Finally, some love for the H/K! My first vintage receiver, also was a 330c. In 1983, when I was born... My father bought it new in 1977, and it has been in the family ever since. We listened to it as kids, then I had it in my room as a teenager. After that it went to my sister for a few years, and then returned back to me. A couple of years ago, after amassing a collection of different kinds of 70s receivers myself, I set up the 330c for my parents to use. I also restored their original pair of AR-7x speakers, and a Connoisseur BD2 turntable for them too. The 330c put me on the path, into the world of vintage receivers. It's in great shape, and nothing has been done to it ever. I think I'll put it on the bench next, and recap it.
I just picked up an original Sony STR-6055 yesterday. I am not disappointed. I love the deep rich bassy quality. I also inputted my phone via the aux port and can stream anything now. 1971 meet 2023. Love it!
Either use your headphones jack to phono or even better, use the usb c to a little cheap in line DAC and then to your phono connection on the back of the amp. Works a treat. I also use the headphone jack from TV to phono and put the TV through the amp.
I remember the stereo wars with my friends in the early 70s. It was a constant battle for who had the best sounding system and the honor of hosting the next album release party.
I WAS THERE WITH YOU MAN, AND BESIDES MUSCLE CARS, putting together a "HI-FI" system a kid could afford was a HUGE PLEASURE./. Remember the research. my fav Cartridge the SHURE 91MED?? We had the "4 Channel Beauties, The best cars and music, THINGS SO TRUE, as I approach 70 I have an 07 Shelby (Because they did it right, - ) these Harman Kardon Citation 200 speakers I just linked to stereo- OH WHAT HAVE I BEEN MISSING. A few nights ago I found a receipt for an Hitachi Reel ro REAL!! Of \course I wanted a TEAC(K?), as my best bud had the Sony . $89. PS- My older bros picked the Gold plated Empire turntable, and a gorgeous 4 channel Marantz with 4 blue guages- THINGS OF UNCHANGING BEAUTY..
DY-NA-CO!!!!! In my garage is the gold plated "4 channel simulator" HEY GUYS- WHAT $20 item was ther most valuable add o to a 65-73 car?? THE "FM" converter- Phila: WXPN (88.5 UPenn's hip station, 93.3 WMMR- one of the Best in the country and 3) WDAS S O U L / and earliest rap.106.5?
I remember all my dad’s stereo equipment. He always had the best stereo equipment out of all our family and close family friends. He had a Sony STR-6055 which was a pretty awesome receiver! I remember this unit with fondness but the upgrade to this unit was so so much better and the unit he upgraded to I still have and it’s one of my most prized possessions. That receiver was the Pioneer SX-1050!!!
In 1960, at 14 yrs old, I was fascinated enough by the hifi gear in store that my parents got me into the second floor of a hifi store to assemble a HK stereo amp kit which I had enough paper route money to buy. I got a bit of help, but managed to do a pretty fine wiring, soldering job. Time to turn it on…yikes…a 60cycle hum. Sad. The store called later. They had HK send a mod. Missing ground somewhere. It worked! I happily used that amp until I was able to get into Heathkits much later. Even then, it still worked a charm. Life long HK fan. Too bad their stuff was so expensive at the time. You triggered a good memory..thanks. Btw, our local thrift shop occasionally has good stuff. Cheers
While in Vietnam, I bought my system from the PACEX catalogue and had it sent straight home in 1971. Sansui 5000X amp, Pioneer CS-88 speakers, Sony TC-730 reel to reel, Sansui 2050C turntable and Sony TC-127 Cassette recorder. I still have it all. The turntable drive belt turned to liquid over the years and one channel is out on the amp.
I've had a lot of vintage home audio gear over the years, it was my main hobby as an early teen around the millennium. Sold off a lot of it but still held on to my Onkyo TX-2500 MKII, a $20 Salvation Army score over 20 years ago. It has such a nice sound and great little receiver
I always love these videos. It's like a trip down memory lane. And finally some love for the always under rated HK 330c. I bought one back in '77 on clearance. I needed it to upgrade my bedroom setup. I remember grooving out to the local rock station when my Dad came in. Now, keep in mind, my Dad was a real audiophile. Down in the living room he was rocking a Fisher tuner, Macintosh amps with a Mac C11 pre-amp driving a pair of AR speakers, oh, and a Thorens turntable. He listened to my new HK 330c, turned a few knobs, nodded his head and gave it his blessing. Then said; "Your next purchase is a decent set of speakers so you can really enjoy it." So noted. I still have it, out in the garage in a box just waiting for it's time to come again.
I liked this video alot, brought back some memories. I bought the Sony STR 6055 in 1972 when I was stationed in Germany from the Stuttgart PX. Worked so well I brought it back to the states with me and still have it and in perfect shape. I have it in my recording studio now as a comparison vintage sound source for mixes and it is my AM/FM radio when I want to listen to the radio in the studio. Good to see it make the list. Another one that was even more popular in the barracks was the Marantz 2270 with the horizontal tuning dial. There were more of those than anything else.
I lucked out with my Akai 1050. I found it at a thrift store about 8 years ago for $55. It replaced a couple of late 80s/1990s Fisher receivers which fizzed out in less than 20 years. The Akai is from 1975-1977 and it still sounds great.
Indeed, that is a fantastic price. I bought the same Akai 1050 brand new in July of 1978, stereo store in Saginaw, MI. I forget the price but may have been in the 500 dollar range at that time. Used it with my bose 901 speakers I bought at same time. The 1050 went blank in 1996, probably the high heat in Palm Srprings, Ca. I should have kept it to reconditon it later. The 901 went bad about same time. That summer,. 1996 I moved to suburb of Dayton, OH to marry a girl I met the previous year. I did not bring the Akai with me but I took the 901s. Good thing as the fall of 96 I found this store in Dayton called Mendolsens. They had a kit for 20 dollars to do the speaker foam surrounds. Made the 901 sound new again and I still have them, but stored for now.
I agree the seventies were the golden age of audio. Harmon-Kardon was the Rodney Dangerfield of receivers. My H-K 960 was rated at 70 watts per channel but it had plenty of guts to power my epi 400's to ear splitting levels. My friends had Marantz receivers and they looked down on Harmon-Kardon UNTILL they heard it! I really enjoy your channel! John from Canada
In our neck of the woods, the Realistic stuff was the Rodney Dangerfield. Come to find out now, some Realistic stuff was pretty decent, still no respect. :)
Kevin, love your channel… It takes me back! I’m now 62 years old and still love my classic rock. In the late 70’s I had a Phillips 30 watt receiver that was black in color and had the best sound. It was paired with a Phillips turntable and Pro Audio speakers that brought the cops a time or two! Can you do a segment on the history of the Phillips equipment, their quality and are they still around today. I really enjoy listening to your commentary. Thank you and be well..
One I would add to your list is the Zenith MC7051. I picked mine up for $20 thinking I would sell it for a profit, but it’s really an incredible unit. I liked it too much to sell it. It has a good vintage look and came in just under the limit in 1980. It’s 40 watts. One of the big advantages it offers is 2 phono stages, so you can DJ in your living room, if you choose to. Down side is it’s no wood veneer. It’s currently my favorite receiver.
I grew up in the 70's 80's era and love the audio. I just started my collection and I thank you so much in helping me make the right choice for my systems. Excellent videos and information.
The 330C is excellent however, the Made in Japan models of Harman Kardon receivers are, dare I say, even better. Just like you mentioned, I had my vintage Two Thirty serviced locally here in Colorado and the manager personally handed it back to me and said it was one of the best receivers he'd heard. 10W@8ohms 20W@4ohms I'm reluctant to switch given the availability of high sensitivity speakers. I get plenty of volume and accuracy from my B&Ws with 4ohms and 89db. Vintage Harman Kardon's are always overlooked for their simplicity but, there's no denying the reviews out there from owners. Their low wattage "entry level" offerings all punch above their weight and sound like something double their price. Any of the vintage lines ending in "30" or "Thirty" up to their flagship Twin Powered 930 are tough to beat in terms of sound quality V price.
I’ve been running a Marantz 2325 , pushing two sets of Klipsch one setbK- Horns , B-Channel set of Belle’s in back. It will give you goose bumps , alittle past a quarter volume is live bar room band levels ! I’m sure after 40 plus years it could use a refresh but until last year a bulb blew out , otherwise it still is Rocking !
I'm running a Sansui TU-717 with a matching AU-717 amp. Both mint without a single blemish. These are pushing a pair of vintage, sequentially numbered. Klipsch Heresy's. in oak cabinets. This was my Christmas gift in 1978 (I was 16).WTH was Dad thinking; lol. I am still enjoying this system today; with ZERO issues. With 500w x 2 at my fingertips; I can still level a city block. Hahahaha
WOW!! Glad I stuff on this vid!! Brings back a lot of memories, going into the music store and seeing a wall of amps and stuff!! I've got a 75 JVC receiver that rocks!! I actually run it through my guitar amp speakers. 2 Acoustic 105 4 x12 cabs. When you turn it to 3 or 4 it will blow the windows out!! I roll the speakers onto my deck and turn em up and it sounds like a rock concert outside!!!!
