[TheChairGuy]

On a related note, I have been scouting the local Salvation Armys also and just last week I spotted a matching set of a Kyocera CDP and Cassette deck with walnut trim.  Early-mid 1980s.  I started to scoop them up but saw a price sticker of $39 on the CDP and $29 on the cassette deck.  Recalling how bad early digital was, and the cold slap of reality that I really don't need either piece, I exercised a rare spark of self-control and walked away.  Plus, I think the S.A. pricing I've noticed is no longer really cheap.

Thx,
Kenreau

Heavier traffic in SA's of late due to economic underpinnings.  I've noticed the same thing - less deals now there now than there was a couple years back.  They don't have to - they're already the cheapest game in town 

John

[boead]

Back in the 80's, when I was in High School I first got into Audiophile. Prior to that I had consumer stuff; JVC Class-A amp, Becker Speakers, AR turntable and so on.

Then I started listening to boutique audio component manufacturers stuff. Aragon, Counterpoint, Carver, McIntosh and so on... I remember stuff from Yamaha, Harmond, Marantz and such all sort of sucked in regards to audiophile. not much better then the JVC, Sony and Pioneer stuff being sold in your local Audio-R-Us stores.  The Kyocera receiver in 1982 was $1200. A comparable McIntosh was about the same price, maybe a bit more. Luxman was a bit less, NAD was downright cheap.  Kyocera offered esoteric manufacturing at prices less then Marc Levenson. It was VERY Japanese in style and design and at the price, had a limited audience. Us kids in college wanted an Adcom, Carver or NAD and the Kyocera stuff was twice the price or better but so was the sound quality. Boutique audio shops here on Long Island that carried Kyocera sold it in their upper-end rooms as entry level. Remember these units are 'Receivers" which many older-folks at the time wanted.  Kyocera also had a small lower model line which were not great, just on par with Denon. Kyocera made an all ceramic turntable (table and arm) that was about $2000 in 1980. Said to be amazing.

By today's audiophile standards, units like these from Kyocera and McIntosh are good but not great. Still they can hold their own. My buddy bought the 8xx series which had a pre-amp loop. For shite and giggles a couple of years ago we auditioned it, both as a preamp and amp and I was surprised to hear how good the units preamp section was. Clean, clear with audiophile qualities. The amp has that classic quality MOSFET sound but with Kyocera's better than average preamp section the combo was a winner - Umm just no one knew about it or cared. Kyocera stopped selling their Audio gear in the USA in the late 80's, for years afterwards they continued to make hi end audiophile for Asia and Europe.

Beware of their cassette players. They sound awesome but have a design flaw, making repairs costly. Their CD Player was only 14 bit but again sounded amazing for 1982.

[boead]

i have never heard the kyocera's, but i have heard similar comments about their amp/pre sections; not so similar about the tunas.  the only marantz receiver i have heard is the model 18, it sounds nothing like you describe, and this is having two samples.  re: your sansui au9900, tube-like is the last thing i would attribute to this amp; i strongly suggest something was wrong w/yours.  these amps are extremely solid-state sounding - wery stout, detailed, almost clinical.  if you like solid state sound, a wintage sansui is your amp, imo.  me, i'd insert a tube buffer between its pre out and main in!   
 

Mostly referring to the 70's and early 80's Marantz and Fisher, many of my friends had that stuff - it umm, it sucked mostly. The Sansui was in and out of my rigs for a while, it was somewhat soft, mushy and even  fuzzy in the image but then again I was mostly listening to SET's. The Kyocera blew it away. Nothing was wrong with the Sansui. I sold it recently for like $500 to some guy in the Netherlands, he collected vintage gear. Said he loved it and was surprised at the condition being so good. He was pleased. I also sold a mid 60's Sony table that was a classic for a mint. I won't sell the Kyocera or my old trusty Energy speakers. Great 80's HiFi
Just my opinion, they vary.
 

[doug s.]

i have never heard the kyocera's, but i have heard similar comments about their amp/pre sections; not so similar about the tunas.  the only marantz receiver i have heard is the model 18, it sounds nothing like you describe, and this is having two samples.  re: your sansui au9900, tube-like is the last thing i would attribute to this amp; i strongly suggest something was wrong w/yours.  these amps are extremely solid-state sounding - wery stout, detailed, almost clinical.  if you like solid state sound, a wintage sansui is your amp, imo.  me, i'd insert a tube buffer between its pre out and main in!   
 

