Technics SA-1010 120WPC Receiver from 1983
This marks the complete end of a particular vintage receiver era, in my opinion. Technics SA-1010, 120WPC, 1983. What makes this receiver unique is its large size and features. And it is jam packed inside with electronics that are relatively easy to service. While this one is silver, they apparently made it in black but I have yet to see one anywhere. After this model in 1983, who else made something this size that had a “monster era” vibe to it? I’ve heard that this can push up to 150 watts per channel and I believe it as it has a massive transformer and really is stressing my HPM-100 speakers tonight with no audible clipping at high volumes. It has a very interesting amplifier circuit, I did some reading in the actual instruction manual and it does the following: - Automatically adjusts for speaker impedance (will take down to 4 ohm loads) - Has a preheat and ongoing thermal monitoring circuit - Adjusts amplifier performance based on output transistor temperature - Has advanced protection circuitry, has a high and low signal LED’s which will intermittently blink based on what it’s detecting in real time It has a 2 channel stereo expansion circuit, which has a cool multi segment 3-D display. Very similar to other receivers that have a stereo enhancer and this is adjustable. Has a high-performance tuner, with decibel signal strength and wide/narrow FM sensitivity selection. Has a primitive but interesting analog tuning meter which accompanies the AM/FM frequency tuned. Has two tape monitor circuits AND an EQ pass through monitor circuit. Selectable MM and MC phono stage circuit. I’ve been inside to give it a cleanout, and it appears to be made very well. It does have a known heat dissipation issue on the tone board, and two power regulator transistors have metal heat sinks that will burn your fingers. This one seems to have low hours and doesn’t have any browning or burn marks around those transistors. Also no lights are burned out anywhere. That said, always run a fan and don’t put receivers in enclosures! Especially vintage! Final comment: It’s a shame that Technics didn’t use a three dimensional badge logo. Why the flat paint for such a superior unit?
This marks the complete end of a particular vintage receiver era, in my opinion. Technics SA-1010, 120WPC, 1983. What makes this receiver unique is its large size and features. And it is jam packed inside with electronics that are relatively easy to service. While this one is silver, they apparently made it in black but I have yet to see one anywhere. After this model in 1983, who else made something this size that had a “monster era” vibe to it? I’ve heard that this can push up to 150 watts per channel and I believe it as it has a massive transformer and really is stressing my HPM-100 speakers tonight with no audible clipping at high volumes. It has a very interesting amplifier circuit, I did some reading in the actual instruction manual and it does the following: - Automatically adjusts for speaker impedance (will take down to 4 ohm loads) - Has a preheat and ongoing thermal monitoring circuit - Adjusts amplifier performance based on output transistor temperature - Has advanced protection circuitry, has a high and low signal LED’s which will intermittently blink based on what it’s detecting in real time It has a 2 channel stereo expansion circuit, which has a cool multi segment 3-D display. Very similar to other receivers that have a stereo enhancer and this is adjustable. Has a high-performance tuner, with decibel signal strength and wide/narrow FM sensitivity selection. Has a primitive but interesting analog tuning meter which accompanies the AM/FM frequency tuned. Has two tape monitor circuits AND an EQ pass through monitor circuit. Selectable MM and MC phono stage circuit. I’ve been inside to give it a cleanout, and it appears to be made very well. It does have a known heat dissipation issue on the tone board, and two power regulator transistors have metal heat sinks that will burn your fingers. This one seems to have low hours and doesn’t have any browning or burn marks around those transistors. Also no lights are burned out anywhere. That said, always run a fan and don’t put receivers in enclosures! Especially vintage! Final comment: It’s a shame that Technics didn’t use a three dimensional badge logo. Why the flat paint for such a superior unit?