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Vintage Receiver or New Integrated Amplifier for La Scala's?


Peacemaker

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I have a similar pair of black, bumpy '76 LS.  Most likely refurbished similarly, also.

  I'm running them with an H/K 630 and am satisfied. I worked around machinery most of my life, so my hearing may be compromised a little.

 

I can only dream of having your budget. I set $2000 for a "new" stereo. The H/K and LS got me there with room to spare

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I’ve only run La Scala’s with an amp/preamp combo and was always happy with the sound. Now I’m wanting to change it up and try a vintage receiver. I’m 40 years old and I’ve never tried tubes. I’ve always wondered if I would like them so I think now is the time to try. I’m gonna try to find a Fisher 500c that has been gone through and is sonically in good shape. I figure that will be a good way to test the waters before I throw a ton of money at something I might not like. 

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5 hours ago, Buddy Shagmore said:

Chorus II slinger here. I compared my vintage Marantz 2245 back to back with my new Yamaha A S2200 integrated. I have a huge respect and sentiment with my old 2245, but the new Yamaha is just a far superior unit. The detail and presence is outstanding. The low end is punchier and tighter. Plus it comes with a remote, and the VU meters are a joy. I'm really pleased with the Yamaha!

That Yamaha seems to review very well.  +1 for the VU meters!

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2 hours ago, Bubo said:

 

PS

 

LaScalas are forever

 

Instead of buying a car cash, I purchased LaScalas in 1980

 

 5 cars, 3 houses, bunch of girlfriends, and one wife........ all gone

 

The LaScalas are still with me.......

Love it!

 

2 hours ago, Bubo said:

I have a bunch of Receivers, and integrated amps

I love them all but, they don't spec out as well as the separates.

You could score one of the vintage Yamaha A-1000s, A-1020 which are stellar

great phone section

but it's still a 40 year old unit, that has to be rebuilt $200+300-500 = 700 ?

 

 

Power output: 120 watts per channel into 8Ω (stereo)

Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz

Total harmonic distortion: 0.005%

Damping factor: 90

Input sensitivity: 0.16mV (MC), 2.5mV (MM), 150mV (line)

Signal to noise ratio: 80dB (MC), 94dB (MM), 106dB (line)

Channel separation: 70dB (MM), 65dB (line)

Output: 150mV (line)

Dimensions: 435 x 146 x 424.5mm

Weight: 13kg

Year: 1983

 

https://www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/yamaha/a-1000.shtml

I understand the potential for having to rebuild the older units which I kind of why I'm leaning to something more modern. I went with separates in the Sony ES line in the early 90's for the reasons you mentioned. The TA-E1000ESD, ES tuner, ES CD player and ES amplifier are also 30 years old and my experience with the TA-E1000ESD in particular was that it was a nice unit for its time but I'm sure tech has improved greatly since. I also ran two dbx BX-3 amplifiers for the center and main channels in a Pro-Logic system.  My goal is to get back to the basics, 2 channel stereo.

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2 hours ago, Bubo said:

How much do you want to spend ?

A really good 20W Amp is more than you can  use

Schiit looks like they have  really good 20W Class A Solid State

Their products bench test well, performance matters

You would have to come up with a pre amp, depending on what you listen to

If all digital, run a DAC with a volume control or passive direct

 

1/100 Watt is loud listening volume

1/2 Watt is screaming

2 Watts will take you head off

 

Passive pre amp $49

DAC on one input, phono on 2nd input

https://www.schiit.com/products/sys

 

Schiit also has formidable DACs starting around the $700 number

Schiit Aegir

Continuity™ Power Amplifier $799

Stereo, 8 Ohms: 20W RMS per channel 
Stereo, 4 Ohms: 40W RMS per channel
Mono, 8 ohms: 80W RMS 
 
Frequency Response: 20Hz-20Khz, -0.1db, 3Hz-500KHz, -3dB
THD: <0.01%, 20Hz-20KHz, at 20W RMS into 8 ohms 
IMD: <0.01%, CCIR, at 20W RMS into 8 ohms
SNR: >112db, A-weighted, referenced to full output 
Damping Factor: >100 into 8 ohms, 20-20kHz
Gain: 12 (22dB)
Input Sensitivity: AKA Rated Output (Vrms)/Rated Gain. Or, 14.3/12. You do the math.
Input Impedance: 22k ohms SE, 44k ohms balanced
Crosstalk: >95dB, 20-20kHz
Inputs: L/R RCA jacks for stereo input, single XLR for mono input
Topology: Fully complementary, all-BJT, current feedback, no coupling capacitors or DC servos with Continuity™ constant transconductance output stage
Oversight: microprocessor-controlled monitoring and management of critical operational points, including DC offset, with standby mode and relay shut-down for overcurrent, thermal, and other faults
Power Supply: 600VA transformer with dual mono main rails, plus boosted, regulated supply to input, voltage gain and driver stages, plus separate, isolated and regulated rails for microprocessor management. 
Power Consumption: 450W maximum 
Size: 9” x 13” x 3.875”
 
Continuity™: Benefits Beyond Class A
Aegir is our first Continuity speaker amplifier, extending a technology we introduced with the Lyr 3 headphone amp. Technically, Continuity is a way to eliminate transconductance droop outside of the Class A bias region, and extend the benefits of Class A biasing. It also solves the NPN and PNP device mismatch problem, since it uses both NPN and PNP devices on both rails. It’s still a very hot-running amp, though, with over 10W of Class A standing bias.
 
