Classic Tube Audio

A “Repeat Offender” a good thing….

pat — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 04:51:11 +0000

Dave has become another member of the select crazed audio club here on Classic Tube Audio. Pictured his latest “Super Sub” project. MORE POWER … in his own words: “On the side I’ve been working on a “Tuba HT” horn sub-woofer with plans purchased from http://www.billfitzmaurice.com/. It’s finally nearing completion! It’s quite monstrous measuring 36x36x24 but having La Scalas and A-7′s in the house, I’ve successfully conditioned my folks to be accepting of large speakers. Dave I think your parents my be relocating you after you fire this up!… Pat~

McIntosh MC60 Pair For Sale – Complete Electronic Restoration (sold)

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 03:24:25 +0000

Here for your consideration is a nice pair of McIntosh MC60′s they just arrived 0n 11-17-2011 we will begin the restoration process soon, new capacitors, resistors as required, Tubes..plus much more.. you can reserve them with a $ 1500.00 down payment.

The price completed for the pair will be $ 3995.00 Please contact us directly for all the details and extensive work that will be done. I’m sure you know MC60′s are a rare McIntosh model and considered by many to be one of the best tube amplifiers ever produced….. Pat~

UPDATE: They will have a happy new home (soon) Thanks Rick of Oregon for the purchase! Pat~ 1-22-2012 I will post completed photo’s when Rick takes delivery

For Sale Marantz 20b Tuner – MINT – Like New! (SOLD)

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 03:13:47 +0000

Here we have a dead stock, unmolested, mint+ perfect Marantz 20b tuner that has the original Marantz factory wooden cabinet, it has only 1 small scratch on the black metal chassis that you will not even see when it is in the case. It was in a stored and dust free, smoke free environment since it was new. It looks as if it was removed from the original shipping box and placed on the shelf and never used. I can say it’s one of the cleanest components we have seen in years. Operation wise it’s perfect. The scope is bright and sharp. the face dial is bright and blue, no scratches. The unit sounds wonderful!…it needs nothing..but a new home..take a look at the underside pictured no tarnish anywhere.
accepting offers $$ this is the first solid state tuner offered by Marantz patterned after the world famous 10b…!!

Sorry it is gone (sold), we found it a happy home!

Model Twenty Marantz Solid State Tuner

Marantz 20b chassis underside

Marantz 20b Tuning Scope

Marantz 20b Stereophonic Tuner

Marantz 20b Tuner power supply - all stock

Marantz 20b tuner chassis scratch

Eico HF 85 Stereo Preamp – Listed on eBay!

admin — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 06:19:45 +0000

The Eico has been listed on Ebay.. Bid soon as the auction ends in a few days

Here we have a fairly rare and really clean Eico HF-85 that has undergone a basic restore. These are highly regarded and the Eico HF85 sounds great. This fine example can be yours for $1100.00

Tubes:
This preamp is running 5 12ax7 tubes, and you will get the following tubes with your preamp: a 1250 reading is new test
2 Eico branded Mullards 1100/1250 – 1125/1250 and 1100/1250 – 1050/1250
a matched pair of Amperex Bugle Boys that test 1400/1250 – 1400/1250 and 1425/1250 – 1400/1250
and a single NOS Sylvania 1450/1250 and 1400/1250.

The Amperex Bugle Boys test as new however I do not have the boxes, the Sylvania is genuine NOS.
The 6X4 Rectifier is an Eico branded mullard

Electronics: 9.5 out of 10
This preamp has had all of the electrolytic caps replaced along with all of the coupling caps. A 3 prong grounded cord has been installed and the tubes have been tested and replaced. All of the pots have been cleaned with de-ox and now operate scratch free and quietly. The power switch was worn and has been replaced with a new reproduction switch.

