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Vintage integrated Amps. What to look for?

I am sure there are a few that have done what I am thinking of doing and would like to get some opinions on doing so.

I have for years always had separates, and good ones at that. Now while I have always been happy with what I had I have always had the urge to try some vintage gear.
I thinking of selling my separate preamp and amp and getting an old Fisher, Marantz or Sansui integrated amp. I have read allot of good things on the Sansui 20000.

Who has done this and were you happy with the change?? What were or are your likes and dislikes also what vintage integrated amp's did you look at? consider buying or did buy. I would like to have a phono stage on it.

Thanks
btstrg
btstrg OP
185 posts
 
Thanks for all the ideas. The Accuphase is probably more than I want to spend. I really liked the Sansui 20000 but the one for sale here comes up on numerous searches and the ad looks like it was pieced together from two other ads. I will stay away from that one. I never thought about Luxman and Tandberg. I will have to research those also.
Thanks so far on the suggestions.
I will be hooking this vintage amp up to Gallo 3.1 speakers.
mcgarick
277 posts
 
Remember this too,at some point you will have to give the Unit some TLC.
So, pick one that at tech wont mind working on.
Some of the older European stuff -could- be problematic
with part, and some are a tech unfriendly.
I asked my friend at Northwest Audio repair,John who's the owner and repairman,"What do you think about Revox gear" and he went on about how hard they are to work on.

There are many great older units and I wasnt trying to name them all,but the ones that made a positive impression on me. I have heard GREAT thigs about the old Sonys as Johnnantais had stated, I want to pick one up too, I think there hard to find though.

I think older quality gear is just plain more musical, The old bipolar transistors just sound great. More body to the music,more flesh on the bones.
bizango1
276 posts
 
I also suggest the Sansui AU-717. My roomate had one and I still think it was one of the best sounding setups I ever enjoyed. Maybe a little sensitive to low impedence loads as once in a while it would go into thermal protection after extended enthusiastic sessions driving double Advents. Always cranked back up after a cool off period and sounded great again!
rlwainwright
1,901 posts
 
Tandberg makes some of the nicest and best-sounding integrated amps. And they sound worlds better than the other ones you mentioned. Check out this 3012A right here on Agon:

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?intatran&1231606941&/Tandberg-3012A-Integrated-Amp.

I also really like the NAD integrateds, very ballsy sound. Check out this C272:

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1231703798&/NAD-C272-

-RW-
somec59
244 posts
 
Sansui Integrated 7000
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