Best stereo recievers of the 1970's?

I remember learning in the 1970's that you cannot judge the sound of an amp by its power rating. I went to Circuit City or whatever stereo store and the sales guy was pushing a 30 wpc Harmon Kardon receiver over a 75 wpc Pioneer integrated amp. That was the first time I learned that power supplies were critical to sound. The HK receiver walked all over the Pioneer. HK made good equipment back then.

Does anyone remember the Acoustics Research Receiver, a minimalist design that now seems philosophically ahead of its time?

How about the Heathkit AR-15? This was first available in the 1960s but sold into the 1970s. You could buy it as a kit or pay up to have it assembled.

Other receivers I used to covet were the McIntosh MAC 1700 and the MAC 1900, as well as the SAE R-9, one of a line that SAE rolled out in the mid-70s.

I actually owned Pioneer SX-650 (Paid $239) - amazing how things stick in your head. But I lusted after Marantz.....

Albert Porter sold me a wonderful sounding Yamaha receiver in 1977. It was a mid-line model and sounded wonderful. I cannot recall the exact model #. I wish I had kept it. He also sold my Mom a Yamaha receiver which was one step down in price...she still uses it to this day and it sounds wonderful. I'll check the model # and report back.

I remeber those days of shopping in stores on Long Island like, Stereo Exchange, Audio Exchange, Crazy Eddie, Sam Goody, Harvey, (the expensive stuff) on so many more. My evolution of receivers were: Technics, 45wpc. Onkyo with the servo tuner locked in lights, and my dream receiver, a Yamaha 1080.