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Pioneer SA-5500 II Component System

January 27, 2013 · admin

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A complete late 70’s component system!

This gorgeous little Pioneer component system features the SA-5500 II Amplifier, the TX-5500 Tuner and the CT-F500 tape deck, all of which hail from around 1977/78. This combination is in truly excellent condition given its ~35 years of age. These components represented Pioneer’s entry level high-fidelty components.

Pioneer was very much a market leader in the 1970s, setting the trends for the other brands to follow. Pioneer developed this now iconic style of HiFi with its unique narrow profile and optional wood enclosures in the very early 1970s. This design was picked up in very short notice and copied by competitors such as Kenwood, JVC and Sanyo.

The SA-5500 II amplifier produces that warm sound so typical of 1970s Pioneer. While this unit is clearly not in the ‘Beast League’ Pioneer’s 15 Watts RMS rating is very conservative and this amp has plenty of headroom, low down power and enough grunt to have your neighbours complaining.

Pioneer’s tuners from this era a near legendary and the TX2-5500 tuner can reputably grab stations clearly even in your basement, and it looks great lit with a warm golden glow.

The CT-F 500 Full Auto Stop Cassette Deck incorporates single DC servomotor design, attractive independent volume meters, separate belts and diecast flywheel for smooth constant rotation and supports Fe-Cr and CrO2 tapes and features Dolby noise reduction technology. This unit has had its belts replaced. This deck does appear to have a slightly different finish on it’s brushed aluminium.

Together the entire combination looks stunning and compliments each other perfectly, and is in excellent condition with only minimal and minor marks from normal wear.

iPod/iPhone/iPad and Bluetooth connectivity can be added to this system to bring its vintage quality into the new millennium.

The SA-5500II Amplifier
Specifications:

Power output: 15 Watts RMS per channel into 8 ohms
Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz
Total harmonic distortion: 0.5%
Input sensitivity: 2.5mV (MM), 150mV (line)
Signal to noise ratio: 71dB (MM), 87dB (line)
Output: 150mV (line), 30mV (DIN)
Semiconductors: 2 x IC, 7 x transistors, 7 x diodes
Dimensions: 380 x 124 x 269mm
Weight: 5.2kg

The TX2-5500 Tuner

Specifications:

FM Usable Sensitivity: Mono; 10.7dBf (1.9uV)
FM S/N Ratio (at 65dBf): 72dB (mono), 68dB (stereo)
FM Capture Ratio: 1.0dB
FM Alternate Channel Selectivity: 60dB
Stereo Separation: 35dB (1kHz), 30dB (30-15,000Hz)
Dimensions: 14 31/32″ (W) X 4 7/8″ (H) X 10 19/32″ (D)
Weight: 7lbs 11oz

The CT-F 500 Full Auto Stop Cassette Deck
Specifications:

Heads: 1 x Hard Permalloy (record/playback), 1 x Ferrite (erase)
Frequency response: 40Hz to 15000Hz (Cr02 tape)
Signal to noise ratio: 54dB (dolby off), 64dB (dolby on)
Wow and flutter: 0.05% wrms
Input sensitivity: 0.3mV (mic), 65mV (line), 9mV (DIN)
Output level: 700mV (line, DIN), 100mV (headphones)
Drive system: 1 x dc servo motor
Dimensions: 380 x 140 x 261mm
Weight: 5kg

Vector Research VR-7000 1978, Japan

January 27, 2013 · admin

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1978 $USD RRP: $550.00
Inflation Adjusted $USD RRP: $1,996.00

Today they remain virtually unknown but Vector Research was a small company based in Chatsworth California that produced high quality audio gear and was in direct competition with the likes of NAD, Luxman & Harman Kardon. This Receiver, the VR-7000 is an absolutely stunning performer that outshines many renowned brands and models priced for thousand’s of dollars.

The original lineup from Vector Research were produced by Crown Radio of Japan and share more than a passing resemblance to many NAD and Rotel units from the same era. Vector Research clearly was taking aim at the top brands by developing products for the high end of the market with units priced at the time for $1000.00USD MSRP (that’s > $3,600.00 USD in 2014 coin!). However be wary of the later models from Vector Research which were manufactured by NEC, they are just not in the same league as the originals.

The VR-7000 is very conservatively rated at 65 Watts RMS Per Channel at 8 ohms and 105 Watts RMS Per Channel at 4 ohms with 0.01% THD.

