Vintage Integrated Amplifiers: Oldies but Goodies
Any audiophile worth his salt knows that without a capable amplifier, an audio system wont be any good. And while standalone power amps and preamps are sufficient for a proper setup, integrated amplifiers are where its at in terms of value, convenience, and performance because they combine both components into one solid unit.
What Features Should I Look for in Vintage Integrated Amps?
- Loudness Circuit: Loudness control is important in any speaker system, be it stereo or mono. This is usually turned on or off by a simple push of a button labeled "Loudness," and when engaged would result in a subjectively better sound quality than when its off. What the system does is boost high and low frequencies when listening to audio at low volume levels so the perceived sound pressure level is perceived as flat. This means that turning it on at lower volume levels increases the sound quality because the low and high-frequency signals are specifically amplified.
- Multiple inputs: Look for an amplifier, such as a Harman Kardon integrated amp, that features compatibility with multiple inputs so that you can hook up many of your existing audio sources. This includes CD/DVD, Auxiliary audio, RCA audio inputs, RCA phono, turntables, AM/FM tuners, tape recorders, and so on.
- Outputs: A receiver or integrated amplifier setup should also have multiple ways to project sound. This includes a headphone jack and subwoofer output along with dual speaker connectors to connect interior and outdoor systems. Two mono amplifiers can be combined to produce stereo sound with a larger pool of supplied power.
What Are Some Notable Vintage Harman Kardon Amps?
- A-402: The HK A-402 is a vintage stereo amplifier with a silver finish and an LED array that indicates signal output whenever sound is played through it. It has a 40-watt minimum RMS per channel and has a dual speaker compatibility.
- PM655 Vxi: This book-shelf unit was released in 1987 and features stereo with 90 watts RMS per channel into 8 ohms. It has a subdued black finish with flat knobs for controlling treble, bass, and other specifications along with a black metallic knob for controlling volume.
- A300: The A300 has 12 watts per channel output into 8 ohms in a stereo configuration. It has an SNR of 60db and speaker load impedance of 8 to 16 ohms, allowing you wide freedom to choose your loudspeaker.
- C-100: The Melody C-100 is an amplifier-mixer combo released circa 1956. It uses AC 105-125 volt power types and 16W max power out. It is a book-shelf unit that should integrate well into any audiophile-grade cabinet due to its compact size and subtle copper and black design.
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