A War of Watts.
Back in the late 70’s audio manufacturers engaged in a war. You might call it a war of watts. The consumer seemed to have an insatiable appetite for more and more watts in their receivers. Manufacturers were quick to oblige and started making and marketing higher and higher wattage machines. Each company tried to outdo the other. Many think that the Pioneer SX-1980 is the most powerful receiver ever made but that’s actually not the case. Of course, we need to stick to a few guidelines before deciding on our power list.
First, we’ll stick to receivers only and not separates. Second, since this site covers vintage receivers we’ll stick to those considered “vintage” which of course is a definition we apply loosely. For this list we’ll stick to 1990 and earlier. We’ll also use the rated output into 8 ohms specified by the manufacturer. This can be inconsistent and some manufacturers such as Marantz probably under rated their receivers power output. Still, we have to have a standard and that will be it.
OK, so what are the top ten most powerful vintage receivers of all time?
1. Technics SA-1000 – 330 WPC
2. Marantz 2600 – 300 WPC
3. Sansui G-33000 – 300 WPC
4. Pioneer SX-1980 – 270 WPC
5. Marantz 2500 – 250 WPC
6. Sansui G-22000 – 220 WPC
7. Sansui G-9700 – 200 WPC
8. Kenwood KR-9050 – 200 WPC
9. Hitachi SR-2004 – 200 WPC
10. Marantz 2385 – 185 WPC
11. Pioneer SX-1280 – 185 WPC
12. Technics SA-5770 – 185 WPC
The Technics SA-1000 takes the top spot with a massive 330 watts per channel. Of course its size matches its power output as well. It measures 25 inches long, 22 inches deep and 7 inches tall and weighs in at a back breaking 90 pounds.
You could make the argument that the Sansui G-33000 and Sansui G-22000 shouldn’t be on the list because they are essentially separates but I think many collectors still consider them as “receivers” even though they are not truly integrated.
Here are some of the runner up receivers.
Rotel RX-1603 – 180 WPC
Nikko NR-1415 – 175 WPC
Fisher RS-1080 – 170 WPC
Concept 16.5 – 165 WPC
Technics SA-5760 – 165 WPC
Kenwood KR-9600 – 160 WPC
Onkyo TX-8500 MkII – 160 WPC
Pioneer SX-1250/5590 – 160 WPC
Sansui G-8700 – 160 WPC
Sansui G-9000/901 – 160 WPC
Sansui 9900Z – 160 WPC
Yamaha CR-3020 – 160 WPC
Fisher RS-2015 – 150 WPC
Project-One Mark 1500DC – 150 WPC
Sony STR-V7 – 150 WPC
Yamaha R-2000 – 150 WPC
Carver The Receiver – 150 WPC
Toshiba SA-7150 – 150 WPC
There you have it! The most powerful vintage receivers ever made. Of course, all of them are highly collectible and bring high prices at auction.
This list leaves out two Marantz receivers, the TA-165 and the TA-150. I have a TA-150 and though it may 35 years old, it’s still a better piece of machinery than 98% of crap currently on the market. I had a Harmon-Kardon hk3480 (120wpc max) and it was insufficient to properly drive my Cerwin-Vega E710 tower speakers. The moment I cranked up the volume, it would clip constantly. However, I can crank up the TA-150 to near maximum power with absolutely no clipping whatsoever!
Mind you, the E710 speakers have a power rating of 200rms and the TA-150 has more than enough firepower to make them sing! Also, Marantz is notorious for understating the power output of it’s receivers and amplifiers.
There’s also a Marantz TA-170 and a little reported (once) TA-200
I really recently went into a junk/antique store and found a Sansui 9900Z, 2 Pioneer HPM-1100 speakers, and a Pioneer TL1100 linear arm turntable. Purchased those along with a Yamaha cassette deck for $250. All I had to do was replace the foam surrounds on the HPM’s! The 9900Z is pretty badass and every bit as clear as my G7000 was with a lot more power!
Lucky!
