Bang & Olufsen Beomaster 2400. The fact that we're talking about receivers means to me that we're talking for more casual use, not for a reference system . . . and the 2400 sounds pretty decent, has an amazing list of technical innovations, and has a balance of aesthetics and ergonomics that makes them an absolute pleasure to use.
Consider the electronic photo-resistor volume control, which is all the rage in several high-end preamps these days. Low output power but with lots of current, and DC offset protection without using a speaker relay. A good-sounding, sensitive (when aligned properly) analog FM tuner with presets. Solid-state source switching using only diodes. Not to mention the capacitive touch-sensitive controls, and possibly the first remote control available on a music system . . . all done without a microprocessor. This was designed in the mid-1970s, when the rest of the world was producing ever larger conglomerations of chrome, light shows, fake vinyl wood, and a seemingly endless number of buttons, toggles, and rotary wafer switches.
And considering how cutting-edge much of the circuitry was, Beomaster 2400s as a group still aged pretty well . . . many are still working great today with only a couple trips to the repair shop over a 30 year lifespan.
Consider the electronic photo-resistor volume control, which is all the rage in several high-end preamps these days. Low output power but with lots of current, and DC offset protection without using a speaker relay. A good-sounding, sensitive (when aligned properly) analog FM tuner with presets. Solid-state source switching using only diodes. Not to mention the capacitive touch-sensitive controls, and possibly the first remote control available on a music system . . . all done without a microprocessor. This was designed in the mid-1970s, when the rest of the world was producing ever larger conglomerations of chrome, light shows, fake vinyl wood, and a seemingly endless number of buttons, toggles, and rotary wafer switches.
And considering how cutting-edge much of the circuitry was, Beomaster 2400s as a group still aged pretty well . . . many are still working great today with only a couple trips to the repair shop over a 30 year lifespan.