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Concept 16.5 Monster Receiver (165+ W/Ch) - Legendary Dual-Transformer - $2,800 (berkeley)
condition:
excellent
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Offered for sale is an absolute pinnacle of 1970s audio engineering: the legendary Concept 16.5 AM/FM Stereo Receiver. Built during the high-water mark of the receiver wars, this monster unit is a grail piece for serious collectors and vintage audio enthusiasts.
Concept 16.5 Monster Receiver is in Excellent Condition. Thorough Bench Testing: Extensively tested for channel balance, frequency response, phono stage accuracy, and continuous power delivery
Listing Description:
For the uncompromising vintage collector and high-end audio purist: the legendary Concept 16.5. Engineered during the zenith of the late-70s receiver wars as the flagship crown jewel for Pacific Stereo, this ultra-rare heavyweight is universally revered as one of the ultimate achievements in analog receiver design—routinely trading blows with the rarest monster units from Pioneer, Sansui, and Marantz.
Under the hood lies an overbuilt, dual-mono inspired power supply anchored by massive transformers and generous filter capacitance, providing effortless high-current delivery. It presents a wide, holographic soundstage, subterranean bass grip, and a remarkably transparent, fatigue-free midrange that commands demanding speaker loads with absolute authority.
Technical Highlights & Architecture:
Continuous Power Output: Conservatively rated at 165+ Watts per channel into 8 ohms, featuring staggering dynamic headroom and incredible low-impedance stability.
Dual-Transformer Power Supply: High-current design engineered to prevent voltage sag under heavy transient peaks.
Dual Phono Stages: Highly versatile, low-noise phono inputs built for precision cartridge matching and optimal vinyl reproduction.
Advanced Tone Section: Multi-band tone shaping featuring selectable bass, midrange, and treble turnover frequencies, alongside a true tone defeat circuit for a pure signal path.
Direct Connectivity: Preamp-out / main-in jumpers allowing it to be split or integrated into a custom separates rig.
Condition & Performance:
Cosmetically and mechanically well-preserved. The heavy extruded aluminum faceplate, milled controls, and classic wood-grain veneer cabinet present beautifully. All inputs, switches, tuner sections, and binding posts operate with precision.