Talking Vintage HiFi Gear: The Harman Kardon 730 Twin Powered Receiver
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ส.ค. 2022
- The HK 330C, 430 Twin Powered and 730 Twin Powered are legendary units - rightly lusted after by audiophiles in the know. All of these mid to late 70's units feature fantastic soundstages and punchy energy that belie their relatively modest watts per channel ratings.
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Old HK stuff is my favorite
I still have my H/K 930 that I purchased while in college in the 70s. I had it cleaned and checked about 15 years ago. It needs another cleaning because a couple of switch contacts are dirty. Mine is a trooper and has never failed. Given the choice of the 730 or the more powerful 930 for not much more money at the time, I chose the 930. Half a century later, it has proved itself to be one of my smartest purchases.
I've also had my 930 since college. At one point I picked up a floor demo Phase Linear 700 amp, polled out the jumper jacks between the 930's preamp and amp and used the Phrase Linear. More power, for sure (350 watts/channel) but noisier. At one point, the Phase Linear had to go in for warranty work so I drove up to Seattle to the factory and got a tour. They had one of their amps driving multiple pairs of speakers in parallel. Peaking around 150 watts/channel with enough volume to fill the large factory room with background music, but I imagine that the load on the amp was probably less than one ohm. I eventually moved and 45 Watts was more than sufficient after the move so I sold the Phase Linear. Still have the 930.
The 930 is not the same as the 430 and 730
@@tuantrd nor the 630, either. Nor, for that matter, the 330, 330a, 330b, or the 330c. The 330 series was a very good product, not twin powered like its higher-numbered siblings, but excellent value for an entry level product.
Well said. Once you get it, a Harman Kardon addiction is harder to shake than a drug or alcohol addiction! I bought my first one, a 330A, when they were first released in late '71. At the moment, it is being stored in its original box while I listen to some other ones which I've aquired over the years. They are, a 230A, another 330A, 330B, 330C, 630 Twin, Eight Twenty, and a Rotel RX-400A which is basdically a 330A under the hood. All I need now are a 930 Twin, and of course a 730 Twin, and a 430 Twin, which is basically a 330C with twin power.
Impressive collection! 👍🏻
I stumbled across a 430 twin in my search for a Sansui. And I don’t think I will be moving from the HK. It is just so nice. The sound is so clean and I think they were originally bought by upper middle class drs and lawyers. Mine is so clean hardly a speck of dust and even more amazing none of the brown nicotine film that coats most everything from this era.
Very nice!
I have a built Harmon Kardon Citation II tube amp with KT88's. I have had this amp as my only amp since the late 1980's
Nice Tara 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Hey Tim, wishing you a Happy New Year. I enjoyed this video on HK twin power receivers. I have owned 2 of the 630s and they both sound very sweet. Separation, clarity and warmth are the things I like the most about the twin power receivers but you nailed it on the understated power these vintage receivers put out. I have used them with a variety of speakers but I have to say that they sound awfully nice with the pair of the original Smaller Advent speakers I bought along with the original 630 back in 1973. I will never part with either of the 630s.
Great stuff back in the 70's, they sound good and are gorgeous to look at. The heart of my modest vinyl corner is a Pioneer SX550 bought on eBay over 2 years ago for a mere $150.00 including shipping. Rated at only 20 wpc I cannot dial the volume past 3-4 because too loud. I bought an SX780 recently, very clean, no dents or scratches, the wood too is pristine but not so lucky with it, back to my repair man and now for a complete service.
You're right Tim, the key to buy vintage is to have a competent repair man near by and these folks are getting more and more difficult to find.
I picked up a 730 2 years ago for $350.00, it made me immune to the hype on the popular vintage receivers, never letting go of this amazing unit.
Love to hear it!
I just picked up a 430 and a 730. I love them with my Cornwalls. Better bass than any new stuff I’ve tried. Non fatiguing and clear mids and highs. I don’t know why anyone wouldn’t want one of these!
Cool unit! Vintage receivers sure deliver when all the components are working well.
I had this fantastic receiver back in the 1980s...I wish I had it today....I got rid of it in 1995... because I moved out of California... now I miss it...the Loudness (kicker)...was the Boom of a lifetime....the punch on this was unbelievable...I want another one!!!.... now I have the Studio 7 and 8 .. party center portable speakers...it has the same boom as the receiver I had....now originals are hard to find in good working condition!!!😢😮😢😮
I have a few vintage receivers/amps in storage. One of them is a Kenwood KA-7300 integrated amp and the KT-7300 Tuner, stackable they match, plus they have the carrying handles. The amp works but needs to be serviced for a few minor items. Someday I’ll get around to using it again. I love the look of old receivers/amps and they sound great.
Love the vintage gear I own a pioneer SX 1280 & Sansui G8700 you can’t get that warmth out of newer stuff!
The old lighting is definitely worth repairing. Looks very nice indeed.
I’ve owned both the 730 and 930. The 730 sounded better to my ears. Both units are keepers. I still have the 930 and would love to find another preserved 730.
Beautiful piece of equipment. Great price.
