wsu99999 Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 Thanks to the members of the forum, I've narrowed my search for a vintage receiver to two models (chosen due to close proximity to me and price). Members of the forum recommended that I go with an old Nakamichi receiver (Stasis model), HK 30 series, or an old Yamaha series. I've found two of the prior in my neck of the woods and wanted help finishing this off so I can go home with one of them today. Here is what I've found - please chime in with pros and cons and anything I should be looking out for..... Nakamichi SR-3a Stasis receiver - 100 bucks - I was told it is mint and the guy that has it is a huge audiophile with more high end speakers than anyone I've seen - he even has the Focal Utopia speakers which are about 100k. Either way, I'm interested in going to this guys house and hearing his stuff! I also found a Yamaha Natural Sound CR-620 - 40 bucks - If the Yamaha is going to produce the same sound quality as the Nakamichi, I would rather save the 60 bucks and go that route, but if the Nakamichi is hands down better, then I would rather spring for the extra cash. As with everyone, money is tight right now and I would like to keep the amount spent to a minimum. The receiver will be powering 2 LaScalas (AA Crossovers). I mainly listen at moderate levels, but I do like to crank it up sometimes, so either receiver I would like to be able to do both, but for sound quality, it's more important to me that it sounds good at mid to high levels than at ear-bleeding levels. I just sold my Marantz 7001 because I'm downgrading from a 5.1 Heritage home theater to a 2.1 setup. Right now, I'm running my LaScalas off of a Sherwood AD266R and I'm not happy with the sound quality. If neither of these receivers are better than the Sherwood, let me know that too - I may just have to wait. Thanks for your help - the sooner the better as I have to make a decision on the Nakamichi today. Regards, Arron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverSport Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 The Nak should be 45wpc and the Yamaha 35wpc???...I don't you will hear a night and day difference if both are running properly and are in very nice condition... Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willland Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 Just a thought. http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/ele/1267624955.html Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesboy Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 I have no experience with the Nakamichi or Yamaha amps but I can highly recommend HK 30 series recievers. I bought a HK 630 for 60 bucks about a year ago and the sound quality it produces rivals my Fisher x-100 tube amp which replaced a Mac 2505/C-26 combo in my system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wsu99999 Posted July 16, 2009 Author Share Posted July 16, 2009 I can only stall about 30 more minutes on the nakamichi, any more guidance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J M O N Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 I can't say I've heard the Yamaha, but I know you will really like the Nakamichi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest David H Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 Nakamichi will do nicely. Yamaha's sound overly bright with horns IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hifi jim Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 +1 for Nakamichi. The Nak is the most neutral of all those mentioned so far. Having owned both an HK 630 & 930 receivers and a Nak, my take is the Nak is less colored and more truthful while still smooth. The HKs have more bass but sound a bit veiled by comparison. I'd add NAD to the mix as well, with a sound in between the HK and Nak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RT FAN Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 I am not familiar with either receiver but own a pair of Nak tape decks and they are real workhorses. The one thing I like about buying from an'audiophile" is that you know the piece will be well taken care of and should be in mint condition. Let us know what you end up deciding WSU. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuyOtherSoundEquipment Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 Let us know if you hear those Focal Utopias... I've always wanted to hear those monsters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wsu99999 Posted July 17, 2009 Author Share Posted July 17, 2009 I decided on the Nakamichi. Hooked it up and wow - it sounds better than any other receiver I've ever hooked up to my LaScalas. Truly beautiful..... BUT - after hearing the guys' system I purchased the nak off of, I now can't help but hear all of the flaws with the LaScalas... I wish I wouldn't have had him demo his system!! First off, this guy had the biggest tube amps I've ever seen. He said he had either 450-600 watts going to each speaker, all tube power! He had the Utopias, and we auditioned them, and they sounded amazing. However, the speakers I was truly impressed with started with an A, were quite large, and almost looked like flat, large rectangles, almost a wall of speakers. Anyone know what these are? I was very impressed, they looked vintage, and I'm sure could be picked up for a relatively small price. This guy had amazing peices of gear laying ALL OVER his house. He had 4 stereo rooms, a home theater, and his garage, all with full systems in them and all with random peices of gear laying around. I was very impressed. I don't know what the guy does for a living, but he seriously had at least 500k in gear - no bs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hifi jim Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 but he seriously had at least 500k in gear - no bs! So, what's his address? [] Congrats on the Nak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill H. Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 Congrats on the purchase. I too love Focal speakers. The Big boys are truly awesome speakers. Myself budget wise, I like the Focal Chorus 726V series.............JMHO. Enjoy ! The speakers with an A Where you maybe talking about Avalon ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wsu99999 Posted July 17, 2009 Author Share Posted July 17, 2009 No - I asked him. To my suprise, they can be had for about 600 bucks. He had Acoustat model 4's with the medallion transformer upgrade. They sounded beautiful. I think it had a lot to do with the amplification (these were literally the largest tube amps I've ever seen in my life. Each tube was larger than an pear and it had to weigh about 165lbs each. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davis419b Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 Did they look like these ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wsu99999 Posted July 17, 2009 Author Share Posted July 17, 2009 WAY bigger! Of course, a picture is relative to scale, but those look much smaller than what I'm referring to - they would have to be some of the biggest tube amps made. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wsu99999 Posted July 17, 2009 Author Share Posted July 17, 2009 After looking at the pic closer, push both of those together, add 2 more of those box things and add bigger tubes. That would be the size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davis419b Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 I believe these were 270 watts each weighing in at 250 lbs. each ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wsu99999 Posted July 17, 2009 Author Share Posted July 17, 2009 Like I said, he said they were either 450 or 600 wats. I must have been off on the 165lbs. They looked custom - I've definately never seen any that big before on any website, auction, or floor room anywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverSport Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 I think you will be very happy with your Nakamichi STASIS receiver... Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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