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What’s Old is New Again:
JBL SA750 Amplifier

Since its founding by James B. Lansing in 1946, JBL has been a cornerstone of the Hi-Fi world. While they are most famous for their legendary speakers, the company has a rich history of engineering high-performance amplifiers and precision components.

James B. Lansing, founder of JBL
A print advertisement for two of JBL’s original products, the D-130-A woofer and the D-175 horn tweeter

In 2021, JBL launched the SA750 amplifier as a centerpiece of their “Premium” line. Though it’s packed with modern tech, the SA750 is a direct homage to a 1960s icon: the JBL SA600. Here is a look at how the original “old” classic compares to its modern “new” successor.

The Old: JBL SA600 Amplifier

The JBL SA600 was a stereo amplifier introduced in 1966. At that time, manufacturers were transitioning from the vacuum tube amplifiers of the 1950s to solid state (transistor) amplifiers, and the SA600 was one of the earlier solid state designs.

JBL SA600 Amplifier

The SA600 was an integrated amp, with a built in preamplifier for a turntable. It put out 30 watts per channel, which was enough to power a pair of higher efficiency speakers. The SA600 had a classic aesthetic, with a silver faceplate and wooden end caps. It was designed by JBL’s Bert Locanthi, who was a renowned engineer at JBL.

JBL SA600 front panel

Back in the 1960s, the SA600 would have been a great match for a pair of JBL C56 “Dorian” speakers, shown here. The Dorians were high efficiency, two-way loudspeakers known for a signature marble top plate, oiled walnut finish, and “cane” grills. Often utilizing the LE14A woofer and LE175DLH “potato masher” horn driver with an LX10 crossover, these 16-ohm speakers are valued for their warm, detailed, and powerful sound.

JBL C56 “Dorian” speakers

The New: JBL SA750 Amplifier

In 2021, JBL launched the SA750 Amplifier, part of their “Premium Series” of components. The SA750 was designed with a vintage aesthetic inspired by the SA600, and was released to commemorate JBL’s 75th year in the industry. Visually, it looks very much like the original, with a silver faceplate, wooden end caps, and a similar control layout.

The SA750 is thoroughly modern inside, with “Class G” amplification delivering 120 watts per channel. It supports both wired and wireless connectivity, and analog and digital inputs.

If you’d like to see more about the SA750, just click on this link.

JBL SA550 Amplifier

The JBL SA550 amplifier was introduced two years later in 2023 as a more affordable addition to the Premium series, alongside a matching turntable and CD player. The SA550 is rated for 90 watts per channel and has seven inputs. It has walnut veneer side panels to match the JBL L-Classic speaker line.

Here’s a link to the SA550 product page.