Canuck Audio Mart

Hi All,

Now that I have my new speakers (Szabo 831's) I've decided to try a new vintage receiver. I mostly listen to 70's and 80's rock at a reasonable listening level, but sometimes it can get pretty loud too. Also, I do very much enjoy a good clean sound as well, with some base. I have a budget of between $100 - $250.

So, what receiver should I be looking for? Please provide your input based on the above information.

Thanks in advance,

Hitachivintage

kijiji winnipeg has a Rotel RX-503 for $200. I think its overpriced but its been on there for a while... good luck!

What's wrong with the mighty Hitachi?

My favourites from that time (late 1970s) were the big Yamaha CR2020 and Marantz units 23xx. If you go into the 1980s, I like the harman/kardon 795i and Yamaha R9.

Your budget would barely cover the cost of cleaning, inspecting the solder joints, replacing the caps and aligning the tuner for whatever old ("vintage") receiver you buy, assuming you would even want to...and I don't know why you would.

A decent receiver from the late 70's early 80's for beetween 100.00$ to 250.00$ ?
I see absolutely nothing....as noway said, that will be the cost for a professionally serviced in a professional electronic shop.
Maybe you could find a Carver HR-732 for 200.00$ in good condition with remote.
Any unit from the 70's that you could found will need a good inspection and a service.

banerjba.....I have a Yamaha R-9 being worked on. The more rare silver faced! Never had a chance to play with it for very long as it had a few issues that needed to be dealt with. Looking forward to what looks like a great little tuner section......Dave.

vin-ta-ge, the HR-732 (60WPC) would basicaly be a wash compared to his existing Hitachi (50WPC), He needs a serious step up in power so a HR-752 (100WPC) or HR-772 (140WPC) if a remote is required. Otherwise my recommendation for a Carver Receiver would be a serviced (speaker relays and PS caps) MXR-130 (130wpc) or MXR-150 (150WPC).

Another option would be if the Hitachi has preamp outs to use those to drive a serviced (caps) Carver M-400t (200+WPC) which would give him a more tube like sound than the M-400 or M-400a which have a more characteristic SS sound much like his existing Hitachi. They can easily be found for between $200 and $250 on the used market these days. Point of interest, Bob Carver recently opened a new service shop for Carver amplifiers in Washington State and charges $179 for a full factory refurb to original specs including all applicable service bulletins and upgrades.

BTW, the reason I mention serviced is that with ANY brand or model amp over 20 year old, the electrolytic caps are reaching the end of their useful life, wether or not they have been used. Always look for leaking or bulgeing caps in any vintage amp before buying it or powering it up.



Besides, the cube is just about the coolest looking SS amps around IMO!

Am I the only one that has umpteen int/rec's over the years that worked perfectly?
Still in service 30 plus years!

Nope, you are not alone. I have 3 integrated and one receiver still going strong and most are 35 years old plus. That being said, I know I am on borrowed time. I think the O.P., on his budget, just has to take the chance. An older vintage receiver in that price range still stands a better chance than anything new at Wal Mart in my humble opinion.
As a footnote, I have been trying to sell off some equipment to possibly buy something new as a retirement gift to myself. Definitely I have been out of the loop for a lot of years and am suffering from sticker shock. It does not look like I am going to be able to get anything with any sort of build quality, new or used that would be monetarily reachable for me.
My only other option I think will be to have a tech go over my trusty little Kenwood KA 8006 and re-build it as necessary.
Hitachivintage, I am sure there is something out there that will drive those nice looking speakers of yours that will fall within your budget!

Gupper, have you ever opened a 30 year old amp and looked at the electrolytic caps? Once they start bulgeing or leaking the can either fail smoothly or catastrophically taking out several other components with them. Sort of like with computer hard disks, its not a matter of IF they will fail but WHEN they will fail! Or the oil in your car engine; it may LOOK clean but if it over a certain age, then it will no longer protect your engine from damage.

I'm a firm believer in preventative maintenance having bought vintage equipment that has failed shortly after purchase due to bad caps.

My technician is 76 years old and have 50 years experience in electronic business....he always told me about electrolytic, if is not leaking or if the caps are not bulgeing, leave them alone....I don't know what to think about this cause I am not a tech my self but I take his words because of experience.
As he said, this is pure "intellectual masturbation" (Not sure about translation) acording to him.
98% of the time, when I remove the cover on my vintage stuff, there is no leak or bulgeing on the caps....maybe those unit come from a good family....

Did that with a SA9500II that I just recently sold.
No bulging or leaking and looked like it was still in 1976.
I didn't want to actually sell it but it now has a new home with a great fellow who has a Pioneer Spec setup and was looking for something for a 2nd system.
We all understand that this is used gear and won't last forever, but my god, some of it seems like it just might!
I have never had a catastrophic failure although I did have a Carver CM1090 that the holographic switch was a little suspect.
Imagine that!!!!
Boy,I must really be lucky!!!!

I'm selling my Marantz 2230 and Harman Kardon 430 receivers-both excellent. For a bit more in cost, I also have the Harman Kardon 930 (deffinately one of the best receivers ever made-do the research). Let me know if you are interested and good luck in your search.

Is that a kind of Thread crappers and derailers ?

I never had caps go either... I've had a few vintage receivers/int. amps... The only problem in most of em was scratchy volumes, balance controls etc. which I now know how to fix. I think if they are clean and are sitting in a respectable home when you go to buy em and if everything works and sounds nice... then why not. Nice sound for not much money.