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Went to buy Vandersteen 2C speakers and came home with a conrad-johnson Premier 11A.

I found a great deal on a pair of Vandersteen 2C speakers with Sound Anchor stands.  I didn’t need them, but they are identical to a pair that I had back in the 90s.  While I was there, the seller mentioned that he had an amp that he wanted to sell.  It was on a shelf in a basement collecting dust.  The price was right, so I bought it.  He said there are about 40 hours on the tubes.  Hopefully, the caps are ok.  I’m thinking I’ll try a Wiim Ultra streamer with volume control just to see if everything works.  I have old preamps by NAD and Rotel, but they aren't good ones.

Is there anything special that I should do before firing up the old girl?  This is my first tube amplifier. 

sls883
elliottbnewcombjr
7,701 posts
 

It’s easy to call stuff cheap crap, but Amazon makes it easy to try something, decide, return. Inexpensive, good enough is valid IMO.

I bet you would successfully use it to safely bring your amp up to speed.

It’s not a precise thing, just turn the variac way down, do 20 mins, up a bit for another 20 minutes, say 5 steps to get to 120v.

You may never use it again, you might loan it to a friend (I borrowed my friends), this is why an inexpensive one makes sense.

That company makes/markets a ton of products,

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=vevor+store&i=industrial

I’m thinking of buying one of their inexpensive Ultrasonic Cleaners

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DK2WR33X/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A6Y0MPTDX8T1G&psc=1

 

 

 

sls883 OP
1,054 posts
 

I reached out to Lew Johnson.  Below is his reply:

 

Probably not a bad idea to bring it up gradually on a variac. The audio capacitors (polypropylene and polystyrene) don't need forming, but there are a some electrolytics in the supporting circuits (heaters, bias adjustment indicators) that might benefit. I'd do this without tubes installed - maybe start around 50V AC, gradually bring it up to about 100V. Then shut down, install tubes and run it normally.

dekay's avatar
dekay
6,163 posts
 

Elliot:

I prefer not wasting money on crap that does not perform to spec (read the 1-3 star  reviews on the variacs noted).

Quality NOS variacs by General Radio and General Electric are plentiful in the same price range as the 2 noted Chinese variacs.

I do purchase inexpensive Chinese goods like sponges, rechargeable LED lights, disposable batteries, greeting cards et cetera but not items intended for reliability/long term use.

We still have USA plastic litter boxes that are in good shape @ 30+ years old (the made in China boxes rarely last longer than a year).

 

DeKay

 

elliottbnewcombjr
7,701 posts
 

@dekay 

please post a link to a better one, thanks

dekay's avatar
dekay
6,163 posts
 

Let's see if this list (HiFiShark) shows up (I searched eBay before).

I've owned a few General Radio's and one made in Japan which were accurate.

I added an outlet to the GT's, but the Japanese unit was all set to go (think it was either Archer or Radio Shack).

https://www.hifishark.com/search?q=variac

 

DeKay

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