Vintage or Mod

[Stiffy]

I can feel box swop fever coming on again and have a bit of uncertainty going on. :mental:

My current favoured amp is a big old vintage Sony TA-F6B, a gorgeous powerful big brute of a thing with lovely twin VU Meters etc.
Trouble is I am getting itchy feet again and fancy a change back to something more modern but could only afford to spend whatever the Sony sells for.

Would I be able to get a better amp for the value of the Sony or should I just keep it? :scratch:

[twotone]

I can feel box swop fever coming on again and have a bit of uncertainty going on. :mental:

My current favoured amp is a big old vintage Sony TA-F6B, a gorgeous powerful big brute of a thing with lovely twin VU Meters etc.
Trouble is I am getting itchy feet again and fancy a change back to something more modern but could only afford to spend whatever the Sony sells for.

Would I be able to get a better amp for the value of the Sony or should I just keep it? :scratch:

I had one John, thought it was shit to be honest despite the reviews, I sold it for £250 and never regretted it.

The PSU on mine needed re-capped (pretty much the usual with these amps) as the heat inside cooks the caps, think I just about re-couped my money on it when I sold it.

I've a Quad 34 pre/ 306 power set up now which is miles better, miles better.

The matching tuner is special though, had one of those too, wondeful things.

Tony

[istari_knight]

What he said ↑

The switch mode PSU's are a real weak point on these... Not Sony's best effort, the VU's are cool though !

[hermit]

I believe that the big brother of your amp is a fine sounding thing. The Sony TA-F7B (http://www.thevintageknob.org/sony-TA-F7B.html) doesn't have the switch mode PSU. A chap on the wam had one and rated it amongst the very best sounding vintage integrateds from the period.

In my view you should stick with vintage kit. I think it offers unbeatable value for money. I may be a bit biased as I just spent the last 12 months divesting myself of a relatively modern AN, Croft and Proac system in favour of my present setup.

[Stiffy]

I had a Yamaha AS 500 from new prior to the Sony and I thought I liked the Sony better at first…….BUT????? :scratch:

[hermit]

This Pioneer SA-8500 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-SA-8500-Integrated-Amplifier-Amp-Audiophile-/271722661772?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiF i_Amplifiers&hash=item3f43eec78c) looks mint and is fairly priced.

[walpurgis]

And this Rotel RA-1210 is nice too.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rotel-RA-1210-Solid-State-Stereo-Integrated-Amplifier-2x60W-/311247858709?pt=UK_Sound_Vision_Vintage_Separates&hash=item4877d16c15

Top of the range then. Decent bit of vintage Japanese kit!

[struth]

Agree the Rotel is rather nice for that money.

[Ninanina]

What about a Pioneer A-400x? I had one new in the 80's and it was pretty good.. they also don't go for a lot of money. They were considered a 'classic' in their time

Like this one: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pioneer-A400X-Integrated-Amplifier-/301421171782?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiF i_Amplifiers&hash=item462e1a1446

[walpurgis]

Agree the Rotel is rather nice for that money.

I quite fancy it, I may weaken to temptation. I've had three of the smaller RA-611 integrateds from the same series and they are lovely amps (I may try and get my last minter one back from my mate). Not sure I really need another integrated, since I just bought that bargain JVC AX-A441 which is going great guns driving the little Ushers.

[struth]

I quite fancy it, I may weaken to temptation. I've had three of the smaller RA-611 integrateds from the same series and they are lovely amps (I may try and get my last minter one back from my mate). Not sure I really need another integrated, since I just bought that bargain JVC AX-A441 which is going great guns driving the little Ushers.



rub it in wont you :D

would have quite fancied it myself if times were normal so I say go for it...you only live once mate.;)

[walpurgis]

rub it in wont you :D

Oh yes!! :ner:


(actually. I bought them out of curiosity as I'd heard good things about them and they are very good, but they'll never really compete with my big Tannoys, so when I've finished playing with them, I may be persuaded to part with them at an attractive price)

[struth]

No booky is going to compete with the Tannoys Geoff. They are special. You are a lucky guy having so many options.

[walpurgis]

No booky is going to compete with the Tannoys Geoff. They are special. You are a lucky guy having so many options.

I don't have that many option Grant. The Tannoys are the main speakers and the Ushers are the only others I have. I do have mountains of speaker parts though and will hope to be assembling something rather interesting soon, if my health doesn't play up (not been quite right recently).

[struth]

Well, first and foremost is to get your health in the up again...then have a building session. Maybe that move is whats called for; some destresing of daily life.:)

[istari_knight]

Whats the rest of your system btw John ?

[twotone]

I believe that the big brother of your amp is a fine sounding thing. The Sony TA-F7B (http://www.thevintageknob.org/sony-TA-F7B.html) doesn't have the switch mode PSU. A chap on the wam had one and rated it amongst the very best sounding vintage integrateds from the period.

In my view you should stick with vintage kit. I think it offers unbeatable value for money. I may be a bit biased as I just spent the last 12 months divesting myself of a relatively modern AN, Croft and Proac system in favour of my present setup.

