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In Reply to: RE: Magnavox EL84 mod suggestions posted by Charlie8521 on March 28, 2015 at 12:41:08
I am not familiar with this particular unit, but from the pictures, schematic and discussion, it appears to be a very marginal piece of gear.
It is not obvious to me why anyone would bother with it. Would someone be kind enough to explain?
Follow Ups:
Well, my main system utilizes an ARC LS17SE preamp, HK Cit II rebuilt tube amp by Mike Samara, and Merlin TSM Black Magic speakers. So I have a reasonable understanding of what better equipment sounds like, along with my performance background as a musician. Picked this EL84 amp up off the curb for free in the original cabinet (which was returned to mother nature). I utilized it originally in my work shop and now for near field listening (~3 ft) with my desktop computer. I'm simply taken back by the sweet sound of those EL84's - for something that is sold old and basic. So if I can toy with it to get a little better sound out of it with parts I have lying around, I'll be very happy. Not going to spend $100 dollars on it. But it does cause me to look more closely at EL84 amps. There are bigger versions of this type of amp that folks completely rebuild and utilize.
I had a few EL84 amps "back in the day" -- I recall Fisher and EICO integrated stereo amps and, earlier, a Heathkit UA-1 or 2 mono power amp. These amps well designed, made with quality components and, yes, sounded sweet with efficient speakers.
I thought enough of the Heath that I used it with a McIntosh C8 preamp and an Altec/Karlson speaker system. I also recall a belt drive turntable and many hours of good listening.
It seems to me that what you are doing with the Magnavox is equivalent to polishing a turd, but if you like doing that and the way it sounds, by all means...enjoy!
That sound like a very nice system. I see you have went quite a different direction with you current system. I too have switched from tubes to sand amps, and am very happy with the sound. However, I do look back at my tube gear with fondness. It gave me many hours of music enjoyment!
Dave
For about 25 years my tube gear was all McIntosh -- MC225, C11 and MR65B. It was becoming a maintenance problem. Then Mac informed us tube gear owners that there were not able to resupply certain preferred components, and could no longer guarantee that they could repair to original specs.
I had bought some solid state stuff to back up the Macs in their anticipated trips to Binghamton and liked it enough that I decided to declare a personal end of the tube era. I don't miss banging on preamp tubes with pencil erasers, but still have fond thoughts of that MC225.
I understand the maintenance issue all to well, and I can work on the equipment. I really enjoy the sound of my system, but I will be dabbling it tube gear. I have a few pieces of tube gear on the shelf.
Dave
It may have a asthetic that some might not like, especially this is a console pull. But a lot of these amps, when overhauled and brought up to spec, sound pretty damn good for what they are and what little ( I least in my experience) people pay for them. With th ebay prices going nowadays and a revival for "midcentury" console being the hip thing now, the prices some of these consoles are demanding are laughable, at best.
If you are handy and enjoy diying and tinkering, they are a great, affordable way to get into tubes.
Oh, and they sound great for what they are and you have to put that into prespective. My first one was a VoM 6v6 console pull , then I went crazy and had about 10 of these laying around in different stages of repair. I used these on my old 604's and enjoyed my music on the cheap, very cheap......
Absolutely. These gems can't be overlooked.
I have quite a few console pulls that have been brought back to life...some with mods. I like them all. They are the only amps I run in my office.
My other amps? Jadis Defy-7, McIntosh MC275, and a slew of vintage tube amps.
The console pulls get 90% of the airtime.
"I can't compete with the dead". (Buck W. 2010)
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