I have a proton d940, I would like to know what it could be worth. And where I could sell it perhaps.
Whos a good fix it man in Fla.?
4 Kenwood KR9600?
How about JVC. The JR-S600 .
I have a yamaha cr3020 vintage all controls function .It was given to me about 10 years ago it has been stored in garage ever since til recently its fairly dusty what do you recommend i do in order to get a good amount on one side lower edge paint is chiped about 2×3 area the vents on top there is 2 slight dents the rest is in good condition
whats a project one/mark III B worth?
Dear Buddy,
The Sansui 99z was part of a rack system no match for the other units is this review.
Sansui manager
U should correct the column naming the Technics SA-1000 receiver being the most powerful. Though Technics rated it @ 330 watts per channel it failed the FTC power disclosure specification, it could not meet the 1 hour preconditioning requirement. The only receiver in the mentioned brand was the Marantz 2600 to meet it published power specifications under FTC testing conditions was the 2600. Another receiver that failed to meet its published power output specification was the Pioneer SX-1980. In fact, the FTC actually issued a cease & desist order Pioneer for its false advertising of the SX-1980 magazine ad. The actual power output of the SX-1980 under FTC testing conditions was 145 watts not 270 watts.
Very interesting! & not surprised.
My sansui G 9000 at 160 wpc is the truth. It’s musical. Fast & detailed. I never get tired of listening or looking at it.
I’ve did the high-end thing with a $6k BAT dual mono power amp at the center, only to sell the room heater!
interesting, my pioneer sx 1980 bench tested at exactly 270 watts into 8 ohms however it wasn’t tested for an hour it probably would have caught fire if tested that long
One vintage stereo receiver I did not see on here anywhere. My dad has a 1976 Sanyo 450 watt per channel receiver. I grew up listening to it bad mother fucker I’d put it up against any of the rest.
Jordan thanks for your info I’ve been interested in putting an old school system together around a kenwood 707p I would appreciate your option in continuing along this path or going a different way thanks
Most Receivers power rating were exaggerated to get more sales, Sansui was under rated on a average of 10%. The only other receivers that were under rated were Marantz on a average of 5%. This is not bias this is based on bench testing so I would have to say Technics SA1000 was probably not the most powerful receivers made.
I have couple of Luxman R-117 receivers that are way underrated @ 160 w.p.c.. Also the smoothest best sounding receivers I’ve ever heard. Driving JBL L-100T speakers.
Luxman R-1070 here. Outstanding quality. Bought it new in 79.
I once owned a Nikko NR-1415, 2nd on your secondary list. A total dog. Finally gave it away when I acquired my first Sansui g-9000. At 160 wpc, the Sui clobbers the 175wpc Nikko. No comparison. Even my 25wpc Sansui au-555A clobbers the Nikko. Every Sansui ever made at any watt level beats the Nikko. Watt ratings don’t tell the story. Specs don’t tell the story.
why isn’t Luxman represented ?
I had a 117 and it was more powerful that a number listed above . Dare I say better as well?
And WHY is McIntosh not even mentioned. They too under rate their power output & Claim to have the lowest distortion rate of Any amplifier or receiver!!!
Agreed!
I am happy with my Sansui 9090DB @ 125W and can accommodate 3 pairs of speakers. At 45 lbs it’s a heavy weight as well…
Hey Buddy ; Have you considered
The Sansui SX1130 That was made in 1985 and this receiver was only made one year. From what I understand it also was a special order unit. This Receiver’s wattage output is in true RMS 130 watts and a balanced voltage amplifier. The sound out of this power house unit is so clear no matter how high you turn the sound up on this unit with the Proper Speakers connected to this system it will sound crystal clear , Most of your newer stuff is in peak watts not RMS watts.
Didn’t Kenwood also manfacture a late 1970’s monster receiver which was also ‘rated’ at 330wpc?
If so – why isn’t it on the above list of classic monster receivers? KA-1000 I think it was…
KR-1000 Also the Kenwood model 11 was a beast.
