CLASSIC receivers

marantz Model 2600 (1978)

The marantz Model 2600 from 1978 was the most powerful stereo receiver by marantz (owned by Superscope at this time) and it was almost the most powerful receiver from the "monster receiver" era. (The most powerful was the Technics SA-1000 - see below). The Model 2600 is an updated version (with added Quartz Locking tuner circuit) of the previous Model 2500. Powered by a Toroidal Dual Power Supply, Turbo-Flow heat dissipation system, 9 kHz 18 dB per Octave Bessel-derived high filter, 15 Hz 18dB per Octave Butterworth-derived low filter and variable tone turnover points will deliver 300 Watts per channel into 8 ohms, Minimum Continuous Power from 20 Hz to 20 kHz with no more than 0.03% THD. The FM section features Quartz-Lock tuning system, Phase Locked Loop multiplex demodulator, 5-Gang dual gate MOSFET FM front end as well as a 2-inch Oscilloscope Display from Hitachi. True Power is the capability of a receiver to deliver more power into 4 ohms than into 8 ohms according to FTC regulation thus the Model 2600 will deliver 400 Watts per channel into 4 ohms. This huge receiver measuring 490*177*438 mm and with a weight of 32 kg was designed in the U.S.A. and produced in Japan. Its original sale price was 2998 DM in Germany. An optional walnut veneer cabinet, the WC-124 was also available.

PIONEER SX-1980 (Japan 1978)

PIONEER presents the greatest DC power story ever told. It's a simple fact of life that the purer power a receiver possesses, the easier it can reproduce music without straining. And at 270 watts per channel, even the most demanding piece of music will hardly cause the SX1980 to flex its considerable muscle. Each channel, for example, has a separate DC power configuration that helps to provide richer and more accurate bass. Pioneer has developed a 22-pound toroidal core transformer that's far less susceptible to minor voltage variations. So you get cleaner, clearer sound. Instead of pushing power transistors to their limits Pioneer invented new transistors that last longer and eliminate the need for fans that can cause electrical interference. All these innovations give the SX1980 a total harmonic distortion level of less than 0.03% from 20 to 20,000 hertz. Inside the SX1980 there's a quartz crystal generating the perfect frequencies of every FM station, so as you rotate the tuning dial, a special integrated circuit compares the station you're trying to tune to its perfect frequency. When the station is tuned exactly right (all this takes about half a second), a "fine-tuned" light comes on; the receiver then senses when you let go of the tuning dial and automatically "locks" onto that broadcast. Technical data: 270 W/ch (min. RMS, 8 ohm 20-20,000 Hz, no more than 0.03% THD) Dimensions: 560 W x 211 H x 497 D mm Weight 35.4 kg.

PIONEER Receivers.
Evolution in Design.

Sansui G-22000 / G-33000 (Japan 1978)

Each Sansui receiver was crafted with meticulous care. The Sansui G-33000 and G-22000 were two from the top of Sansui's "Pure Power Receiver" roster featuring the world's best audio amplifier performance. Both are very powerful, with the only difference between in actual power output, and both are as versatile as any receiver from this era. Circuitry is ultra-advanced with revolutionary Diamond Differential DC (Sansui pat.): this allows power amplifier to achieve low TIM distortion / high slew rate / fast rise time to respond to pulsive, musical signals with superb accuracy. Frequency range also benefits - widened to zero Hz (DC) to 300kHz! The "Straight DC" design means phono equalizer, flat amp and power amp are all of DC design. Both models also have a unique "separable" two-unit construction, one is the tuner / preamp while the other is the power amp. This allows you to arrange them as you like, side by side, one on top of other or you can join them together back-to-back for a singular unit. Technical data: Power output 300 W/ch (min. RMS, 8 ohm, no more than 0.009% THD - G-33000) 220 W/ch (min. RMS, 8 ohm, no more than 0.009 THD - G-22000) Dimension: 636 W x 227 H x 553 D mm (G-33000 / G-22000) Weight 45.4 / 42.1 kg (G-33000 / G-22000)

Technics SA-1000 (Japan 1977)