This Receiver is one of those rare surprises, its sound is simply stunning and in more than one opinion it out performs many of the big names. Snappy and precise with enough power to back it up, the sound is zero coloration and ultra fast, not even Yamaha high power amps sound this fast! By the way it sounds the damping factor for this machine appears to be in 200-300 range. You will be impressed, because it makes passive speakers (this means, all consumer models) sound as if they were active speakers.

This is a rare and magnificent amp, the second best model in the line and the first generation Vector Research built to pro standards. Today you would pay hundreds of dollars more for any comparable vintage amp in the same class such as a Marantz 2265.

All three sections of this receiver are designed as if they were separates.
The box and knobs/switches are all metal.
Block diagram is printed on top of the case, only a few high end Sansui amps had that feature (AU-11000, AU-20000, Professional and Definition series)
The DC circuit layout uses twin pairs of matched discreet black/green NEC output transistors; huge power transformer allows for easy handling of transients and real-time resolving of dynamic peaks in full-scale music.
Perfect for pop, dance and rock, and excellent with everything else.

Specifications:

65 WPC RMS /8 Ohms
105 WPC RMS /4 Ohms
220 WPC Dynamic power /8 ohms
0.01% THD
Power Consumption Rated at 420 Watts
1978, Japan
Dimensions: 17 1/2″ x 14 1/2″ x 5 1/4″

1975-77 Kenwood KA-3500 Component Amplifier

January 10, 2013 · admin

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Kenwood (Trio) produced some amazing amplifiers over the course of the 1970s and the 1975-77 KA series of amplifiers are a superb examples of Kenwood at its finest, combining stunning brushed aluminium minimalist styling with solid performance.

Whats in a Model Number? It’s funny how a model number can give you an impression about a component, and this one leads you to think that this was a low end model. However as you can see by this unit’s original price tag and it’s specifications (and if you actually auditioned it) you would find it to be anything but!

This unit was positioned as a mid-level component amplifier in Kenwood’s 1975-1977 product lineup. The KA-3500 was in direct competition with the likes of Pioneer’s SA-7500 which was also powered at 40 Watts RMS per channel.

This is one of the sweetest sounding little amplifiers I have listened to, with plenty of detail and enough power to be the life of the party. It simply puts a big smile on my face every time I listen to it!

Its features includes inputs for a Turntable, Tuner, two Tape Deck’s and an Auxiliary, with dubbing support provided. IMHO this is one of best sounding amps in its price range, and performs even well beyond it.

Aesthetically I think this is a beautifully presented component. Apple Corporation could learn a thing or two from the 1975-77 design team at Kenwood responsible for the KA series that sported brushed aluminium fascia and minimalist design.

Inspired by another vintage audio enthusiast I decided to experiment with some colour and refinished this Amplifier and Tuner with a professional powder-coat in “Firebox Red”, I think the end result is simply stunning!

KA-3500 Specifications

KT-5500 Specifications

Sensitivity at 30 dB quieting, 1,9 μV
Alternate channel selectivity 60 dB
Stereo separation 45 dB
3-gang phase linear tuning capacitor with FETs for high sensitivity
2-gang variable capacitor for AM
4-element phase-linear ceramic filter improves tone quality.
PLL in FM Multiplex for improved stereo separation
Accurate 2-meter tuning with signal strength and center-channel tuning meters.
Deluxe dial with easy to read linear tuning scale with 200 kHz calibrations for FM
FM Auto Muting
Optional CB-3 walnut veneer cabinet, B-5 walnut veneer side panels or D-5 carrying handles available.

One reviewer:

“Wow is it powerful…I wanted to say every time I turn this system on I still get goose bumps…My wife even love’s it and she has seen a lot of systems go thru our house” http://fullrangedriver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=803

1969 B&O BeoMaster 1200 Receiver

January 10, 2013 · admin

Bang & Olufsen are well known for their inspired iconic design and high fidelity equipment but did you ever wonder where their inspiration came from? Well it came from one Jacob Jensen born 1926 in Copenhagen. Today Jacob Jensen is a product designer with the greatest number of honors and awards in the world with 19 of his works selected for the Museum of Modern Art.

The Beomaster 1200 is one of these pieces. It is not an overstatement to call it an icon of modern design, released in 1969 its styling is timeless and incorporated the celebrated “slide rule” design that came to define B&O in the decades that followed. Still as striking today as it was when it was released it remains one of Jacob Jensen’s defining pieces and this model is currently on display in the New York Museum of Modern Art.

The unique minimalist slide rule design featuring Helvetica type face heralded the beginning of the stunning range of designer audio visual gear that B&O are still famous for to this day.

