REVIVING A HI-FI CLASSIC: THE HARMAN/KARDON A-401 STEREOPHONIC CONTROL AMPLIFIER

[gallery ids="1879" layout="cascade" link="media"] Vintage stereo equipment just has a special sound and presence unlike anything that's made today, and these pieces of hi-fi history are always worth preserving and restoring. I recently got to work on a classic from 1978: the Harman/Kardon A-401 stereophonic control amplifier. I found this one nearly dead. It powered on, but that was about it. Both channels crackled and sputtered wildly, and barely any music made it from the inputs to the speakers — much longer and it would surely have suffered a catastrophic failure that destroyed it permanently. This particular little amplifier offers...

Technics SU-7300

[gallery ids="1855,1856" link="media"] [gallery ids="2625,2626,2627,2628,2629"] SpecificationsPower output: 41 watts per channel into 8Ω (stereo) Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz Total harmonic distortion: 0.08% Damping factor: 40 Input sensitivity: 2.5mV (MM), 150mV (line) Signal to noise ratio: 78dB (MM), 97dB (line) Output: 150mV (line) Speaker load impedance: 4Ω to 16Ω Dimensions: 441 x 146 x 334mm Weight: 9.1kg

Pioneer SA-606

DescriptionThe Pioneer SA-606 is a stereo integrated amplifier giving a continuous power output of 40 watts per channel. The unit has discrete power supply sections for the class A and class B sections, and a current-mirror loaded differential amplifier with constant current loaded Darlington connected all-stage direct-coupled OCL output. Other features include outputs for two sets of speakers, click stop tone controls, loudness contour, separate watts meters with LED peak indicators for each channel, and advanced electronic protection. SpecificationsPower output: 40 watts per channel into 8Ω (stereo)Frequency response: 20Hz to 40kHzTotal harmonic distortion: 0.05%Damping factor: 30Input sensitivity: 2.5mV (MM), 150mV...

Technics SU-7700

[gallery ids="1816,1817,1818,1819,1820" layout="masonry" link="media"] Stereo Integrated Amplifier (1976-79)Power output: 50 watts per channel into 8Ω (stereo)Frequency response: 5Hz to 80kHzTotal harmonic distortion: 0.06%Damping factor: 60Input sensitivity: 2.5mV (MM), 150mV (line)Signal to noise ratio: 78dB (MM), 97dB (line)Output: 150mV (line)Speaker load impedance: 4Ω to 16ΩDimensions: 410 x 140 x 315mmWeight: 7.2kgYear: 1976

JVC (Japan Victor Company) JA-S22

Power output: 40 watts per channel into 8Ω (stereo) Frequency response: 5Hz to 100kHzTotal harmonic distortion: 0.01%Damping factor: 30Input sensitivity: 2.5mV (MM), 160mV (line)Signal to noise ratio: 80dB (MM), 100dB (line)Output: 160mV (line)Speaker load impedance: 4Ω to 16ΩDimensions: 149 x 420 x 334mmWeight: 8.4kgYear: 1978 [gallery ids="1804,1808,1809,1810" layout="tiles" link="media"]