I've never found them that attractive. I have a 730 and have always loved the sound. I've spent a lot of money chasing a sound with different gear (solid state and tube) and realized my 730 is perfectly suitable for taste and have sold off mostly everything and now just enjoy the music.
My 730 was purchased New in about '76. Use almost every day NO
Technical issues.
Rock solid baby...
I have a 430. Love it.
Just got mine back after a refurbishing. I am unsure if I should have the caps replaced. I run it with my MISSION 770's on the front and a pair of PSBs on the back end. It packs a massive punch and lovely sound stage! I am not a guy with deep pockets. I bought the amp for $320.00 and found the speakers for $20.00. They were left at the front of the thrift store and I had left the store then came back to inquire about them. The price on the speakers was $10.00. Apparently the person who left them at the front thought they were $10.00 for both of them and did not want to pay $20.00 for the pair.
Sounds like an amazing set-up! Congrats 👍🏻👍🏻
I really love the vintage gear. I personally am a longtime fan of Kenwood receivers. My first receiver back in 1972 was a Kenwood KR-2400. It was a great intro for me into the world of stereo components. I've owned many other receivers along my journey. I'm currently back to my Kenwood roots with a mint-condition KR-5600. Purchased it off of Ebay about a year and a half ago. I have it paired with Bose 501 Series III speakers that I bought new in 1983 while working over in England as a civilian for the government. I also have a vintage Sony receiver running a smaller setup in another room. One TT that I'm running is a Technics SLQ-D3 that I bought new in 1977 while a young Airman serving in the Air Force. My other TT is a Dual 522 that I traded a beautiful Teac auto-reverse double-cassette deck with remote control for going on a year ago. I use a Tascam 202 professional auto-reverse double-cassette deck in my system now. I found it about a year ago at Goodwill for $25.99. There's not a scratch on it and it runs perfectly. Someone obviously didn't know what they had. It was a great find to say the least. I have a Pioneer H-R100 8-track player that I bought in 1972 also. It's never eaten a tape or given me a bit of trouble. I have a Kenwood 7 disc CD player, 6 in the cartridge and a single-play tray also. Now the crown jewel in my setup is my Teac X-2000R RTR with wired-remote that I bought new along with my Bose speakers. Recently fully-serviced and running like new It should be with me the rest of my journey. Although I enjoy talking with other audiophiles, it's not a competition for me. I'm very happy with the gear that I have. Unless I run into any deals that I just can't say no to, I'm done acquiring anymore gear. For me at this point, it's all about just sitting back and enjoying the music!
Fantastic array of gear! 👍🏻👍🏻
You know you're going to run into a deal.
@@Universityofvinyl Thank you!
I picked up a Harman Kardon 430 in September this year. It is great with my Cornwalls, giving them a better weight to the bass than the modern amps I've used. Clean and non fatiguing mids with plenty of detail and seperation. I love the looks too! I have since bought a 730 but it needs serviced because it has a distorted sound its been playing for a while.
Very nice!
In the same vain HK 505 here
Wowzy 🎉
The two lines of vintage that r real value!
I bought one new in Kalamazoo in 1977 when I was sixteen. I also bought the woods side boards that angled it up to about 30 degrees.
I kept the unit as my sole amp up through 1992 when I graduated college and needed cash and "briefly" pawned it and lost it. (I still kick myself over it!)
Around ten years ago I bought a refurbished 730 from an old H/K repair tech. (But it still isn't MINE.) But still I am so glad I own a 730 again. So sweet!
I live in Austin and took the unit in recently and had all the capacitors replaced.
Great story!
@@Universityofvinyl Painful story! 😂🤣🥲
I own multiple H-K 330C and 430 receivers. I first purchased the 430 in 1980. It’s been in my system off and on ever since. My ex and I ventured into the high end electronics which was never satisfying in the long run. We have used the 430 with the vintage Fulton Premieres (which is 7-way speaker system). One of these days I will pick up a 730 just to compare it to the 430.
Thanks for sharing 👍🏻👍🏻
I have quite a few HK’s including some valve gear. My fave is my somewhat rare ThreeThirty Nocturne. It is a non-A model with pre-out/main ins. I can’t say that there’s an HK sound so much as a brand style. I will say that my ThreeThirty handles everything I throw at it and quite well. Speakers and genre.
Great receiver
My first real receiver was an HK. Don't remember the model. I do remember the salesman. His sales pitch was that everyone is stupid. Lol....Everyone was only concerned about wattage. ...He kept pushing the HK " High Current " receiver.
It was 30 watts...that I remember. Hey...it sounded great. I'm going to grab a Twin 730 as soon as I see one within an hours drive. I need to hear it first.
Thanks for the great advice.
I have 2 HK 430's I love them. Running Vandersteen1's with them. Would love to get my hands on a 730.
Nice!
Excellent video. Wish I could find someone in Los Angeles to work on my Harman Kardon 930
Greetings from Denmark 🇩🇰
I also love HK from the 70’s.
Simply stunning clean sound and deep soundstage with punch
I own the A-402, 430, 630, 930 and three 730. Yes. I love them. I also got quite some Sansui, Kenwood, Accuphase and Marantz from this period. These HKs are just so convincing and I don’t think I can part with them.