This particular example of the Beomaster 1200 is in good condition with only a minor mark on the face. Its sound exceeded my expectations, performing at high volume without noticeable distortion. Rated at a modest 15 Watts this unit is not going to shake your foundations, but matched with the right pair of speakers this unit will fill your living space with clear, well balanced tube like sound like so many of the early solid state amplifiers. This unique Receiver can also be mounted vertically on walls and would make a sophisticated contribution to even the most stylish home.

Cambridge Audio P140X Pre/Main Amp

January 10, 2013 · admin

Cambridge Audio is an award winning true High Fidelity manufacturer of audio equipment with a reputation for innovation and high quality products. Of course if your an audiophile then you know this already!

Founded in 1968 Cambridge Audio quickly made an impact on the market with its cutting-edge technical innovations and unique aesthetics. This is a rare and stunning example of their slim-line designs from the early 1970’s. You will not see a model like this on ebay any time soon!

Good design is an art form and when done right the result should be timeless. And P140X certainly has that, it looks as stunning today as it must have in the early 1970s. If you saw this amplifier in a department store today you would think it a new model just released.

As for official specs, or any other information on this unit, I have not been able to find anything! So lets start with what is observable.

The unit has a gun-metal grey brushed aluminium front with all aluminium controls. It has wood panels for sides that are not veneered but appear to be solid pieces of timber. (I am not a tree expert so I know not what tree it was from). It’s looks are elegant and timeless and IMO this unit could just have easily been released in 2013 instead of the 1960s or 1970s.

Inside the unit is a large toroidal transformer which gives the unit a fair bit of weight, along with a massive heat sink that goes the entire underside of the unit.

Speculating I would guess the unit produces around 40 watts RMS. Its sound is precise, punchy detailed and controlled even at high volume, in short this is a precision instrument.

Cosmetically this unit has some marks (typical of most vintage units of similar age) with one deep mark on one of the switches as seen in the photograph in the banner. However none of these blemishes are visible from listening distance.

[one_half]On the front:

The unit has four inputs labelled pickup1, pickup2, radio and aux.
It has a toggle switch for stereo and mono.
It has a toggle switch labelled tape monitor with on/off/mute
Treble and Bass controls
Hi & Lo Filter toggle switch
3.5mm Headphone Jack
Volume & On/Off Switch

[/one_half]

On the back:

Sockets for both alternating and direct current and a main fuse.
In the Power Amp Section: Banana Jack for Speaker Connection and a Fuse for Left and Right.
Banana Jack for Ground
In the Tape Monitor Section it has a dial marked “adjust level” RCA stereo input and output and 2 DIN inputs with one labelled decoder.
In the section labelled “Pre-Amp Inputs” we have RCA stereo inputs for PU1, PU2, AUX and RADIO.
And a label that reads “Made in England by Cambridge Audio Ltd St Ives XXXXXXXXXXXX.

The Akai AA-5000 – Hi-Fidelity for the Original Hipster – 1966 to 1969

January 10, 2013 · admin

So what did the hipster-about-town listen to their favourite grooves on in the mid 1960’s? Well if it was an Akai amplifier it almost certainly was the AA-5000, and especially so if they were into Reel-to-Reel.

1akaireeltoreelrange19s7ym_2 From the decade that birthed component HiFi and witnessed the transition from the tube to the transistor these units were manufactured between 1966 to 1969 and were Akai’s mainstay amplifier for this period. The more commonly found AA-5000S was a later version that extended the product lifecycle into the mid 1970s. Featuring an enormous (for the 1960s) 110W of Music Power and incorporating channel independent bass and treble controls, high and low filters as well as some advanced alien hi-tech thing called a ‘Electronics Protection Circuit’ to protect those precious transistors fresh from the Roswell crash in New Mexico……Yep! These units are definitely groovy in far-out happening ways!

Many believe transistors appeared on the market a little too quickly but German research into semiconductors had been going on many years before the Roswell Crash.

Many believe transistors appeared on the market a little too quickly to be of Earthly origin but German research into semiconductors had been going on for decades before the Roswell Crash.

As can be seen this fine specimen is in absolutely stunning condition and possibly one of the best example of one of these models available today. Even the power light globe appears to be original! There are some very light marks on the lid of the unit consistent with light use and a tiny piece of veneer is missing from the front right, but as can been seen in the above pictures these are hardly noticeable.

The sound is bright with surprising punch yet still retains that mellow valve like timbre with a surprising amount of power for 1960s amplifier. While it won’t blow your ceiling off like a 1970s Monster, matched with the right pair of speakers this unit performs beautifully.

I have noticed that this model is very sensitive to speaker cable lengths and quality, so if you do get one make sure you get some high-quality speaker cables of equal lengths.

