Anybody have some experience with Bedini amps?


I need a power amp for my Shahinian Obelisk speakers, and Shahinian recommends Bedini.I like natural,liquid,relaxed,but dynamic,musical sound with "be there",live feeling,bass must be exellent ,full and detailed, and i allways prefere analog to digital.I like all kind of music.I am thinking about Classic 100 , or older models.
ziva

Hello, I know this is a old thread but I wanted to ask if anyone would have any info on the Bedini 66 Mkll preamp? Like age and any other info? I pick one that sat in a hi fi shop for twenty years. It had a hum but I replaced the PS caps and it good to go! BUT if I turn the two balance knobs all the way up with the volume I hear his and slight hum. Is this preamp worth using? Its clean sounding except the hiss. So not the Darkest background but can really tell at what playing music at normal volumes. I guess it runs in pure class a because of know power switch. the highs are tad vintage sounding if you know what mean?

Thank you!

Only analog

I have a Bedini 25/25 that I love powering a pair of Obelisks to the level where I once thought I would blow the woofer drivers — the sound was that enormous. I couldn’t believe the sound coming from what are really rather small speakers. Vasken Shahenian assured me I could not damage the Obelisks with the 25/25 since the speakers were rated to 400 watts capable. Glad I found this group - I have a MAJOR ASK - my 25/25 has been repaired 2x here in Las Vegas, where I live, and has lost its magical bass transparency and speed (now sounds thick and muddy at the low end). The tech said it was fixed to full frequency spec on his test gear, but I can tell you it does not have that holographic musicality. CAN ANYONE HERE direct me to someone who knew John Bedini and knows how to restore a Bedini 25/25 as if John were doing the work? I was emailing John prior to Gary passing, and John passed soon after Gary. Broke my heart. I keep my 25/25 not only because it is great but because I have known John and Gary Bedini personally since the 1980’s-90’s. So if I can restore the 25/25, I would be delighted and feel I honored John in the repair. Currently, it is less than, what we are all recognizing as, the Bedini Magic of the 25/25 (which Gary once told me was their most musical amplifier).

This this is a fantastic forum I to own a 25/25 with oblesk sand I use the model 66 mkII preamp and it is a fantastic combination it is like painting you can see the picture that the artist (engineers) put forward in there work to give a beauty of sound. I’m so much in love with my system it brings joy to my heart thanks to John Bedini for what you gave to audio. 
DMADMC:     I will be selling a couple 25/25 pretty soon.....I have three and one or two are spoken for....But I thought I would e-mail you.......Will
Thank you for sharing nice notes on Bedini amps.  I acquired two 100/100 MK2 1-Meg amps and enjoyed them very much.  They force me to sell Spectral, Levinson and McIntosh amps. They are so good that I don't regret selling those amps.  I should find one 25/25 amp for myself.  Very smooth and liquid sound with excellent bass response. Enjoy Listening to music!
I have the KT-88 proto-type amps that John wanted me to finish....I have built a mirror image pair and are doing some testing......I may build more than one pair, but am not sure at this point..........But I will stay in touch..........autospec
Good luck getting a response from Bedini.  I've tried emailing, calling, and posting the last several years.  Nothing.  One of the worst customer support I've run across.
John, I heard your 150 amp 30 years ago and was floored by the sound once it was burned in.  Looking at a (supposedly) operational 150 Mark II.   Roughly what does a checkup cost, and what might be the time frame?  Upgrades possible?  How many $$$?

Thanks!

Bob
Bedini power Amplifiers is still very much alive. We just moved to a different field to support the company. We still have parts for the amplifiers that we made we do one on one amplifiers without all the political crap that goes on between dealers and reviews. So I guess I’m not dead yet. Yes I have done a lot of energy machines and other things. People do contact us for parts which we do supply. I do a lot of different Amplifiers for private people.
We mostly use the cell phones we have because we are really very busy most of the time here. I work my solar company building solar chargers that company is Tesla Solar Chargers of which could be looked up and somebody will give the phone number to you since I do not wish to post it here at this time. I work with Will Vincent who does the Dynaco Re-builds he is into building the smaller amps 10/10 25/25. He has looking into the Kt88 Amplifiers.
John Bedini

John:
Do you service what look to be Bedini amplifiers in a "NEW AMERICAN SOUND" front panel chasis?
Rrt,
You need to answer some questions for me before we can fix this problem. Yes there was an 25/25 One meg delivered to a company that has gone out of business two building down the street. In cleaning out the building the landlord found an unmarked box under a pile of cardboard, I need the serial number that was on the amp since all One Meg 25/25's had one. You need to answer these questions so if it is your amp It will be repaired and sent back to you "no charge".

