The ADS electronics were excellent, including their tuner, amp, and receiver. I got their tuner from a pawnshop around 2000 for $80. Still have it and use it.
Hitachi also made some sleepers starting around 1976. Since they could source themselves for many parts, they used closer tolerance parts (or so said the sales rep). They also created the Class H amplifier, which enabled their mid-powered amps to hit clean peaks like a super power amp without the size, heat, and cost. Their 3-head cassette decks gave Nakamichi a run for the money at much lower cost, and didn't need azimuth alignment because they used a single head assembly to hold both the record and playback gaps.
The Hitachi P-38 turntable was not as heavily built as the Technics, but I owned one and there was something about that turntable that worked really well. Maybe it simply had a better tonearm, but with a good cartridge match it threw a holographic soundstage.
And if you come across anything by Tandberg from the '60s to the '80s, it's probably worth buying unless it's overpriced or beat to hell.
Hitachi also made some sleepers starting around 1976. Since they could source themselves for many parts, they used closer tolerance parts (or so said the sales rep). They also created the Class H amplifier, which enabled their mid-powered amps to hit clean peaks like a super power amp without the size, heat, and cost. Their 3-head cassette decks gave Nakamichi a run for the money at much lower cost, and didn't need azimuth alignment because they used a single head assembly to hold both the record and playback gaps.
The Hitachi P-38 turntable was not as heavily built as the Technics, but I owned one and there was something about that turntable that worked really well. Maybe it simply had a better tonearm, but with a good cartridge match it threw a holographic soundstage.
And if you come across anything by Tandberg from the '60s to the '80s, it's probably worth buying unless it's overpriced or beat to hell.