Cool Old Kit You Never Heard Of

[Tim]

Who fancies a Setton AS-1100?

That's a gorgeous bit of kit visually

[Barry]

Thought it might be worthwhile to bring up this thread I started in 2009 (!) : https://theartofsound.net/forum/show...p?17750-Eye-Fi

Not surprisingly many of the images have disappeared, but I'll try to restore them.

Curiously, I neglected to consider headphones (sorry Tim ), but that probably says more about me.

[Pete The Cat]

Bryan 9000 integrated amplifier.

I had one of these as my first amp, handed down from my folks who had used it to play background music in their shop. I was young and ignorant and assumed that its looks meant that it was way off the pace, so I quickly saved up to replace it with a shiny Rotel RA314 which had VU meters. More fool me, in recent years I've read items on the 'net from folks who say that the 9000 was a real gem and comparing it to the Nait 1.

I kept mine stored away afterwards but sadly over the years the caps have leaked inside and so it's probably beyond economic repair.

I have no affiliation to this advert, I'm just using the link to show a picture of the model. There's not much information on them other than the company was based in Cheshire. Another bit of British hi-fi history.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256940690...Bk9SR_qOj8zcZw

[Alex_UK]

Certainly never heard of Bryan, interesting!

I am sure everyone will have heard of Rogers, but looking at that ad it also showed me one for a Ravensbourne amp and FM Tuner - I threw the exact same pair into the tip when I cleared out a load of stuff in 2000! Thankfully I kept the Garrard 401 than came with it all - the Rogers LS3/5a speakers I was also offered for free I didn't take, as I thought they wouldn't be as good as the Wharfedale 2XP speakers I had at the time! (and also ended up at the tip... which was frankly the best place for them.)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256774732...E6VT34TGWKTM68

[Macca]

Bryan 9000 integrated amplifier.

I had one of these as my first amp, handed down from my folks who had used it to play background music in their shop. I was young and ignorant and assumed that its looks meant that it was way off the pace, so I quickly saved up to replace it with a shiny Rotel RA314 which had VU meters. More fool me, in recent years I've read items on the 'net from folks who say that the 9000 was a real gem and comparing it to the Nait 1.

I kept mine stored away afterwards but sadly over the years the caps have leaked inside and so it's probably beyond economic repair.

I have no affiliation to this advert, I'm just using the link to show a picture of the model. There's not much information on them other than the company was based in Cheshire. Another bit of British hi-fi history.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256940690...Bk9SR_qOj8zcZw

Never heard of Bryan either but they are way before my time but I've had a few amps from that era like Eagle and Prinzsound. Low power and quite high distortion.

I think you had a better amp in the Rotel than it or the Nait really. More than twice the power for starters. I know the original Nait has attained mythical status now but they really aren't special beyond the idiosyncratic appearance.

[Pete The Cat]

Never heard of Bryan either but they are way before my time but I've had a few amps from that era like Eagle and Prinzsound.

Eagle! My first turntable was their D7500. It was the cheapest option around in 1977.

[Barry]

I have heard of Bryan amplifiers: the 9000 has an entry in the 1971 HiFi Yearbook. Then it was selling for £50.

I certainly wouldn't pay the price the eBay seller is asking!

[Barry]

Certainly never heard of Bryan, interesting!

I am sure everyone will have heard of Rogers, but looking at that ad it also showed me one for a Ravensbourne amp and FM Tuner - I threw the exact same pair into the tip when I cleared out a load of stuff in 2000! Thankfully I kept the Garrard 401 than came with it all - the Rogers LS3/5a speakers I was also offered for free I didn't take, as I thought they wouldn't be as good as the Wharfedale 2XP speakers I had at the time! (and also ended up at the tip... which frankly was the best place for them.)

Er - you made a big mistake there. LS3/5a speakers have achieved mythical status and they now change hands for enormous and unjustifiable sums of money. You could have used them in the interim, and sold them later.

At least you recognised the 401 as worth having.

[Pigmy Pony]

Oh dear. Should have gone to Skipshirkers. But if it's any consolation Alex, there's a pair of Denton 2XP on Ebay going for £136. So not totally worthless.

[Macca]

Sansui TA-500DC Receiver:



Power output: 50 watts per channel into 8Ω (stereo)
Speaker load impedance: 8Ω (minimum)
Year - 1979

The grab handles were optional but I think you have to have them - it's not so special looking without.