Looking for a Vintage Reciever

drunkonjack · « **on:** 24 May 2010, 01:53 pm »

Looking for a Vintage reciever in the $300 range . Any suggstions ? Been looking at the Pioneers and Marantz's . Should I look for one that has been recently cleaned and serviced for best results ?

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #1 on:** 24 May 2010, 01:58 pm »

For $300...you can get a lot of vintage receivers. Best to stick to cleaned and serviced if you can for the $300...unless you are handy and can do it yourself.

Otherwise, 'vintage' means you inherit vintage problems with some classic, too

You don't mention the speakers you are trying to drive or room size...they would point out the need for some classic 90watt brute receiver or maybe something more along the lines of a 30watter is sufficient.

Looks alone....I always liked the Marantz and JVC receivers from the 70's and 80's (I assume that's what you mean by vintage?)

John

Stercom · « **Reply #2 on:** 24 May 2010, 02:35 pm »

I would highly recommend the Fisher 400, 500 or 800 series receivers. These are tube based and have excellent tuners and mm phono. You may have to pay around $500 for one in decent shape but it would be well worth it if you can swing the additional cost.

coke · « **Reply #3 on:** 24 May 2010, 02:41 pm »

Sansui is another worth looking at.

jkelly · « **Reply #4 on:** 24 May 2010, 02:52 pm »

I have a couple of Marantz and a couple of HK930 receivers available for a lot less than $300.
PM if interersted.

Jeff

greenmark59 · « **Reply #5 on:** 24 May 2010, 03:08 pm »

Don't forget some of the bigger Yamaha CR series receivers. You can pick up a really nice serviced one for under $300.

Like a nice CR-820 rated at 55 watts RMS per channel into 8 ohms and 70 watts RMS per channel into 4 ohms.

drunkonjack · « **Reply #6 on:** 24 May 2010, 03:58 pm »

Thanks guys ! The room is our excercise room 14X19 . We would be using it with some bookshelf speakers. Being it is a workout room we wont be driving them to very loud levels. I am pretty good with working on stuff. I would feel safe replacing lamps and cleaning the inside pots and stuff.

What do yo guys think of Reel to Reels ? remember these when was a kid in just jr high school. I had a teacher that on special occasions would bring his in and I fell in love with audio then and ever since wanted one myself.

bunnyma357 · « **Reply #7 on:** 24 May 2010, 04:15 pm »

Personally, I'd look for an old Marantz receiver with the thumbwheel, it has the combo of being both a great performer and also a great looking design. For a consumer reel to reel, the Technics with the Single Capstan loop is a really great design. At work I also used professional RTR's like Studer-Revox and Nagra, and if you could find a deal on one of those they would be nice.

Even back in the day RTR was cumbersome and required a lot of space & gear - but there is no denying the mechanical beauty of the machines and the excellent sound of a good 15ips recording.

Jim C

TONEPUB · « **Reply #8 on:** 24 May 2010, 05:14 pm »

Id go for a Marantz 2015. The smallest Marantz really sounded great!

Should be able to find a clean one for $175.

Wayner · « **Reply #9 on:** 24 May 2010, 05:33 pm »

Or a nice Marantz 2385 with 185 Watts RMS per channel!

It only weighs 57 pounds.

Wayner

bunnyma357 · « **Reply #10 on:** 24 May 2010, 05:51 pm »

Purely from an aesthetics point of view, I've always thought the "blue dial" era of audio gear was the best looking.

Jim C

Wayner · « **Reply #11 on:** 24 May 2010, 07:19 pm »

I like them too.

W

drunkonjack · « **Reply #12 on:** 25 May 2010, 02:23 pm »

How much time can I get recorded on one of those reel to reel tapes ?

JimJ · « **Reply #13 on:** 25 May 2010, 02:34 pm »

Quote from: Wayner on 24 May 2010, 05:33 pm

Or a nice Marantz 2385 with 185 Watts RMS per channel!

It only weighs 57 pounds.

Wayner

Small compared to a Sansui G-33000

dflee · « **Reply #14 on:** 25 May 2010, 02:55 pm »

Of my older equipment, the one I have held on to for a second system is a Nakamichi RE-2.

Don

bunnyma357 · « **Reply #15 on:** 25 May 2010, 03:15 pm »

Quote from: drunkonjack on 25 May 2010, 02:23 pm

How much time can I get recorded on one of those reel to reel tapes ?

Tape is sold by feet, so it depends on the length of tape, size reel the deck can handle (some can't hold 10" reels), and the speed (typically 3.75 or 7.5 ips for consumer, 7.5, 15 or 30 ips for professional).

So 3600' on a ten inch reel at a 7.5 ips would hold 96 minutes - double that at 3.75 ips.

Also some decks are half-track that only record on 1 side, and others are quarter-track that you flip the tape like a cassette, doubling the length of recording time again.

Jim C

Noseyears · « **Reply #16 on:** 25 May 2010, 04:18 pm »

A guy who has lots of vintage stuff, recommended me this site:

http://www.oaktreevintage.com/Stereo_Receivers.htm

He bought a Sansui receiver from there.

pumpkinman · « **Reply #17 on:** 28 May 2010, 12:10 am »

I second Sansui my favorite is the 9090DB

also although I don't have this one the Sansui G9000DB is very nice

Marantz is always a good bet

orthobiz · « **Reply #18 on:** 4 Jun 2010, 09:12 pm »

I sold my 2230 Marantz. Probably 1976. Oh well!~

Paul

Sonny · « **Reply #19 on:** 4 Jun 2010, 09:31 pm »

I have a Sansui 217 or 717 if you're interested...

717

217