jtkinney Posted February 5, 2002 Share Posted February 5, 2002 I have an old Harmon Kardon Citation II tube amp built in the late 50's or early 60's. It has 4 KT88's for 60w out. I have read comments about a lot of tube amps on this board, but never this one. The last time this one was plugged in it had a terrible hum, so I know it needs TLC to put back into service. Is it any good? Is it worth rebuilding? Thanks. ------------------ Jim 1979 La Scala's SF-2 Mains SF-1 Center (pair) RS-3 Surrounds RC-3 Rear Center KSW-10 Subs (pair) Yamaha RX-V1 Reciever Yamaha CDC-655 CD Player Toshiba SD-1200 DVD Toshiba TN50X81 50" HDTV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mobile homeless Posted February 5, 2002 Share Posted February 5, 2002 The Citation II is DEFINITELY worth rebuilding with good components. It probably needs the PS caps replaced at the very least as that is usually the number one cause of that hum (can be other things as well but the PS caps are probably sour). IT has great iron...and a loyal following to boot. But it IS a unique design internally. Still, give it a go! You are lucky to have it! kh ps- No mdeneen, the reason why you hear so much about SET MANIA is that this is a forum for speakers that range in the high 90dB all the way out to 106dB.... which is the perfect candidate for SET amps. And I love push pull and SET. But a SET amp brings the music to an intimate level that surpasses push pull. But I do like both. Actually, most within here have never heard a top quality SET amp so not sure what you are talking about. I can count the SET users on one hand. Phono Linn LP-12 Vahalla / Linn Basic Plus / Sumiko Blue Point CD Player Rega Planet Preamp Cary Audio SLP-70 w/Phono Modified Amplifier Welborne Labs 2A3 Moondog Monoblocks Cable DIYCable Superlative / Twisted Cross Connect Speaker 1977 Klipsch Cornwall I w/Alnico & Type B Crossover system one online / alternate components / Asylum Listing f>s> This message has been edited by mobile homeless on 02-05-2002 at 12:51 PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anarchist Posted February 5, 2002 Share Posted February 5, 2002 Heck, I don't even know what a SET amp is...or a push pull for that matter. That picture tho' reminds me of crap I used to find lying around in the bottom of rubbish piles or stacked away in the corner of a garage. Help a guy out - what do those terms mean? And why do those archaic thing-a-mig-jigs inspire such passion? ------------------ Fronts - KG4's Center - C6 Surrounds - S6's Sub - KSW200 Powered by - YAM995 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mobile homeless Posted February 5, 2002 Share Posted February 5, 2002 Pleaser forward all your junk from garage to my house. Email for address. As for SET and Push Pull explanation: SET: Stupefying Enigmatic Talisman Push Pull: Feeling in morning when there is work to do and a mdeneen post waiting All other answers are incomplete. kh ------------------ Phono Linn LP-12 Vahalla / Linn Basic Plus / Sumiko Blue Point CD Player Rega Planet Preamp Cary Audio SLP-70 w/Phono Modified Amplifier Welborne Labs 2A3 Moondog Monoblocks Cable DIYCable Superlative / Twisted Cross Connect Speaker 1977 Klipsch Cornwall I w/Alnico & Type B Crossover system one online / alternate components / Asylum Listing f>s> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anarchist Posted February 5, 2002 Share Posted February 5, 2002 Well that helped. Doesn't matter. Don't need to know the terminology. I am gonna get me one of those EICO do-hickies just to hear the difference - should be a real conversation starter when my friends come over and ask "What is that old junk on the entertainment center." Oh yeah! You tube guys should love this: Isn't that the prettiest darn CD player you have ever seen? Maybe I will stick that next to the EICO. ------------------ Fronts - KG4's Center - C6 Surrounds - S6's Sub - KSW200 Powered by - YAM995 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike stehr Posted February 5, 2002 Share Posted February 5, 2002 Yeah, that makes sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtkinney Posted February 6, 2002 Author Share Posted February 6, 2002 Thanks for the reply guys. Mdeneen, it's not totally hopeless, but it is horible that I have had it so long and not fixed it up. Mobile, I knew these things had a good following by looking at the sale prices on e-bay, but knowing someone will pay big bucks for something doesn't make it good (just look at that other speaker packager). I feel that push-pull thing every morning, but I thought SET was Stupendously Enlightening Thingy. Crash, I definitely need that CD player to go with this amp. Where did you find it? Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anarchist Posted February 6, 2002 Share Posted February 6, 2002 hi jt, It is a Shanling which sells for $1200. Here is a link to it. Be prepared - the picture you are about to see can only be regarded as sheer beauty. http://www.shanling.com/html/CD-T100e.htm ------------------ Fronts - KG4's Center - C6 Surrounds - S6's Sub - KSW200 Powered by - YAM995 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike stehr Posted February 7, 2002 Share Posted February 7, 2002 DAMN, I thought it would be more than 1200 bucks! The chipset seemed like high quality stuff, too bad they don't have any white pages for it, or more tech/geek info. THANX! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anarchist Posted February 7, 2002 Share Posted February 7, 2002 Hi Mike, Yeah it is one nice looking unit. Of course, imported here it would likely be priced thousands higher. There are a few people who are planning on demoing it out and will post reviews to another forum I frequent. The best bet would be to order it directly through a third party in China. An example of savings: the same $10K projector (Sharp) in the states is available through a third party for approximately 5500 depending on the fluctuations of the YEN. Came across this CD Player as well. It is not a tube model but just look at the thing. The transport is raved about and it uses high-end DAC's - it is also on the order of $9K. ------------------ Fronts - KG4's Center - C6 Surrounds - S6's Sub - KSW200 Powered by - YAM995 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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