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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
daveyf's avatar
daveyf
2,877 posts
 
Here's a vote for the amp that I believe is the cream of the crop from the 80's...the ARC D70Mk2. This amp along with the more powerful ( but slightly less resolving..particularly in the crucial midband) D115 and the great M100's exemplify for me the golden age of ARC.

erik_squires OP
16,230 posts
 
Hahaha, well in case anyone was hoping the drama would start in this thread, I guess it will be me. :)

In the 1980’s the CJ had me body and soul compared to ARC.

However in the 21st century, I’d rather have ARC.  This is partly because my tastes have gone away from euphonic and partly because ARC has gone more towards it.

Best,


E
lowtubes
103 posts
 
In responds to Daveyf remark, "vote for cream of the crop," there is no way the AR components you mentioned would take that spot. There were way too many great sounding items. And I haven't checked but I'm assuming that the AR amp you mentioned was either SS or a 6550 based amp. I for one, prefer EL34 amps over 6550 designs and even still, the 300b tube over EL34. So that's why I do not prefer AR amps and some of the CJ line. I mention MCIntosh amps in an earlier reply because MCIntosh had been quiet for many years and returned back in the spot light in the 80's. And to my discovery, they make some awesome sounding hifi equipment. I never own MAC stuff but have heard it several times and I'm very impressed. These 5 preamps I own and are using in my systems - the main preamps-  Marantz 7, AR SP-11 mk 2, Stevens Billington Silver passive, and the Conrad Johnson PV9A & PV-11 preamps used just for phono-sections.  I don't want to begin the list of amps and turntable I have set up. 
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daveyf's avatar
daveyf
2,877 posts
 
lowtubes--"In responds to Daveyf remark, "vote for cream of the crop," there is no way the AR components you mentioned would take that spot. There were way too many great sounding items. And I haven’t checked but I’m assuming that the AR amp you mentioned was either SS or a 6550 based amp. I for one, prefer EL34 amps over 6550 designs and even still, the 300b tube over EL34. So that’s why I do not prefer AR amps and some of the CJ line. I mention MCIntosh amps in an earlier reply because MCIntosh had been quiet for many years and returned back in the spot light in the 80’s. And to my discovery, they make some awesome sounding hifi equipment. I never own MAC stuff but have heard it several times and I’m very impressed. These 5 preamps I own and are using in my systems - the main preamps- Marantz 7, AR SP-11 mk 2, Stevens Billington Silver passive, and the Conrad Johnson PV9A & PV-11 preamps used just for phono-sections. I don’t want to begin the list of amps and turntable I have set up."

That’s all IYHO. My ARC amp does use 6550’s. Your preference for EL34’s or 300B’s is just that a "personal" preference.
Have you actually ever heard one of the ARC amps I mention...recently, I am betting not. MAC stuff from the tube age is nice, but is more colored and less resolving ...IMHO. YMMV.
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