After losing my classic Conrad-Johnson & Audio- Research amp & pre-amp due to mypast criminal american family I’d discovered relative audiophile bargains on Ebay & Ricardo here in Europe; for example – loads of cheap, very good working early 80’s & & late 70’s Technics & Kenwood mosfet -classAA integrated amps & high-current receivers.
After I had modifed/tweaked them with better parts they quickly reminded me of my last tube gear which costed as much as a used airplane.
If anyone here is trying to get nicer sound with cleaner power which doesn’t really cost much you might try this route. The vintage MosFet, Class A design amps don’t have the monster power of the above classic amps – but they can easily sound much nicer/cleaner especially in a bi-amp set up.
Since I haven’t had a really upper-end stereo for 12 years my ears have been crying for something. So as of this month I’m finally listening to a relatively small early ’80’s Technics SU800 Mk3 (MosFet, true Class AA, modified with Clarity Caps & Mundorf Supreme s/g/o Caps) bi-amped with one of the oldest/biggest Luxman bi-polar, high-current receivers (also refurbished/ lightly modified).
Then my neighbour who had payed 4,000.-CHF(Swiss Francs) for his new ‘chic’ (Barbie;), non high-current) stereo needed a new jaw (bone) because his had fallen to the ground when he heard my new-old low-cost components). When I had told him some of my newly-acquired components date back to the 1970’s he didn’t believe me, at first…
Grüße/Grüezi/Salu from Switzerland
Too bad that there’s more & more misleading info on the internet, but I thought Kenwood also once made a monster flag-ship receiver with at least a 300wpc ‘rating’…
Hi, most of the Kenwood models labeled KA were amplifiers rather than stereo receivers and this list only dealt with receivers. I’m not too familiar with the KA-1000. There was one made but it is only 100 watts per channel I believe. I think their highest output receiver was the KR-9050 which was 200 watts per channel. Of course, as you mentioned in your other comment, it isn’t really all about power output ratings. Some of the lower output equipment sounds better than the more powerful units.
Not sure why the Toshiba SA-7100 is so low on your list. After all, with 0.05% total harmonic distortion @ 110W per channel driven into 8 ohms from 20 to 20,000 Hz , this baby may not have a huge watts output, but if it’s pure sound your looking for, dollar for dollar this is the one! Just saying.
Raiko, you are certainly correct – this a classic receiver list, not an amp list. I was mixed up with 30-40 year-old brand-name & part numbers.
It seems that the classic ‘moster-receivers’ hardly had 200wpc (fair RMS) rating. If I were a manufacturer I’d rate my products like Bryston or NAD in the ’80’s/’90’s – at RMS + 2+dB dynamic headroom.
Wasn’t Realistic also a bit conservatively rated?. When I was a teenager in the States my neighbour was the school DJ, using a single 120wpc Realistic receiver. He even abused that amp on occasion and it stayed strong.
A friend of mine in Zürich bought so-called high-end British-made modern-day MosFet mono-blocks for around 2,000. bucks. I thought they sounded ‘dry’ & ‘lifeless’. They sound clean anyway, but I noticed he went back to listening his unmodified early ’80’s Technics 80wpc receiver most of the time. Lol!
Classic receivers live on!
Marantz always underrated their power. I had a new 2238b that blasted the doors off the house and have a 2258b that’s a screamer too. I’m picking up some more vintage gear and will update but for the money, I’m now and always have been a Marantz man! Thanks Saul!
I once owned a now vintage marantz model 7
Tube amp and a marantz 2500 receiver with four of the best custom speakers you could buy that were stolen by one of my idiot sons druggy friends, never to be found. How I wish I still had them, really miss listening to my music !!
