Vintage integrated amp to pair with Bose 301's

Please, no bose bashing. It is what I have until i upgrade. I am running a goodwill jvc since my old Sony died and am fascinated with getting a 70's made in Japan integrated amp. I have a line on a kenwood ka-7300 (with kt-6500 reciever) and a ka-7100. Both at 200$ and rated 9/10. I am also in the market for a cd player, I have been using a dvd player for 10 years and it is giving in. I know very little about home stereo. I would love to here some thoughts on the amps, subs to go with and future compasitor upgrades on the 301s and far future speaker upgrades.

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Originally Posted by Beatleeater

Please, no bose bashing. It is what I have until i upgrade. I am running a goodwill jvc since my old Sony died and am fascinated with getting a 70's made in Japan integrated amp. I have a line on a kenwood ka-7300 (with kt-6500 reciever) and a ka-7100. Both at 200$ and rated 9/10. I am also in the market for a cd player, I have been using a dvd player for 10 years and it is giving in. I know very little about home stereo. I would love to here some thoughts on the amps, subs to go with and future compasitor upgrades on the 301s and far future speaker upgrades.

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The Kenwoods had a very solid reputation back in the day and still do among vintage component fanciers. $200 for either, especially the kenwood ka-7300, is quite reasonable if it is in decent condition. Many would argue, though, that for best sound, (that is, original sound), the power supply electrolytic capacitors ought to be replace; if you aren't a DIYer that will cost you something once you've found a competent technician.

The Kenwood tuners had, if anything, an even better reputation than their amps. If it works, KT-6500 is a safe bet.

http://www.audiocostruzioni.com/r_s/...0ka%207300.jpg

http://www.vintage-tuner.com/tuner2/...kt-6500-01.jpg

Sansui had some really good integrated amps as well.

You might be surprised how reasonable a new NAD integrated would be, new and still sound good with the 301's.

What speakers etc. to upgrade to from what you have depends on your budget.

The old Kenwood CD player may get you by for a short time but digital has come a long way, you could do better with an entry level Marantz or Music Hall.

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Originally Posted by Feanor

The Kenwoods had a very solid reputation back in the day and still do among vintage component fanciers. $200 for either, especially the kenwood ka-7300, is quite reasonable if it is in decent condition. Many would argue, though, that for best sound, (that is, original sound), the power supply electrolytic capacitors ought to be replace; if you aren't a DIYer that will cost you something once you've found a competent technician.

The Kenwood tuners had, if anything, an even better reputation than their amps. If it works, KT-6500 is a safe bet.

http://www.audiocostruzioni.com/r_s/...0ka%207300.jpg

http://www.vintage-tuner.com/tuner2/...kt-6500-01.jpg

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I pulled the trigger on th ka 7300 and kt 6500 for $225. Pick them up wed. Thanks for the imput. Seems like a deal.

Nice pick up! I like the sound of vintage gear. Here is a great buy on an excellent inexpensive Marantz CD player. A friend of mine bought this on my recommendation and it sounds great. I think it would be a great match for your vintage gear.

MARANTZ CD5005 Compact Disc Player | Accessories4less

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Originally Posted by blackraven

Nice pick up! I like the sound of vintage gear. Here is a great buy on an excellent inexpensive Marantz CD player. A friend of mine bought this on my recommendation and it sounds great. I think it would be a great match for your vintage gear.

MARANTZ CD5005 Compact Disc Player | Accessories4less

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Looks like a deal! Thanks for the link

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Originally Posted by Beatleeater

I pulled the trigger on th ka 7300 and kt 6500 for $225. Pick them up wed. Thanks for the imput. Seems like a deal.

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Congratulations. With any luck they will prove to be great vintage components. Personally I love the look of those "silver" era components.

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Originally Posted by Feanor

Congratulations. With any luck they will prove to be great vintage components. Personally I love the look of those "silver" era components.

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I have to agree. I have a 1976 Technic's SU7600 integrated amp in sliver and a Hitachi tuner from the 70's and I love the look. My 1977 Luxman tuner is also beautiful with its silver front and rosewood case.

