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The Golden era of Japanese integrated amps, are we missing out?

Maybe it’s just me but.....
I just threw together an el cheapo system with a Sansui A-2100 integrated at its heart and diminutive Wharfedale Diamond 220 speakers.

And I still cannot get over just how good and right it sounds.... All for $240 total shipped!

So this got me thinking about the golden era of Japanese equipment and while tuners , tape decks and turntables appear to have large followings and a large knowledge and fan base, I do not get the same vibe on integrated amps?

Are there devotees of these amps out there?
I very rarely hear anybody talking about them and so many can be picked up for peanuts, I mean $75 shipped in perfect working order and decent cosmetics( and built in mm phono to boot!).
Are they likely to be the next " big thing" or?

Thoughts?
uberwaltz
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz OP
13,381 posts
 
Sanyo JCX 2400K is now doing duty in my second system.
A whole $50 for a unit that looks pristine and a work of art but more importantly has been serviced and recapped.

Well it was $95 shipping so $145 total.

I am very impressed all round, not an overly warm sound but nicely rounded through all frequencies and plenty powerful.

Averaging just about 22 on volume dial to wind the Monitor Audio 3i to more than respectable levels.

Really nice looking unit, goes very well with old Akai GXC 510D cassette deck in the same system.
oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa
4,867 posts
 
I have a secondary system, the heart of which, is a 1970s Sherwood 7100 receiver. The thing is a little killer and has a VERY good headphone amp to boot. The one I have was bought at Goodwill for $20 and works perfectly. The 7100 has a sound that is tube-like in nature. The 7100-A has more of a solid-state sound. Both receivers make for good music.

https://classicreceivers.com/sherwood-s-7100-and-s-7100a

https://www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/sherwood/s-7100.shtml

Frank
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz OP
13,381 posts
 
Nice looking receiver Frank!

I have to say once I added a FM antenna to the Sanyo the reception on FM stations raised itself to pretty darn sweet all round.
whatjd
1,139 posts
 
I don't know how they sounded after time passing, but I had the Yamaha CA-1000 and one of the Sony FET Integrated amps and both were excellent in their day.  Used them to drive Large Advents Dahlquist DQ-10 and ESS AMT-1. 






oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa
4,867 posts
 
^^^ I also had a Yamaha CA 1000 back in the day. It had a switch where you could run it in class A. The only difference I noticed was it ran a lot hotter in Class A with no difference in SQ in either mode. It was a nice sounding unit for sure.

Its not Japanese, but these were some really good sounding receivers in the day ...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/TANDBERG-TR-2045-FM-STEREO-RECEIVER-SOUNDS-INCREDIBLE/183917204224?hash=item2ad251d300:g:vlEAAOSwvdxdUGMl
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