Here's the thing; most people don't realise there's more to hi-fi than huge output power. A 15watt per channel amp will go uncomfortably loud in most domestic settings (unless you live in an aircraft hangar). I don't even have particularly efficient speakers (Wharfedale Dovedale 3, Hacker LS1500) but I can make a nuisance of myself if I feel like it! My daily driver reciever is a Rotel RX-203 which if memory serves is even lower at 12 watts RMS per channel but the thing is I'm not usually trying to disturb people in other timezones. The FM stereo is rock-solid, the sound quality is perfectly good enough and it cost me the best price; free! I found it in a dumpster in 2009. Took it home, dragged a damp cloth across it, tried it and it worked. Nothing wrong with it at all. Even the dial lights all work and there are no noisy control pots.
@@skylabsaudio Anyone who wants bragging rights should build a Mullard 3+3 class-A and couple it up to a pair of corner horns! 3 watts was never so unnervingly, uncannily loud! It has the additional advantage of having glowing tubes to show off if that sort of thing matters (not really in my case...)
Couldn't agree more! One of the best receivers of all time was the Teleton SAQ 206 which performed spectacularly well in listening tests - especially its bass output - but was completely ignored by the buying public as it had an output of 'only' 6 watts (RMS) per channel.
@@NTSCuser Looking back at old mags it seems Teleton weren't taken particularly seriously because they were seen as a budget brand. While there is some truth to it, many of their products punched well above their weight. They weren't the fanciest looking items and there generally wasn't anything superfluous about tham but electronically and in terms of performance they appeared to do well in tests and reviews. Many of the smaller British brands of the 60's and 70's seemed to suffer this fate. Even the likes of Alba made some pretty decent stuff in the 70's but no one wanted to know. I bought an Alba 1500 stero reciever for a tenner when it was only about 10 years old (so early 80's) and it was superb. Stupidly I subsequently sold it on for a tenner a couple of years later and have often regretted it since. It put out 10 or maybe 15 watts per channel and it sounded absolutely great and was a superb match for the Wharfedale Dentons I paired it with. All this waffle will sound pretty low-brow and low-rent to many audiophools but I always judge by results and don't unduly sweat the details.
I owned a Harmon Kardon 330c stereo a decade ago, gave it to family as I had several stereos at the time, back when all vintage stereo equipment was practically being given away. I can vouch for its durability and excellent sound, very powerful, rich and warm sound. The phono stage is also very nice. Compared to a Marantz 2235b stereo that I also owned (my main stereo for over a decade), I'd say its sound is a little darker and less open, but that's understandable considering where these machines stood in the marketplace. I would be more than happy to have one of these once again, and highly recommend that anyone purchase one if they are so lucky. Thank you very much for this video, much appreciated.
I got a Marantz 1080 & a Marantz 2220B in the early 2000s for under $300 for the pair combined. Even then people were chasing the '70s audio tech. I spent more getting pots and caps changed than on actually buying the units! They sound incredible though. Good to see your list of recommendations.
I still have my first receiver, a pioneer SX 454. Like you, I also powered huge Cerwin Vegas back in the day with no problem. The speakers are long gone but the receiver still works like it did the day I bought it.
Your videos are fascinating I grew up in the seventies and people took their music listening seriously back then, everything now usually doesn't even meet the advertised power levels and not meant too last. I recently sold a rack mount stereo from Nikko rated at 100w per side minimum for a song that will probably still be working another twenty years later
Picked up a TX-4500 MKII to drive my Bose 301 Series II and it sounds AMAZING. Plenty of power and SO easy to listen too. Fills my 12X12 room perfectly. Thanks for the suggestions:)
Still have my Sanyo JCX2300K, 26 watts/channel. I love this receiver. I've replaced it twice and still gone back to using it. I think I bought this in 1980 ...
I have a Vector Research VR 2500 that was purchased in the mid 80's that is built like a tank. I run ADS speakers a company I worked at in the mid 80's. Cool list and great channel !
I am not surprised in the slightest that Harmon Kardon was first. My first piece of vintage gear was a HK 230B, it is awesome, my current receiver that I listen to everyday is a HK 730. You simply can not beat the sound for even triple the value.
'Had a Sony STR-6050 from 1970 - 1982. 25W/channel, I believe. Bullet-proof receiver, great quality sound. w/ Infinity speakers & Technics direct-drive table. 'Loved that vintage stuff! Now have a Sony STR DE197, 50W/channel, large, vintage Infinity 2-way spkrs. No table, but a Sony single CD player/cassette player. Works for me.
Solid State. Never been better. Been collecting and selling these for 30 years. I've had 60 year old recievers that only needed their pods "De-Oxidized" and they're good as new. Still haven't found anything for the $20 cap I put on buying these better than Yamaha's Natural Sound stereo. Just picked up a Harmon-Kardon AVR 325 for $5 though and am looking forward to checking it out and refurbishing it if needed Favorites are older Yamahas, Onkyos, Harman-Kardons, and top end Akais but those are hard to find within my budget. They're out there though. Old Radio Shack(Optimus)is decent too. Just avoid anything that says "Made in China" and you'll be fine. The Japanese worker is the best in the world and it shows on "Made in Japan" products.
I have a Yamaha CR-400 that I picked up at a yard sale for $15. I thought it had a dead channel, but all I had to do was clean the POTs and the selector switches with DeOxit and now it is driving my Klipsch KG4's (another yard sale pick-up, but I won't infuriate people with the price) like a champ! Don't forget to tell people to clean their POTs!
I had a low powered Akai AA-6300 I picked up for $10 that I bought to flip. Cleaned it up installed new lamps and it sounded so good I ended up using it in my bedroom system for a couple years. One strange thing it has a pair of 1/4 Jack type speaker outputs which ended up being really convenient. Great little amp !
In my personal experience, your top two on the list are spot on. Look for the HK 330c but if all you can find is that Sony 6055, do not hesitate to pick up the Sony. One bit of warning should come with the Harman Kardon, though: getting the 330c will probably set you on a journey to move your way up the family tree of that unit. I couldn't stop and now I'm enjoying the HK 710 and I see no reason to keep trying new receivers/amps. The 710 is rated at only 45 wpc, but HK was known (back in those days anyway) for seriously undervaluing the wattage that their units put out. Even the 330c is undervalued in that respect.
@@manzanaresantonio I know how I messed up the model number now. I am researching the Kyocera A-710 integrated amp. I've got a line on one for a decent price and it's all I can think of right now.
I was lucky enough to acquire 2 of the 330c's over the years. When I bought my first one, I literally had zero knowledge about their cult-like fan base. I stopped by a local church rummage sale, no more than 3 blocks from home (in the hood). I grabbed the unit and asked the sweet little old lady, "How much for the radio?" She replied, "Well, it's your lucky day...everything is half-off today, so it's one-twenty-five." I asked, "What was the original price?" She said, "Why....two dollars and fifty cents, of course!" Yeah, I know, I almost felt I stole from the church. A few years later, I got my second one off of eBay or some other auction site. I think I paid about $25 + shipping. The problem is, I'm no audio repair guy, and both units need some work. I tried cleaning the volume and other controls with deoxit and it did nothing to get rid of the terrible scratchy sounds. With one of the units, I was able to just find a certain position for the balance and volume controls and leave it there, but eventually, the static returned and got so bad it was sending a very distorted signal to my speakers, so I just put them in my closet until I can have them serviced at a reputable place. For now, I'm just using some older Onkyo units, which put out great sound, but even with all their features, I truly miss that exceptionally warm sound from the HK's. I can honestly say, the 330C's were the closest thing I'd ever heard to tubes in a solid state design.
Thanks for posting this. I've held onto my HK 330A for decades, it was just such a good receiver. Guess it's time to give it some love and fix the switch contacts.
The Technics/Panasonic 5500 (branded with either name, same receiver) is a great little unit looking a lot like Sony in many ways. They are 20WPC. I have one, and it's a keeper.
Since a year or so I owna Yamaha CR820. I Absolutely love it! The sound is good. And it has got the same "reserved" design as the CR400 which makes it timeless imho.
My brother had a Fisher 400 that he got from older relatives, when we were in our "tweens." Beautiful, absolutely amazing. He had a number of different speakers around his room, can't remember what they were but, yeah.... I guess this doesn't really fall into the categories of the receivers you're reviewing, though(?)
Bummer that my Sansui 331 didn't make your list. Cap coupled 12 watts sounds utterly amazing. Glass dial display lights up better than any plastic. Yeah it has a fiber board rear cover, but all the connections are mounted in metal, and no screws for the speakers.
My dad put a custom speaker cabinet with a Fischer tube stereo in the middle cabinet. It was a build yourself kit. It preceded -1970, probably 1968-69.
I've rebuilt a couple of HH Scotts in this power class (330R & 335R) with bad power transistors, among other issues like drivers and caps, and they both sound excellent with plenty of headroom and bass response. I used 100w Onsemi NPN/PNP BPT's for the outputs and they're fairly bulletproof now. Transformers are adequate for their wattage rating, but not as overspec'ed as Pioneer receivers. Typically I'll get an additional 3-5w before clipping over Scotts power rating in these particular units. The 350R/355R receivers are even better, of course, once recapped. They can be found at a reasonable price but most likely will require some caps and/or TLC. I use a Scott 370R for my personal unit, but swap it out for a Pioneer SX-780 from time to time. Both fairly equal in presentation but the Scott has another 10w to play with. Great channel and thanks for sharing!
