30 April 2018

Technics SE-A7 (1982) - Stereo Studio Collection

Technics SE-A7 power amplifier.

Introducing the Studio Collection...From Technics

At Technics, our goal is to provide our customers with the finest possible fidelity. Now, incorporating dramatic new technological advancements, we are able to offer state-of-the-art electronics elegantly packaged in a compact, slimline series called the Studio Collection. The components described herein are cosmetically matched; each unit is only 2" high! And, in addition to their graceful, sleek appearance, the performance of the Studio Collection approaches the virtual perfection of the current state of the art in audio tehnology. The SE-A7 power amplifier features both our remarcale New Class A design and our innovative Linear Feedback circuitry - this combination redeuces distortion, all kinds of distortion, to total inaudibility.

Its matching preamp, the SU-A8, includes a full complement of controls for flexibility. It also includes a straight DC configuration, so it approaches the theoretical perfection of a straight wire with gain.

The perfect complement to these fine amplifiers, the ST-S8 quartz synthesizer tuner combines the accuracy of digital synthesis with an impressive array of features - these include super-narrow IF bandwidht, a digital signal strenght readout, and full DC circuitry.

These 3 components form the heart of a truly impressive audio system; add a Technics SL-QL1 linear tracking turntable and SB-8 honeycomb disc speakers and enjoy your music as never before.

The SE-A7 delivers 60 watts per channel minimum continous RMS into 8 ohms, both channels driven from 20-20,000 Hz, with no more than 0.003% total harmonic distortion. This incredibly low distortion figure is just one clue that the technology inside the SE-A7's streamlined cabinet is as advanced as anything on the market. There are applications for which 60 watts may not be sufficient - if you need more power, the SE-A7 can be strapped to deliver 120 watts mono.

Technics SE-A7 power amplifier.

Technics SE-A7 power amplifier.

Technics SE-A7 power amplifier.

Technics SE-A7 power amplifier.

Technics SE-A7 power amplifier.

24 April 2018

YAMAHA R-2000 - "X" Power Amplifier (1981)

The YAMAHA R-2000 stereo receiver from 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 lound 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 R-2000

The Spatial Expander.
Normal stereo is limited to the space between two speakers. Yamaha Spatial Expander extends the sound field out beyond the speakers. This wider sound stage recreates the ambience and spaciousness of a live performance. There is more space between musicians, more depth and richness to the overal sound . You get the feeling of live sound without the expense of adding extra speakers or amplifiers. The Spatial Expander works with any good stereo source material. Phono, FM or Tape. For the first time you can enjoy the feeling of sitting front row center at your favorite concert.

Continuously variable loudness control.
At low levels, music sounds like it's missing something. That's because at low volume your ear loses its ability to hear high and low frequencies. Most "Loudness" controls compensate for this by boosting the high and low frequencies. This can lead to increased distortion. Yamaha found a smoother way. By suppressing the mid-range. And unlike everybody else, we let you adjust the amount of loudness compensation to suit your taste. So at low listening levels you get full, balanced sound without distortion.

The Record Out Function
With Yamaha's independent Record Out, you can record from any source while listening to any other. You can also feed a separate, different signal to a second amplifier and speakers in another part of your home. So you can have two complete home music systems for just the price of an extra amplifier and speakers.

YAMAHA R-2000

AutoPhono.
Now you can have continuous music without getting up to switch sound sources. For example you can set the R-2000 to a favorite FM station. Then you can put on a record and the receiver will automatically switch to the phono mode. Once the record is over, the receiver automatically switches back to your favorite station. You're never without sound.

Station-locking Tuning.
Quartz-locked tuning is accurate, But quartz tuning circuits have an internal frequency oscilator which generates RF signals.These signals can be picked up by the tuner and be mixed with the regular audio signal to cause distortion. To solve this problem Yamaha engineers developed a unique microprocessor chip a memory. It stores the exact tuning location of every Am and FM station. 
When you tune a Yamaha receiver, the microprocessor produces exactly the frequency you're looking for instantly … from its memory. Tuning is 100% accurate. All you get is clean music.

Pushbutton Tuning.
The Yamaha R-2000 virtually tunes itself. At the push of a  button, the tuning circuitry sweeps the band in the direction you desire. The receiver locks automatically onto the next station - perfectly. You can also pre-select seven FM and AM frequencies for instant access to your 14 favorite station.  
We could go on. But hearing is believing. There are six completely new R-Series receivers. Each step up brings  more power, convenience and versatility. All feature the accurate, musical sound quality for which Yamaha has become world-renowed. And naturally, ever Yamaha product is backed by a nationwide network of Preferred Customer Service Centres. The new R-Series receivers will make a dramatic improvement in the enjoyment and realism you get from home music system. 
Trully the next step in sound from Yamaha.


YAMAHA R-2000

17 April 2018

KENWOOD L-08M - Rebirth of the Amplifier...1980

KENWOOD L-08M

Here is a unique, back-to-the basics amplifier design that considers every aspect of performance between the preamplifier input to the speaker input terminals. For the dedicated audiophile seeking perfection in sound reproduction, the ideal hi-fi setup includes separating the preamplifier's small-signal circuitry from the large-current using circuits of the power amplifier. Yet, in spite of all the recent improvements in amplifier performance, the perceptive listener is often left with the nagging feeling that the sound is still not at all as "total" as it should be by the time it emanates from the speakers. Breaking away from conventional "tunnel vision" in amplifier design, KENWOOD engineera intensively investigated this credibility gap between specification promises and actual results, to reach an amplifier design concept that takes into account every single stage of signal handling, including the link between the separate units, the power supply system, and even dynamic effects of the speakers themselves. The L-08 Sigma Direct Drive Amplifier System thus actually achieves what must become the primary objective in amplifier design - a stunning mirror image of the purity of the original music signal all the way to speaker system.

