Cut-Throat Posted December 27, 2003 Share Posted December 27, 2003 Dean, "Right now, I'm looking for a good Direct Coupled Push-Pull. Of course, I'm open to suggestions. Forget the 1, 3.5, and 8 watt stuff -- it ain't gonna happen." OK - Dean I won't mention those amps. But, I just finished listening to Randy Bey's KHorns with my 1.8 Watt per Channel DRD45's - All I can say is Sweeeeeeeeeet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tubinhard Posted December 27, 2003 Author Share Posted December 27, 2003 O.K. you talked me into it -- 1.8 thunderous watts. O.K., big ugly WE 300B push-pulls, yes? What's with the missing tubes? Man, what happened to all the caps and resistors? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted December 27, 2003 Share Posted December 27, 2003 A lot of money for almost nothing under the chassis! Marvel edit: Has anyone here ever heard the Quicksilver Mini-Mites? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike stehr Posted December 27, 2003 Share Posted December 27, 2003 Description We bought these reproduction amps a few years ago from the guys at Hong Kong Audio who assembled them using half old WE parts and half new stuff. They even used the laminations and cans from WE transformers from the 1940's telephone installations in the USA (the phone company had a big "removal" about 8 years ago and the scrap was shipped to Hong Kong & elsewhere). The build quality is rugged--these amps weigh 28-lbs each with thick steel chassis. Many NOS parts were used. There are some cheaper imperfections; for instance the silver paint is not quite right, being a metalflake, but it looks ok and the lettering looks nice. The meter reads AC line voltage only, not plate current. The barrier strip and IEC connectors are modern plastic and no real effort is made to slavishly copy Western Electric down to the last detail. The cosmetic condition is very good except that when we bought them one unit had a few long scratches on it--you should be able to see the worst one on the face edge starting at the meter. But overall, they present a very nice, clean appearance. As you would expect, the sound quality is tops--very pure and smooth. Keep in mind that you need efficient speakers, like big Altecs, and the sound can then be wonderful! We do not know the B+ and bias that the 300B's are run at, but there are many different power curves one can use yielding from 2 to 12 watts, with modification. I believe the circuit is straight out of the WE book except that HK Audio added an extra 274 rectifier socket so that you can plug in either a 274B or 274A--a nice touch. Western Electric tubes come with the amps. The 300B's test 86 & 90 over 58 (58 is the minimum on the TV7 tube tester) but they do not have much flashing left. The 274A's read 43 & 47 over 40 and 45 & 47 over 40 and look ok. And the small punch 310A's read 56 & 58 over 30 and they look good. When we changed out the 300B's for 6A3's (6volt filament, but runs ok on the 5volt supplied by the amp) and put in 5Z3 rectifiers in place of the WE 274A's, the sound downgraded significantly to a merely good and correct sound. So it is possible to use 6A3's & 5Z3's and other types of tubes you may have. But, with this pair of repro WE 91B amps, we will include the full set of WESTERN ELECTRIC tubes as described. Our Starting Bid for the set with WE tubes is $2900. Buy Them Now for $3000 Did ya notice all the iron on the top? (Sheesh! Now I feel like I'm promoting the auction....) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Mobley Posted December 27, 2003 Share Posted December 27, 2003 dean, not a missing tube but an extra socket for runnning a different rectifier if desired. 3 Large, lotso' bux. lots of choices in that price range and below. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tubinhard Posted December 27, 2003 Author Share Posted December 27, 2003 Here's a SET amp I think I could live with. Now, doesn't this thing just have Rock-n-Roll written all over it. What do you think Craig, I mean, it weighs 110 pounds. http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.pl?ampstube&1077675007&class&3&4& Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOSValves Posted December 27, 2003 Share Posted December 27, 2003 I think you should buy that bad LOOKing dog !! It LOOKs right up your alley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tubinhard Posted December 27, 2003 Author Share Posted December 27, 2003 I like these too. I would have to build them though, but it doesn't look all that painful. They also have a push-pull version. http://www.worldaudiodesign.co.uk/wadproducts/300bintro.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrot Posted December 27, 2003 Share Posted December 27, 2003 A 20 watt SET amp should have enough power. I'm glad you're not taking seriously the idea of a flea-watter. (But one of the transformers is scuffed up!) When it's a one-off custom-made amp, you have no idea what it will really sound like. You're pretty much at the mercy of the builder and what he thinks sounds best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tubinhard Posted December 27, 2003 Author Share Posted December 27, 2003 I've been thinking 845 for a while, but they are freaking expensive. This is a homebrew version by someone who looks like they knew what they were doing. I've been emailing back and forth with the seller. I'm waiting for a pic of the underside. Can you tell if this is dual mono -- or is it just chokes galore? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOSValves Posted December 27, 2003 Share Posted December 27, 2003 Just chokes galore !! If it was dual mono ot would have to have 2 sets of 3 tranformers that are Identical in size and type. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrot Posted December 27, 2003 Share Posted December 27, 2003 You want monoblocks, don't you? or is a "dual mono" in one chassis okay? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike stehr Posted December 28, 2003 Share Posted December 28, 2003 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3068210433&category=39783 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erik Mandaville Posted December 28, 2003 Share Posted December 28, 2003 Dean: Why not get yourself a DRD kit and build it? I've seen the great looking crossovers you have made, and you could do an excellent job. I just don't know how you feel about the SET thing, though... They are really, really fine sounding and looking amplifiers for a very good price, and you can enjoy the building of it. Erik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tubinhard Posted December 28, 2003 Author Share Posted December 28, 2003 Mike, you're too funny. EriK, you're funny too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike stehr Posted December 28, 2003 Share Posted December 28, 2003 Those Marantz 9's would be your last amps for awhile. Scrounge up yourself a pair cookie jar triode's and have Craig homebrew a amp. 833. A 100 watt triode. With 4000 volt max rating on the plates, you may wanna be careful! Paul posted the commercial version some time ago. Those big-assed RF triodes really go on the fringe of practicality, as far as cost, power, voltage and wattage, pets, children..... Even a homebrew version using any sort of high powered triode tube can get spendy. But, I would love to hear a 845, or the larger RF triodes! But what you have to go through to get the big SET, one would be better off with a moderate sized well-designed Push-Pull. In a pratical sense, IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrot Posted December 28, 2003 Share Posted December 28, 2003 Here is the original link. $47,000 a pair, but I bet you could talk them down. http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue9/wavac833.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrot Posted December 28, 2003 Share Posted December 28, 2003 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3dzapper Posted December 28, 2003 Share Posted December 28, 2003 Are these anything for you Dean? Should be 20W PP or 12W SET: Pair Manley model SE/PP 300b monoblock poweramplifiers. works 100%. With 2 new matched pairs EH300B tubes. 7044x2 and 12at7x2 tubes. Shipping is $58 in USA and CANADA. BIN$1,799 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3067813097&category=39783 Rick Edit: Gee whiz Paul. You'd expect that thing to get up off the table and walk around. IT'S ALIVE!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1stcav Posted December 28, 2003 Share Posted December 28, 2003 The Japanese love SETs...maybe this dual mono amp would serve your purpose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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