This is not the first time something like this has happened. I would never take your amp from you. If this is the unknown 25/25 One Meg amp with an unmarked box and no paperwork.

This has been a long time and if you did send this amp then why did not the company that delivered it find us? The landlord found me to ask if this was ours as the phone number has changed many times along with the building. I posted on this group with the information on how to contact Bedini.

This is a rare amp and deserves to go to the rightful owner even if it is two years late. I await for your reply. Or a phone call at 1-208-772-3303. John Bedini is not out of business and has never been. We still build amps and have parts for all the amps. I'm not going to do anything with this amp unless I here from you with the correct information.

If Gary would have got an E-mail he would have answered it. If I would have received the amp it would have been repaired and returned to you, but I did not. If this 25/25 One Meg is your amp your a very lucky man that it was found by someone that found me. Again we would never keep your amp and not try to find out who it belongs to. This is very unfortunate to here and lucky I found this post . We always have tried to build the best amp for the dollars even if we were blacklisted for not playing politics with dealers. Please prove to me that this amp is yours.
John Bedini
I sent my 25/25 1 meg to Bedini ... must be two years ago. It was delivered but after that I have never been able to get a response from Bedini by email or phone.
Hello Breezer and Chashas1; About 1.5 years ago Bedini did a check up on some amps for me. At that time the company was in transition. One of John Bedini’s interests over the years has been electromagnetic motors and battery charging processes. He has formed a new company called Energenx. http://www.energenx.com They are located in Idaho at 208 – 772 – 3303. I am not sure if he is still servicing or selling amps, but I am guessing you could reach him there.
Hi Breezer, there's been many threads about the demise and disapperance of Bedini, as an electronics company. Google him, and he's doing some kind of electronic battery company now. (sorry I couldn't find the saved link) but it's on one of these threads...
Has anyone been in touch recently with John and Gary? Is that it? Is Bedini gone for good?

I, for one, would be interested in a in a new 100 or 150 w/ch. amp and would put down a deposit in a flash! If Misters Bedini are reading this: How about it, guys?
I have had a 25 25 in & out of my system for almost 30 years. it has never failed to impress & has never once required service. (It does run hot around 140 degrees at the heat sinks! )
I have heard rumblings that Bedini amplifiers were not necessarily the most consistent amplifiers made, for various reasons. My amp simply sounds Great ( I am in the industry & have had literally dozens of amps roll through the system over the years, but the 25/25 sounds as relevant today as ever & even amazes new visitors to the room on a weekly basis.)
Perhaps a bit of a cautionary used purchase ( I'd advise hearing one in your system first. ) My experience has been nothing but wonderful !(it's back to being the main amp with a very current Meridian front end)
(speakers powered over the years include, various Acoustats, various Apogees, Eminent technologies and the occasional Quad on the planar front, Shaninian's, Energy Veritas, Mirage M1's, currently driving Canton's Reference 7.2, & many more boxes in-between.
Very sorry to see Bedini gone. I recently demoed my 25/25 feeding Linn Isobariks to a friend and then came online to see if we could find a fair priced 25/25 for him, but no luck. He'll keep looking from his end, including coming here. I, too, will not be selling my 25/25, purchased new in 1986 and still performing flawlessly. What a wonderful instrument it has been.
Oh, that's right, hello again! Hey, if you prefer the 8tc that's fine. I just thought the DNM to be much cleaner sounding. Have you a chance to try Auditorium from Germany? or one Diapason user also suggested LAT, which I've never experienced.
Yes, i do have the newest, thicker DNM speaker cable. They were the first. Maybe i will try them once again just for the mids/highs. (I think, we talked about it on the yahoo Shahinian forum and in private mails.)
It's getting very difficult to find capacitors that match perfectly, you'll need four.

You might try Mogami, DNM, Totem.
I had different Jeff Rowlands (Consonance, Consummate, Synergy II), ARC (SP10 and recently a nice LS-5 MkIII), Klyne 7 LX/P 3.5.3, etc in the past, and in the next days i will get a Klyne 7LX/P 5.0 B.

Why should be the capacitors a problem to get them?
What speaker cables can you recommend to try?
Yes, the news is that Bedini is gone....the website is still up, but no one has answered a phone in months, and no response to emails.

It's rather unfortunate, because you see Bedinis for sale on ebay or here, but you'll no longer be able to get them factory serviced. Local techs won't be able to get the matching capacitors needed for these amps, so we're screwed.

