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Junk store find - Rotel, B&W, Dynaco...

32.161.10.4

Posted on September 13, 2014 at 11:47:14
LowRedMoon
Audiophile

Posts: 1091
Location: Central PA
Joined: February 28, 2006
I stopped in to a large local country junk store and saw a pile of used audio gear sitting in a corner, waiting to be priced. I asked the owners what they wanted for the whole rig and they asked me if $100 would be OK. I agreed.

I brought home:

Rotel RTC-940AX preamplifier
RB-960BX amplifier
A pair of B&W DM620 floorstanding speakers
Dynaco Pat-5 "Transcendence Preamp"

And a Musical Fidelity V-Can headphone preamp, unused and in its retail packace, which I found on the shelf for $10.

The Pat-5 intrigues me. I opened the chassis and found that it has been completely rebuilt with "Transcendence" circuit boards and switches that are of much netter quality than Dynaco would have installed. There's a badge on the front that says "Transcendence Preampby Jensens Stereo Shop, Burnsville, Minnesota." I'm not too familiar with Mr. Van Alstine's work, but I guess I'm about to do some reading.

I just wanted to share this with someone other than my girlfriend, who is quite uninterested, a scenario I'm sure many of us are familiar with.

Adam

 

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RE: Junk store find - Rotel, B&W, Dynaco..., posted on September 13, 2014 at 18:53:07
Pix4work2
Audiophile

Posts: 39
Location: Middle TN
Joined: March 1, 2014
Very nice find! Let us know what you think of the modified Pat-5 preamp. The B & W speakers are a fairly easy sale if you don't like them, as is the well regarded 900-series Rotel gear. You may just end up liking all of it...especially for a second or guest room system.

 

RE: Junk store find - Rotel, B&W, Dynaco..., posted on September 14, 2014 at 14:01:37
farmdoc
Audiophile

Posts: 190
Location: No. California
Joined: December 8, 2002
Good finds...I had a Hafler pre and amp modded by Jensens in the 1980's (maybe late 70's), and the improvement, especially the pre, was not subtle. Frank Van Alstine was there at the time, and I spoke to him about his tenure there at some shows over the years. He is still at it, his mods are quality stuff. Play and enjoy; he might have more mods now for that Dynaco piece.

 

RE: Junk store find - Rotel, B&W, Dynaco..., posted on September 14, 2014 at 18:37:37
Brian Levy
Audiophile

Posts: 2438
Location: Toronto
Joined: June 5, 2000
You got one of his preamp in that stash. You can throw the rest away anx will still have a steal. I had his SuperPAS3x with buffers and it was one of my all time favorite preamp and one of the few things I regret selling. It seemed totally able to handle any amp and added nothing nor subtracted anything. It's weakness was the phono preamp but he later revised it and offered to change mine over at no charge as we had discussed the phono weakness. I understand the phone circuit was a major improvement. I did not get it updated before selling as I just had so much happening in my life I never took the time. Except for the phono, it was better than my C28 and so close to my Audio Research SP 3a1 but far less colored than either and more dynamic. I suect if Frank got the phono squared away and I got the update, I likely would have dumped the C28 years ago.
Don Brian Levy, J.D.
Toronto ON Canada

 

RE: Junk store find - Rotel, B&W, Dynaco..., posted on September 15, 2014 at 17:24:43
LowRedMoon
Audiophile

Posts: 1091
Location: Central PA
Joined: February 28, 2006
I'm having a similar experience with this one. I can tell it's a good preamp - it sounds very good, but it's going to need some maintenance work. There's a bit of noise, especially in the phono, which I'm sure will be alleviated with a cleaning and a few new caps. I meed to check the output voltage. It is pushing my amp very hard.

All in all, I'm quite pleased. I'll probably keep the speakers too.

 

RE: Junk store find - Rotel, B&W, Dynaco..., posted on September 15, 2014 at 17:28:49
LowRedMoon
Audiophile

Posts: 1091
Location: Central PA
Joined: February 28, 2006
I like the pas preamp, but as I mentioned in another post, it needs a little work.

The sound is very nice, and easy to listen to. I'll post an update after I do some work on it.

Adam

 

RE: Junk store find - Rotel, B&W, Dynaco..., posted on September 15, 2014 at 17:32:05
LowRedMoon
Audiophile

Posts: 1091
Location: Central PA
Joined: February 28, 2006
I plan to send him an email asking whether he has any updates for the design. I don't know whether his current design is related to this one or a new one all together.

Adam

 

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