Well I have said almost every time

192.73.8.199

Posted by Edp on September 28, 1999 at 10:33:40

In Reply to: Hey EDP... tell me more about the monoblocks...... posted by Gangsta' on September 27, 1999 at 17:58:09:

that you need to look at these as "used units" when it comes to warrantee and fixes. Not saying that the distributor will not honor the warrantee, but since they are getting out of the business of selling dealing with Top International, I consider that there is no warrantee.

Funny that you say the distributor is not very knowledgeable. He knows the units well, but has more of an interest, as should be, in promoting his own design creations.

The amplifier units are touted as completely hand wired/soldered/point to point. (The preamps are not strictly point to point.) As I have said, I have only heard and seen the monoblocks and all following comments are with those units.

Yes I have opened them up. It is required to do the biasing. Yes it is neatly hand wired/soldered point to point only. Relatively simple looking, low component part counts. Intersecting wire tends to cross at 90 degree angles (not certain it really matters), parts values are clearly marked.

I have had to do some repairs on the unit in the early stages.

First one of the power cords had a short. Yep the cheapish power cord, popped fuses and circuit breaker. No big deal as it is not a captured cord and I can lay hands on hundreds of larger gauge cords. The original has been used to tie things down in my vehicle.

Both EIC power cord sockets had loose connections. Nothing the fault of the Houston, just the actual parts used. Simple solder solution. Note fuses are located in little compartment within the EIC socket.

Popped two resistors that are part of the circuit to switch between Ultra and Triode mode. Quick run down to decent electronics store and got four Ohmites of same value, 10 minutes of solder, never a problem since. I feel that they blew as either a result of the loose EIC connections or improper switching of the Ultra/Triode mode. I did not know they were popped by listening, just during a rebias session I saw the blown resistors.

Sounds like a bit too much you might say. Not me. I chose the units as point to point so I could have a hope of fixing them. All of these issues occured within the first two months. I have had no problems since.

The units are heavy. They have transformer iron. The units are simple. I could easily change out every part except the iron with local resources. Any decent repair shoppe could easily fix any problem with the units except the iron.

At the time I tried several in the near $1000 range and was fairly commited to going used as new units were not able to deal with the level of refinement I was looking for, with the speakers I was using.

I rarely recommend these units as I again say they are to be viewed as "used". I was willing to make that risk acceptable.

In subjective terms, these units are not paramount in performance reguardless of price. But these units are hardly light weights or require the owner to settle for entry level tube amplification draw backs. They are able to go hold their own with some commercial brand names. They respond very nicely to different tube marks (tube rolling). Technically they have some decent and desireable measurements and features. (S/N, channel sep, % of neg feedback, A A/B operation, Ultra/Triode, 4/8ohm taps,weight)

In my room, with my speakers, with my preferences of music, the performance of the units in Triode mode results in an extremely high resolution music illusion machine. The Triode mode makes the units an extreme bargin.
Between me and you, I think they are a stellar find, with performance and potential that far exceeds the initial price and are a complete steal at the closeout price. I have no idea if this is true with the other marks offered in closeout.

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - tube amp recommendations.... - Gangsta' 12:48:54 09/27/99 (20)

thanks for the suggestions (more) - Gangsta' 18:02:59 09/27/99 (10)

Now I have a ? for you.... - Tom Â§. 07:10:21 09/28/99 (9)

Re: Now I have a ? for you.... - Bob 17:58:09 09/28/99 (1)

Sorry. - Tom Â§. 19:58:43 09/28/99 (0)

Re: Now I have a ? for you.... - Gangsta' 10:12:57 09/28/99 (6)

Re: Now I have a ? for you.... - Tom Â§. 14:44:58 09/28/99 (5)

Thanks again for the help.. glad I could help ya too!! (NT) - Gangsta' 18:38:47 09/28/99 (4)

FYI. - Tom Â§. 20:03:47 09/28/99 (3)

Re: FYI. - Gangsta' 06:41:12 09/29/99 (1)

Here a URL for you. - Tom Â§. 07:48:33 09/29/99 (0)

Typo---15W/8530 (nt) - Tom Â§. 20:10:34 09/28/99 (0)

Re: tube amp recommendations.... - MikeP 15:31:31 09/27/99 (0)

Re: tube amp recommendations.... - Edp 14:32:13 09/27/99 (5)

Wow. - Tom Â§. 05:42:08 09/28/99 (0)

Hey EDP... tell me more about the monoblocks...... - Gangsta' 17:58:09 09/27/99 (3)

Well I have said almost every time - Edp 10:33:40 09/28/99 (1)

Thanks VERY much for the candid reponse EDP!!! (NT) - Gangsta' 10:45:34 09/28/99 (0)

OOPS!! Forgot something..... - Gangsta' 18:06:04 09/27/99 (0)

Re: tube amp recommendations.... - Phil Sieg 14:07:20 09/27/99 (0)

Re: tube amp recommendations.... - Tom Â§. 13:26:31 09/27/99 (0)

Follow Ups

Well I have said almost every time - Edp 10:33:40 09/28/99 (1)

Thanks VERY much for the candid reponse EDP!!! (NT) - Gangsta' 10:45:34 09/28/99 (0)

You can not post to an archived thread.