I, too, use a Bedini 803. Had it redone, so will probably not ever sell. Bedinis do work well with Shahinians, as do other amps with as much current, like the Plinius you mention--also Dynavectors. I've never compared a Plinius, so can't answer that. I've never liked the look of the Plinius gear, it would have to sound marvelous for me to budge.

Kimber is nice and loyal, but you can do better.
What preamp do you use?
Any news regarding Bedini?
Did anyone buy a Bedini new in the last years? What is available?
I use two BA-803 in biamping for my Shahinian Diapasons with Kimber 8TC, also in biwiring for both double eagle parts. Maybe some suggestions for improvement, amp and/or cable?
Did anyone compare Bedini and Plinius (100, 250, 102, 103, Ref.)?
Hi, After reading the posts, I too had a 25 25, and regretted letting it go. Back in .81,, John used to come over to a house where I was staying. The guy sold stereo equipment out of his house. John brought over an amplifier that was so he said built using only diodes, no transistors. The bass I remember was very tight, and the rest really nice. Don't know what ever happened to that little amp. He was ahead of his time.
If you can find a 25/25 jump on it. I sold the Oblelisks to move to the Diapasons, and the little Bedini could drive them but honestly not well. After several years of using other Bedini gear I moved up (and I do consider it a move up) to an AVA FetValve Ultra 550. I consider this amp a head and shoulders improvement in driving my Shahinians over any amp I've heard in my system - including the Bedinis.
Hi Tony. Good of you to post that, and I am not the least bit surprised. Considering what the early Bedini's typically sell for in todays resale market .... Surely has to be considered as the proverbial "NO BRAINER" buy relative to the pricing in todays hi end market place!
David, it WILL drive a pair of Obelisks. I ran a 25/25 into mine for years. Worked quite well, if not quite able to make them go to the highest SPLs. While I've moved up in both amps and speakers, I'm sorry I sold both.
Fabulous sounding amps(the 25/25 model).My pal had these powering stacked Quad EL 57's,with ribbon tweets between.
Very sweet,in the "best" sense.
Best of luck.
Yes sir, the Bedini amps seem to fly way under the radar. I too concurr with Mr. Walsh on the little Bedini 25/25. My favourite of the vintage Bedini's, It truly makes beautiful music.
I too ran a pair of them into stacked quad 57's for years[1 channel per panel]. Although I am not certain it will drive the Shahinians.... I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if it did though? It certainly did a very credible job with a pair of acoustat 2+2's in an average sized room.
Perhaps one of their bigger amps may be more applicable though.
While I can't vouch for any of their later examples [never heard], I do remember their biggest amp in their line up at the time [the 250/250 class A] In fact it did share a lot of that beautiful 25/25-like voice,and more 25/25-esq than any of the other Bedini amplifiers back in the day.
Back when I was using the acoustat 2+2.... It was my preferred amplifier over the other class A designs from Krell, Classe[Dave Riech era] and the Threshold 400a.
Not sure how many were made or still in service out there, can't remember seeing one offered for sale but you might want to check with the Bedini company site or perhaps place an add in the "wanted to buy" here at Audiogon. Bedini still services, updates or rebuilds all their products. Best of luck! Cheers...david
Unfortunaltely - but I would like to buy a Bedini for my Obelisk speakers to - so if anuy of you have one for sale please contact me - I have a PAYPAL account.
Ziva,
Good for you! Dick Shahinian, a gentleman of good taste and with extensive knowledge of classical music, has been using and recommending Bedini amps for a long time. I've had a Bedini 25/25 for several years and find it to be a superb match with Quad 57s.

Enjoy your newfound treasure!

Brian Walsh
Hi folks,
i bought that 200/200 Classic, and i think that i finished my search for ideal power amp for my Obelisks, i simple cant imagine something better than this.I never before heard so liquid, efortless,easy going music(excepting alive-off course).Control above everything, power, instruments separation,huge and deep soundstage, full bodied sound, linearity, nor minor sign of agressivity(also on very high levels),on very little volumes you hear everything- you dont need to hear it loud to hear all of the music,i discovered that some old LPs (which i considered before like bad, agressive recordings)are in reality very good recordings, with so much detail in all of the spectrum ,especialy in top end.I didnt know that such top end is possible to hear in artificial music reproduction, .I think that this amp is so cheep(also new retail price) for that performance.I dont know if Bedinis are so magical also with other speakers , but with Shahinians it is almost unbelivible

