Cool Old Kit You Never Heard Of

[Macca]

I would find the lid of the turntable very annoying. Otherwise the rest of the kit is not bad looking, but I have no idea of the sound quality.

The whole lid lifts up not just that perspex bit.

[Pigmy Pony]

The whole lid lifts up not just that perspex bit.

And your records would be grateful for that I think it looks great - but it would have to be the whole thing, just add some age-appropriate speakers and you're done.

[Barry]

The whole lid lifts up not just that perspex bit.

I realise that, otherwise you wouldn't be able to place a record on the turntable. It's the partial plastic part of the lid that annoys me: why doesn't it extend to cover the whole of the lid? Just showing where on the record the pickup is not that helpful.

Anyway, I believe when playing records it is best to leave the lid up, or removed.

[Macca]

I realise that, otherwise you wouldn't be able to place a record on the turntable. It's the partial plastic part of the lid that annoys me: why doesn't it extend to cover the whole of the lid? Just showing where on the record the pickup is not that helpful.

Anyway, I believe when playing records it is best to leave the lid up, or removed.

Yes I never left the lid on any deck I had. Only re-attach it if the deck's going into storage. But on that Sony it's part of the styling.

[Macca]

Nikko Alpha III and Beta 30 pre-amp



Power output: 80 watts per channel into 8Ω (stereo)

Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz

Total harmonic distortion: 0.008%

Damping factor: 80

Year - 1977 to 1980

[Barry]

Nikko - now that is a name from the past. And from a period where most Japanese audio gear was silver in finish.

I like the look of the kit, but again I'm sure I would find those LED power level indicators 'dancing up and down' even more of a distraction than meters.

[Pigmy Pony]

Where are you getting your pics Martin? Ebay? And how come my Ebay pics don't show on your laptop? One of life's great mysteries, like UFO sightings, and Taylor Swift's popularity.

[Macca]

Where are you getting your pics Martin? Ebay?

Mostly from Bing images.

[Pigmy Pony]

Ah, right. Never tried that.

[Macca]

I'm sort of casually looking for a power amp with orange level meters to match my CD transport and pre-amp and came across this Sansui B-2301



From 1982 (or 1983 depending on which source you believe).

The transformer alone allegedly weighs 12 kilos



There's a couple on eBay but 100V versions only which I won't touch. Probably be easier to find Shergar than a 240V version of it. Might be some 220V versions knocking about in Germany where in those days they'd never even heard of Linn or Naim.

Found a review of this amp and its pre-amp in the 1987 'Hi-Fi Choice' buying guide:






Older readers will recall that, in those days, despite their superior build quality and measured performance compared to the British kit it was illegal for a UK hi-fi magazine to give a Japanese amp a clean bill of health - as we see from the listening notes: