The Nikko range of amplifier were cheap and entry level products. The first units to hit the UK were just cheap, not that reliable, rubbish. Full of germanium transistors and often using driver transformers. Very noisy preamps, RIAA in particular. I'm amazed it still kind of working all these years later. Nice drop of crossover, it's what gave these early amps the so-called transistor sound. Near class B in fact, or just little or no bias.
Interesting comments, cheers. I'd never heard of Nikko until fairly recently after seeing old Nikko amps on eBay. Without another one to compare it to I have no idea if its sonic imperfections were age related faults or just a feature of the design!
The Nikko range of amplifier were cheap and entry level products. The first units to hit the UK were just cheap, not that reliable, rubbish. Full of germanium transistors and often using driver transformers. Very noisy preamps, RIAA in particular. I'm amazed it still kind of working all these years later. Nice drop of crossover, it's what gave these early amps the so-called transistor sound. Near class B in fact, or just little or no bias.
Interesting comments, cheers. I'd never heard of Nikko until fairly recently after seeing old Nikko amps on eBay.
Without another one to compare it to I have no idea if its sonic imperfections were age related faults or just a feature of the design!