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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
ethiessen1's avatar
ethiessen1
61 posts
 
I have a Hafler DH 220 that I’ve been using since 1984, driving first Spica TC-50s and now Maggie MG-1.5 QRs with no hiccups.
kenwood61's avatar
kenwood61
26 posts
 
I must be the only one here that likes Parasound. I have had a few with the HCA-1500A the best one so far. I have two I run in mono to drive Vandersteen 3A’s, which sound really nice. At $350 each, I think it’s not only reliable, but a great value! I’m pretty sure that most of the gear listed so far costs more. So I think it’s important to differentiate price point. I think John Curl is a top circuit designer. It’s too bad the amps don’t have a more distinctive "cool" look like some of the amps mentioned here.
robert_d_padgett's avatar
robert_d_padgett
15 posts
 
I am the "Computer Audiophile on the Cheap" and have been considering a NAD 3020, that has been re-capped and tuned up for $269 (e-bay). Any opinions about that legendary 'entry-level' integrated that was such the rave back in the day? I have an h/k 330i and a Yamaha RX-350 recently updated by my technician, but everyone still speaks about the NAD with great reverence...it looks like there are a steady supply of them from that vendor.
skateman
22 posts
 
Still running a cj pv-5!   1983 vintage I believe.   Blows away many current SS pre's and some modern tubes as well (and it comes with a pretty darn good phono stage)
harrylavo's avatar
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harrylavo
346 posts
 
Equipment I or my close friends have still in use .... Amber 70 amp (original condition), HK Citation 11 (original condition), Teac 7040 high speed two track tape deck (original condition), Teac 4070 consumer tape deck (just had minor servicing, first since I bought it in 1970), Audio Research SP6-B (in daily use from 1980 untill I sold it in 2007), Audio Research D90 (in daily use from 1980 until I sold it in 2007), Thiel 3.5 speakers (four, in use since 1989), Thiel 2 2's (two, in use since 1995), Audionics Bt-2 preamp and CC-2 power amp (I've owned six at one time or another in original condition, no problems with any an all sounded great although not with exceptionally low noise or transparency.  BTW, the CC-2 was THE FIRST low TIM amplifier).
Koss Pro 4aa headphones.  Heil AMT-1 speakers (with woofer suspension replacment).  Counterpoint SA-1000.

This is all gear that is up to modern standards and operating in substantially good systems.  Hope this helps.
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