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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
boxer12
8,656 posts
 
No Melos fans? I bought a used 222 preamp in the 90's & am still enjoying it today, in fact right now. I had it services last year (for the first time) & they replaced some of the switches, & the volume pot. Apparently that was their weak points. I also have been enjoying sonic frontiers first version signature phono preamp for a dozen years or so. I think that one dates back to the early 90's. My amp is a staggering 5 watts per channel. It was built by Kornef, don't know when but it's old enough to have it's first service this year. This all drives lowther speakers which were a modern marvel in the 50's I believe. The system sounds incredibly real. Wide, deep, & 3D enough to fool you into believing they're in the room on a good record. It's also forgiving enough to make you not cringe on a record that is < perfect. With all the vinyl that is out there today, it's a great time to be alive. What a hobby! 
jc4659
553 posts
 
This was a fun thread to peruse.  Anyone mention Electrocompaniet or Superphon?  Think these were around in the '80s.
pbnaudio's avatar
pbnaudio
1,613 posts
 
Threshold SA1 among the finest amps ever made 🎶😄

Good listening

Peter 
lou_setriodes's avatar
lou_setriodes
687 posts
 
Hey Boxer - you wouldn't happen to have one of Jeff Korneff's 6bq5 integrateds would you?  I had one many years ago, sold it to someone in Washington state who was using it with Klipschhorns.  What an amp!  I now have a couple custom SE int amps built by Ed Duda, the chief amp designer of the old Lafayette Radio Corp....  And yes, what a hobby!!!
boxer12
8,656 posts
 
Lou - Nope, mine is a KT88 SET stereo amp with a total of 5 tubes. Two Kt88's, two EL84's (6bq5's), & one 5ar4 rectifier tube.The amp is very good. That stated, I wouldn't hesitate to buy anything he has made. Jeff is very approachable, I've talked to him a couple times over the phone. However, I don't think he is building or designing anymore, unfortunately. 
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