hifigeek1

Responses from hifigeek1

Audio Research Vs115
ARC tests their tubes at hard labor for 24 hrs. prior to putting them in your amp at the factory. No other tube reseller does this. Tubes are not perfect and they do fail. They warranty the tubes for 90 days and any damage it caused would be cover... 
Current amp vs Voltage amp
It might interest you to know that the Quad 405 current dumping solid state amp which was designed for use with the Quad 57 and later the Quad 63 actually damaged the speaker because is lacked a limiter. The amp was capable of producing to much ou... 
Current amp vs Voltage amp
The only disadvantage I can see is a service issue. If one of that amps fails in an active speaker system you lose both the speaker and the amp vs. just one or the other in a passive system. Remember, in an active speaker system the filters for th... 
Current amp vs Voltage amp
It does beg the question, why aren't more manufacturers making powered speakers, and why is it that people don't seem to buy them. Since the interface between speaker and amp is critical, and hopefully a designer has taken that interface into cons... 
Audio Research Reference 5SE reliability
I've been fixing ARC for over 20 years as a warranty repair station. I haven't seen a single Ref5 or Ref5SE with a transformer issue. I did replace one transformer in a Ref3 years ago. Me thinks Audioware hath been exposed to too many solder fumes. 
bias Classic 60, Audio Research
Probably had a servo issue as stated above.... 
Current amp vs Voltage amp
I always tell owners of ARC to try the 4 ohm tap. Some like it better some not so much. Note that there aren't many true 8 ohm impedance speakers especially just past the woofer impedance peak. Woofers usually dip to around 3-6 ohms. You might eve... 
Firing up old tube amps. Should I worry?
The amp should NOT be powered up unless you monitor voltage while running the amp up on a variac. Either buy a variac, or bring it to a tech who can do that for you. If you value the amp, start it up that way especially if the company is no longer... 
Audio Research SP-3A-1 part
If you get an after market power supply for that preamp you will destroy it's resale value should you decide to sell it.... 
Audio Research D-52B: any suggestions for caps?
Large value, high voltage computer grade 'lytics are almost next to impossible to get and very, very expensive. The cost would exceed the value of the amp. There are some very good solid state amps out there on the used market that would be an imp... 
Mcintosh MC240 + Audio Research SP-8?
If the SP-8 has not been recapped in 15 yrs. or more, it would be a good idea to do that. It will improve the sound of the preamp. 
Audio Research SP-3A-1 part
Hi there....Send an email to [email protected]. The parts guy is Kal. They do have the bulbs. I would order a few at a time. You may also wish to consider their tube dampers which work great, and are reusable. I own an ARC SP-3C and as Mab... 
ARC D-115: What tubes and cables?
Agree with Rrog SED's, Winged C's, 6550WE or Philips 6550. The amp was voiced with the Philips. Prefer the GE 6FQ7's for stock. RCA Black Plate 6FQ7/ clear top for nos. If this is a D-115 plain and not the MKll, 7308's instead of 6922's for drivers. 
McIntosh Vintage C22 Telefunken 12AX7 or ECC803's?
Consider tubes like a tone control. Whatever sounds best in your system. I do like the 803s tubes from JJ. 
Audio Research VS 115 bias Adjustments
I normally run the tubes at 50mV after 20 mins. to warm them up. After 45 mins I set them to 65mV. I do this while the line voltage is adjusted to 120Vac with the use of a Variac. This step is somewhat important as line voltage fluctuations can ra...