I love it. After all these years people are going crazy for my Pioneer SX770 bought in the Navy PX in Hong Kong in the height of the Vietnam war during 1970 ?? who would have though of such !! I also bought a Teac 7010
A really good video. I love these old receivers; until recently I was able to rescue some really lovely ones from our local recycling site, but the new manager there has become very hard-nosed about folk taking stuff away :) Currently running my late father's Realistic STA-77 (1976 vintage, I believe). Built, as you say, 'like a tank' - and it sounds great, although I'm sure it would be even better with a re-cap. The ergonomics are fantastic, and I love that the stereo/mono light is built into the tuning indicator itself - a lovely design touch, that. The relatively limited wattage has never affected my listening in the slightest. Please keep making your videos for TH-cam.
I would love to find one of these receivers to put in my living room, and a nice looking cabinet with some big speakers. I love that they have adapters; so you can plug your phone into them, even Bluetooth adapters and listen to all your downloaded music. I have our 1994 Kenwood receiver in our little home gym, it sounds very good, but I would love to have one of these really old ones.
The first system I pieced together, as a novice audiophile, included a Harmon Kardon HK330i. I loved that receiver and I'm thoroughly sold on H-K components in general.
That was the first receiver I ever got, and loved it. It still works and I gave it to my 14 year old niece who she plays it all the time and in fact just got a turntable because she wants to listen to vinyl.
It is amazing how different receivers sound. Some of the older Fishers deliver such incredible depth with only 16 wpc. I am really surprised one was not on the list.
@@skylabsaudio, I have a small vintage audio store/booth in the junk mall (Pueblo Trading Post) located in Pueblo Colorado. For the love of music and the sake of addiction, I keep the locals and myself supplied with various finds and trades. I try to move audio stuff as quickly as possible. I have to sale things at an incredible deal to stay open. I supplement the audio business with Rock and Roll memorabilia and of all things military survival gear, vintage camping coffee pots are in fashion these days. I have records, CDs and cassette tapes. I *had* an old school guy from Illinois, by way of California, who was doing repairs. He was a great guy, 76 years old, and a great teacher until he blew a fuse. After being open for a year and 8 months, I am learning a few things about my market place. I know not to dangle the carrots to high. I am close to 63 year old and your videos are down to earth and real. I sell my honesty everytime I sell a unit. If it stops working in the next three months, bring it back, 💯refund‼️ I am not getting rich.😎
@@skylabsaudio Fisher 250, 390, 450, and 500TX has good bass response, as well as the later 1035, 1052, and 1056 which all have very clean deep bass response as well.
Hello everyone, I am surprised by #1 since these days I bought an HK 330c and I bought it just by instinct and I didn't know what I was buying, when I got home and connected it to my SB-A34 speakers... I CRUSHED ITS LITERAL POWER . Now I know that it is the best there is. I am happy with my HK 330C. GREETINGS FROM MEXICO.
I grew up during the golden age of hi-fi. At one time I owned one of those giant Sansui receivers, maybe a 9000 series and then I remember owning a Sansui integrated amp, maybe the 717. Too far back to remember. I then became a huge Bob Carver fan and purchased one of his M500t power amps which I still have to this day, some 30+ years later. I had been using it until I recently decided to replace it with the Jeff Rowland 125 power amp. The Rowland was a pretty penny but at my age I wanted to own a piece of equipment of that caliber. I still have my Carver and will keep it but no regrets getting the JR. The only other piece I own that can be considered vintage is an SAE 180 Parametric EQ. I love watching your channel because I remember a lot of the vintage stuff. Keep up the great work !
The 330C is a gem. Note that the 330B is a different animal. The B variant is cap coupled and sounds a little warmer and less accurate (I love my B as much as my C, just different).
A lot that fly under the radar are the Realistic receivers from this era from Radio Schack. I’ve owned a lot of different models and been happy with them. Favorites have been STA-120, STA-78 and STA-2000D. The last will sometimes fall outside the price limit, but sometimes you can find it that cheap.
had a buddy who owned a 70's Realistic STA-90 that was possessed with supernatural fidelity unlike i ever heard. It was "only" 40 or 45 watts per channel that rivaled higher powered amps in volume and ultra-low distortion. His wasn't just an anomaly, as other customers (i was a Radio Shack employee in 1979) who owned one raved about them. I've kept my eye out for one since then, but i've never saw one for sale.
My 1st stereo was a 330c. I bought it in 1976. Loved it! I traded it in on a more powerful Technics receiver 10 years later and have regretted it ever since.
Hello Kevin I liked your video. I agree with your comment on the HK 330c. I had Marantz 2238b and Marantz 2252b Technics SA 505, Nad amp 3140 Nikko SA 6065 They were great sounding units. One day a friend was going to throw away a HK 330c. I asked if I could have it. I had a HK 2500 deck which I was impressed with. So I figure I asked about the HK 330c that he was going to throw away, which he gave me. I brought it home set it up and turned it on. Wow!!! it sounded incredible. I couldn't believe this receiver was on 15 watts. It sounded better than the Marantz 2238b and the 2252b but not as loud. more musical than the Marantz. Like you said it is a "giant killer" indeed!! Even my wife noticed the difference. It died after a few years. Wished I repaired it. I moved on to Yamaha. However If I found another HK 330c I would buy it. But the price is more than I would dish out, If I do find one, I would put away the Yamaha. I would take the HK 330c over any receiver even if it had 3 10X the power and bells and whitles. It just sounds good. As one audio technician, told me the HK 330c was magic. Indeed I agree! The 330c is a GEM...Thanks for your videos Keep up the good work and expertise.
A video like this about vintage integrated or power amps would be pretty cool. My personal pick for integrateds would be my little denon pma-757 that I got for $150. Sounds excellent in my desktop setup.
Also for power amps I love my crown ps-400, but finding one of those below 300 would be tough. The smaller ps-200 would be great for the price though, and the hafler dh-200 is probably one of the best sounding amps of any category that you could get used for below 300
I have my dads Pioneer SX 626. It has been great since 1971. I did have recapped Last Nov. My receiver the Realistic STA 2700 has been great. I bought as a clearance for $250.00, which was 1/2 off. I love this unit a lot. Does it have a beautiful screen? No. However, the sound is outstanding. So, a few years ago found another online for a few dollars. Use it for my third system.
Still have my Kenwood KR2400 since 1976. Its still a daily player running some bookshelf Scott speakers. Very pleasing sound. I have 3 Marantz receivers I got for less than $300 but those days are gone.
I’ve owned a Harmon Kardon 330 b since I bought it new in 1975. Still works like new. Only work done was cleaning switches and replace 2 light bulbs. Not bad for 47 years of service. A real wood case was available as an option and slides over the bare metal case. I bought a NOS one on eBay ten years ago, so my receiver looks almost new.
Kevin, Thank you for your enthusiastic confidence in the HK 330C. Primarily a Sansui man but thought I would give HK a shot. Purchased 5 minutes ago for $302 and looking forward to hearing it. Will post later after receiving in 2 weeks
The original Advent 15 w/ch receiver should be on this list. Nicely detailed, it also sounds smooth and rich like a tube amp and often sells under $300. Plus you can separate the amp and preamp. The phono section was designed by APT Holman of THX fame. People used to buy the Advent receiver for just it's preamp section and use it with powered speakers like the Acoustat X, it was that good.
Ive owned a ton of this stuff. The most under valued piece I've owned ,and still have, is the JVC JR S300. Great sound, great tuner, over 50wpc, 5 band equalizer. A tank.
@@timhennigar1468 JVC/Kenwood were underrated. I love my Kenwood speakers. The hifi communities hate them but I hate the hifi community so it doesn't matter.
I picked up a dusty old harman/kardon 730 that was ready to get thrown out. Spent a few hours cleaning it up, now looks like new, and the performance blows me away. Beyond impressive. I can't see myself ever getting rid of it. Paired with a set of Zu Omen MKII's FTW.
My favourite is the Realistic STA2290, I've just picked one up for £200 in mint condition, I had this receiver originally when I was 16. I just love looking at it.
My dad bought a Fisher Futura 201 receiver new in 1971, I was 14 years old it sounds great at only 20 watts RMS, still have it although I had it recapped, I love the sound.
several other very good receivers from this period that can be gotten cheap is the Sherwood S-7450 and the JCPenny MCS 3222. Both were solid low power receivers you can often find for well under $300 today.
Good list. I have a Harmon Kardon 330B that still works fine. I opened it up and sprayed all the pots and jacks and switches with DeOxIt. It sounds great. Built like a tank...
Love that whole era of H/k. The fact that they made a twin powered receiver at that wattage class (IE your 430) says a lot about H/K, in my opinion. Total sleepers.
@@skylabsaudio That would be rad Thank you. Just an estimated ball park would be awsome. I always here that they have more watts then what they ar rated
I am 72 years old. I have a Panasonic SA 8100X, I purchased in 1975. STILL USE IT EVERYDAY. Quadrophonic, I believe 40w/c. Has had one repair in the last 42 years, the diodes that illuminate some of the instrument gauges burned out and had to be replaced. All gauges still work. I love this unit and would not part with it until I get am forced to make the move to the other side. Runs my phono, tape deck, etc.