Introducing the Technics SA-1000. One of the most powerful receivers ever made: 330 Watts per channel minimum RMS into 8 ohms from 20 Hz-20 kHz with no more than 0.03% total harmonic distortion. To capture the sheer dynamics of a live symphony, there's an equally dynamic amplifier section. Like 72,000 microfarad worth of high capacitance filtering, separate DC rectifiers, current-mirror loading and direct coupling. The results are impressive: tremendous reserve power, negligible transient crosstalk distortion and excellent stability. As good as all that sounds, Technics Acoustic Control makes it sound even better, because it adds low and high range boost and filter switches to enhance the tone controls. There's also a midrange control with a variable center frequency, 24 LED peak-power indicators and automatic load impedance detector.

PIONEER SX-D7000 (Japan 1980)

After a series of hugely successful receivers introduced during the 70's PIONEER finally decided that there is a time for a change. With a completely new esthetics ready for a new decade PIONEER introduced in 1980 the SX-D7000. Behind this new aesthetics lies however a "classic" tried and tested amplifier - tuner technology. All controls (except VOLUME and BALANCE) and switches are sliders and pushbuttons, not levers, rockers or rotary knobs. Indications are all beautifully illuminated. You don't have to be a stereo "expert" to see how these new lines and contours add up to a distinctive kind of elegance, to see how the SX-D7000 gives the appearance of a precision transceiver, with all controls neatly grouped into three. The PIONEER SX-D7000 uses a Non-Switching DC power amplifier design. For FM radio reception it uses a Quartz-PLL synthesizer tuner with six FM and six AM memory for instant station recall. The FLUROSCAN power output and tuning meters are considered as a classic PIONEER trademark. Technical data: 120 W/ch min. at 8 ohms from 20 hertz to 20,000 hertz with no more than 0.005% total harmonic distortion. Dimensions: 519 (W) x 180 (H) x 460 (D) mm. Weight: 19.2 kg.

YAMAHA R-2000 (Japan 1981)

The new R-2000 receiver goes beyond ordinary stereo to re-create the full depth, presence and excitement of actually being at a live performance. It's the top of the line of the new R-Series receivers; each designed to bring you pure, accurate musical reproduction. Sound to please the most discriminating audiophile- and features to please the most sophisticated music lover. X-Amplifier for more power and cleaner sound.
The R-2000 with our new X-Amplifier is more efficient and more faithful to music than any receiver we've ever built. The circuit design evolved from the nature of music itself. We discovered that true musical crescendos, which require full amplifier power, occur only about 2% of the time. Conventional amplifier designs operate at full power all of the time in anticipation of those loud musical passages. The remaining 98% of the time, full power isn't required. That means conventional designs waste electricity and produce huge amounts of heat - which shortens component life. The new Yamaha X-Amplifier works at low power most of the time. A unique comparator circuit switches the amplifier to high power when a loud passage is detected and back to low power when the peak has passed. As a result, the amp runs significantly cooler than conventional designs, which measurably increases component life. And the X-Amplifier of the new R-2000 is the most powerful we've ever built into a receiver. It delivers 150 watts RMS per channel with 0,015% THD at 8 ohms from 20 to 20,000Hz. So, the new X-Amplifier will easily handle the wide dynamic range of the newest digital and direct-to-disc recording.

YAMAHA CR-2020 (Japan 1977)

When introduced in 1977 the YAMAHA CR-2020 was the top of the YAMAHA receiver line and one of the most elaborate receivers on the market. At full-rated output, the 105 watt/channel power amplifier reduces total harmonic and intermodulation distortion to a new absolute low (0.05% from 20-20,000 Hz into 8 ohms). The exceptionally fine preamplifier is largely responsible for an incredible -95dB signal-to-noise ratio, from moving magnet phono input to speaker output. The CR-2020's tuner makes FM reception up to 18kHz possible for the first time with unique negative feedback and pilot signal cancellation circuits. Other features include a moving coil input, variable loudness control, record any source while listening to another, fast rise - slow decay power meters, selectable turnover frequencies for bass and treble control, presence control and two-position low and high filters with 12dB/octave slopes. Technical data: 105 W/ch (min. RMS, 8 ohm 20-20,000 Hz) Dimensions: 521 x 147 x 415 mm, Wight: 18.6 kg