Features:

Silicon Power Transistors for the final stage obtainable highest performance and temperature characteristics
E.P.C (Electronics Protection Circuit), protecting the power transistors from damage in case of short circuit at the output terminals
Completely O.T.L. System Distortion Free well dampened reproduction
110W Music Power
Direct reproduction from the tape head by equaliser for head
DIN Jack
Headphone Jack
Independent filters for high and low
Independent tone control for right and left speakers
Dimensions: 17″ (W) x 5-3/8″ (H) x 10-5/8″ (D)
Weight: 17.6 lbs

1977 Harman Kardon 730 Twin

January 1, 2013 · admin

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Firsts seem to have come naturally to Harman Kardon, they were the inventors of the first Receiver and then only a few short years later the first Stereo Receiver.

So it might have gone unnoticed that Harman Kardon was the first HiFi company to introduce true twin-power Receivers into the market with separate power transformers, rectifier circuits, and filter capacitors for each channel.

But their competitors did notice. From the mid-1970s onwards twin power supplies began to appear in receivers and amplifiers from brands such as Marantz, Pioneer, Sansui and Kenwood, but these only appeared in their high-end units and in many cases it was not as well designed and executed as the technology Harmon Kardon had introduced into even their low-end models!

Integrated originally into their 1972 product line up, Harman Kardon’s Twin Power design provided numerous tangible benefits and some that were more subtle. These included doubling the current load capacity, incredible dynamic power and incredible channel separation with a high dampening factor to deliver what HK described as “Ultrawideband Sound”.

The HK-730 Twin Power: Completely separate power supplies for Ultra-Wideband Sound!

Most collectors and enthusiasts know that the power ratings of most quality vintage amps are highly conservative. Even systems rated at 15 Watt RMS seem to out perform many modern amps rated at seemingly much higher values. This seems to be doubly true for this amp. Rated at a modest 40 Watts RMS per channel this amp packs a punch that simply KO’s amps supposedly rated much higher.

This was evident when in 1977 the Boston Audio Society performed a comparison study in which the baby Harman Kardon 330C receiver rated at only 20 watts RMS per channel outclassed a 75 watt RMS per channel Marantz 2275 in some tests!

The Harman Kardon 330 – Marantz Killer???

Harman Kardon stated in their advertising material the conservative nature of the power ratings on these models, and they were right! Very rarely will you need to take the volume past 33% on this unit! (with exception to party animals and rock stars of course).

The HK 730 was the top-of-the-line model for their x30 range but they did offer an audiophile high-end series which they labelled Citation – but that’s another story!

Two amps were released that year in this class with the twin power supply design, the 430 Twin rated at 25 watts RMS and it’s big daddy 730 Twin.

These units along with their older cousins the 930 and the 630 have recently been (re)discovered by audiophiles and are rapidly gaining in popularity, with many preferring these units to high end Marantz, Sansui and Pioneer.

This model was also equipped with a uniquely patented Harman Kardon tuning section which measures not signal strength but signal to noise ratio, allowing for precision tuning for the purest sound possible.

I absolutely adore the styling of this amp with the large perspex black tuner and backlit indicator section and the aluminum fascia featuring Helvetica lettering! On a purely aesthetic note this unit works well to blend modern black HiFi components in a stack with the classic silver faced components.

The analog controls include contour (loudness), high and lo-cut, speaker selection, bass treble and volume controls. What I love about this unit is the abundance of inputs including two auxiliary and two tape inputs with options for tape dubbing, and one of my favourite features is the two turntable inputs which makes playing vinyl at parties easy and a lot of fun!

High Fidelity Review has to say this about the Harman Kardon 730:

“The 730 is exceptional in all these regards. Background noise is almost non-existent allowing for a perfect canvas onto which to “paint” music. Bass tones are always satisfying, and midrange and treble are very clear. Clipping is graceful, resulting in slightly compressed sound, but no apparent DC nasties. The 730 also demonstrates extraordinary tonal balance. The bass and treble controls are virtually unneeded the sound from the amplifiers is naturally so full and well balanced.” http://www.highfidelityreview.com/harman-kardon-730-receiver.html

SPECIFICATIONS

Tuning range: FM, MW
Power output: 40 watts per channel into 8Ω (stereo)
Frequency response: 4Hz to 130kHz
Total harmonic distortion: 0.1%
Damping factor: 30
Input sensitivity: 2.5mV (MM), 150mV (line)
Signal to noise ratio: 72dB (MM), 77dB (line)
Dimensions: 432 x 368 x 140mm
Weight: 13.7kg

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