Damn! Impressive…
Yes…. But Harman kardon also put out a the Model 450. It consists of the A-402 amplifier with 730 phono board. I find it’s sexy in its own right. 1 transformer with dual windings
Made for Montgomery wards
If you guys like this line you will love its predecessors. I have a 930 which my father bought back in early 2000's. It has been sitting in the garage since them and recently i had it go to a service guy and he said it only needed a deep clean. I love it. I dont want to part with it. I use it with a pair of Grundig Monolith 8500. If you guys get the chance, i would say try the 930. You wont regret it. Much love
Also i might add, the 930 is the most powerful out of these all. And currently searching for cherry wood to complete its original look with the wooden case. Also, the 930 according to me looks more clean. Its a real beauty.
I grew up with a HK-1 at my Grandparents house.
I have gotten into this... hobby a year or so ago, and picked up a 330b in good condition last week. I am still in the process of cleaning it and double checking everything, yet to use it. This seems to be kind of a rabbit hole of a hobby.
Good luck!
I know this video is old but it's the only one I have seen that speaks about the Serial Number tracing for a HK 730 Twin. Where did you go or talk to about obtaining this information. Thank you and I look forward to more videos from your site.
Hi Wayne - I think my tech traced it but can’t remember exactly how he did it. Do you have a 730?
Actually, not having a wood case is a plus, it aids in heat dissipation. I've got a 930, purchased it new in 1973. This is kind of a "Son of the 930," twin powered, 45 watts/channel, split pots on the bass and treble controls, and jumpers between the pre-amp and amplifier.
Just got mine this weekend! Now I need speakers! Any suggestions?
Have a 430 &730 both recapped ..tge sound is 🎉😊😅 😂
I have the 730, and once had a 430 that I have since given to my brother in law, and they are spectacular units! They pair well with my vintage Klipsch heritage speakers.
I have a chance to pick up 730. I was wondering how they would sound with my klipsch kg4's. I had the speakers recapped and changed the tweeter diaphragms changed to the bob crites titanium diaphragms. What klipsch speakers are you using and do you think the 730 would match up well with my kg4's?
@@bidenneedshisbuttwiped the 730 will sound really good with any Klipsch. I run mine on older LaScalas and love the combo! Good luck, and report back if you decide to pick it up!
@@AndyG11774 I've only heard the LaScalas once in person, they live up to their reputation and would love to own them some day. I pretty sure I'll pull the trigger on the 730 as I've been curious about the unit for quite awhile. Thanks for the reply!
@@bidenneedshisbuttwiped you’ll enjoy it for sure, and most can be had for a pretty decent price. If you do get it, please report back!
@@AndyG11774 I definitely will.
All those receivers in the late ‘70’s early’80’s were uniquely sexy and beautiful! I had a Maranz 2215 I wish I never would’ve gotten rid of! I also recently got rid of my 4th complete Bang & Olufsen system and those are also sexy but are finicky and don’t play well with other components! Another great video Tim!
Thanks!
Nice! I thought these were made in the good ol U.S.A.
HK A 402 is the same twin
Why leave the very impressive 930 out?
iT IS REALLY HEAVY WITH THOSE HUGE POWER TRANSFORMERS. What do you think it weighs ?
35-40lbs or so
@@Universityofvinyl Thanks, I want to give it to a guy tomorrow for free 'cuz I'm too old to hook it up to anything any more. It needs to go to a new home. and I have trouble lifting it. He should be Senior enough to appreciate it but he doesn't know yet. He is coming to replace my air conditioner. No charge. A good home. Needs lights and contact cleaner. The shear quality of that radio suggests to me the caps don't really need replacing. He has knowledge in electronics. If I pass, some lazy idiot will just toss in the trash.
This receiver has not been powered up in 40 years. My Wife had a Kenwood 7070 R, so we used that. Big Question ?????
It does seem to me that fuses and old bulbs just fall apart inside even during non use. DO CAPACITORS do that even in top shelf equipment in the mid Seventy's???
Well, it makes me think of the Old Playboy mags we just bought for the pictures of fantasy receivers and stuff. What kind of thing do you buy just for the ads?
@@Universityofvinyl '35-40lbs or so' You guess, pain in the arse to yank out the wires to carry it over to your bathroom scale and try explain THAT to the Wife. Hey You! that's mine! Are you crazy? That would plug up my toilet. Are you gonna fix it?
Relax Honey, I'll have it all hooked back up. "Gimme 10 minutes. Get my glasses"
OK....you're funny :-). If it hasn't been powered up in that time period....I'm not sure. He might want to bring it to a local tech/tinker-er to have them give it a once over. Cheers, Tim
Harmon Harmon is awesome. My ex girlfriend has Klipsch speakers that still kick to this day.
I have the opportunity for a 630 for 100. Any opinions?
430 or 730?
Looks like I found a 730 refurbished for 450-500?
@@brianmedeiros6845 offer $475 - great unit!
Thank You
Got a unit for 325.00 + 72.00 shipping. I think Jenny’s in the backyard preparing my plot Lol Thank You