THX MUCH- My older brother bought the upscale 4 channel intergrative Marantz Amp- GORGEOUS- A PIECE OF ART- aluminum ? face with deep blue guages. He gave it to me 20 years ago, and WISELY asked fot it back. His Turntable was the Gold EMPIRE. WHO CARES IF THEY WORK!! Like our muscl;e cars, our music and our dogs running the neighborhood any memory it evokes is priceless. In 2007 Carroll Shelby took the 2007 Mustang GT, had it sent to his Las Vegas factory and tweaked and lowered it, copied successfully the Grill, no nasty spoiler/ A RINGER FOR THE 67 Fastback- the early Mustang look. The more powerful Shelby 500 at $55k DID NOT HAVE THE RETRO LOOK and was done in Detroit. I looked into the interior of that "07 Shelby GT, and saw a short throw . SOLID STAINLESS shifter with H-U-R-S-T vertically imprinted, and the original "wimbledon white" CUE BALL. When I saw that I said "TAKLE ONE FOR LIFE, Lord Willing"!! $40k including $1k "gas guzzlin tax"Many may mock me- but it is the sexiest car I have ever HEARD, and sits in my Garage with 25k miles. I just listened to the group "LOVE" Forever Changes" c. 1967!! AMAZING!! PERHAPS MARANTZ ETC, SHOULD OFFER A BREAK FROM ALL OF THESE GLOSS BLACK UNITS AND DO A RETRO series, that LOOKS THE SAME, but has better s/n RATIO etc than the 1974. I notice that many TurnTables back in the day were "just Classic Lines" and many today are consistent. .
Question ........ i have a MARANTZ 2245 that I bot NEW in 1976 & has never been serviced......... It still works & sounds GREAT & the ilumination is still VERY GOOD. Is the fact that I have rarely used this in the last 30 years the reason ? I would say it's been used less than 200 hrs & it's still in PRESTINE CONDITION!
Just got in to vintage receivers again after some years with digital amplifiers. A Marantz 2226 blackface got the interest back. Just this week I found a Nikko 5055, needed pilot lamps and new dial cord and it was up and running after a adjustment. Today a found a Pioneer LX not SLX 880, was made between 1969-1972, 28w, gave it a wash and adjustment needs new bulbs for tuning pointer, power and stereo indicator. Otherwise in fully working order.
I agree when you say some units look better with the colored LEDs and some don't. That was a pic of our pioneer with the blue lights. We notice that the new age customer prefers the flashy colored LEDs. The high end units we keep pure
I was sweating bullets as you went thru the list but that ended when you declared the HK 330C your top choice. Currently I'm doing a full rebuild and restoration of a 330C and I can't wait until it's finished! It sounded good before but it should sound great when it's done! Subbed.
@@skylabsaudio Bought my first HK 330A in December 1971 and still have it and the original box but it needs some attention now to. A little 230A is my current daily driver while another 330A, a Nocturne Eight Twenty, and a Rotel RX-400A wait their turns to come on the bench for some servicing. A HK 630 I just bought is in the mail somewhere between here and the UK so I expect I'll have to give it some love to before declaring it a reliable runner. All I need now is one of the HK 330B variants to help round out my HK collection. I'm no trained tech but since retiring a few years ago my interest in these older units has taken off and now I'm starting to understand more how they work and how to troubleshoot them. There are some really good videos here on YT and posts on the Audiokarma site which have helped immensely with my education. Anyway, keep the good vids coming and cheers from Western Canada!
My advice is to be patient and shop local (if you live in a mid/large city) and always keep some emergency "I will only spend this on great gear" cash because regardless of listed price I have found offering a crisp $100 bill will likely get you a yes response. The HK 330 was my first too, it was a lucky garage sale find for very little cash and the musicality for such a simple design will make most people very happy. Since I have added a HK 730 Twin for $75, Sansui AU-517 for $100 and a Luxman R-117 for $100. The Lux is 80's the rest are 70's and knock on wood all are working perfectly aside from a simple cleaning and a few bulbs replaced I have been very lucky.
Kevin, I'm new to your channel and I just want to THANK YOU for your honest and thorough reviews and comments on vintage audio equipment. It's not often on TH-cam can you find transparency and good info on vintage stereo equipment. I own Marantz, Sony, Sanusi, Rotel and Pioneer....and enjoy them all. So keep the good info coming and, above all, have a Happy Holiday! Thanks!
Some things to note about the Onkyo TX-6500 Mk2.... The features on it are not usually seen on receivers in this range: Triple tone controls, High/Low/SUBSONIC filters, even hookups for three pairs of speakers (Onkyo must have had a fascination with the number 3!). Not even the lower-end Marantz units have all these goodies. Ironically, the first one I saw on eBay today is listed for...... $1,100.00. I guess the secret isn't so secret anymore.
Great video ,my "x"wife brought the Harmon Kardon 330c into the marriage then we bought the Bang and olfsen beogram 1000 turn table KLH series 6 .I loved playing my music for the neighbors from my front porch.
I have a ‘71 or ‘72 Marantz Model 19, bought in ‘72. Was a great receiver. Altec, Santana speakers. Lightning struck our tv antenna in ‘83, blew out something inside. My brother gave me a Pioneer receiver, so I never took the 19 for repairs. Best I ever owned, for sure. Dual 1229, through it and those speakers, just sparkled. Sure miss it.
Great information and good that you can get folks into some amazing vintage receivers from the best period in my mind, I feel you overlooked the powerhouse of the era. Pioneer (and Mraantz but cant touch them for under 300). The Pioneer SX-650 is a killer receiver; generally selling on ebay WORKING for about $250. I have recently restored 3 of these (my wife keeps taking them for differnt areas, no lie). Beautiful sound and soundstage. Most of my restorations is re-veneer but if people dont mind an ding or two, theh electronics are amazing.
the sx-300 when one finds one for sale are a less than $300 receiver when they appear and with pioneer the receivers i tested are all good sounding no matter the ouput power
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The golden era, YOU BETCHA! The absolute BEST for stereos and speakers.
We had a Marantz in the 80's my dad bought in the 70's, we used up till late 90's. It sounded awesome and was built to last.
Loving my Sansui 9090 for almost 50 years! Magnificent piece of equipment
I still have mine from the 70's!
Finally, some love for the H/K! My first vintage receiver, also was a 330c. In 1983, when I was born... My father bought it new in 1977, and it has been in the family ever since. We listened to it as kids, then I had it in my room as a teenager. After that it went to my sister for a few years, and then returned back to me.
A couple of years ago, after amassing a collection of different kinds of 70s receivers myself, I set up the 330c for my parents to use. I also restored their original pair of AR-7x speakers, and a Connoisseur BD2 turntable for them too. The 330c put me on the path, into the world of vintage receivers. It's in great shape, and nothing has been done to it ever. I think I'll put it on the bench next, and recap it.
My 16th birthday present, too ...1978
I just picked up an original Sony STR-6055 yesterday. I am not disappointed. I love the deep rich bassy quality. I also inputted my phone via the aux port and can stream anything now. 1971 meet 2023. Love it!
How can I find out how to do the phone thing??? That's so badass! Thanks in advance.
Either use your headphones jack to phono or even better, use the usb c to a little cheap in line DAC and then to your phono connection on the back of the amp.
Works a treat.
I also use the headphone jack from TV to phono and put the TV through the amp.
@SoulDaddy33: When I say 'phono plug' i mean the inputs for tape , aux etc not record player.
I remember the stereo wars with my friends in the early 70s. It was a constant battle for who had the best sounding system and the honor of hosting the next album release party.
ten yrs ago resale shops often sold vintage working receivers for a buck a watt,now its like a dime to 20 cents
I WAS THERE WITH YOU MAN, AND BESIDES MUSCLE CARS, putting together a "HI-FI" system a kid could afford was a HUGE PLEASURE./. Remember the research. my fav Cartridge the SHURE 91MED?? We had the "4 Channel Beauties, The best cars and music, THINGS SO TRUE, as I approach 70 I have an 07 Shelby (Because they did it right, - ) these Harman Kardon Citation 200 speakers I just linked to stereo- OH WHAT HAVE I BEEN MISSING. A few nights ago I found a receipt for an Hitachi Reel ro REAL!! Of \course I wanted a TEAC(K?), as my best bud had the Sony . $89. PS- My older bros picked the Gold plated Empire turntable, and a gorgeous 4 channel Marantz with 4 blue guages- THINGS OF UNCHANGING BEAUTY..
You are a classic!! The best time to live. I did it too!!!0
DY-NA-CO!!!!! In my garage is the gold plated "4 channel simulator" HEY GUYS- WHAT $20 item was ther most valuable add o to a 65-73 car?? THE "FM" converter- Phila: WXPN (88.5 UPenn's hip station, 93.3 WMMR- one of the Best in the country and 3) WDAS S O U L / and earliest rap.106.5?
@@kennethbrettel8762 Takes one to know one! b-r-o
I remember all my dad’s stereo equipment. He always had the best stereo equipment out of all our family and close family friends. He had a Sony STR-6055 which was a pretty awesome receiver! I remember this unit with fondness but the upgrade to this unit was so so much better and the unit he upgraded to I still have and it’s one of my most prized possessions. That receiver was the Pioneer SX-1050!!!
