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Cloning Class A Classics Continued..


I was recently tempted by reasonably priced "clones" of Pass and/or Krell amps.

Which made me wonder:

If these classic, high end deigns have enduring value, and still compete effectively with the insanely more expensive high end components of today..

...then why isn't someone banging them out on an assembly line, and selling them for the price of dirt, like the Behringer A500 which receives raves in another thread.

Does anyone build or know someone who builds reasonably priced, Class A clones?

Thank you,
cwlondon
mantisory
95 posts
 
I am not sure, but I really don't thnik that it would be allowed - it's not as if these designs are really public domain. And besides, there is still the expense of transformers, casework, and often obsolete parts (one of Pass' amps, for example, uses obsolete JFets...)
Now, if you go talk to a manufacturer in our neighbors to the far east, maybe a factory could be convinced...
:)
b
cwlondon OP
1,210 posts
 

So OK for DIY projects to then flip on Audiogon or ebay, but nothing that really resembles a business?

One of the reasons for my question was that I assumed a lot of the old classic circuits were more or less in the public domain by now.

Doesnt Nelson Pass allow that? Or would that be just for personal use?
gmood1
1,251 posts
 
Tim Rawson builds certain clones.
elevick
2,636 posts
 
Why do you think there is a great market for older M series Yamaha class A amps!
mechans
3,048 posts
 
Do you mean "Replica" of old class A amps. That is what they used by criminals to commit a fraud. They sell pricy things like Swiss watches using the fany makers Name and Trademarks and do a pretty convincing job of it.. Almost every Dupont lighter on ebay is guaranteed to be a Replica. They are never sold as replicas just a real emphatic this an 100% Authentic .....
If you are honest I am sure there are several designs that are copied so much they are Icons and have become public domain, such as the Long Tail Mullard scheme for tube amps. The makers of these amps don't say that this is just an old ho hum design but the amp they make under their banner is full of all sorts of new and better technologies.If You sell a Pass like type A amp please get Permissuion and a liscense from him perhaps you can call it Brand Passionite-X based on a true Pass design.
You can always find the Schemata of the old great amps and many I assume have used some of or most of the old design to build their own Brand. I hope they never say this is a Krell KS or KM series no plataue bias amp "replica" . Just call it your amp company model 100-A pure class A etc...And do us all a favor by not making it exactly like the brand you are using for a template. It would be better to do a few things differently and don't make the amp appear to be a Krell or whatever..
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