My first receiver was Marantz 2270 bought new from Rabson's on 57 St, NYC. This was 1976 and the price was $280 + tax! ... Ah, the good old days when gear was affordable on an office clerk's wage!Adjusted for inflation, $280 in 1976 was equivalent to $1206 today. Adjusted for inflation, we spent a lot more for mid-fi gear in the '70s. My first stereo was an Altec-Lansing 911A compact system, with the control unit being an Altec receiver with Garrard SL95B turntable set into the top, and separate Altec 889 2-way bookshelf speakers included. I snatched it up on sale for $419, which would figure to $2457 today
Good Sounding Vintage SS Receiver or Amps
Although I use tube gear. I bought a Yamaha CR-220 for the hell of it. I owned vintage Pioneer, Marantz & other receivers. This Yamaha CR-220 is as close as I ever heard to a tube amp. It lacks the tube midrange super wide soundstage, but with careful setting of the variable loudness control plus bass & treble controls I was surprised. Turn the loudness control one notch up from full counter-clockwise, Bass two notches back from full clockwise & Treble three notches from full clockwise. The receiver is a fully discrete design lacking op-amps that were terrible back then, If you are short on cash, these under $100 Yamaha CR-220 receivers work well. 15 watts output per channel is not loud, but using 89dB or higher rated speakers works for general listening levels.
What vintage receiver or amp do you like?