In 1960, at 14 yrs old, I was fascinated enough by the hifi gear in store that my parents got me into the second floor of a hifi store to assemble a HK stereo amp kit which I had enough paper route money to buy.
I got a bit of help, but managed to do a pretty fine wiring, soldering job. Time to turn it on…yikes…a 60cycle hum. Sad. The store called later. They had HK send a mod. Missing ground somewhere.
It worked! I happily used that amp until I was able to get into Heathkits much later. Even then, it still worked a charm. Life long HK fan. Too bad their stuff was so expensive at the time.
You triggered a good memory..thanks. Btw, our local thrift shop occasionally has good stuff.
Cheers
While in Vietnam, I bought my system from the PACEX catalogue and had it sent straight home in 1971. Sansui 5000X amp, Pioneer CS-88 speakers, Sony TC-730 reel to reel, Sansui 2050C turntable and Sony TC-127 Cassette recorder. I still have it all. The turntable drive belt turned to liquid over the years and one channel is out on the amp.
SALUTE!!!!
I've had a lot of vintage home audio gear over the years, it was my main hobby as an early teen around the millennium. Sold off a lot of it but still held on to my Onkyo TX-2500 MKII, a $20 Salvation Army score over 20 years ago. It has such a nice sound and great little receiver
I always love these videos. It's like a trip down memory lane. And finally some love for the always under rated HK 330c. I bought one back in '77 on clearance. I needed it to upgrade my bedroom setup. I remember grooving out to the local rock station when my Dad came in. Now, keep in mind, my Dad was a real audiophile. Down in the living room he was rocking a Fisher tuner, Macintosh amps with a Mac C11 pre-amp driving a pair of AR speakers, oh, and a Thorens turntable. He listened to my new HK 330c, turned a few knobs, nodded his head and gave it his blessing. Then said; "Your next purchase is a decent set of speakers so you can really enjoy it." So noted. I still have it, out in the garage in a box just waiting for it's time to come again.
I liked this video alot, brought back some memories. I bought the Sony STR 6055 in 1972 when I was stationed in Germany from the Stuttgart PX. Worked so well I brought it back to the states with me and still have it and in perfect shape. I have it in my recording studio now as a comparison vintage sound source for mixes and it is my AM/FM radio when I want to listen to the radio in the studio. Good to see it make the list. Another one that was even more popular in the barracks was the Marantz 2270 with the horizontal tuning dial. There were more of those than anything else.
I lucked out with my Akai 1050. I found it at a thrift store about 8 years ago for $55. It replaced a couple of late 80s/1990s Fisher receivers which fizzed out in less than 20 years. The Akai is from 1975-1977 and it still sounds great.
Indeed, that is a fantastic price. I bought the same Akai 1050 brand new in July of 1978, stereo store in Saginaw, MI. I forget the price but may have been in the 500 dollar range at that time. Used it with my bose 901 speakers I bought at same time. The 1050 went blank in 1996, probably the high heat in Palm Srprings, Ca. I should have kept it to reconditon it later. The 901 went bad about same time. That summer,. 1996 I moved to suburb of Dayton, OH to marry a girl I met the previous year. I did not bring the Akai with me but I took the 901s. Good thing as the fall of 96 I found this store in Dayton called Mendolsens. They had a kit for 20 dollars to do the speaker foam surrounds. Made the 901 sound new again and I still have them, but stored for now.
What a great, cool video to put together. Awesome to see “real” items remembered.
I agree the seventies were the golden age of audio.
Harmon-Kardon was the Rodney Dangerfield of receivers. My H-K 960 was rated at 70 watts per channel but it had plenty of guts to power my epi 400's to ear splitting levels.
My friends had Marantz receivers and they looked down on Harmon-Kardon UNTILL they heard it!
I really enjoy your channel!
John from Canada
Correction - The Harmon-Kardon 960 was rated at 60 watts per channel.
In our neck of the woods, the Realistic stuff was the Rodney Dangerfield. Come to find out now, some Realistic stuff was pretty decent, still no respect. :)
I think Harman Kardon outdoes Marantz in sound quality any day of the week. My 730 twin power and my HK3490 say so.
That Onkyo, to me, is by far the best looking of the 5 you listed. I had an Onkyo TX-26(black) for over 30 years - it was awesome for what it was.
Kevin, love your channel… It takes me back! I’m now 62 years old and still love my classic rock.
In the late 70’s I had a Phillips 30 watt receiver that was black in color and had the best sound. It was paired with a Phillips turntable and Pro Audio speakers that brought the cops a time or two! Can you do a segment on the history of the Phillips equipment, their quality and are they still around today. I really enjoy listening to your commentary. Thank you and be well..
One I would add to your list is the Zenith MC7051. I picked mine up for $20 thinking I would sell it for a profit, but it’s really an incredible unit. I liked it too much to sell it. It has a good vintage look and came in just under the limit in 1980. It’s 40 watts. One of the big advantages it offers is 2 phono stages, so you can DJ in your living room, if you choose to. Down side is it’s no wood veneer. It’s currently my favorite receiver.
I grew up in the 70's 80's era and love the audio. I just started my collection and I thank you so much in helping me make the right choice for my systems. Excellent videos and information.
Thanks for watching
The 330C is excellent however, the Made in Japan models of Harman Kardon receivers are, dare I say, even better. Just like you mentioned, I had my vintage Two Thirty serviced locally here in Colorado and the manager personally handed it back to me and said it was one of the best receivers he'd heard. 10W@8ohms 20W@4ohms I'm reluctant to switch given the availability of high sensitivity speakers. I get plenty of volume and accuracy from my B&Ws with 4ohms and 89db. Vintage Harman Kardon's are always overlooked for their simplicity but, there's no denying the reviews out there from owners. Their low wattage "entry level" offerings all punch above their weight and sound like something double their price. Any of the vintage lines ending in "30" or "Thirty" up to their flagship Twin Powered 930 are tough to beat in terms of sound quality V price.
I have a Kenwood KR-7200 I bought in 1973. Classic looks and it still plays perfectly and looks great in my den.
I’ve been running a Marantz 2325 , pushing two sets of Klipsch one setbK- Horns , B-Channel set of Belle’s in back. It will give you goose bumps , alittle past a quarter volume is live bar room band levels ! I’m sure after 40 plus years it could use a refresh but until last year a bulb blew out , otherwise it still is Rocking !
Just had mine cleaned and replaced the lamp. Well worth it, still sounds great
I'm running a Sansui TU-717 with a matching AU-717 amp. Both mint without a single blemish. These are pushing a pair of vintage, sequentially numbered. Klipsch Heresy's. in oak cabinets. This was my Christmas gift in 1978 (I was 16).WTH was Dad thinking; lol. I am still enjoying this system today; with ZERO issues. With 500w x 2 at my fingertips; I can still level a city block. Hahahaha
I still have my Pioneer SX-626 that I bought in 1974. It still sounds great 👍.
I've got an SX - 727 Lovely thing. I like the dual function, split control Knobs too !
It's a hefty bit of kit.😁
WOW!! Glad I stuff on this vid!! Brings back a lot of memories, going into the music store and seeing a wall of amps and stuff!! I've got a 75 JVC receiver that rocks!! I actually run it through my guitar amp speakers. 2 Acoustic 105 4 x12 cabs. When you turn it to 3 or 4 it will blow the windows out!! I roll the speakers onto my deck and turn em up and it sounds like a rock concert outside!!!!
Supposed to be stumbled on!! Sorry.
Marantz...I still have my receiver bought new in the 70s. No need to turn volume more than 1/3 unless you want the neighbors to enjoy the music.
What model?
@@robertbrown2395 Marantz 2235B
I have a 2225. Fantastic !
@@robertbrown2395 Marantz 2235B
I bought a checked over Leak 3200 tuner amp for £20 about 5 years ago before the rush.
I've Had A Leak 3400 Amp Into Wharfedale xp2 speakers Since The Mid 70s , still sounds Good ..
Here's the thing; most people don't realise there's more to hi-fi than huge output power. A 15watt per channel amp will go uncomfortably loud in most domestic settings (unless you live in an aircraft hangar).
I don't even have particularly efficient speakers (Wharfedale Dovedale 3, Hacker LS1500) but I can make a nuisance of myself if I feel like it! My daily driver reciever is a Rotel RX-203 which if memory serves is even lower at 12 watts RMS per channel but the thing is I'm not usually trying to disturb people in other timezones.
The FM stereo is rock-solid, the sound quality is perfectly good enough and it cost me the best price; free! I found it in a dumpster in 2009. Took it home, dragged a damp cloth across it, tried it and it worked. Nothing wrong with it at all. Even the dial lights all work and there are no noisy control pots.
Agree 100%
I think a lot of it is "bragging rights" and keeping up with the Joneses.
@@skylabsaudio Anyone who wants bragging rights should build a Mullard 3+3 class-A and couple it up to a pair of corner horns! 3 watts was never so unnervingly, uncannily loud! It has the additional advantage of having glowing tubes to show off if that sort of thing matters (not really in my case...)
Couldn't agree more! One of the best receivers of all time was the Teleton SAQ 206 which performed spectacularly well in listening tests - especially its bass output - but was completely ignored by the buying public as it had an output of 'only' 6 watts (RMS) per channel.
