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May 18, 2008 - 6:49pm
#1
NIKKO Alpha VI stereo amp.
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Nikko circuits take little modification to make them sound great. In stock form, those few parts needing changing. In audiophile terms, those few $0.05 parts being 'not so good' make them sound like poo.
Other than that, you can get it and sell it to me for $50, I'll take it off your hands.
Seriously, I love that old school monster stuff.
Fan cooled 300W/PC. Not too shabby. Where's DUP when you need him?
It sells for over $1000.00, easily, when in mint shape. Especially with the box and paperwork.
If it's cheap, grab it, like yesterday. Go, go now.
http://cgi.ebay.com/NIKKO-ALPHA-VI-STERE...1QQcmdZViewItem
Sell it to a Nikko Fan-boy wanker, and buy yourself something that sounds good.
Well, I must say that this amp sounds wonderful. I've had it in my system for about two weeks now, & I'm really enjoying it. My Krell KAV 250a is really getting a run for it's money. They both have their own distinct musical personalities.
The Nikko gives you a larger soundstage & a more romantic kind of sound. The Krell delivers better imaging (close) & is a tad ballsier, but I'm splitting hairs here. On a cosmetic scale of 1-10...the Nikko is a 10+, where the Krell is a plain Jane looking 2. I could live happily with either one, & I just might do that.
the Nikko's have a $0.05 pair of electrolytic coupling caps on their feedback and DC control circuits...and the op-amps they used are not-so-good. These parts swapped out to better quality ones, makes the amp sound, er, subjectively..twice as good.
The rest of it is intelligently designed and laid out. Good quality Toshiba transistors, huge Bando transformers,and Nichicon capacitors..all intelligently laid out, with a decent circuit. So, a total of $2.00 in parts work keeps and kept the Nikko amps off the shelf as a decision between Bryston, Krell, etc (their amps that were made at that same time of the Nikko, that is).
This is why they are and were so popular with the DJ crew. Not perfect, but damn good for the money.
Thanks for the info. I'll definetely check into it. In fact I have the service manual ordsered & due any day now. That should help. But, I must say this baby sounds darn good to me as is.
When Nikko's fail..they fail at turn on. And at a certain point..they ALL tend to do it. It has to do with those caps mentioned drying out.
Which is why you can find so many blown Nikko amps on ebay, over the years, with entire channels blown. So swap them out for new..and the amp should last another 20 years, hopefully. Right now, it may be fine..but time will take it..just like the rest of them..
An important point is that those 'output' transistors are no longer available, at all, so protect them by finding a tech who understands the issue I'm speaking of, and can do the specific work. Unless, you are that tech, of course!
I'll be taking the Nikko back to Stephen Monte at Quest for Sound in Bensalem, Pa. Stephen already saw & heard the amp & said that without a doubt, it's a keeper. He's going to work up a price for me, then I'll decide what direction I'm going in. As it stands now I really enjoy the amp & if a few changes can bring it up another notch...well I'll be very pleased.
I have one of these amps. I was wondering if you had ever did get yours worked on by Stephen Monte? If so what was the results?