I’ve got the Project One mark 1500 that’s on the “runner up” list, and I’ve gotta say, it’s an absolute beast. Picked it up at a neighbors yard sale for $5, and cleaned it up and it powers my Cerwin-Vegas quite nicely. Powering on the unit causes the lights in the house to flicker…
I have a Pioneer SX-D7000 Quartz Synthesized Stereo Receiver rated at 120 WPC. This Pioneer SX-D7000 Receiver blows the walls out loud at even the lowest volume settings. The sound is good but it is an all digital fluorescent display unit not analog which I don’t like as much. I feel this is a legitimate monster receiver as well. It powers four infinity speakers and a Polk sub-woofer. I’m not a true audiophile just a guy who enjoys his music.
I will be replacing the my work horse Pioneer SX-D7000 Quartz Synthesized Stereo Receiver with a Hitachi SR 2004 powered at 200 WPC based on its specs. I’m having it professionally recapped and sorted out. Adding LED lighting the bring it up to 21st century values. I picked the Hitachi SR 2004 because it was on the A power receiver list and it has all the features I love.
I purchase CR-2040 Yamaha! I love the natural sound yammie have always been my favorite, and just recently picked up CR-3020 my lord it makes my jbl 4313b come to life. The 2040 needs a trip to the tec-doctor. I have plenty of respect for Marantz and Sansui, Kenwood, Nad,
It’s all to your on preference, I truly believe the Stereo’s built in the seventies and early Eighties have the best sound, provided it has good quality speakers, but then I believe that the best speakers made come from that area also. Anyways it’s about the reproduction of the great music from the same area. Has may tell the seventies was my decade.
I have a 1990 Kenwood KR-V9020 and honestly i love it except the screen flickers now. Looking into fixing it. Anyway was this a high end unit?
I have the Pioneer sx1010 that mostly delivers all the power I need and has the best sound and I’ve backed it up for extra power with the Phase Linear 700 that I can use the preamp of the SX1010. Great sound on the most part and all the power I would want when I need it. Had a Marantz and a Harman Kardon receivers and didn’t like the sound as much, so went back to the SX1010.
In the mid 70’s, l left the relative safety of my work bench
Bedroom, and with a fist full of money, I headed down to the local audio store, with the intention of audistioning, looking disappointed, negotiating and leaving with the well researched new kid on the block by David Palk. I was unimpressed with this “revolutionary” speaker by Polk, and nothing has changed in that regard. However, the salesman did the A / B comparison with Klipsch La Scala, and opposite to the Polks I was impressed and nothing has changed in that regard. I eventually, some years later. Squired the Klipsch corner horns and still command my respect. And now for something completely different.
I had the good fortune to have a mother who was one of the VP’s at Sony of Canada, where I to worked in summers. I decided to take advantage of the generous employee discounts, in the mid 70’s with top of the line except for speakers, where their two ss G5 / str 7800 / xp 11rtc etc. The str 7800 was a beast. The race for space by every manufacturer was absolute nirvana, the equipment was over the top. However, the Sony offering the str 7800(0k all you nansayers, look it up”)
Ready. .. .0001 THD!!!!! And the 7800 (all 76 lbs) together with the 80lb each g5’s Could not be beet!! And Gwen tryed combo’s 5times the price and this combo still won. 45 years so and all works flawlessly. Give these vintage Sony a try, you too will be amazed. This receiver will outperform most of your lust, I guarantee it I have a recording studio on my property, where I play w some very serious analogue speakers and ss and tube heads and still that str 7800.
bulletin: Sony made about 100pairs oh Ss G 9!
Of money,
I have all my Yamaha original stereo set left in the boxes along with the two Yamaha speakers Model NS-500, rated 30 watts max power 80 watts impedance 8 ohms. Receiver is CR820, Turntable YP-D6 and Natural sound stereo cassette deck TC-520. Dolby sound. I am interested in selling it to a good home if interested. DK Greene
We are old & we are very interested in Technics SA-1000 Receiver /Technics Turn Table with Strobe Lights/The Top of the line Technics Speakers….