TELEFUNKEN TRX 3000 hifi (Germany 1978)

The TRX 3000 was a top of the range Stereo-Quadro Receiver (tuner-amplifier) that was introduced by Telefunken in May 1978. The radio section is a FM-Stereo/AM Quartz Controlled unit with Digital frequency display and 7 pre-sets with touch-control. The amplifier section can be operated in various modes and it is specified at 2x100W 8ohm in Stereo mode and 4x50W 4ohm in Quadro mode. You can connect up to 6 (4ohm) and 2 (8ohm) loudspeakers for various types of operation. One speaker pair can be used in bridged mode for stereo operation delivering 100W/ch in 8ohm mode. Another option is to use two pairs of loudspeakers, each in a different room that can also play different sources (e.g., one room cassette, the other room turntable). The third option is to use the receiver to playback Quadro source material from a Quadro tape recorder or Quadro turntable from SQ, Discrete or CD 4 encoded material. The power output can be monitored via 4 LED power meters while there are two dedicated balance controls for left-right and front-rear balance as well as bass, mid, treble and loudness tone controls. The TRX 3000 has inputs for 2 turntables, 3 tape recorders (2 for Quadro source), 3 headphones, microphone, 1 aux and 1 monitor. All inputs use DIN plugs while some of them are doubled by RCA connectors. Dimensions: 494x163x386 mm

Bang&Olufsen Beomaster 8000
(Denmark 1980)

The Beomaster 8000 was introduced in 1980 and it was the most powerful receiver ever produced by Bang&Olufsen. This classic piece of audio equipment was designed by Jakob Jensen. This was a very expensive receiver featuring a digital tuner with 9 FM presets while the amplifier was using a dual-mono construction. Under the large digital display there was a large FM tuning wheel, a large electronic 60-step volume control, source control and radio presets. All these functions are remote controllable with the included Beolab Terminal that could also control a cassette deck and the turntable. Secondary functions are located behind a large brushed aluminium panel that gently opens at the touch of a button. To complement this beautiful and technologically advanced receiver there were available the perfectly matching Beogram 8000 linear tracking turntable and the Beocord 8000 cassette deck while the loudspeakers were the Beovox MS 150. The system built using these components was called Beolab 8000 and it was also available in white finish while the dedicated racks were the SC 80 and SC 80-2. There was available a simplified version of this system in a compact form as the Beocenter 7000 series that can be seen in our collection here. Technical data: Continuous power output per channel: 150 W/4 ohm, 100 W/8 ohm, Dimensions 67 W x 15 H x 37 D cm, Weight: 21 kg.

BRAUN R1 (Germany 1981)

The BRAUN R1 receiver was introduced in 1981 and it was part of the Atelier Series HiFi components with a design signed by Dieter Rams. This slim design hides a 5 preset FM tuner and a 50 W/ch amplifier with connectivity for two pairs of loudspeakers. There can be connected a turntable and a cassette recorder (available as Atelier Series components) while the display will show "P" (phono) when the turntable is selected and "C" when cassette is selected.

Fine Arts by GRUNDIG R3 (Germany 1993)

The Fine Arts by GRUNDIG R3 receiver is part of the second generation of Fine Arts components introduced by GRUNDIG in 1993. Thirteen fully-compatible components in the full-size Fine Arts range could be combined or integrated into a audio-visual home entertainment system. These new aesthetically designed Fine Arts components are combining perfectly a system for your visual pleasure with the latest advances in audio technology like HSPS (High Speed Power System). Up-front primary controls and concealed secondary functions make for simple, logical operation with program source selection by direct input or remote control. Technical data: 80 W/ch Sinus DIN 4 ohm, 59 random FM memory with RDS, Distortion less than 0.005%, Dimensions 435 W x 125 H x 300 D mm.

Discover more Fine Arts by GRUNDIG components from our collection here