Vintage integrated amps

[steffy72004]

Hello,

i hope that some of the experts here can help me. I need to buy a second hand integrated amplifier. I have a choice between 2 moedls:

- Rotel RA 820 bx2

- Pioneer a 656 mk2

Which one you would advice me to go for? I listen most vocal jazz, classic, new age with a cd player.

Tahnk you for your help!

Ste

 

[John Duncan]

I had an 820bx2 for about two weeks in 1988 but found it a bit brittle when I got it home, so swapped it for an Arcam Alpha 2, which I think might suit your musical tastes a bit better (that or a Creek CAS4040). Don't know the Pioneer I'm afraid.

 

[the record spot]

I'd go and get some research done on both - they'll be quite different, thgouh from memory I think the Pioneer has the better spec. The Rotel was respectable though, but see what you can find out there. I doubt many will have heard the Pioneer on here and it looks as if it was out around the time of the A400 which took the limelight at the time.

 

[Anonymous]

the Pioneer A400 is good but I don't think it would be fair to compare it to the A-656 as the 656 is in a totally different class ...I have never heard one but here some specs (in a different language):

DIN Output Power: 2 x 120 Watts maximale dynamische Ausgangsleistung: 2 x 190 Watt maximum dynamic output: 2 x 190 Watts

h”chstens 0,005 % Gesamtklirrfaktor more than 0.005% THD

Ger„uschspannungsabstand: 110 dB Signal to Noise Ratio: 110 dB

Ger„uschspannungsabstand: 92 dB Signal to Noise Ratio: 92 dB

Leistungsaufnahme: 650 W Power consumption: 650 W

Abmessungen B x H x T: 420 x 162 x 435 mm Dimensions W x H x D: 420 x 162 x 435 mm

Gewicht: 13,5 kg Weight: 13.5 kilograms

--------------

have not heard the Rotel either, so cannot comment as to which is the better

 

[steffy72004]

Thanks everyone for suggestions!

Could i ask what you mean that the 656 is in a different class form the 400? You mean the 656 is in a higher class? Or lower?

Thanks again!

Ste

 

[Anonymous]

steffy72004:

Thanks everyone for suggestions!

Could i ask what you mean that the 656 is in a different class form the 400? You mean the 656 is in a higher class? Or lower?

Thanks again!

Ste

I have a Pioneer A400 aswell as a Pioneer SA-9800 .... The 9800 is 100 watts @ 8 ohms and is much better than the A-400 by far

 

[steffy72004]

so the 656mk2 should be better than the 400, if i understand well?

 

[Anonymous]

steffy72004:so the 656mk2 should be better than the 400, if i understand well?

that is correct .... the 656 will be much better in my opinion ... The A400 only pushes out 60 watts ... the A400 is very good but not in the same class as the 656 ... but bear in mind that I have not heard the 656, but the specs are similar to my SA-9800 ... I will search the net and see if I can find more details for you

 

[steffy72004]

Really thank you!

 

[the record spot]

steffy72004:
Thanks everyone for suggestions!

Could i ask what you mean that the 656 is in a different class form the 400? You mean the 656 is in a higher class? Or lower?

Thanks again!

Ste

No, I meant that the 656 may have been out around the same time as the A400, and the A400 was popular to the extent that Pioneer produced thousands of the things. That doesn't mean it's "better" than the 656, just a different spec. Pioneer probably produced substantially less of the latter, so you need to do a compare and contrast. The 656 is probably a decent performer.

 

[Anonymous]

pioneer a-676 ... newly listed on ebay with a buy it now of £79.99 and comes with a 3 month guarantee ... Bargain IMHO

can be found here

 

[matthewpiano]

Hmmm. For that money, or not much more, you could pick up a good NAD C320BEE. I know which I'd rather have.

 

[the record spot]

dim_span:
steffy72004:so the 656mk2 should be better than the 400, if i understand well?

that is correct .... the 656 will be much better in my opinion ... The A400 only pushes out 60 watts ... the A400 is very good but not in the same class as the 656 ... but bear in mind that I have not heard the 656, but the specs are similar to my SA-9800 ... I will search the net and see if I can find more details for you

It is probably worth clarifying that the wattage is to some extent not the be all and end all. Hence, some valve amps will push out 5wpc if you're lucky, but sound magnificent if partnered with suitably benign speakers with a high sensitivity.

And as Matthewpiano says, for the same money there is the NAD320BEE and for a tad less, the amp I'm currently using. That Pioneer dim_span's listed looks a bit beaten up though! Scuffs and what not; call me picky I know, but that might put people off too!

 

[steffy72004]

Thanks to all for the help!

Well, finally i went for the Pioneer A616 mark2. I had the chance to audition it with a Marantz pm 4001 and a Nad c320 (not bee).

Well, the Pioneer, at least for my ears, was the clear winner. A true surprise, especially after warming up a little.

Again thanks to all!

 

[gpi]

steffy72004:
Thanks to all for the help!

Well, finally i went for the Pioneer A616 mark2. I had the chance to audition it with a Marantz pm 4001 and a Nad c320 (not bee).

Well, the Pioneer, at least for my ears, was the clear winner. A true surprise, especially after warming up a little.

Again thanks to all!

Surely you mean the 656, or is there another model called the 616? You made the right decision anyway as Pioneer make good beefy amps.

A slightly higher in the pecking order Pioneer A-676 along with a Pioneer tuner and decent Mission 703 floorstanders went for just £88.00 the other day. I'm still kicking myself for watching the listing for a few days and not actually bidding on it, which does help a bit if you want to win something. Just do a completed item search on Pioneer A-676 and see what I mean.

 

[Anonymous]

steffy72004:

Thanks to all for the help!

Well, finally i went for the Pioneer A616 mark2. I had the chance to audition it with a Marantz pm 4001 and a Nad c320 (not bee).

Well, the Pioneer, at least for my ears, was the clear winner. A true surprise, especially after warming up a little.

Again thanks to all!

good choice and good luck! ... The marantz 4001 and the Nad c320 are no match to the Pioneer IMHO

 

[Anonymous]

the record spot:dim_span:

steffy72004:so the 656mk2 should be better than the 400, if i understand well?

It is probably worth clarifying that the wattage is to some extent not the be all and end all. Hence, some valve amps will push out 5wpc if you're lucky, but sound magnificent if partnered with suitably benign speakers with a high sensitivity. And as Matthewpiano says, for the same money there is the NAD320BEE and for a tad less, the amp I'm currently using.

I am fully aware of how the wattage works aswell as differences in class A and class B amps etc ... my experience has taught me that when it comes to integrated amps, there is a huge difference in sound when comparing a lower budget amp of 30 watts to one of 100 watts