Amps from the 1980's -- What gear holds up sonically? Reliably?


Hi Everyone,

For me, the 1980s were a real "golden age" of amplifiers. Dr. Leach’s paper on building a low TIM amplifier had been widely distributed and relied on by budding designers, and lots of boutique brands came. It was also the era of the biggest of the Conrad Johsnon tube amps as well and the invention of the MOSFET.

For me, brands I cared about:

  • Threshold
  • Sumo
  • Perreaux (New Zealand, very pretty)
  • Tandberg
  • Hitachi
  • Kyocera
  • Nikko
  • Krell (of course)
  • CJ
  • ARC
  • Yamaha (professional)
  • Carver
  • Mark Levinson
  • Amber 
  • Tandberg
This was also the speaker era of Snell and Apogee and Martin Logan. I am not sure there would be a Krell today if it wasn't for Apogee's 1 ohm speakers.

I’m curious who is still listening to these vintage pieces, and which brands you think have stood up both in terms of reliability and / or sonics ?
erik_squires
@captvideo


Energy 22 are a great speaker are got mine at Bloor Radio in Toronto. Still have ’em along with a Kenwood C1 and M2

Great thread, Erik.  Going back a bit earlier, I had a Luxman integrated amp that was SOTA.... I wish I still had that powerful piece around.  It was built like a tank.  
what a great thread!  If threshold is on the list, then I include Forte, either model 1 or 3.  My model three is still my amp  and recently had Jon S rebuild it.  I remember upgrading from my adcom 535 (still my backup), to the next level.  I unfairly compared the forte to threshold, levisnon, krell and AR with my monitor audio Mark IV gold.  Now my limited budget certainly contributed to my bias, but for me the only amps that bested it were AR and threshold - for me...
Well, for me the 80's was a time when CERTAIN designers made some really memorable items. My system today still has major components from the 80's. Beginning with Conrad Johnsons premier 1 amp all the way thru to the MV55 were all great sounding pieces. Audio Research made the excellent SP-10 & SP-11 preamps. Love all the Thresholds especially the SA versions. Cary Audio made some very special 300b pieces and Jeff Rowland was very good too. I was not a fan of Krell, too analytical sounding and not musical for my taste. Every era made good stuff, I'm listing to my vinyl now on an Unmodified 1957 Marantz 7 thru a CJ Premier Four thru Martin Logan Request Electrostats and the music is so pure, detailed, and musical with a dreamy super large soundstage. I paid $4500 for the Marantz 7 about 2 years ago and it is one of the best preamps I have every had the pleasure of owning and listening to. Don't discount older stuff, they still sound AMAZING!!!  Forget about specs, let your ears be the judge.