A True No-Excuses Design
Like Vidar, Aegir uses an exotic current-feedback topology, as well as a 100% linear power supply (with 7 separate voltage rails and 600VA transformer) and microprocessor oversight to eliminate capacitors and DC servos in the signal path. No Class D, no switching supplies, no fans, no compromises, nothing in the signal path but music—for a three-figure price tag.
 
Power That Scales
Aegir provides 20W into 8 ohms, doubling to 40W into 4 ohms. Run mono, and you’ll see 80W into 8 ohms. Best of all, Continuity ensures you see Class-A-like performance at all these power outputs.
  
Convenient Standby Mode
On Aegir, we’ve added a front-panel button to put the amp into Standby mode. This de-biases the output stage completely and reduces standing power consumption significantly. This keeps the rest of the amp up and running, without massive heat output.
 
Designed and Built in California
By “designed and built in California" this is what we mean: the vast majority of the total production cost of Aegir—chassis, boards, transformers, assembly, etc—goes to US companies manufacturing in the US. Our chassis are made minutes from our facility. Our PCBs are done just over the hill from us, or done in NorCal. Our transformers are also made in California. You get the picture. 
 
5-Year Warranty and Easy Return Policy
Aegir is covered by a 5-year limited warranty that covers parts and labor. And if you don’t like your Aegir, you can send it back for a refund, minus 5% restocking fee, within 15 days of receiving it.
 

Looks like they have a generous return policy which I could use to test and compare. Not a bad deal I think.

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6 hours ago, Woofers and Tweeters said:

I had my BA/CA2000 combo recapped. I like the amp, but the preamp did not sound as well as the Sansui AU7700 that I was and still am using for the preamp. I am running the CA2000 on a different system to see if it mellows to sound right. I bought a Sansui AU919, but I will have it recapped before I use it. I like the sound of the older amps better than newer ones, but I might not have heard what others have. If you have not had the Marantz or Sansui recapped, I would do that before passing judgement on their sound. 

I'm going to have my CA/BA 2000 combo tested, cleaned and recapped if needed. I also have the TU-9900 tuner but for some reason I get no signal from it although it powers up. 

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2 hours ago, henry4841 said:

Thanks henry! As far a SET integrated, would this be one to get started with and do you have other recommendations also, even if a bit more? 

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1 hour ago, nickyboy6100 said:

I’ve only run La Scala’s with an amp/preamp combo and was always happy with the sound. Now I’m wanting to change it up and try a vintage receiver. I’m 40 years old and I’ve never tried tubes. I’ve always wondered if I would like them so I think now is the time to try. I’m gonna try to find a Fisher 500c that has been gone through and is sonically in good shape. I figure that will be a good way to test the waters before I throw a ton of money at something I might not like. 

Our experiences and paths are very similar. I'm a bit older than you and about 7 years ago I got the bug to try some vintage receivers to change things up and that was before I got the La Scala's a couple years ago. I too, have never tried tubes yet I read glowing (no pun intended) reviews from folks that have either used them for years or those that have recently begun the journey. So, I'm at the point where tubes are very real option for me, but which type, SET, PP, and there's so many tube numbers to understand🤔.

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1 hour ago, rockhound said:

Do any of your current vintage receivers have pre outs? If so maybe buy an external amp.

Yes, they do have pre outs. Should I concentrate on improving the amplifier or the pre amp? Just trying to get the biggest bang for the buck like everyone else 😕

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25 minutes ago, Jeepnmon said:

Thanks Randy! I'm going to take Woofer & Tweeters advice and get mine cleaned etc. But would those approach what might be available in a current integrated?

i would not get it recapped as long as there are no issues with these units  and if I would , I would only replace what failed  - this is based on experience in the field -

 

Recapping would mean that most  techs in the USA  tend to use  higher values  in the newer components  which alters the Signature of the Amplifier  , a good tech would source the higher quality equivalence in Japan from select suppliers -

 

  keep using the CA/BA2000  is my  recommendation -

 

-as far as  whether a CA/BA 2000 is equivalent to what is currently available , NO  , the CA/BA 2000 are superior - except if you spend 15k$ ---for a Bryston -or the Yamaha higher A-S series lineup or Luxman  -for their higher range  only  -

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