic topologies have stayed the same since the early 70's. They've just been making them more cheaply recently and with scrimpy power supplies. The vintage units have much more substantial build quality, they look like fine instruments compared to the receivers I've been looking at on today's shelves, which look flimsily-made inside, even some of the more expensive units. For stereo I'll take my mid-80's Lux separates and my 70's Pioneer receivers over anything today that's remotely affordable. Nothing like digging a classic out of a thrift or yard sale and bringing it back to life on the bench!

Todd in Beerbratistan

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Great thread

So how would those Pioneer receivers hold up compared to todays equipment? For two channel audio quality would they be as good as a mid-fi receiver like our 3805's? Compare to a moderate seperates system? Or has technology simply passed them by? Seems an Adcom GFA555 still holds up well although it's almost 20 years old.

You've hit a soft spot here in my audio world. I love vintage stuff.

The Pioneer vintage 1050/1080/1250/1280/1980 are just miles and miles past the new Pioneer Elites (and just about everything else out there) IMHO. I own the vintage 680, and have been looking to upgrade it to a 1280, or something similar from another mfg. It's amazing the clarity and depth that little 680 has.

Take the SX-1980. At 78lbs, and 270 watts per channel (and that is claimed to be underrated!), not even the new Denon 5805 comes close. Per Gene's review on the Denon 5805: The AVR-5805 amp section delivered a whopping 195wpc into 8 ohms at .97% THD. Now I know that amp is limited by the wall outlet, thus the reason for one massive toroidal and two E-core transformers. For a 10 channel amp, it comes in at 97lbs. Compare that to the two channel SX-1980, and you have a winner (less all the new digital technology). For pure two channel music, it's hard to beat against ANYof today's receivers. For surround sound, the 5805 is hands down the best unit, barr none.

Technics put out the beast of all beasts at 330 watts per channel. Try finding one of these today for under 3 grand!
http://ckopfell.com/TechnicsSA1000.htm
Here's the specs on all their vintage models. Amazing. Where did they go???
http://www.vintagetechnics.com/receivers.htm

Sansui put out a G33000 300 watt per channel Receiver from 1978-1981 that retailed for $1900!

Heck, even Sanyo put out some monsters back in the day.

The mightiest Sansui power amp was the BA-5000 and one went for $2800 on Ebay in 2002. It was a mere 300 watts per channel. Looks a lot like the Macs. But we're talking receivers here. No fair comparison.
http://www.classicaudio.com/value/san/BA5000.html

 

[Duffinator]

You've hit a soft spot here in my audio world. I love vintage stuff.

I just checked out audio karma and it looks like I'll have to join there. Along with my Sansui 3000A I have a Fisher Coronet Radio-Phonograph in a fruitwood cabinet. My grandfather gave it to my grandmother for Christmas in 1955! The cabinet is beautiful and the unit still works. I turn it on every couple of years to make sure it still works. I have the brochure and delivery ticket but no receipt. My grandmother said he paid about $1,000 for it, that was a lot of cash in 55'. It has a huge 15" speaker and this really cool snake eye meter for dialing in a radio station. It puts out 20 to 40 watts of "undistorted power". I was going to gut it and just keep the cabinet but I kept it in tact. I'll be getting a Pioneer SX 1250 along with some huge Wharfdale speakers from my uncle one of these days. He bought the Sansui and the Wharfdale's in 1968 in Japan during his tour of duty on an aircraft carrier and brought it back with him. All of this stuff is in about as good of condition as you can image for its age.

 

[mkossler]

Speaking of Sansui, I bought the QRX-9001 at the Ramstein A/V club in 1981. Quad-capable, 250 watts per channel of Class-A power into two channels. Sorry to say, I just put it out at the front curb last month.

I also second Audio Technica - my AT stylus cost more than my turntable, and deservedly so.

I also had the Nakamichi Dragon deck - nice, yes, but nothing could prevent the not-so-eventual degradation of sound quality in cassettes. I think I bought Decade three times.

