Technics SU-3200 (1973)
The Technics SU-3200 is a stereo pre-main amplifier, an integrated amplifier, from the early years of Technics' separate-component lineup. The Audio Database places its release in 1973 with a Japanese price of ¥55,800. A Russian retrospective test puts it in 1975. The Archive hasn't been able to reconcile the two years. What's consistent is that it was a silver-face, made-in-Japan component, and a New Zealand dealer listing calls it a "nice silverface model from an important era".
Electronically, it uses the fully complementary all-stage direct-coupled differential-amplification OCL circuit. OCL means output-capacitor-less, a topology Japanese amplifier makers were proud of in this period. The power figures are awkward. The Audio Database lists music power at 80W, while the dealer listing gives 20WPC. Both may be legitimate under different measurement conventions, but the Archive doesn't have the test conditions documented well enough to reconcile them.
The dealer listing tells us a few things about the front panel. There are separate tone controls for left and right channels, rumble and scratch filters for cleaning up bad vinyl, and outputs with switching for two pairs of speakers. The unit weighs 8kg. A Russian comparison test positioned it above the cheaper Technics SU-7600 and Pioneer SA-6700, and noted the SU-7600 cost about a third less. That puts the SU-3200 a step up the range.
No frequency response, distortion, or signal-to-noise figures are documented, and no period magazine review of the SU-3200 has surfaced in the Archive's holdings. If you own a manual or a service sheet for one, it would fill real gaps.
Known specs
- Type: Stereo pre-main (integrated) amplifier
- Released: 1973 (per Audio Database; a Russian source says 1975)
- Original price: ¥55,800
- Music power: 80W (per Audio Database)
- Power output: 20WPC (per Retrotronics dealer listing)
- Weight: 8kg
- Circuit: Fully complementary all-stage direct-coupled differential-amplification OCL
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