avguytx

I guess they didn't turn out too terribly bad after a light sanding with 320 grit plus 0000 steel wool and then a good oiling with Formby's Low Gloss Tung Oil. It's almost like a mini pair of CF-3's as they have the same finish as those. ha Need to recover those grills which look to be interesting. Also need one grill emblem. Anyone have one of those? First picture is before any sanding and oil.

I've about decided to sell off my Magnavox 9304 EL84 PP as I believe it's time to get something newer. I'll keep the Stromberg 6V6 as it does sound, and look, good for what it is. Might sell it off later...who knows. I'm leaning more towards at KT88 PP where I can run either in ultra linear or triode depending on the speakers (CF-3's and the Belle bass bins, etc). Single ended can save a few dollars, though. Also thought about the Audioromy FU29 tubed amp. Love the looks of those tubes.

The mounting baffle appears to be the early days of inwall speaker mounting. 2 drivers were loose and moving around. Just bent the brackets back and re mounted. Seems ok for now.

Back when I lived in Denton, TX, I picked up a pair of original Heresy's. Raw birch. Gave $10 for those "homemade" speakers as they called them.

Was perusing around the thrift stores in town today and picked up a pair of KG 2.2's for a paltry sum of money. Should make a nice pair of garage speakers. Cabinets aren't in the best of shape and there's a small chunk out of a bottom corner but that's okay. They'll most likely be put up high somewhere. All the drivers work so that was a definite bonus. I was going to post a picture but it doesn't seem to like uploading a 1.8mb file. Also picked up 3 basic turntables...just 'cause. Not really that great but I like getting them back working decent and sell them to those getting a start back in vinyl. That and I just like tinkering. There was a B.I.C 960, MCS 6500, and Realistic Lab 400 ( this was my first turntable as a young teen...bought myself). But funot roaming around.

I use a highly updated Carver C-1 preamp in front of whatever amp I use plus each digital source has a DAC. Actually, the only source I really use anymore is my media server. I've not played an actual CD in over 2 years. I spin some vinyl once in awhile and that's why I like the C-1 with its dual phono inputs with upgraded IC's. Seems like most of the Chinese made tube amplifiers are integrated and I don't really need that...if I ever get one.

It's surprising the amount of low end they do actually have given the OPT's. They both sound pretty good on my CF-3's but could definitely have a little more. Maybe it wouldn't be as noticeable on a pair of Belle bass bins given their LF rolloff point

I know these aren't the be all-end all of tube amps but they are enjoyable for what they are. It seems the output transformers are their weak link...as they are in most console pulled tube amps. They were built and installed for a design/cost goal. But I still have two of them...the Maggie 9304-20 and the Stromberg Carlson ASR-120. I may replace the OPT's or just buy something newer and sell these two off. But I've enjoyed them for about 8 years now. For what they are. Haven't tried Dave's circuits but all caps and resistors on mine have been replaced.

In the almost 30 years I spent in home a/v retail and as a manufacturers rep, I don't recall any brand of home speakers that used a passive high pass filter on the woofer side. It's either a person has common sense with the "throttle" or they don't.

Pull the crossover out, mounted to the terminal cup, of the speaker in question. Look for any parts that just don't look right. Maybe pull the good one so you have it for comparison. The wires won't go out too terribly far unless you remove each speaker and disconnect them so the crossover can come completely out. if you do that, label the wires and make note of what went where. Could be a capacitor in the circuit that was popped.

My musical tastes are all over the charts...most all but no hip hop/rap, or top 40, or new country (I do like the older stuff and things like Jamey Johnson, etc). I do jazz, some classical, but mainly rock from 70s and 80s, some progressive rock, hair bands (I'm 50...ha), Norah Jones, Melody Gardot, Diana Kroll, Allison Krauss, lots of stuff off of Spotify, etc., and I do like to crank on occasion. I've got 400+ wpc from a Carver amp for that. But not near as often like that as I used to. Right now it's CF-3's I use but will be going full horn loaded in near future with Belle bass bins in a 3-way design of some sorts. I have two different console PP EL84 amps right now that sound quite good but I keep thinking I'm missing some good stuff and wanting more. Champagne taste on a beer budget, though, right now, as they say.

