reviews of my thrift store finds

Ilusndweller

Junior Member
Though Ive cut back on visits and purchases, I still go thrifting and find stereo equipment that interests me for cheap. I figure this could serve as my archive. Purchased yesterday.

Hitachi DA-501 from 85-86. $3, door wouldnt open. Im pretty sure I can fix this with a rubber band but it is not as easy to get to as the ones Ive replaced in the past. Ive got the DA-401 and it works perfectly so hopefully this one will also. Grew up eating rice made in a Hitachi so its got to be good. Though I did buy a mid 80s Hitachi 4001? Receiver (made for Pacific Stereo) about 10 years ago off the bay and it lasted a week before a channel went out. If nothing else, I could probably use the laser in the 401. Ill report back when I fix/listen to it for a real review. And yes, I am one of the few holdouts still listening to CD. :)

BF810BF6-D2CD-4E65-884D-6DFD9D9FBEE8.jpeg8522B9BF-4B78-4387-BFDC-D92C8552F726.jpeg

The other purchase is in my car, hold on.
 
Though Ive cut back on visits and purchases, I still go thrifting and find stereo equipment that interests me for cheap. I figure this could serve as my archive. Purchased yesterday.

Hitachi DA-501 from 85-86. $3, door wouldnt open. Im pretty sure I can fix this with a rubber band but it is not as easy to get to as the ones Ive replaced in the past. Ive got the DA-401 and it works perfectly so hopefully this one will also. Grew up eating rice made in a Hitachi so its got to be good. Though I did buy a mid 80s Hitachi 4001? Receiver (made for Pacific Stereo) about 10 years ago off the bay and it lasted a week before a channel went out. If nothing else, I could probably use the laser in the 401. Ill report back when I fix/listen to it for a real review. :)

View attachment 12447View attachment 12448

The other purchase is in my car, hold on.

Holding....
 
;):jump <====== the fun Im having.

I present the Sony SA-WMS367 Active Sub-E3B7208E-6FDE-4084-9BE3-CD40F6031D14.jpeg
$9 and so fresh off the press, I havent researched it, but I think its 10”, it says 130W in the back. I passed on the all plastic speakers which I think? went with it.

I got this bc it has high level inputs. 2 subs with high level inputs+ any receiver = fun good sound. While it has a variable bass boost, it does not have variable low pass filter. Im playing Hybrid Morning “SCI-FI” which has good base and it is sounding good. Gut feeling says it is slightly better than the Kenwood sub (another “just for fun” sub from a HTIB) it just replaced. As I use it more i will report back.
 
My favorite local pizza place (Jets) happens to be close to a goodwill and I conveniently had pizza last night :jump Great night, probably my nicest speakers from a thrift (I have high hopes for Sony SS-TL3 when I replace tweeters). Scroes are rare and this is a scroe for sure. NHT 1.5. 48Hz and up and rated to 150W 8Ohm. These officially dethrone my B&W as being my most “power hungry” speaker. From what I have gathered their retail was $600/pr in 98. Apparently these sound their best with lots of power and I am testing that right now as I also found a BPC Sony STR-DH130 receiver that was manufactured Oct 2016. I am powering them with that now (took out NAD 326 and put in Sony). After I get a feel for how the Sony sounds and its limitations Ill swap it out for a Forte Model 3 or Kyocera A-910 and answer once and for all “Can new gear keep up with vintage?” :tongue:

So far this NHT $26/Sony $15 combo is pleasing to my ears. Soundstage is very good, musical sound, neutral, good highs.

I bet it would pair nice with the Sony sub. Or my NHT SW2Si sub and SA-2 sub amp.

The Sony does not get a good rating mostly because of its lack of power which is noticeable on the low end at only moderate volumes (granted the sensitivity of the 1.5s is only 85). It is out and the NAD 326 is back in. Lasted 0.5 days and will be part of my next give to a friend system.
 

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My favorite local pizza place (Jets) happens to be close to a goodwill and I conveniently had pizza last night :jump Great night, probably my nicest speakers from a thrift (I have high hopes for Sony SS-TL3 when I replace tweeters). Scroes are rare and this is a scroe for sure. NHT 1.5. 48Hz and up and rated to 150W 8Ohm. These officially dethrone my B&W as being my most “power hungry” speaker. From what I have gathered their retail was $600/pr in 98. Apparently these sound their best with lots of power and I am testing that right now as I also found a BPC Sony STR-DH130 receiver that was manufactured Oct 2016. I am powering them with that now (took out NAD 326 and put in Sony). After I get a feel for how the Sony sounds and its limitations Ill swap it out for a Forte Model 3 or Kyocera A-910 and answer once and for all “Can new gear keep up with vintage?” :tongue:

So far this NHT $26/Sony $15 combo is pleasing to my ears. Soundstage is very good, musical sound, neutral, good highs.

I bet it would pair nice with the Sony sub. Or my NHT SW2Si sub and SA-2 sub amp.

The Sony does not get a good rating mostly because of its lack of power which is noticeable on the low end at only moderate volumes (granted the sensitivity of the 1.5s is only 85). It is out and the NAD 326 is back in. Lasted 0.5 days and will be part of my next give to a friend system.

Sony used a transmission line for the woofer loading of the SS-TL3 model which get some folks all excited.
The drivers are small magnet budget woofers most likely with a high Qts.
The performance of high Qts. drivers in transmission lines will not be that of their low Qts. counterparts.

The SS-TL1 model use a Sony labeled cone tweeter made in Korea.
It looks identical to the Tonegan tweeters used in the Bose 201 model which do use ferrofluid.
Sony has their name labeled on their outsourced drivers as do other companies which is standard in the industry.
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