Thanks everyone for the input.
Location: Bracknell, UK
Posts: 76
Thanks everyone for the input.
Martin.
Location: Lancaster(-ish), UK
Posts: 16,937
I'm ChrisB.
I'd lean towards the Luxmans if you can find a good un for that price.
Some of the better Sansui's were fairly warm if that's what you like - well built too
Location: Leigh Lancs
Posts: 299
I'm David.
Hi
As pointed out before the Sony vfet amps may give you a valve like sound.I have a Sony taf7 vfet,also a Yamaha ca 1000 and a Pioneer sa9500 all probably Jap 70's amps.Of the three I think the Sony is easy listening with a good phono stage built in,the Pioneer is just a good solid state amp with reasonable phono stage built in and the Yamaha used in my system sounds very dynamic and is also switchable from about 70 watts ab to 20 watts class a.If you live NW England you are wellcome to a demo.
Regards Dave.
Don't need any Tannoys - I've got the best. All cables supplied by pound shop or better.
Cheatfinder General.
I had a CA1000mk2 given to me (I had sold it to the client originally) and by modern standards it sounded very bland indeed. Even the Class A option (allowing a few minutes to settle into this) and using "Tone Jump" didn't help.
The 5650 Sony has bags of musicality, detail and atmosphere, a slightly "floppy" bass quality being the tradeoff. Even this latter isn't severe IMO. I used one at home in the mid seventies for quite a while and loved it. My mastering-friend still has his and all he had wrong with it was noisy controls after 15 years or so.. it sounds great with CD and can easily reproduce source upgrades - love it!!!!! They were fetching well under £100, but as fleabay has gone mad in recent times, things may be rather more expensive...
Tear down these walls; Cut the ties that held me
Crying out at the top of my voice; Tell me now if you can hear me
Location: Near Saffron Walden, Essex
Posts: 7,090
I'm Dave.
Because of forums such as this, the prices of almost anything 'vintage' have gone through the roof, so you will struggle to get anything decent for £300, unless you strike lucky. I am on E-Bay every night, trawling through the various sections for goodies but am constantly being surprised at the high prices they go for and have been pipped to the post very often when my 'high' bid has been comprehensively beaten....
There are very few bargains anymore.IMO
Location: Leigh Lancs
Posts: 299
I'm David.
Hi Dave
The ca 1000 of mine was like that but,was found to have no bias current at all,once properly set to service spec it was a different amp.[well it wasnt really ,it was the same amp but sounded far better]
Dave.
Don't need any Tannoys - I've got the best. All cables supplied by pound shop or better.
Cheatfinder General.
Location: Middlesex, UK
Posts: 4,482
I'm Alex.
Quad 303 power amp properly serviced can still sound pretty good. Good value too, can be had for around £100. Very reliable as well.
Jon
A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.
Set up
Lafayette el84 power amp , Audio note M1 pre , Tannoy Sterlings, Garrard 301 , SME 3012 , puresound P10, Ortofon SPU, Cambridge CXN streamer
Micro mega Duo 3 cd transport ,
Location: Middlesex, UK
Posts: 4,482
I'm Alex.