I have a highly sought after Technics Direct Drive Turntable Model SL-1300 which I no longer use. Has a strobe light & plays 33 1/3 & 45 RPM records. It comes with an Audio Technica cartridge model DL 500 LC + an extra tone arm head with a Sure cartridge model RS E. Price is fair at $300.00. Have had for over 20 years & has low mileage on it was used as a secondary turntable which didn’t get a whole lot of use. Never gave me a problem! Email me at ilovemy56@gmail.com Thanks, Richard
I have a Carver MXR130 receiver that I would like to re-home. It works great. Anyone interested?
Hi Lori, I may be interested if all functions are working. By “re-home” are you interested in selling your unit?
I have had a MXR-130 for many years, but the tuner stopped functioning so I’m considering having unit repaired, but unsure what service price tag plus 2-way shipping will be. Unit is heavy to ship, but I’d like to maintain use of the vintage equipment rather than add to electronic “waste”.
Been looking for a nice carver receiver for a while send me some pictures please thanks
I had one for several years and I may be interested…
Nobody mentioned the MARANTZ 4400B with the quad box and ociliscope ! I also have a SETTON RS 660 any idea how much they are worth?
I have a question. I am looking to find a make/model of a receiver from around 1977-80. It would have been carried by Sears or JC Penney. The only identifiable parts I remember were 1. the 3/4ths circle knob they had on some (whereas most all receivers had full circle knobs) and 2. A orange stereo beacon light in the upper right hand corner of the analog tuner. Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you!!!!!
Sounds like maybe the MCS 3275. There’s a description of it linked above.
Hi
Have a Kenwood KR-3600 AM FM Receiver with Toshiba turntable.
Any idea what the interest and value of this would be?
Thanks
Grant
Hi, I would like to sell my receiver ELECTROSOUND am/fm stereo amplifier 32 :32,in Mint condition. I can’t find nobody who has this,,, If you are interested see my add on Kijiji Montreal…. Thx
This looks like my lists from early Oughts at AudioKarma when I was the Vintage Forum mod. Oh, well *shrugs*
I recently restored my fathers jbl sovereign c60 and console. He drove it with a Sony str 6060fw but now I’m older I think ther were under powered. I’m testing out a Kenwood kr 9050 and they make Thor happy but I’m not fully satisfied with the controls of the Kenwood. I need spectacular for these speakers. Any recommendations?
i just bougth the Marantz TA-165 with the speakers SP-1500 and really sounds great, now you can find some receivers but nothing like mine, i used to have the HK3490 and was good and after 10 years of used passed away lol. Now im very happy with my Marantz my friends were shocked after they heard it. Best regards from México city.
I have a highly sought after Technics Direct Drive Turntable Model SL-1300 which I no longer use. Has a strobe light & plays 33 1/3 & 45 RPM records. It comes with an Audio Technica cartridge model DL 500 LC + an extra tone arm head with a Sure cartridge model RS E. Price is fair at $300.00. Have had for over 20 years & has low mileage on it was used as a secondary turntable which didn’t get a whole lot of use. Never gave me a problem! Email me at ilovemy56@gmail.com Thanks, Richard
I have a Technics SA 616 receiver and have had it for 15 years. It has all the power I want but really can’t use. It is connected to a Gemini Pre amp mixer
It sounds awesome put it rattles the house so I have to be alone to enjoy it. It has 250 wpc and also 4 15′ speakers with super tweeters. Best system I ‘ve ever had!!!!!
I have a Hitatchi SR 2004 and love it .
Luxman R-117 should be added to the list. I owned one driving a set of Boston Acoustic A-400 speakers. 170 watts per channel – great dynamics and big & heavy, a true monster receiver.
I have an immaculate condition Technics SA5770A with a grey finish on the face plate, I have an old magazine ad. for it, which lists the output at 165wpc. Great piece of vintage equipment .