Likes hen's teeth that amp and completely different from the A6 as is the partner tuner, once clocked the tuner on a German hi-fi site selling top of the line seventies Japanese gear and it was priced at about 1600 euros:eek:

http://www.thevintageknob.org/sony-ST-A7B.html

[twotone]

What about a Pioneer A-400x? I had one new in the 80's and it was pretty good.. they also don't go for a lot of money. They were considered a 'classic' in their time

Like this one: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pioneer-A400X-Integrated-Amplifier-/301421171782?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiF i_Amplifiers&hash=item462e1a1446

Had one of those too and that was also shit:lol:

[Stiffy]

Whats the rest of your system btw John ?

The rest of my system consists of Sansui CDD 201, AR TT & Boston Acoustic A26's…..A load o crap in other words :o
I've also got an old Trio KA 3055 amp that I was happy with but the phono stage stopped working on one channel.

Oh and the recently acquired Sony DVP S7700.

[ff1d1l]

The Harmon Kardon HK 6550, while not common, flies under the radar pricewise at the moment. I won't rhapsodise, but this amp does soundstage, dimensionality, drive and clarity up there with the big boys.

Thread on the wam

http://www.hifiwigwam.com/showthread.php?14577-Harman-Kardon-HK6550

[Stiffy]

Anyone heard a Kenwood 3020 SE, they're available for next to nowt and have read some reasonable reviews about them.
Trouble is I'm totally skint so whatever I get will have to be fully funded by the sale of my Sony TA-F6B (which is up for sale on here now).

I'm asking around £200 but am open to offers or swops, just not sure I'll get anything worthwhile for that sort of cash.
I don't like ebay and would prefer to deal on here with trustworthy like minded people.

If not I've seen the Sansui amp that matches my CDP for around £150 new.

[ff1d1l]

Anyone heard a Kenwood 3020 SE, they're available for next to nowt and have read some reasonable reviews about them.
Trouble is I'm totally skint so whatever I get will have to be fully funded by the sale of my Sony TA-F6B (which is up for sale on here now).

I'm asking around £200 but am open to offers or swops, just not sure I'll get anything worthwhile for that sort of cash.
I don't like ebay and would prefer to deal on here with trustworthy like minded people.

If not I've seen the Sansui amp that matches my CDP for around £150 new.

The Kenwood 3020SE I know well - I've sorted out my folks with a system of the Kenwood driven by a Denon 2900 with JBL 4410's on the end.

I have to say, while the Kenwood is a perfectly decent amp, better, I would say, than the NAD bearing the same model number, and in my folks system noticeably bettering the Sugden A48 it replaced, I have heard the JBL's sound much better, with the same front end but with my Luxkit or JVC amp driving them.

For the sound quality it gives, though, the Kenwood is a bargain for its well-under-a-hundred-quid second hand price.

The HK 6550 I recommended earlier is in a different league to the Kenwood as an amp, though. If you can find one at a decent price, you might well find it's a keeper in your system. It really is that good.

[hermit]

Anyone heard a Kenwood 3020 SE, they're available for next to nowt and have read some reasonable reviews about them.
Trouble is I'm totally skint so whatever I get will have to be fully funded by the sale of my Sony TA-F6B (which is up for sale on here now).

I'm asking around £200 but am open to offers or swops, just not sure I'll get anything worthwhile for that sort of cash.
I don't like ebay and would prefer to deal on here with trustworthy like minded people.

If not I've seen the Sansui amp that matches my CDP for around £150 new.

I think you're undervaluing your amp. I'm sure one sold here (http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?23554-FS-Sony-TA-F6B-Integrated-Amp) on AOS with dodgy vu meters for more than you are asking.

I bet if you put it on ebay with a starting price of £200 you might get a pleasant surprise. Anything with it's own Vintage Knob page tends to get good prices. Here's your amp (http://www.thevintageknob.org/sony-TA-F6B.html). Link to it in your ads.

Also stick it on gumtree at £350 or near offer and gradually drop the price if you get no responses. You might attract a local buyer. I've bought most of my vintage kit locally through gumtree at or near the asking as I value not entrusting it to couriers.

[twotone]

That was my amp, it never sold on here or on any other forum it sold on ebay with one bidder for £255.

Tony


I think you're undervaluing your amp. I'm sure one sold here (http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?23554-FS-Sony-TA-F6B-Integrated-Amp) on AOS with dodgy vu meters for more than you are asking.

I bet if you put it on ebay with a starting price of £200 you might get a pleasant surprise. Anything with it's own Vintage Knob page tends to get good prices. Here's your amp (http://www.thevintageknob.org/sony-TA-F6B.html). Link to it in your ads.

Also stick it on gumtree at £350 or near offer and gradually drop the price if you get no responses. You might attract a local buyer. I've bought most of my vintage kit locally through gumtree at or near the asking as I value not entrusting it to couriers.

[hermit]

That was my amp, it never sold on here or on any other forum it sold on ebay with one bidder for £255.

Tony

Thanks for clarifying Tony. Makes me think that £300+ should be achievable for one in fwo with good vu meters that is also in nice clean cosmetic condition. Might be worth an ebay listing with a starting price of £250.

[Stiffy]

Thanks for clarifying Tony. Makes me think that £300+ should be achievable for one in fwo with good vu meters that is also in nice clean cosmetic condition. Might be worth an ebay listing with a starting price of £250.

It's on ebay now with a BIN of £229.00.

[dantheman91]

Testing the water with Kenwood 3020SE thats being delivered in the next hour cheap enough to try and still a profit to be made if i dont like it. :)