TA-E901
(june 1981 - 1986)

The simplified-and-not-so-big.
But-very-good-nevertheless.
And-much-cheaper, too.

2,5x Cheaper than the TA-E900, the E901 made the first step aside from the original pre-Esprit units... it had tone controls ! And LEDs aplenty. And the "simple signal path" wasn't respected, although, true, custom-designed relays to switch inputs and functions made up for that. A simplified phono stage, only one power transformer but the "Esprit" surely was encased in the mysterious epoxy-potted modules :-)
An excellent amplifier nevertheless, unfortunately almost never ever seen in its optional and xxx-rare wood enclosure.

The design of the source selector also was more in sync with the times when compared to the knobs & switches of the TA-E900 big brother and was here named "Visual Communication Display" - sign o' the times.