Cosmetics: 8 out of 10
The overall condition is 8.5 out of 10, the chassis has been cleaned and the brass faceplate has been polished to a high shine. The knobs have been cleaned and polished and are all original. The paint has been buffed and waxed with automotive wax. There is some slight corrosion on the right side panel that has left some slight pitting on the paint. The top vented gold panel has a few small areas where the paint has been slightly discolored and worn and on the thin side. The rear panel and RCA jacks are clean and have been sprayed with contact cleaner. The phenolic backing plates for the RCA jacks has deformed slightly over the years (this is common for these types of jacks) The interior chassis is clean and most of the dust and grime has been cleaned off, with the exception of the area directly under the pots. All of the screws are original and clean.
The preamp looks great and is clean and presents well.

Recommended mods:

Remove the hum pot and convert the heaters to DC – this will make the pre-amp run more quiet (improved S/N)

new cap under side of eico hf-85

Front Panel Eico hf-85 Stereo Preamp

Eico HF-85 on the bench replacing caps

Tube Monster – By James DeRosso

admin — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 07:52:15 +0000

James DeRosso makes really cool monster sculptures of all types, when he was visiting me one day a few months ago he saw my tube collection and he asked for a few old tubes, well here is the result if you would like to see some of his other monsters or if you want to commission your very own custom tube monster you can check out his website or blog here .

James DeRosso tube monster and a Miniwatt ECL 80

In case you are wondering – the amp is an 18watt el84 / 6bq5 Marshall Plexi clone with a ppmv and the guitar is a 1968 Gibson es335

here is a more normal monster without the tube

A Tubeless Monster by James DeRosso - awesome

Near Ready!

pat — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 20:48:45 +0000

Almost ready to go back to it’s owner.. After some extensive mod’s, this now excellent sounding Harmon Kardon Citation II is near complete. Now it’s in final burn in, prior to setting bias/balance and AC balance. The sound? startlingly clear, fast, detailed, rich, deep solid bass…

marantz ad – what is old is now new again

admin — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 23:53:39 +0000

Marantz was always a leader in quality, now it looks like they were visionary in advertizing, funny how that works.

McIntosh MC60′s

pat — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 02:58:56 +0000

See our “Components, Parts, Tubes & More For Sale” Page for details about this very fine pair of McIntosh amplifiers we are accepting a purchase deposit now ..we will start restoration soon…Thanks, Pat the “Tubeologist”

Interesting?

pat — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 15:58:34 +0000

Any Idea?

I thought this graphic was cool, I’m trying to see how I could use it in a possible new logo or graphic idea for Classic Tube Audio

Many ask, few know “Till Now”

pat — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 04:32:27 +0000

My “Holy Grail” of amplifier… yes to my grave with me

The Atma Sphere “Novacron”

First some specific’s

All triode operation
Class-A operation
Patented Output TransformerLess circuit
Balanced Differential Design
Mono construction
Zero feedback
Standby switch for long output tube life
Separate bias controls for each tube
Simple, reliable circuit – one stage of gain
“Star” grounded circuit

Now the “SPECIFICATIONS”

Class A 60 watts RMS into 8 ohms
Power bandwidth: 2 Hz – 75 kHz within 1/2 db
Frequency response (1 watt): l Hz – 100 kHz within 1/2 db (-3db @ 1 MHz)
Phase shift: less than 1 degree @ 20 kHz
Power supply storage: 600 Joules/chassis
Output section risetime: 600 V/micro-sec.
Power consumption: 500 watts/chassis
Tube complement (per channel): Four 6C33C Russian triode power tubes
Four 12AT7 driver tubes

Ok, you have it my secret revealed..This is my amplifier type of choice pure OTL..no output transformers! My “HOLY GRAIL” the cleanest fastest, most transparent, most musical, most everything of any amplifier I have owned over my 40+ years of listening..

here are a few links to products by Ralph and his company Atma Sphere and a link to the ways of OTL’s and more. Enjoy

Atma-Sphere Company Website
www.atma-sphere.com Resources Common Amplifier Myths
www.atma-sphere.com Our Basic Circuits

Thanks Ralph and too your magic …

As good as they did sound without mods, I have completed many upgrades over the 10 years and now they are again at a new level of ultra performance.. sorry don’t ask, my secret.. just for me well a little bit of a secret: it’s partly “Tubeology”