Boy, a trip down memory lane...

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Speaking of Sansui, I bought the QRX-9001 at the Ramstein A/V club in 1981. Quad-capable, 250 watts per channel of Class-A power into two channels. Sorry to say, I just put it out at the front curb last month.

That is kind of sad. I'm about to put my SX 680 as well as an old Kenwood receiver with the VU meters out to pasture as well. Both need major work, moreso than I care to spend fixing them. The Kenwood even has an 8 track player/recorder. Talk about old school.

I also had the Nakamichi Dragon deck - nice, yes, but nothing could prevent the not-so-eventual degradation of sound quality in cassettes. I think I bought Decade three times.
Boy, a trip down memory lane...

Check out the Dragon on this Nak site. There's 7 bids, and it's at $345!
http://www.naks.com/

 

[B3Nut]

Sad waste to put a QRX-9001 on the curb, even needing work. You could have gotten good money for it on eBay - the 9001 is an *extremely* sought-after unit, and even parts units/fixer-uppers are worth some coin.

Never toss this vintage gear - there's always someone out there who can at least use a parts unit. Audioasylum and Audiokarma have vibrant vintage communities dedicated to preserving these wonderful pieces of audio history.

Todd in Beerbratistan

 

[Rip Van Woofer]

God, all these names are giving me an audio nostalgia rush. Those big Sansuis were the shizzle back in the day, and it seemed like a lot of them belonged to active duty or recently discharged soldiers who got them cheap at the PX.

And yeah, I regret tossing my Dynaco Stereo 120 power amp out when it died. I could at least have salvaged the chassis, heatsinks, and tranny, or sold it for a few dollars. I *did* wise up and sell my Dyna tuner and preamp for decent money on eBay.

And don't get me started about my old-school Raleigh Competition 10 speed road bicycle I put out on the curb....[kicks himself yet again].

 

[mkossler]

Sad waste to put a QRX-9001 on the curb, even needing work. You could have gotten good money for it on eBay - the 9001 is an *extremely* sought-after unit, and even parts units/fixer-uppers are worth some coin.

Never toss this vintage gear - there's always someone out there who can at least use a parts unit. Audioasylum and Audiokarma have vibrant vintage communities dedicated to preserving these wonderful pieces of audio history.

Todd in Beerbratistan

Todd,

Just another case of WAF-in-your-face. The 9001 had a very long and distinguished life, but I finally ran out of resources to service the damned thing when the left/right channels repeatedly went spotty. Putting it out on the curb cleared the way (WAF-wise) for the recently acquired SVS 20-39.

I'll say a quick prayer tonight that it has found a good home

 

[B3Nut]

Let's hope someone grabbed it. They usually do actually...I always have an eye on the curbs come garbage day...drives my wife nuts LOL! I've rescued a nice pair of older Sansui speakers (AS-200, sealed rather than their usual ported, 10" 3-ways) that a friend now has, and a Pioneer turntable I got working and gave away. Found a working JVC receiver on the curb across the street from our old apartment once...

Never know what you'll run into....

Todd in Beerbratistan

 

[Duffinator]

And don't get me started about my old-school Raleigh Competition 10 speed road bicycle I put out on the curb....[kicks himself yet again].

Yeah I kick myself every time I think about giving away almost 400 records of mostly 70's rock. I should never have gotten married.

B3nut, so it Beerbratistan between Green Bay and Chicago? That's very funny.

 

[B3Nut]

Yeah, it's a pet name for Wisconsin. I'm near Madison, so plenty of beer and brats and cheese. We've got Capital Brewery here, and New Glarus Brewing down in New Glarus (their Spotted Cow ale is probably my fave beer). I've other names for it too...

Todd in Cheesecurdistan

 

[20to20K]

Wow!

I had totally given up on this thread that I started about 4 or 5 months ago.

Thanks for revisiting it again...some more great stuff!

Keep the nostalgia flowing!