The new Yamaha and Technic's gear are throw backs to that era.


https://www.google.com/search?q=tech...NedwBMWGGgc%3D

Luxman T-110 Solid State FM Stereo Tuner

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Originally Posted by blackraven

I have to agree. I have a 1976 Technic's SU7600 integrated amp in sliver and a Hitachi tuner from the 70's and I love the look. My 1977 Luxman tuner is also beautiful with its silver front and rosewood case.

The new Yamaha and Technic's gear are throw backs to that era.

https://www.google.com/search?q=tech...NedwBMWGGgc%3D

Luxman T-110 Solid State FM Stereo Tuner

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Yes, the Luxman components were very stylish indeed. I especially like their receivers.

http://classicreceivers.com/wp-conte...man-r-1120.jpg

For me though some of the Pioneer and Kenwood models epitomized the era. For example this SA9100 integrated; note that it's (a) silver, (b) has a nice wood case (which was optional), (c) all rotary and toggle switches -- no pushbuttons. Some of the Kenwoods had UV meters but note that they are analog.

http://www.classicaudio.com/forsale/pio/SA9100a.jpg

http://product-images.highwire.com/4507162/5891-1.jpg

http://img.canuckaudiomart.com/uploa...grated_amp.jpg

That vintage Kenwood and Pioneer gear was nice. Vintage Marantz was my favorite.
My Technic's Integrated has wood sides. When I bought it, it came down to a similar Kenwood. They both sounded the same to me so I went with the Technic's which was about $10 less and I was on a college student budget back then. The next years model had VU meters.

My Technic's still sounds good, one of these days I am going to recap it. My son was using it till I gave him my Parasound amp and my AVA preamp.

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Originally Posted by blackraven

That vintage Kenwood and Pioneer gear was nice. Vintage Marantz was my favorite.
My Technic's Integrated has wood sides. When I bought it, it came down to a similar Kenwood. They both sounded the same to me so I went with the Technic's which was about $10 less and I was on a college student budget back then. The next years model had VU meters.

My Technic's still sounds good, one of these days I am going to recap it. My son was using it till I gave him my Parasound amp and my AVA preamp.

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The Technics offerings were highly competitive with the other major brands. Technics, along with Yamaha, "pioneered" charcoal-grey faced components, e.g. this SA=300K receiver; Sansui went straight to black on many components. My sentimental preference remains with the silver; to me black-face in the '70s foretold the ubiquitous and generally ugly black components of the '80s and '90s ...

http://www.hifiengine.com/images/mod...ront_panel.jpg
Sansui's AU-20000 integrated was an over-the-top example in black-face ...

http://img.usaudiomart.com/uploads/l...integrated.jpg

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Originally Posted by Mr Peabody

Sansui had some really good integrated amps as well.

You might be surprised how reasonable a new NAD integrated would be, new and still sound good with the 301's.

What speakers etc. to upgrade to from what you have depends on your budget.

The old Kenwood CD player may get you by for a short time but digital has come a long way, you could do better with an entry level Marantz or Music Hall.

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My first real receiver was a Sansui 661. It lasted me many years and it saw many speaker changes through the years until the left channel went silent and I replaced it with a Marantz SR580 that I still use to power my outdoor speakers.

I just wish that I had the rig I have now, back then. We would get together on Friday nights at different guys houses and play the latest LP's, or check out the newest piece of gear that someone picked up.

I loved the sound of the receivers and int. amps from the 70's and very early 80's. Not the last word in detail but there was no fatigue or harshness from what I remember. Having tone controls really helped with poor recordings and eventually when CD's came out.

I never owned a receiver in the 1970s. My first system consisted of a Dynaco PAT-4 preamp, ST-80 power amp, and FM-5 tuner. I'm havd a couple of integrated amps along the way since then, but I've only had receivers in secondary systems.

I bought a Pioneer SX-5 new, in the new mid-'80s; it's still in use. I bought a NAD 7130 very used, in about 2007 and it's still in use too. Neither of these is typical of the great '70s components, however.

http://www.hifigoteborg.se/photo%20a..._SX_5L_800.jpg

http://www.mkvirtual.com/vintage_aud...s/NAD_7130.JPG

Attachment 9912I would like a Harmon Kardon A402 to power Bose 301's.