Editors' ranking · Be the first to vote
The most unique vintage receivers
Receivers that broke the mold: oscilloscopes, touch controls, two-piece chassis, quad decoders, kits and other designs that stand out.
No votes yet, so this is the editors' order. Be the first to vote: one vote per model per day.
Paid links: listing photos and “live listings” links lead to eBay listings, and we may earn a commission if you buy (eBay Partner Network). Not affiliated with eBay or any brand shown.
Specs table with voting
| Vote | Live | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marantz 2500 | 1977–1980 | 250 W | 0 votes | Listings ↗ |
| 2 | Marantz 4400 | 1974–1978 | 125 W | 0 votes | Listings ↗ |
| 3 | Bang & Olufsen Beomaster 1900 | 1976–1982 | — | 0 votes | Listings ↗ |
| 4 | Sansui QRX-9001 | 1978–1979 | 120 W | 0 votes | Listings ↗ |
| 5 | Sansui G-33000 | c. 1978 | 300 W | 0 votes | Listings ↗ |
| 6 | Technics SA-1000 | late 1970s | 330 W | 0 votes | Listings ↗ |
| 7 | Marantz 2600 | 1978–1980 | 300 W | 0 votes | Listings ↗ |
| 8 | McIntosh MAC1900 | 1973–1978 | 55 W | 0 votes | Listings ↗ |
| 9 | Harman Kardon 930 | 1972 | 45 W | 0 votes | Listings ↗ |
| 10 | Realistic STA-2100 | 1979 | 120 W | 0 votes | Listings ↗ |
| 11 | Fisher 500-C | 1960s | 35 W | 0 votes | Listings ↗ |
| 12 | Heathkit AR-15 | — | — | 0 votes | Listings ↗ |
| 13 | Pioneer SX-1980 | 1978–1980 | 270 W | 0 votes | Listings ↗ |
| 14 | Sansui G-22000 | 1978 | 220 W | 0 votes | Listings ↗ |
| 15 | Nakamichi 730 | 1978–1982 | 105 W | 0 votes | Listings ↗ |
| 16 | Optonica SA-5901 | 1979–1980 | 125 W | 0 votes | Listings ↗ |
| 17 | Tandberg TR-2080 | — | — | 0 votes | Listings ↗ |
| 18 | Yamaha CR-2020 | 1977–1979 | 100 W | 0 votes | Listings ↗ |
| 19 | Nikko NR-1415 | 1978 | 175 W | 0 votes | Listings ↗ |
| 20 | Scott 340B | 1960s | — | 0 votes | Listings ↗ |
-
1
Marantz 2500
A working oscilloscope in the front panel shows tuning, multipath and the stereo signal, and the free-spinning flywheel dial feels like nothing else.
- Front-panel oscilloscope
- Gyro-Touch flywheel tuning
0 votesLive listings ↗
-
2
Marantz 4400
A quadraphonic flagship with a built-in oscilloscope, four-channel balance controls and optional remote control. It carries every idea Marantz had in 1974.
- Built-in oscilloscope
- 4-channel
- Dolby FM
0 votesLive listings ↗
💬 Comment
-
3
Bang & Olufsen Beomaster 1900
Instead of knobs it has a row of touch-sensitive 'dimples' that click electronically when touched. The everyday controls hide under a full-width hinged lid.
- Sensi-touch controls
- Hinged cover for secondary controls
0 votesLive listings ↗
💬 Comment
-
4
Sansui QRX-9001
A late, powerful quad receiver that decodes QS, SQ and CD-4 at a time when the four-channel boom was already over.
- QS, SQ and CD-4 decoding
0 votesLive listings ↗
💬 Comment
-
5
Sansui G-33000
Technically a receiver, but split across two chassis to hold 300 watts per channel.
- Two-chassis design
0 votesLive listings ↗
💬 Comment
-
6
Technics SA-1000
The receiver at the far end of the power war, rated at 330 watts per channel, with a size and weight to match.
0 votesLive listings ↗
💬 Comment
-
7
Marantz 2600
Marantz's last word in the power race, and reportedly one of the few giants to meet its full rating under FTC test conditions.
0 votesLive listings ↗
💬 Comment
-
8
McIntosh MAC1900
McIntosh's glass faceplate and blue meters on a receiver, applied to a format most high-end makers ignored.
0 votesLive listings ↗
💬 Comment
-
9
Harman Kardon 930
Built by the Citation engineering team with two complete, separate power supplies, an unusual luxury in a receiver at this price.
- Dual separate power supplies
0 votesLive listings ↗
💬 Comment
-
10
Realistic STA-2100
A Radio Shack receiver with a toroidal power transformer. A dispute with Pioneer led to a revised STA-2100D, so the original is the one collectors want.
- Toroidal power transformer (original version)
0 votesLive listings ↗
💬 Comment
-
11
Fisher 500-C
A full tube stereo receiver from the 1960s, combining tuner, preamp and valve power amp in one handsome chassis.
- Tube (valve) design
- AM/FM stereo
0 votesLive listings ↗
💬 Comment
-
12
Heathkit AR-15
A receiver you built yourself. Heathkit sold it as a kit, so every surviving example was assembled by an owner.
0 votesLive listings ↗
💬 Comment
-
13
Pioneer SX-1980
One of the largest and heaviest receivers ever sold, and the center of a well-known FTC power-rating dispute.
0 votesLive listings ↗
💬 Comment
-
14
Sansui G-22000
A big DC-coupled Sansui from the late 1970s that pairs 220 watts per channel with a dramatic front panel.
0 votesLive listings ↗
💬 Comment
-
15
Nakamichi 730
A receiver from a company better known for cassette decks. It is a rare Nakamichi in this format.
0 votesLive listings ↗
💬 Comment
-
16
Optonica SA-5901
Sharp's short-lived high-end brand, Optonica, built receivers that are now curiosities.
0 votesLive listings ↗
💬 Comment
-
17
Tandberg TR-2080
A Norwegian receiver with a distinctly Scandinavian look in a market dominated by Japanese and American makers.
0 votesLive listings ↗
💬 Comment
-
18
Yamaha CR-2020
A famously comprehensive set of controls, laid out neatly, makes this Yamaha a tweaker's dream.
0 votesLive listings ↗
💬 Comment
-
19
Nikko NR-1415
A modular construction with easily removable power sections, unusual for a receiver of its time.
0 votesLive listings ↗
💬 Comment
-
20
Scott 340B
An H.H. Scott tube receiver, one of the last generations of valve-based all-in-ones.
0 votesLive listings ↗
💬 Comment
Missing a classic?
Suggest a model or brand for this list. Suggestions are reviewed privately and never shown on the site.
More lists
Top 100 Vintage Receivers of All Time Top Vintage Bookshelf Speakers Top Vintage Floorstanding Speakers The Most Powerful Vintage Receivers Under-the-Radar Vintage Audio Brands
💬 Comment
No comments yet. Share your experience with this one.