Mostly referring to the 70's and early 80's Marantz and Fisher, many of my friends had that stuff - it umm, it sucked mostly. The Sansui was in and out of my rigs for a while, it was somewhat soft, mushy and even  fuzzy in the image but then again I was mostly listening to SET's. The Kyocera blew it away. Nothing was wrong with the Sansui. I sold it recently for like $500 to some guy in the Netherlands, he collected vintage gear. Said he loved it and was surprised at the condition being so good. He was pleased. I also sold a mid 60's Sony table that was a classic for a mint. I won't sell the Kyocera or my old trusty Energy speakers. Great 80's HiFi
Just my opinion, they vary.

hi boead,

i don't doubt your experience.  it's yust that, re: sansui gear, it's pretty-much the polar opposite of mine, and of most everyone who i have read w/an opinion on sansui - extremely tight and detailed, almost to excess.  i prefer tubes, both single-ended, and push-pull...

doug s.

[boead]

hi boead,
i don't doubt your experience.  it's yust that, re: sansui gear, it's pretty-much the polar opposite of mine, and of most everyone who i have read w/an opinion on sansui - extremely tight and detailed, almost to excess.  i prefer tubes, both single-ended, and push-pull...
doug s.

Hey Doug, Wow, no the Sansui I had was a '75 +/- AU9900 integrated amp. It was definitely NOT tight and detailed. I mean it sounded nice and had plenty of soundstage. Don't get me wrong, the average joe would love it, it really didn't have that typical solid state sound most gear had at that time. Nice drive, built like a brick-shitehouse. But the tone controls (3-way parametric) were poor sounding, the phono section was just ok sounding but extremely tight and detailed? No way.






This Harmon Kardon sounds fairly poor. Early SS.



LOL, now you got me going. Heres a shot of the Sony I sold. I miss owning it. I got a half pound of Lasagna for it.




Enjoy!
Steve

[Wayner]

As Ken is looking for recommendations for his 14 year old, I don't think the purpose of this thread was what vintage receiver was the most expensive or had the best perceived value.

Marantz clearly recognized that the mere design of a receiver is a compromise in sound integrity. Marantz started in the seperates world, and for the time, made some outstanding preamps, amps and tuners.

The receiver was a platform for the masses, in terms of affordability, yet holding some of the qualities of the the higher priced seperates. I've owned the renound 3300 preamp and the 240 power amp and they are in a different league then the receivers.

Marantz, Sansui, Harmon Kardon, Kenwood and others made high end receivers that maybe equaled their cheapest seperates, but that was it.

Most kids could barely afford a $300 dollar receiver, let alone dream about a McIntosh or some other boutique receiver. Most of us were poor kids hoping our draft number didn't get picked.

Wayner

[boead]

As Ken is looking for recommendations for his 14 year old, I don't think the purpose of this thread was what vintage receiver was the most expensive or had the best perceived value.

I see them selling on eBay for around $100 because no one knows them.

I bought a Luxman recently for $15, becasue no one knows them either.

I got close to $500 for the Sansui becasue everyone knows them and both the Kyocera and Luxman are MUCH better.

[doug s.]

hi steve,

that au9900 looks almost identical to my au11000; mine has yust a bit more power.  the tone controls can be switched out.  and, i am only talking about the sound of cdp and tuna - i never tried fono w/it or the au717 i had...

i know i can get at least $600 for it, and i would put it up against any $600 s/s gear out there...

best,

doug s.

[kenreau]

Thanks Wayne, Doug and Boead!  This has been very enjoyable and informative for me.   

Fwiw, my teenage years were in the late 70's and I can recall lusting after many of these peices.  There was a "Stereo Superstore" in Portland and a number of other stereo stores I would love to visit.  At the time I had bought a lower end Sanui receiver and my buddy had a Marantz with the blue lights & horizontal wheel tuner with some Klipsh Heresy that sounded nice.  I splurged on some really nice EV 3 way speakers that sounded great.  Certainly brings back 30 yr old memories. 

Hey Doug - is the "tuna" an east coast accent thing?   

I'll check in after I see the Kyocera piece next Wednesday.

Thanks
Ken

[boead]

Thanks Wayne, Doug and Boead!  This has been very enjoyable and informative for me.   

Fwiw, my teenage years were in the late 70's and I can recall lusting after many of these peices.  There was a "Stereo Superstore" in Portland and a number of other stereo stores I would love to visit.  At the time I had bought a lower end Sanui receiver and my buddy had a Marantz with the blue lights & horizontal wheel tuner with some Klipsh Heresy that sounded nice.  I splurged on some really nice EV 3 way speakers that sounded great.  Certainly brings back 30 yr old memories. 

Hey Doug - is the "tuna" an east coast accent thing?   

I'll check in after I see the Kyocera piece next Wednesday.

Thanks
Ken

Hey Ken, what did you end up getting?