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Which Variac?


fwphoto

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Hi All,

 

Been away from the forum for a while but just retired & am back at it!

 

I recently had my Marantz SS gear checked out & have them driving my Forte IIs. Soon I want to get my Dynaco ST-70 & PAS-3 back in the mix. While I do plan on having them "checked out" before I put them in service, I'm thinking I might want to invest in an inexpensive Variac to regularly bring them up to power.

 

First off, Good Idea?

 

Secondly, I see Variacs on eBay & Amazon & don't know what specs/price point I should be looking at. Any help with minimum specs for use with my Dynaco gear would be extremely helpful.

 

Thanks!

 

Take care,

 

Frank

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Sorry, didn't mean to waist the bandwidth with my inquiry. I should have done a search first. My Bad!

 

OK, did a search & found some basic info:

 

- Looks like a cheap, 5A model should work in my case. 

- Also, seems like once I've gotten the Dynaco gear up-to-speed after being stored for a number of years, I really don't need to use it regularly. That said, if the repairman that checks it out brings the current up gradually with a variac before he does anything else, I really don't need on at all. Right?

 

Am I missing anything?

 

Thanks,

 

Frank

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Thanks billybob. 

 

Will probably let the tech bring them up & let him evaluate them. I need to replace some tubes in the pre anyway so I will get them first.

 

Its been great to get back to really good audio! Imagine having a set of Forte IIs sitting in a room just looking pretty. After a recent move I'm ready for some good sounding music!

 

Take care,

 

Frank

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A variac is a useful tool to have especially if you are in an area where the line voltage runs very high.  Five amp units are available from Amazon, Parts Express, Circuit Specialists, and others.  Regarding your Dynaco equipment,  I would let the tech deal with it and not mess around yourself.

 

 

Maynard

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Thanks guys,

 

Yeah, I think I'll let the tech handle it.

 

Just got the Marantz/Forte setup in the living room & am beginning to remember what I liked about "hi-fi." Listened to a couple of favorites & was once again blown away.

 

I'm also setting up a new/old HT system together in the basement. Thought I'd just be replacing the old TV but soon found out my old receiver wasn't going to cut it any more. How times have changed! It will be great, though, when I get everything hooked up & running through my old KG 3.5s, new R-52C & sub. Looking for some KG 3.5s (or others) for the satellites.

 

Nobody told me retirement could be this fun!

 

Take care,

 

Frank

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On 12/17/2019 at 7:32 PM, thebes said:

KG 3.5's were my first speakers.  Passed along to a nephew. Pound for pound and including price point limitations, perhaps the greatest speakers ever built.

They were my first Klipsch speakers. Couldn't afford any of the Heritage ones, but the KG 3.5s served me well for years before I got the bug to do a better system. That's when I found this forum. 🙂 First there was the vintage Marantz gear, then the Fortes, then back to a decent turntable (or two), & finally, tubes. 

 

I listened to the KG 3.5s alone for quite a while before I added a sub. Really makes them shine!

 

I hope to find another pair of KGs to go along with the 3.5s in a 5.1 HT setup. I think they are perfect for that application.

 

Take care,

 

Frank 

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I use a Staco Energy product.  Current and voltage monitored using DVMs that can also be used for other things.   1.4kVA.  ~$550 on Mouser.  100% = 140VAC.  Limit current by swapping in a 0.5A fuse.

 

Wall voltage in my house ranges from peak of 126 to low of 115VAC.  Ripple voltage on the B+ changes too from 12Vp-p to 5Vp-p and can be audible buzz in mid and HF drivers.  Also wears out electrolytics in the supply.

 

   autoformer_1.jpg.eeca742f733350f686c674de9afffef3.jpg

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Wow! I'd love to have someone leave any of those on my workbench!

 

I've now gotten my Marantz 1152DC/Forte II & Marantz 1509/KG 3.5/R-52C/R-100SW HT systems up & running so it might be a while before I get the Dynacos on-line again. Got some shoulder surgery coming up so it might have to wait 'till I'm recovered from that before I get the bug for something new (old :-) to fuss with. Until then, though, I'm in pretty good audible shape.

 

Thanks for the replies!

 

Take care,

 

Frank

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