The L-08M is a single-channel power amplifier that "directly drives" the speaker to which it is connected. The concept of Direct Drive is based on the accepted theory that the shorter the speaker connecting cord, the better the sound quality. In the original Kenwood Direct Drive amplifier system, an excellent amplifier-speaker relationship was obtained through locating each single-channel amplifier a meter away from its speaker. However, the New Hi-Speed amplifier with Sigma Drive functions as a direct-drive amplifier in the same way, even when the L-08M is located at some distance from the speaker. As Kenwood data shows, the L-08M provides outstanding performance relative to any other amplifier setup. For example, Damping Factor at the end of the 3-meter Sigma cords is still 15,000, while even at 10-meters it is over 20,000, which is more than 100 times better than most other amplifier DFs measured at the amplifier output terminals. Moreover, such is the innate superiority of the L-08M's circuitry that even without using the Sigma cords and substituting conventional speaker cords instead (the L-08M can still be used as a " n o r m a l" amplifier), the tonal quality has a clear edge over others, as a comparative listening test will prove. Technical data...

KENWOOD L-08M

KENWOOD L-08M

KENWOOD L-08M

KENWOOD L-08M

KENWOOD L-08M

KENWOOD L-08M

KENWOOD L-08M

KENWOOD L-08M

10 April 2018

60 Years of Audio History - Audio Association Foundation

VICTOR phonograph (1903)
VICTOR phonograph (1903)

In 2012, the Audio Association Foundation from Japan had celebrated its 60th Anniversary. For this occasion a series of landmark audio components were exhibited. Enjoy your visit.

VICTOR phonograph J-51 ( 1930)
VICTOR phonograph J-51 ( 1930)

Columbia Super Radio R - 56 (1953)
Columbia Super Radio R - 56 (1953)

Fujitsu Ten tube type car radio TAR - 55 (1955)
Fujitsu Ten tube type car radio TAR - 55 (1955)

PIONEER PSC-5A (1961)
PIONEER PSC-5A (1961)

Columbia DSC-760 (1962)
Columbia DSC-760 (1962)

SONY Integrated Amplifier TA-1120 (1965)
SONY Integrated Amplifier TA-1120 (1965)

TEAC open reel deck A - 4010 (1965)
TEAC open reel deck A - 4010 (1965)

TRIO stereo Integrated Amplifier W -45 A (1965)
TRIO stereo Integrated Amplifier W -45 A (1965)

TRIO vacuum tube type FM tuner AF-270 (1965)
TRIO vacuum tube type FM tuner AF-270 (1965)

Technics turntable SP - 10 (1970)
Technics turntable SP - 10 (1970)

Technics DD player SL - 1000 (1970)
Technics DD player SL - 1000 (1970)

LUXMAN vacuum tube amplifier SQ38FD (1970)
LUXMAN vacuum tube amplifier SQ38FD (1970)

Technics linear - phase speaker System SB - 007 (1971)
Technics linear - phase speaker System SB - 007 (1971)

DENON turntable DP - 3000 (1972)
DENON turntable DP - 3000 (1972)

PIONEER laser disc player LD - 1000 (1981)
PIONEER laser disc player LD - 1000 (1981)

SONY first CD player CDP-101 (1982)
SONY first CD player CDP-101 (1982)

MARANTZ first CD player CD-63 (1982)
MARANTZ first CD player CD-63 (1982)

FOSTEX commercial DAT recorder PD-2 (1991)
FOSTEX commercial DAT recorder PD-2 (1991)

MARANTZ sound processor AX-1000 (1991)
MARANTZ sound processor AX-1000 (1991)

DENON CD Transport & DA Converter DP-S1 & DA-S1 (1993)
DENON CD Transport & DA Converter DP-S1 & DA-S1 (1993)

SONY first SACD Player SCD-1 (1999)
SONY first SACD Player SCD-1 (1999)

Fujitsu Ten time domain type speaker 512 (2001)
Fujitsu Ten time domain type speaker 512 (2001)

03 April 2018

TEAC X-1000R - Made in Japan by Fanatics

reel to reel



The TEAC X-1000R (1981) is one of those rare achievements in audio engineering that is just as much at home in a professional recording studio as it is in your living room. Above and beyond incredible music reproduction accuracy and the unparalleled convenience of fully bi-directional recording and playback, the X-1000R offers an extensive array of unique TEAC features that are unqestionably destined to becoma standard in open reel reproduction. For example, there's a remarkably stable dual-capstan closed-loop tape transport with a newly developed micro-computer-controlled tension servo system that ensures superb tape handling precision. A built in dbx dynamic range expansion system lets you make recordings with stunning dynamic range and no audible tape hiss. 

Compatibility with EE (Extra Efficiency) tape means you can record with the very finest tape available. A comprehensive locator system, originally designed for TASCAM (TEAC Professional Division) recording studio equipment, automatically searches for and locates any desired point on the tape. A block repeat function gives you the ultimate in repeat function versatility, and unique Dupli-Sync function offers automatic record synchronization when dubbing to cassettes....the list goes on. As a stereo music source, the X-1000R is the finest component you can add to your system. The TEAC X-1000R is a four track, two channel tape recorder with fully bi-directional recording and playback (6 heads) using a 3 DC motor transport with computer controlled dual capstan transport. The TEAC X-1000R was available in silver (with optional wood case) and as X-1000RBL in black with wood case.

TEAC X-1000R

TEAC X-1000R

TEAC X-1000R

TEAC X-1000R

TEAC X-1000R

TEAC X-1000R

TEAC X-1000R

TEAC X-1000R