@@NTSCuser Looking back at old mags it seems Teleton weren't taken particularly seriously because they were seen as a budget brand. While there is some truth to it, many of their products punched well above their weight. They weren't the fanciest looking items and there generally wasn't anything superfluous about tham but electronically and in terms of performance they appeared to do well in tests and reviews.
Many of the smaller British brands of the 60's and 70's seemed to suffer this fate. Even the likes of Alba made some pretty decent stuff in the 70's but no one wanted to know. I bought an Alba 1500 stero reciever for a tenner when it was only about 10 years old (so early 80's) and it was superb. Stupidly I subsequently sold it on for a tenner a couple of years later and have often regretted it since. It put out 10 or maybe 15 watts per channel and it sounded absolutely great and was a superb match for the Wharfedale Dentons I paired it with.
All this waffle will sound pretty low-brow and low-rent to many audiophools but I always judge by results and don't unduly sweat the details.
I owned a Harmon Kardon 330c stereo a decade ago, gave it to family as I had several stereos at the time, back when all vintage stereo equipment was practically being given away. I can vouch for its durability and excellent sound, very powerful, rich and warm sound. The phono stage is also very nice. Compared to a Marantz 2235b stereo that I also owned (my main stereo for over a decade), I'd say its sound is a little darker and less open, but that's understandable considering where these machines stood in the marketplace. I would be more than happy to have one of these once again, and highly recommend that anyone purchase one if they are so lucky.
Thank you very much for this video, much appreciated.
Pioneer made so many great receivers back then, surprised none made your list.
Yup, I have an sx434 and a 535 and they’re both superb.
@@tomscotland i have had both, amongst numerous others, and the weak point is the tuner section and its drifting.
I bought an sx 9 in Japan and had it shipped, great receiver with hpm 900 speakers, still listen to the speakers every day
Well, there was room for just 5, and while I too like Pioneer I don’t think they match up with these.
I just found this channel. I suspect the $300 Mark is what kept them off the list.
I got a Marantz 1080 & a Marantz 2220B in the early 2000s for under $300 for the pair combined. Even then people were chasing the '70s audio tech. I spent more getting pots and caps changed than on actually buying the units! They sound incredible though. Good to see your list of recommendations.
My 2220B was my first tuner, bought in 1975. Still going, tough as a dump truck. Replaced the display lamps once.
I still have my first receiver, a pioneer SX 454. Like you, I also powered huge Cerwin Vegas back in the day with no problem. The speakers are long gone but the receiver still works like it did the day I bought it.
Your videos are fascinating I grew up in the seventies and people took their music listening seriously back then, everything now usually doesn't even meet the advertised power levels and not meant too last. I recently sold a rack mount stereo from Nikko rated at 100w per side minimum for a song that will probably still be working another twenty years later
Picked up a TX-4500 MKII to drive my Bose 301 Series II and it sounds AMAZING. Plenty of power and SO easy to listen too. Fills my 12X12 room perfectly. Thanks for the suggestions:)
I love the Pioneer SX series of amplifiers. Solid as a rock. Great look.
Gary, have an SX-727 that I bought from a friend in 1974. Still works and looks good. That receiver is 45 plus years old.
Still have my Sanyo JCX2300K, 26 watts/channel. I love this receiver. I've replaced it twice and still gone back to using it. I think I bought this in 1980 ...
1978 Pioneer SX-680. My first receiver.
I have a sx750 pioneer, I listen to in my garage and never had it serviced. Still sounds great!
I have a Vector Research VR 2500 that was purchased in the mid 80's that is built like a tank. I run ADS speakers a company I worked at in the mid 80's. Cool list and great channel !
Hi..newbie here. A lot of memories here. I sold audio from 1974 to 1987. Those were great years. I could talk with you about the gear for hours.
I am not surprised in the slightest that Harmon Kardon was first. My first piece of vintage gear was a HK 230B, it is awesome, my current receiver that I listen to everyday is a HK 730. You simply can not beat the sound for even triple the value.
'Had a Sony STR-6050 from 1970 - 1982. 25W/channel, I believe. Bullet-proof receiver, great quality sound. w/ Infinity speakers & Technics direct-drive table. 'Loved that vintage stuff! Now have a Sony STR DE197, 50W/channel, large, vintage Infinity 2-way spkrs. No table, but a Sony single CD player/cassette player. Works for me.
Solid State. Never been better. Been collecting and selling these for 30 years. I've had 60 year old recievers that only needed their pods "De-Oxidized" and they're good as new. Still haven't found anything for the $20 cap I put on buying these better than Yamaha's Natural Sound stereo. Just picked up a Harmon-Kardon AVR 325 for $5 though and am looking forward to checking it out and refurbishing it if needed
Favorites are older Yamahas, Onkyos, Harman-Kardons, and top end Akais but those are hard to find within my budget. They're out there though. Old Radio Shack(Optimus)is decent too.
Just avoid anything that says "Made in China" and you'll be fine.
The Japanese worker is the best in the world and it shows on "Made in Japan" products.
I have a Yamaha CR-400 that I picked up at a yard sale for $15. I thought it had a dead channel, but all I had to do was clean the POTs and the selector switches with DeOxit and now it is driving my Klipsch KG4's (another yard sale pick-up, but I won't infuriate people with the price) like a champ! Don't forget to tell people to clean their POTs!
I had a low powered Akai AA-6300 I picked up for $10 that I bought to flip. Cleaned it up installed new lamps and it sounded so good I ended up using it in my bedroom system for a couple years. One strange thing it has a pair of 1/4 Jack type speaker outputs which ended up being really convenient. Great little amp !
Have had one of those, too! You're right. It was a great little amplifier!
In my personal experience, your top two on the list are spot on. Look for the HK 330c but if all you can find is that Sony 6055, do not hesitate to pick up the Sony. One bit of warning should come with the Harman Kardon, though: getting the 330c will probably set you on a journey to move your way up the family tree of that unit. I couldn't stop and now I'm enjoying the HK 710 and I see no reason to keep trying new receivers/amps. The 710 is rated at only 45 wpc, but HK was known (back in those days anyway) for seriously undervaluing the wattage that their units put out. Even the 330c is undervalued in that respect.
Do you mean the HK-730?!!
@@manzanaresantonio HA! Yes, the HK 730
@@manzanaresantonio I know how I messed up the model number now. I am researching the Kyocera A-710 integrated amp. I've got a line on one for a decent price and it's all I can think of right now.
@@JerryPemberton :)) I know that is a beauty too, but that Harman Kardon is a beast, trust me, I deal with a lot of stereo equipment!
I was lucky enough to acquire 2 of the 330c's over the years. When I bought my first one, I literally had zero knowledge about their cult-like fan base. I stopped by a local church rummage sale, no more than 3 blocks from home (in the hood). I grabbed the unit and asked the sweet little old lady, "How much for the radio?" She replied, "Well, it's your lucky day...everything is half-off today, so it's one-twenty-five." I asked, "What was the original price?" She said, "Why....two dollars and fifty cents, of course!" Yeah, I know, I almost felt I stole from the church. A few years later, I got my second one off of eBay or some other auction site. I think I paid about $25 + shipping. The problem is, I'm no audio repair guy, and both units need some work. I tried cleaning the volume and other controls with deoxit and it did nothing to get rid of the terrible scratchy sounds. With one of the units, I was able to just find a certain position for the balance and volume controls and leave it there, but eventually, the static returned and got so bad it was sending a very distorted signal to my speakers, so I just put them in my closet until I can have them serviced at a reputable place. For now, I'm just using some older Onkyo units, which put out great sound, but even with all their features, I truly miss that exceptionally warm sound from the HK's. I can honestly say, the 330C's were the closest thing I'd ever heard to tubes in a solid state design.
Thanks for posting this. I've held onto my HK 330A for decades, it was just such a good receiver. Guess it's time to give it some love and fix the switch contacts.
The Technics/Panasonic 5500 (branded with either name, same receiver) is a great little unit looking a lot like Sony in many ways. They are 20WPC. I have one, and it's a keeper.
Since a year or so I owna Yamaha CR820. I Absolutely love it! The sound is good. And it has got the same "reserved" design as the CR400 which makes it timeless imho.
Excellent information, thank you. I've had this experience with relamping incorrectly, good points all around.
I have a Harmon Kardon 330C, and I bought it brand new. Had it serviced a year ago? This is a great receiver.
I use Bose #301 speakers in my office.
My brother had a Fisher 400 that he got from older relatives, when we were in our "tweens." Beautiful, absolutely amazing. He had a number of different speakers around his room, can't remember what they were but, yeah.... I guess this doesn't really fall into the categories of the receivers you're reviewing, though(?)
I've got a Siemens RS 555 since 1981 ! At that time it was "State of the Art".
I love it !
Bummer that my Sansui 331 didn't make your list. Cap coupled 12 watts sounds utterly amazing. Glass dial display lights up better than any plastic. Yeah it has a fiber board rear cover, but all the connections are mounted in metal, and no screws for the speakers.
Great receiver for the money, for sure!
My dad put a custom speaker cabinet with a Fischer tube stereo in the middle cabinet. It was a build yourself kit. It preceded -1970, probably 1968-69.
