In article , AlanW1, UK
wrote:


Dave, Thanks for the tip. What about those tuner/amps? Are they
generally suitable (provided they have auxiliary inputs and enough
wattage)? And how about older (70's) transistor amps - which tend to be
cheaper?

It's quite possible that an older amplifier would be fine. However the
problem is that this becomes a matter of how well that particular unit has
been treated, and if any components have deteriorated significantly. Hence
the state of the individual unit probably matters.

Since I have an interest in 'Armstrong' equipment I can risk saying that
some of the old '600' range amps and tuner amps still can work very nicely
for general use. (One advantage being that the signal switching uses simple
electronic diode gates soinput switch deterioration is less likely to be a
problem than with some other designs.) However you might find one unit that
worked like new, and another that was a mess after 30-odd years of misuse.

FWIW I'm listening to an Armstrong 626 at the moment. BBC Radio 3 Jazz into
a pair of LS3/5A's. Sound quite good to me. But the 626 in question has
been carefully looked after.

Also, the above might well not suit your use if you need steady high power
levels. So I'm only really quoting it as an example which I happen to know.

Also, some of the 1970s/80s Pioneer and similar high power amps were much
better than people perhaps now recall or admit. But again, once you're
talking 10+ years old your best bet is to try the individual unit as
otherwise you are taking a chance.

Slainte,

Jim

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