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Original Message
They don't sound as good as the Threshold Statis amps from that period
Posted by plantsman on March 16, 2012 at 03:07:36:
The amp is nearly twenty-five years old so if it hasn't already been done it should have all the electrolytic caps replaced, especially the big power supply caps. As I recall they ran fairly hot so that would be an additional stress on parts.
As to the sound, first the disclaimer. I worked for a Threshold (and Maganepan) dealer in the mid to late 1980s so it could be argued that I had a dog in this fight. I heard the PA7 twice, once when an existing customer of ours borrowed a PA7 from the Nakamichi dealer and brought it in for us to hear and once when a PA7 owner bought the amp in audition with the speaker lines we sold, but who also wanted to hear the Threshold amps. In both cases the vote was unanimous that the Thresholds sounded significantly better. The PA7 owner was actually fairly disheartened by the comparison since he had believed that he had, in effect, bought a Threshold at a bargain price.
Going by old memories I remember the PA7 sounding slightly veiled across the spectrum in comparison to either the SA-1s or S/500 and also maybe a bit more edgy. It wasn't a bad amp, just not as good as the Thresholds. Whether or not it represents a good buy depends on condition and price. It certainly will drive 1.6s competently but you definitely should get those caps replaced if you buy it.