Right next to my two KR 9600’s and Marantz 2325,sits a beat up but well aligned Yamaha R9 receiver..Itwill kick the 2325 ass all day every day..and hang in there with the 9600’s…superb headroom on that little yammy…oh..and it will push 3 sets of speakers allday..just saying
This is really a fun list I have several of these and hope to some day do a review of each on youtube. My list includes: Pioneer 1980, Sansui 9090db, Sansui G9000, Sansui G9700, Sansui 9900z, Kenwood KR-9050, Rotel RX-1603, Nikko NR-1415, Onkyo TX-8500 MkII, Marantz 2385, Realistic STA-2100d, and Carver The Receiver. I bought most of these broken and fixed them except the Pioneer which was given to me broken. It started my obsession with the giants. I dont own, but have auditioned a Concept 16.5 and a Technics SA-800. I can say doing comparisons of all functions, tuner, phono, amp stage, the Onkyo is the winner overall, Closely followed by any of the Sansuis. The 9900z while having a mid quality tuner has just a super sound. Funny thing this receiver while having buttons for the volume actually runs an electric motor that turns a real volume control inside. The Realistic and Rotel are also good units. Bottom of the list is the Nikko, Concept, Technics and Carver all being equally bad. The Kenwood and Pioneer are both beautiful receivers but just middle of the road in sound. I really think the older Pioneers that had backlit dials were better. Really fun collecting these and I have them all in a display rack. I would love to have some of the others too to round out this collection. I do have a lower end Fisher and it sounds quite good so I suspect the top model to be quite good.
what a fantastic read, it was like I went into the woods to that secret childhood fort and was sitting around with all the other guys stretching out and embellishing everything about ourselves and what we owned …or wished we owned. Gathered to top one another in our way’s, each one out doing the other ….better, bigger, longer, louder …more power
You get the right flock together and the topic is irrelevant, the goal common
testosterone induced male sharing never fails, ever
Women call it something different though….”penis extensions”
I’d like to give a big shout out to Vets!
Veterans serving overseas, whether stationed someplace and bored to tears and needing entertainment or returning combat people who rightfully splurge on their dreams and desires at duty free stores …
If it wasn’t for returning Vietnam “War” Vets I personally do not know if my interest and career as a Bench Tech would have taken the same path. I am thankful for the Vets, because they did more than defend my freedom for me. They introduced me to finer things in life, educated me, showed me how to be a grown up.
These people who served our country were treated to audio delights most of us weren’t even aware existed, our Veterans have more more to do with the prosperity and interest in serious Audio than the marketing efforts which followed, because of them…. they are responsible for Audio becoming a personal mass marketed category in the World
think about it? thank a vet for who you are today….
I have a collection of 10 Receivers. The following four in my collection are on the true monsters list.
4. Pioneer SX-1980 – 270 WPC
7. Sansui G-9700 – 200 WPC
9. Hitachi SR-2004 – 200 WPC
11. Pioneer SX-1280 – 185 WPC
The following three of my collections receivers are on this sites runner up Monster receiver list.
1. Onkyo TX-8500 MkII – 160 WPC
2. Pioneer SX-1250/5590 – 160 WPC
3. Sansui G-9000/901 – 160 WPC
So all total my collection has 7 of its 10 receivers as monsters based on this sites criteria. Not bad considering I brought only what I liked.
The three weaker receivers in my collection that I still consider Baby Monsters are the following.
1. Marantz 2330B, 130 WPC
2. Pioneer SX-1050, 120 WPC
3. Pioneer SX-1080, 120 WPC
I recently scored a Sansui G9000 that a buddy of mine had sitting in his garage collecting dust. Just had it cleaned up and serviced and am eagerly awaiting to hook it up to my Pioneer HPM 100s or my 4311s and crank it up!
Back in the day, early 70s, one of the high end audio makers, I believe it was McIntosh, ran free test clinics around the country in high end shops. You’d bring in your gear and they’d test it for power, distortion, etc. and give you a printout of the results. They were trying to expose the over-rated power figures on a lot of popular amps and receivers, mainly Japanese.
Most equipment “failed,” didn’t live up to claims. Somewhere I still have the results on my AR Receiver, and it passed with flying colors. Rated 60 wpc into 4 ohms, I think.