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Thread: Nakamichi PA7 and Sanyo Plus C55

  1. #1
    Join Date: Oct 2015

    Location: KL, Malaysia

    Posts: 258
    I'm shahrin.

    Default Nakamichi PA7 and Sanyo Plus C55

    Scratching an itch to try big tansistor power I made an impetuous purchase of a PA7 having read good bits about it, including its design by Mr Pass.
    Yes it has the 'made in Japan under licence Thresold USA' sticker behind
    I figured my NS 1000 s would be happy.
    Sounded fantastic at the demo.
    The seller used an extremely high end dual mono Krell pre amp each with its own power supply !!
    Problem was i did not have a pre amp.
    So for a few weeks i had to use the Pre Out of a Sansui AU9500. Sounded quite good really - fortunately the preamp section was recently refurbed.

    I learnt about the virtues of the Sanyo Plus series C55 preamp, particularly its onboard phonostage.
    Trawling the web i found one on eBay
    It has arrived from the US and i have had a few days with it.
    A few scratches externally.
    Beautifully made inside and out. I took the lid off to change the voltage selector to 240V
    High quality 'heavy' knobs and nice switches. Gold plated RCAs.
    A DC preamp (whatever that means)
    Apparently this was part of Sanyo's pitch at the higher HiFi in the late 80s but it was short lived.
    The company decided it was going to make car stereos and midis , and packed in the Plus Series.
    Well its quiet. All knobs and switches clean.
    Seems a decent match for the PA7.
    Its a warm sounding combination with lots of oomph in the lower end.
    The NS1000s are certainly happy
    I note that the soundstage is BIG.

    The C55 has MM and MC inputs and they are certainly pretty good
    I have tried V15 III and DL103R and they sound nice.
    The 103R is louder than the V15.
    I am pretty pleased with this switch to sort of vintage big power transistor seperates.
    Will post pics soon.
    Last edited by drSM; 10-09-2017 at 01:15.
    Thorens td124 mk2 / Bokrand AB309/ 103r
    SLAT L75 / Jelco 850S / AT VM740ML
    Marantz CD63 / Bluesound / Musical Paradise 701 II/ ESP 500Hz eXO / PL Prologue 4 and Nord 1UP amps / JK Wynn semiactive NS1000 upgrade
    /ESP 700 Hz eXO / JBL 4333 components

  2. #2
    Join Date: Oct 2015

    Location: KL, Malaysia

    Posts: 258
    I'm shahrin.

    Default

    Thorens td124 mk2 / Bokrand AB309/ 103r
    SLAT L75 / Jelco 850S / AT VM740ML
    Marantz CD63 / Bluesound / Musical Paradise 701 II/ ESP 500Hz eXO / PL Prologue 4 and Nord 1UP amps / JK Wynn semiactive NS1000 upgrade
    /ESP 700 Hz eXO / JBL 4333 components

  3. #3
    Join Date: Oct 2012

    Location: The Black Country

    Posts: 6,089
    I'm Alan.

    Default

    Are those handles or girders on the front of the power amp?

    Very nice looking pre-amp, sounds like you are well sorted.

    The 103 being louder than the V15 is just down to the respective sensitivity of the MC or MM mode. I see the sensitivity is quite high on the MC mode.


  4. #4
    Join Date: Sep 2014

    Location: brighton uk.

    Posts: 4,737
    I'm jamie.

    Default

    id love to hear this amp or the earlier pa-5,keep your eyes out for a nakamichi ca-5 pre amp,the phono stage in it is incredible.
    My System
    John Wood KT88 Amp.
    Paradise Phono Stage
    Sony TTS-8000 Turntable.
    PMAT-1010 MK6 Tonearm.
    Ortofon Cadenza Bronze
    Sony X555ES Cd Player
    Yamaha NS1000m Speakers

  5. #5
    Join Date: Oct 2015

    Location: KL, Malaysia

    Posts: 258
    I'm shahrin.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by jamie123 View Post
    id love to hear this amp or the earlier pa-5,keep your eyes out for a nakamichi ca-5 pre amp,the phono stage in it is incredible.
    Yes i was trawling the Net for a CA5 like yours, or a 7.
    This C55 thing is so good I tell ya, and cheap!

    I believe only the PA7 was designed by the great man and i have the earlier version which may actually be the one to get.

    Alan, I will need that extra gain on the MC cause i m awaiting a rebuild of my old Ortofon SL15 (from a S15T) as a believe they are rather low output.
    Although mine is being completely rewired.
    Yes they are pretty chunky girders on the front of the PA7 and lots of cool fins on the sides!
    Thorens td124 mk2 / Bokrand AB309/ 103r
    SLAT L75 / Jelco 850S / AT VM740ML
    Marantz CD63 / Bluesound / Musical Paradise 701 II/ ESP 500Hz eXO / PL Prologue 4 and Nord 1UP amps / JK Wynn semiactive NS1000 upgrade
    /ESP 700 Hz eXO / JBL 4333 components

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