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I am curious about this Ampzilla by GAS. I looked online for info, but there seem to be many models of "Ampzillas" out there--one with lightning-like lettering, this one with more conservative lettering and so on.
Can anyone clarify for me what version of Ampzilla this is?
Do you know the approximate dates this was manufactured?
What is its reputation for reliability and stability?
What sound qualities might it have?
I once owned a GAS Thalia and Grandson back in the '70s, running a pair of Klipsch Cornwalls, and they sounded pretty good for solid state at that time. I believe the Thalia sounded a bit better than a Hafler DH-110 of about the same vintage.
How do GAS products stack up against new gear?
Many thanks,
George
Follow Ups:
That's waht I would call an Ampzilla I, the II had peak lights.Neither will drive 4R.
Due to the age any of them will need to be completely rebuilt, even the resistors stripped off the boards and replaced.
With better quality caps (junk the ceramic types) it will then hang in there with about anything modern (other than the inability to drive 4R well).
(it looks cool too)
Same things apply to the Son of Ampzilla as well, except that it can drive as low as 2R.
Edits: 03/24/15 03/24/15 03/24/15 03/24/15
Why the resistors? They don't age unless they are carbon composite, and that amp is too new to use them. I agree about the electrolytics, but any film caps (if their are any) should still be fine.
Dave
5% carbon film resistors have copperweld leads (as do m any small film caps).
The copper striker coat on the steel lead fails and the part goes open, or intermittent.
The quality of the tin end-spray lead attachment on inexpensive film caps also fail over a perion of years.
Ceramic disc caps don't sound the best.
Bongiorno didn't think caps made a difference, and he also used a lot of push-on terminals for ease of assembley.
Better caps throughout makes for a big improvement in sound, as does the elimination of the push-on connectors.
The bi-metalic thermostat in series with the speaker out isn't the best idea either.
That Hafler model is a pre-amp. I'm guessing that you meant the DH-220?
I meant to compare the GAS Thalia to the Hafler DH-110 at that moment, but my setting out of that comparison could have been worded better. I had both of these preamps for awhile and found the GAS a little more clean sounding, though both were quite acceptable.
I have had a few DH-220s too. I still keep one around for a spare.
GR
Well it is a legendary amplifier because I think it was the first truly complementary amp design (i.e. using N and P transistors). No idea how it sounds though. I had an amp from Jim's later company, Sumo, that was pretty good for what it was (I had the model The Nine) but it couldn't stand up to the best amps I have heard since.
They sound great, but hey, it's an old amp.
It's not great on low impedance loads.
Towards the end G.A.S. was having High School kids come in after school and do soldering/construction. Yeah, not a great idea - they ended up with lots of reliability issues.
There is a new Ampzilla (or is it a Son of Ampzilla) coming out soon. $3500, I think. Call Wally at Underwood Hi Fi for all the details.
"Familiarity breeds contempt, and children."
-Mark Twain
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