I've rebuilt a couple of HH Scotts in this power class (330R & 335R) with bad power transistors, among other issues like drivers and caps, and they both sound excellent with plenty of headroom and bass response. I used 100w Onsemi NPN/PNP BPT's for the outputs and they're fairly bulletproof now. Transformers are adequate for their wattage rating, but not as overspec'ed as Pioneer receivers. Typically I'll get an additional 3-5w before clipping over Scotts power rating in these particular units. The 350R/355R receivers are even better, of course, once recapped. They can be found at a reasonable price but most likely will require some caps and/or TLC. I use a Scott 370R for my personal unit, but swap it out for a Pioneer SX-780 from time to time. Both fairly equal in presentation but the Scott has another 10w to play with. Great channel and thanks for sharing!
I love it. After all these years people are going crazy for my Pioneer SX770 bought in the Navy PX in Hong Kong in the height of the Vietnam war during 1970 ?? who would have though of such !! I also bought a Teac 7010
A really good video. I love these old receivers; until recently I was able to rescue some really lovely ones from our local recycling site, but the new manager there has become very hard-nosed about folk taking stuff away :)
Currently running my late father's Realistic STA-77 (1976 vintage, I believe). Built, as you say, 'like a tank' - and it sounds great, although I'm sure it would be even better with a re-cap. The ergonomics are fantastic, and I love that the stereo/mono light is built into the tuning indicator itself - a lovely design touch, that. The relatively limited wattage has never affected my listening in the slightest.
Please keep making your videos for TH-cam.
I remember the Optimus ads.. with the picture of the Conductor conducting and the symphony references.... Ha ha... So cool.
I would love to find one of these receivers to put in my living room, and a nice looking cabinet with some big speakers. I love that they have adapters; so you can plug your phone into them, even Bluetooth adapters and listen to all your downloaded music. I have our 1994 Kenwood receiver in our little home gym, it sounds very good, but I would love to have one of these really old ones.
The first system I pieced together, as a novice audiophile, included a Harmon Kardon HK330i. I loved that receiver and I'm thoroughly sold on H-K components in general.
That was the first receiver I ever got, and loved it. It still works and I gave it to my 14 year old niece who she plays it all the time and in fact just got a turntable because she wants to listen to vinyl.
Still have one myself coupled with a pair of vintage Infinitys.
I don't have a receiver but I love my Kenwood KA5700. 45 years old and runs like new.
It is amazing how different receivers sound. Some of the older Fishers deliver such incredible depth with only 16 wpc. I am really surprised one was not on the list.
What models are you referring to?
@@skylabsaudio, I have a small vintage audio store/booth in the junk mall (Pueblo Trading Post) located in Pueblo Colorado. For the love of music and the sake of addiction, I keep the locals and myself supplied with various finds and trades. I try to move audio stuff as quickly as possible. I have to sale things at an incredible deal to stay open.
I supplement the audio business with Rock and Roll memorabilia and of all things military survival gear, vintage camping coffee pots are in fashion these days. I have records, CDs and cassette tapes. I *had* an old school guy from Illinois, by way of California, who was doing repairs. He was a great guy, 76 years old, and a great teacher until he blew a fuse.
After being open for a year and 8 months, I am learning a few things about my market place. I know not to dangle the carrots to high.
I am close to 63 year old and your videos are down to earth and real.
I sell my honesty everytime I sell a unit. If it stops working in the next three months, bring it back, 💯refund‼️
I am not getting rich.😎
@@skylabsaudio Fisher 250, 390, 450, and 500TX has good bass response, as well as the later 1035, 1052, and 1056 which all have very clean deep bass response as well.
Hello everyone, I am surprised by #1 since these days I bought an HK 330c and I bought it just by instinct and I didn't know what I was buying, when I got home and connected it to my SB-A34 speakers... I CRUSHED ITS LITERAL POWER . Now I know that it is the best there is. I am happy with my HK 330C. GREETINGS FROM MEXICO.
I grew up during the golden age of hi-fi. At one time I owned one of those giant Sansui receivers, maybe a 9000 series and then I remember owning a Sansui integrated amp, maybe the 717. Too far back to remember. I then became a huge Bob Carver fan and purchased one of his M500t power amps which I still have to this day, some 30+ years later. I had been using it until I recently decided to replace it with the Jeff Rowland 125 power amp. The Rowland was a pretty penny but at my age I wanted to own a piece of equipment of that caliber. I still have my Carver and will keep it but no regrets getting the JR. The only other piece I own that can be considered vintage is an SAE 180 Parametric EQ. I love watching your channel because I remember a lot of the vintage stuff. Keep up the great work !
The 330C is a gem. Note that the 330B is a different animal. The B variant is cap coupled and sounds a little warmer and less accurate (I love my B as much as my C, just different).
I am partial to the C (mainly for looks), but I do really like both. Seems like there are more C's than B's, at least here in Iowa.
My first receiver was a Harman Kardon 330A. Fantastic unit in 1971.
Just picked one of those up this week. Love it!
A lot that fly under the radar are the Realistic receivers from this era from Radio Schack. I’ve owned a lot of different models and been happy with them. Favorites have been STA-120, STA-78 and STA-2000D. The last will sometimes fall outside the price limit, but sometimes you can find it that cheap.
had a buddy who owned a 70's Realistic STA-90 that was possessed with supernatural fidelity unlike i ever heard. It was "only" 40 or 45 watts per channel that rivaled higher powered amps in volume and ultra-low distortion. His wasn't just an anomaly, as other customers (i was a Radio Shack employee in 1979) who owned one raved about them. I've kept my eye out for one since then, but i've never saw one for sale.
I Have STA-120. It’s a great receiver.
I worked for Radio Shack in the mid to late 70's. If I remember correctly (I don't much anymore...) many of them were made by Pioneer.
I had an STA- 250 ( with thumbwheel tuning ), loved it.
Foster Electronics made a lot of Realistic.
My 1st stereo was a 330c. I bought it in 1976. Loved it! I traded it in on a more powerful Technics receiver 10 years later and have regretted it ever since.
Almost all "vintage receivers" were under $100 not that many years ago. The internet has made every trendy thing an expensive thing.
Facts, I could find a lot of pioneer units at garage sales for less than $50 & that was around 2012-14
True that! Shits out of control nowadays, especially post covid.. Sickening prices. :/
Unfortunately
Agreed, it is out of control, everything is expensive
I got my Technics SA500 at goodwill for $20. Deals are out there, you just need to constantly be looking.
Hello Kevin I liked your video. I agree with your comment on the HK 330c. I had Marantz 2238b and Marantz 2252b Technics SA 505, Nad amp 3140 Nikko SA 6065 They were great sounding units. One day a friend was going to throw away a HK 330c. I asked if I could have it. I had a HK 2500 deck which I was impressed with. So I figure I asked about the HK 330c that he was going to throw away, which he gave me. I brought it home set it up and turned it on. Wow!!! it sounded incredible. I couldn't believe this receiver was on 15 watts. It sounded better than the Marantz 2238b and the 2252b but not as loud. more musical than the Marantz. Like you said it is a "giant killer" indeed!! Even my wife noticed the difference. It died after a few years. Wished I repaired it. I moved on to Yamaha. However If I found another HK 330c I would buy it. But the price is more than I would dish out, If I do find one, I would put away the Yamaha. I would take the HK 330c over any receiver even if it had 3 10X the power and bells and whitles. It just sounds good. As one audio technician, told me the HK 330c was magic. Indeed I agree! The 330c is a GEM...Thanks for your videos Keep up the good work and expertise.
A video like this about vintage integrated or power amps would be pretty cool. My personal pick for integrateds would be my little denon pma-757 that I got for $150. Sounds excellent in my desktop setup.
Also for power amps I love my crown ps-400, but finding one of those below 300 would be tough. The smaller ps-200 would be great for the price though, and the hafler dh-200 is probably one of the best sounding amps of any category that you could get used for below 300
Although not within your time criteria, the Nakamichi receiver that licensed the Nelson Pass circuit is really good!
I have my dads Pioneer SX 626. It has been great since 1971. I did have recapped Last Nov. My receiver the Realistic STA 2700 has been great. I bought as a clearance for $250.00, which was 1/2 off. I love this unit a lot. Does it have a beautiful screen? No. However, the sound is outstanding. So, a few years ago found another online for a few dollars. Use it for my third system.
Onkyo are very underrated in the golden era of Japanese’s receivers!
Still have my Kenwood KR2400 since 1976. Its still a daily player running some bookshelf Scott speakers. Very pleasing sound. I have 3 Marantz receivers I got for less than $300 but those days are gone.
I’ve owned a Harmon Kardon 330 b since I bought it new in 1975. Still works like new. Only work done was cleaning switches and replace 2 light bulbs. Not bad for 47 years of service.
A real wood case was available as an option and slides over the bare metal case. I bought a NOS one on eBay ten years ago, so my receiver looks almost new.
Kevin, Thank you for your enthusiastic confidence in the HK 330C. Primarily a Sansui man but thought I would give HK a shot. Purchased 5 minutes ago for $302 and looking forward to hearing it. Will post later after receiving in 2 weeks
IMO any of the Pioneer sx units are rock solid
The original Advent 15 w/ch receiver should be on this list. Nicely detailed, it also sounds smooth and rich like a tube amp and often sells under $300. Plus you can separate the amp and preamp. The phono section was designed by APT Holman of THX fame. People used to buy the Advent receiver for just it's preamp section and use it with powered speakers like the Acoustat X, it was that good.
