Pioneer Sa 8900 Ii !!link!!
According to data from Liquid Audio and Audio Vintage Shop , the SA-8900 II offers the following technical profile: : 80 watts per channel into 8Ω (stereo).
A common forum question is: Does the SA-8900 II have Pioneer's Non-Switching circuit? The Non-Switching tech was reserved for the SA-9800 and SA-9900. The SA-8900 II uses a pure complementary differential amplifier design. This is a double-differential, direct-coupled circuit. What this means for the listener is lower distortion at low volumes and better phase linearity. Many repair techs prefer working on the 8900 II because it uses readily available, discrete transistors rather than proprietary ICs found in the later "Non-Switching" models. pioneer sa 8900 ii
Buying a 45-year-old amplifier requires caution. Here is what to look for on the SA-8900 II: According to data from Liquid Audio and Audio
The original SA-8900 was a fine amplifier, but it suffered from a design choice common in the mid-70s: the use of STK amplifier modules (hybrid integrated circuits). While reliable, audiophiles often criticized these modules for lacking the transparency and transient response of fully discrete circuitry. The SA-8900 II uses a pure complementary differential
In the pantheon of vintage hi-fi, few eras are as revered as the late 1970s. It was a period of excess—not in a negative sense, but in an engineering one. Amplifiers weren't just boxes; they were statements of intent, built with massive transformers, discrete components, and enough switches and knobs to pilot a commercial airliner.
The was released as a "no-holds-barred" revision. It corrected minor thermal issues of the first generation and introduced a more robust phono stage. In the Pioneer lineup, it sat just below the monster SA-9800 (which featured the exclusive "Non-Switching" amplifier design). The SA-8900 II did not utilize Non-Switching technology; instead, it relied on a more traditional, high-speed, pure complementary OCL (Output Capacitorless) design.
Every vintage brand has a "sound." Marantz is often described as warm and lush; Sansui as forward and punchy; Kenwood as neutral. The Pioneer SA-8900 II occupies a