I have it just for two days, and i didnt yet tryed to play games with power cords ,etc,etc.(it is at the moment Yamamura 6000 - it just replaced my previous amp in my system.
Maby,that i will later have to tell you something more, but at the moment, thanks to everybody,i apreciate so much your advices and answers.
Is new 200/200 Classic also that good and "Magicall"ike old ones ,or like "new" Vintage monos? I can buy one used(1,5 years old) in Europe-1100 euros!!!, Or is it better to wait for some Vintage monos ,to match with my Obelisks?
What all of you think about that, especialy Slick2 ?
My 10/10s arrived about a week ago. I also own a Bedini BA-802 so I had the benefit of comparing Bedini SS to Bedini tube. Initial impressions - well built, nice finish, retro 50's styling (ala dynaco). Documentation was straight forward and bare bones - on to the music.

For informational purposes, the associated gear in the system was as follows:

Analog source - Rega Planar 3 / RB300 / Dynavector 10x4 MkII
Digital sources - Levinson 390S, Tascam DA-P1 (via 390s)
Preamplifier - Threshold Fet9 (for analog only)
Amplifier - Bedini BA-802
Amplifier - Bedini 10/10 KT-88 monoblocks
Speakers - B&W 802 Matrix III w/ Sound Anchor stands

When listening to digital sources the amps were wired direct to the 390s. Analog playback was via the Fet9 preamp.

The KT-88s are very musical, with superb imaging and tonal balance. On acoustic material and vocal selections they were exceptional, even edging out the 802 in some respects. Outstanding performance for their "modest" price.

The only drawback I found was they were slightly underpowered and only with respect to controlling bass response when compared to the SS amp (hard to call that a fault). My speakers (92db sensitivity) were also not the best mate for these little marvels, but even so they perfromed remarkably well.

I would like to hear these driving some horn tweeters, etc. Best case, biamped with the 802 amp driving the bottom end. Careful matching with an efficient pair of speakers would prove ideal. I've heard these are ideal to drive the Shahinians - maybe some day?

I had 803 and enjoyed it very much. A bit on the dark side trebles. It is running rather hot. Great imaging and low end.
Cellorover, I've spoken with John many times over the nearly 20 years I've owned his amps. I had been contemplating building a pair of tube amps myself, but after we talked at length about this new (old) project, I said let's go for it. They should be here next week, I'll check back with some impressions compared to the 802. BTW, Gary said he was putting some *new* photos of the KT-88 monoblocks up on their site this weekend.
Blkadr,
after reading that same rewiev last year (HIFI+)i heard (tested)that amp (Dynavector HX 75) with matching Preamp in my system ,i also have a pair of Shahinian Obelisk speakers(like rewiever).I liked more my existing amp and preamp(Korato -top of the range valve preamp and their first ever amp- SS ,"model one"- www.korato.com ), they are much more musical, involving,"real", more "be there",with better and fuller "bottom",(and i was looking exactly for more of that) despite that Dynavectors exellent resolution ,high level of micro information, silence and linearity.It is in my opinion realy very good amp, but i would say just very good HIFI ,very possibly better than Naim , but not in the leage of allready "HiEnd" Koratos, and i hope even more "HiEnd"(or if you dont like therm HIEND -"close to the sound of real music" ) Bedinis.Dealer for both Bedini and Dynavector, has told to me that it was not even worth of trying to test HX75, if i have the possibility to buy Bedinis, but i wanted to hear for my self Dynavectors, and i send it back.I am now waiting for 10/10 to come here in Europe and to test it with my exellent Korato preamp.
Airtaxi, call John or Gary and they will walk you through it all, as well as talk about other mods and possible changes. A new pair of vintage chassis 25/25 are $1500. I believe that all the amps are the same price as all they do is add or subtract some parts in the power supply.
Airtaxi
i hope you will turn on your computer again.I am so curious to hear news from you.In the meantime can you tell me how much will cost you new 10/10 mono blocks?
I read a while back that Dynavector is marketing a new amp design by the guy responsible for the 25/25. The reveiwer (HiFi+) bought it to replace his Naim amp. Anyone seen/heard this amp?
I just ordered a pair of the 10/10 mono blocks - Gary and John said they're about 2-3 weeks out. Can't wait to hear 'em. My 15 year old 802A is still a fine performer, but from what I've heard, these will be the bee's knees. Will report back if I ever turn the computer on again.
John and Gary will make/remake the old 25/25 in a vintage monoblock configuration for $1500 for the pair. I am giving this careful consideration. They want 50% down payment. I am not sure about the turn around time.