2. amps-preamps
  3. 1322333418

How do we remember 1970s amplifiers?

I would be curious to hear some of the memories and impressions associated with the following short list of 1970s amplifiers:

- McIntosh "first generation" SS amps, MC2105, MC2505, MC2300, MC250, MC2100
- Dynaco Stereo 400 and Stereo 120
- Phase Linear 400 and 700
- Bang & Olufsen "slide rule" receivers (i.e. especially blackface Beomaster 4000)
- Original Ampzilla (not Son of Ampzilla)

I've chosen this list mainly because they cover a wide range of approaches to solving the issues of early semiconductor technology, and they were all pretty mainstream products in the U.S. I'm excluding the Japanese receivers/amps not out of predjudice; it's simply that the circuit designs varied quite a bit with each model, and thus harder to broadly classify their characteristics.

I'm interested in impressions of both sonic and non-sonic attributes, and a preferred ranking of the above, if you like.
kirkus
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,433 posts
 
I liked the Tandbergs. THese were among the best I recall hearing in those daysin terms of overall clarity and listenability. Even the tr2080 receiver's amp that I had up until a couple years back had a lot of top notch positive attributes. Its limitation was current delivery into more challenging loads, but this was a receiver not a separate power amp. I would like to own a vintage Tandberg amp in good working order again someday.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,938 posts
 
I had a set of Fulton J-Modulars as well. For a long time I ran them with dual modified Dyna ST-70s monostrapped until I got my own amp going. Fulton was a local so I spent time with him at Bob Fredere's house in Minneapolis, which is where I first met Bill Johnson of ARC (I had a D-51 for a while also...).

I also ran the Rabco- an ST-7 that I had modified with a new servo circuit and a carbon fibre rod for the arm tube (hi tech back in those days), mounted on a Technics SL-1100.
g_nakamoto's avatar
g_nakamoto
348 posts
 
i heard that the phase linears were the king of frying speakers!!
normansizemore
601 posts
 
g_nakmoto,

I have to say that back in the 70's I was a Phase Linear user and was surrounded by others who used Phase Linear.  I remember the sound being wonderful, fast and clean. Amps that I owned were the 400 series's One and Two. Never a problem. My friends owned 400s, 700s and one used two D-500's. We ran them hard and never had a problem not ever. 

I even used a 400 to run a PA system for my band. Now it wasn't built like my McIntosh MC-2300, but then nothing at the time was. Still all this Phase Linear bashing?  A Phase 4000 preamp and any of the above mentioned amps makes a sweet little system that will drive anything. With regard to frying speakers, I can't remember that happening either. 

I like most have moved on but I know if I had too I could live with any of my old systems, Phase, Mac, GAS, Citation, Levinson etc. I have re-discovered my Sansui 9090db a few years ago and haven't been listening to anything but it. Seems to do everything just about right. 

N
lenmc2964's avatar
lenmc2964
240 posts
 
Crown DC-300A Power Amplifier
Also Heathkit did make some good equipment 
More to discover