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Hi, I always have wanted to completely rebuild 2 sets of mono tube preamps, the Dynakit PAM-1's and the ugly Heathkit gold WA-P2's. Both have umbilacle cords made to take power from the amps even though they have power cords themselves.I stalled when I thought they were obsolete. Now Stereophile has in it's October issue a 2.500 phono stage and equilization box from Sweden. It is a must read article that will make you get your vinyl out of the closet and be spinning again called (Gramophone Dreams) by Herbert Reichert. He gives a concise history of the recording industry from 1920 to 1965. The Swedish box has 6 settings that cover all vinyl from 78's,45's,and 33 1/3's. Quess what, so does the Dyna and Heathkit. I'm not going to list them all but if you read the article you will see the likeness between 2 components 55 years ago and the new Swedish preamp of today. The article kicked my ass into getting my soldering iron out and also my vinyl,a must read !...Mark Korda..(kordamark@gmail.com)
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Theoretically, you could use, for instance, two PAS 3's... using the phono stage (s) through the main outs of each preamp and achieve something of the same deal.
I have had two PAM 1's and the hard to find tube power supply that operated both... Not rebuilt, but in good working order...kinda noisy.
I'd say the rebuilt Citation 1 is a better bet from a sound standpoint.
Heck, the Citation I preamp has all the settings, and it is a fantastic phono stage when properly rebuilt. Made about 1960....
And the Citation one stomps any preamp with a line-stage,phono-stage that you can buy today.
Honest amplification is better than excessive 2nd order distortion anytime.
Yes that's true, if they are rebuilt correctly
I have two of the Heathkit WA-P2 (what do you mean ugly?!) preamps. I powered them from a common PS and found that they sounded really nice. I did build a DC heater supply for them which was not part of how they originally worked. These benefitted from tube rolling. I really enjoyed the control flexibility except having to adjust two volume controls. I did have some vinyl with different recording standards and these allowed me to play them. If I'm totally honest, I'd say they competed really well with more modern preamps (even my own design) despite the fact that they had all that EQ stuff and bass & treble controls - go figure. I thought for a bit about stacking them and running some kind of O ring between the two VC shafts so moving one would move the other, but never did it. Maybe I should dig them out and give them another run?
Incidentally, one was built by my grandfather back in the 50's and the other I found as an unbuilt kit on Ebay for almost nothing. I snagged it and built it. A lot of fun, actually. Reminded me of other Heathkits I'd put together as a kid.
nt
As long as you do it prior to anyone responding.
They can be edited as well, and you can do that before OR after someone responds.
Above picture shows the edit and delete "buttons", but you must be signed into the Asylum to see them.
I have two of the Heathkit WA-P2 (what do you mean ugly?!) preamps. I powered them from a common PS and found that they sounded really nice. I did build a DC heater supply for them which was not part of how they originally worked. These benefitted from tube rolling. I really enjoyed the control flexibility except having to adjust two volume controls. I did have some vinyl with different recording standards and these allowed me to play them. If I'm totally honest, I'd say they competed really well with more modern preamps (even my own design) despite the fact that they had all that EQ stuff and bass & treble controls - go figure. I thought for a bit about stacking them and running some kind of O ring between the two VC shafts to moving one would move the other, but never did it. Maybe I should dig them out and give them another run?
Incidentally, one was built by my grandfather back in the 50's and the other I found as an unbuilt kit on Ebay for almost nothing. I snagged it and built it. A lot of fun, actually. Reminded me of other Heathkits I'd put together as a kid.
It would be interesting to hear how two rebuilt mono PAMs would sound. I think the two separate power supplies (done right) would be a plus. I remember reading something that John Curl said about the (I believe it was) JC-2 phono stage he designed, and Mark Levinson marketed.
One of the early users reported how much better using one JC-2 for each channel sounded, rather than one in stereo. Curl investigated, and found that it was the separate power supplies, and elimination of crosstalk (if I remember correctly) which made two sound better than one.
That being said, I would rebuild the two PAM-1s if I had a pair, but I wouldn't waste a lot of time on the various equalization curves, unless I had a use for them.
Let us know if you dive in to the project. I'd be interested in knowing how it goes!
I have a Pair of McIntosh C-8 preamps that I am working on getting my %*))@ together to re-furbish for just that reason!
.....
Happy Spinning
A pair of C-8's are on the top of my wish lists!Dave
Edits: 10/02/14
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