What I'm still trying to learn/understand is the difference in power ranges of tubes and types. KT88 vs EL84 vs 2A3 vs 300b and on and on. But, hell, I may not be able to hear that much difference with my tinnitus...could be a moot point. Sigh... Still doesn't seem to keep me from tinkering.

They are definitely good looking amps and I have thought of delving into them numerous times. Thanks for the writeup! It seems like most all of them are integrated amplifiers. I'd like to have one that's a power amp only as I have a completely gone through (over 200 caps, resistors, IC's, etc) Carver C-1 preamp with remove volume control added on (and mute) and I hate having to get up. haha. Sometimes I just need mute! Can you post any pics of the guts or is it sealed off?

Helps to have a little relief time from all that's going on in "life" right now; mom's health problems and having recently gone completely deaf. I've learned more about medical in the last year than I ever thought I would. Back to the tunes...

It's not much of a tube amp in the grand scheme of tube amps but this little Maggie 9304-20 sure is sounding quite good on my CF-3's right now. Maybe it has something to do with the bottle of wine I had with the ribeye steaks I made for dinner....who knows. All I know is my tinnitus seems a little lower right now and the 70's tunes from Spotify are sounding right. Oh well. Gotta enjoy it when I can.

Maybe he was going for the AR9/90 look.

Just for poops and grins, have you tried any other speakers on the TFM-45 besides the Forte's? I owned a TFM-55 for about 5 years that I had recapped and tuned up plus still own a Carver M-1.0t MKII Opt 002 (hot rodded with major SQ and power...460wpc) of which both sound/sounded great. Any other speakers in the arsenal? It's altogether possible some caps are out of spec and/or outputs that are tired and worn. That amp and preamp are both 20+ years old. I had a CT-17 at one point. Decent preamp but it's an early stage surround preamp and not easy to recap. CT-7's were better in that they were 2 channel preamps withe boards easier to work on.

These are at a church in town where I live where my best friend is at for his grandsons first birthday. Looks like a braced LS bin, EV horn and piezo tweeter. 35+ years old and still going. Wonder if they'd notice them missing?

I've used clear fingernail polish in the past on some rubber surrounds. Use it on the back side of the surround and not the front. Fingernail polish is quite flexible and it worked quite well until I bought a new speaker. We also used to do that back in my car audio days on rubber surround woofers since manufacturers (obviously) don't cover physical damage from negligence. (ha)

I'm still waiting for all the pictures to download.... Looks awesome!

What about just buying either/or/both pre-made and see what you like for your listening purposes. Then, if you're still gung-ho on building one, you can sell the others off and build something even better. Trying to decide which version of cheese dip you like best based on everyone else's opinions before you've even tasted it with your own chips is a little tough.

Dave Miller at Speakerworks in Tulsa, OK had been doing recones , etc., for over 30 years for Klipsch, EV, Celestion Cerwin Vega, and tons others. I've personally known him for 30 years and you won't find many as knowledgeable ad he is. But, if you have a new woofer...

Looks awesome and I bet it sounds even better!

Years ago when I was a manufacturers rep for multiple lines, we sold these Mitek Musica SS6 switchers. I still have a couple of them but you see them on eBay once in awhile. They have 2 source input and 6 speaker output with selectable impedance and come with rack mount "ears", if you are so inclined. We also worked with Niles, Elan, and Crestron, but, the SS6's flew out the door. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Musica-SS6-6-Zone-Speaker-Selector-Easy-Music-Distribution-for-Your-Home-NEW-/112191741606?hash=item1a1f261ea6:g:fhUAAOSwEjFXe~w3 More info. https://www.mtx.com/musicass6-6-position-speaker-selector I'm not sure how well a tube amplifier will work with a switcher like these but I guess it's worth a try. (not at fault if the magic Genie smoke comes out! haha)

I've run into some medical issues with my mother again this morning and about to take her to the ER. I apologize in there being a slight delay in getting the first few out but will do so today if at all possible. Please keep my mother in your prayers.