Ive owned a ton of this stuff. The most under valued piece I've owned ,and still have, is the JVC JR S300. Great sound, great tuner, over 50wpc, 5 band equalizer. A tank.
ya .. had a JVC HIFI VCR back in the day - made the absolute best audio recordings of any equipment I ever owned.
@@timhennigar1468 JVC/Kenwood were underrated. I love my Kenwood speakers. The hifi communities hate them but I hate the hifi community so it doesn't matter.
I picked up a dusty old harman/kardon 730 that was ready to get thrown out. Spent a few hours cleaning it up, now looks like new, and the performance blows me away. Beyond impressive. I can't see myself ever getting rid of it. Paired with a set of Zu Omen MKII's FTW.
Agree!
My favourite is the Realistic STA2290, I've just picked one up for £200 in mint condition, I had this receiver originally when I was 16.
I just love looking at it.
Realistic is underrated. They were actually really good. Depended much on the speakers too.
My dad bought a Fisher Futura 201 receiver new in 1971, I was 14 years old it sounds great at only 20 watts RMS, still have it although I had it recapped, I love the sound.
several other very good receivers from this period that can be gotten cheap is the Sherwood S-7450 and the JCPenny MCS 3222. Both were solid low power receivers you can often find for well under $300 today.
We had an MCS Stereo, it was amazing, I still have the speakers!
Good list. I have a Harmon Kardon 330B that still works fine. I opened it up and sprayed all the pots and jacks and switches with DeOxIt. It sounds great. Built like a tank...
Love your posts. I have 2 Hk 430's I love them. picked them up for around 200 each.
Love that whole era of H/k. The fact that they made a twin powered receiver at that wattage class (IE your 430) says a lot about H/K, in my opinion. Total sleepers.
@@skylabsaudio In your prof opinion what would you say the the 430 wattage would rated in todays standards.
Unfortunately, I don't know how to do that conversion. I'll ask around and see if i can find the answer.
@@skylabsaudio That would be rad Thank you. Just an estimated ball park would be awsome. I always here that they have more watts then what they ar rated
I bought my JVC JR S300 Mark II back in 1977. Still have it and it still sounds great.
I am 72 years old. I have a Panasonic SA 8100X, I purchased in 1975. STILL USE IT EVERYDAY. Quadrophonic, I believe 40w/c. Has had one repair in the last 42 years, the diodes that illuminate some of the instrument gauges burned out and had to be replaced. All gauges still work. I love this unit and would not part with it until I get am forced to make the move to the other side. Runs my phono, tape deck, etc.
THX MUCH- My older brother bought the upscale 4 channel intergrative Marantz Amp- GORGEOUS- A PIECE OF ART- aluminum ? face with deep blue guages. He gave it to me 20 years ago, and WISELY asked fot it back. His Turntable was the Gold EMPIRE. WHO CARES IF THEY WORK!! Like our muscl;e cars, our music and our dogs running the neighborhood any memory it evokes is priceless. In 2007 Carroll Shelby took the 2007 Mustang GT, had it sent to his Las Vegas factory and tweaked and lowered it, copied successfully the Grill, no nasty spoiler/ A RINGER FOR THE 67 Fastback- the early Mustang look. The more powerful Shelby 500 at $55k DID NOT HAVE THE RETRO LOOK and was done in Detroit. I looked into the interior of that "07 Shelby GT, and saw a short throw . SOLID STAINLESS shifter with H-U-R-S-T vertically imprinted, and the original "wimbledon white" CUE BALL. When I saw that I said "TAKLE ONE FOR LIFE, Lord Willing"!! $40k including $1k "gas guzzlin tax"Many may mock me- but it is the sexiest car I have ever HEARD, and sits in my Garage with 25k miles. I just listened to the group "LOVE" Forever Changes" c. 1967!! AMAZING!! PERHAPS MARANTZ ETC, SHOULD OFFER A BREAK FROM ALL OF THESE GLOSS BLACK UNITS AND DO A RETRO series, that LOOKS THE SAME, but has better s/n RATIO etc than the 1974. I notice that many TurnTables back in the day were "just Classic Lines" and many today are consistent. .
Question ........ i have a MARANTZ 2245 that I bot NEW in 1976 & has never been serviced......... It still works & sounds GREAT & the ilumination is still VERY GOOD.
Is the fact that I have rarely used this in the last 30 years the reason ? I would say it's been used less than 200 hrs & it's still in PRESTINE CONDITION!
My Nakamichi (STASIS) SR4A has a smooth and deep holographic soundscape that rivals my my favorite Class A mono-blocks.
Just got in to vintage receivers again after some years with digital amplifiers. A Marantz 2226 blackface got the interest back. Just this week I found a Nikko 5055, needed pilot lamps and new dial cord and it was up and running after a adjustment. Today a found a Pioneer LX not SLX 880, was made between 1969-1972, 28w, gave it a wash and adjustment needs new bulbs for tuning pointer, power and stereo indicator. Otherwise in fully working order.
Just found your channel. Great stuff so keep the videos coming.
Appreciate it!
I agree when you say some units look better with the colored LEDs and some don't. That was a pic of our pioneer with the blue lights. We notice that the new age customer prefers the flashy colored LEDs. The high end units we keep pure
I was sweating bullets as you went thru the list but that ended when you declared the HK 330C your top choice. Currently I'm doing a full rebuild and restoration of a 330C and I can't wait until it's finished! It sounded good before but it should sound great when it's done! Subbed.
Thanks! Love those damn little monsters. Such a cool vintage piece.
@@skylabsaudio Bought my first HK 330A in December 1971 and still have it and the original box but it needs some attention now to. A little 230A is my current daily driver while another 330A, a Nocturne Eight Twenty, and a Rotel RX-400A wait their turns to come on the bench for some servicing. A HK 630 I just bought is in the mail somewhere between here and the UK so I expect I'll have to give it some love to before declaring it a reliable runner. All I need now is one of the HK 330B variants to help round out my HK collection. I'm no trained tech but since retiring a few years ago my interest in these older units has taken off and now I'm starting to understand more how they work and how to troubleshoot them. There are some really good videos here on YT and posts on the Audiokarma site which have helped immensely with my education. Anyway, keep the good vids coming and cheers from Western Canada!
My advice is to be patient and shop local (if you live in a mid/large city) and always keep some emergency "I will only spend this on great gear" cash because regardless of listed price I have found offering a crisp $100 bill will likely get you a yes response. The HK 330 was my first too, it was a lucky garage sale find for very little cash and the musicality for such a simple design will make most people very happy. Since I have added a HK 730 Twin for $75, Sansui AU-517 for $100 and a Luxman R-117 for $100. The Lux is 80's the rest are 70's and knock on wood all are working perfectly aside from a simple cleaning and a few bulbs replaced I have been very lucky.
Sansui 4000 should be on this list. One of the best vintage receivers ever made.
$300 might be a stretch for a Sansui 4000. Most are selling for $400+
Kevin, I'm new to your channel and I just want to THANK YOU for your honest and thorough reviews and comments on vintage audio equipment. It's not often on TH-cam can you find transparency and good info on vintage stereo equipment. I own Marantz, Sony, Sanusi, Rotel and Pioneer....and enjoy them all. So keep the good info coming and, above all, have a Happy Holiday! Thanks!
Thank you, John!
Some things to note about the Onkyo TX-6500 Mk2.... The features on it are not usually seen on receivers in this range: Triple tone controls, High/Low/SUBSONIC filters, even hookups for three pairs of speakers (Onkyo must have had a fascination with the number 3!). Not even the lower-end Marantz units have all these goodies. Ironically, the first one I saw on eBay today is listed for...... $1,100.00. I guess the secret isn't so secret anymore.
Yeah, 70s Japanese receivers are not cheap anymore. Word is out for sure!
Sansui S-X1100,has.
Great video ,my "x"wife brought the Harmon Kardon 330c into the marriage then we bought the Bang and olfsen beogram 1000 turn table KLH series 6 .I loved playing my music for the neighbors from my front porch.
I have a ‘71 or ‘72 Marantz Model 19, bought in ‘72. Was a great receiver. Altec, Santana speakers. Lightning struck our tv antenna in ‘83, blew out something inside. My brother gave me a Pioneer receiver, so I never took the 19 for repairs. Best I ever owned, for sure. Dual 1229, through it and those speakers, just sparkled. Sure miss it.
Great information and good that you can get folks into some amazing vintage receivers from the best period in my mind, I feel you overlooked the powerhouse of the era. Pioneer (and Mraantz but cant touch them for under 300). The Pioneer SX-650 is a killer receiver; generally selling on ebay WORKING for about $250. I have recently restored 3 of these (my wife keeps taking them for differnt areas, no lie). Beautiful sound and soundstage. Most of my restorations is re-veneer but if people dont mind an ding or two, theh electronics are amazing.
Agree with the Pioneer. I didn't realize they had fallen below the $300 region. There for a while they were selling for over $400.
the sx-300 when one finds one for sale are a less than $300 receiver when they appear and with pioneer the receivers i tested are all good sounding no matter the ouput power
Of all the "stuff" I've owned over the years, I miss my 650 the most.