What the €$%# have I bought ?

[andyrlb]

As above really gents [emoji1787]
Won them at a local auction ( I wasn’t present )
I was hoping that they could possibly be mono power amps but now that I can see the input ( bnc coaxial ? ) I don’t know what they are ( aside from 2 heavy door stops )

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220827/87f6af16cb66fcf251668aa7d06fbe1d.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220827/afd284a54060b3d0da49e71d2350bad5.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220827/c1e95356a30a28d98c04beec2ba2f69b.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220827/6509101f0aace9f5056a223548c535b9.jpg


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[Macca]

If I had to guess I'd say they are FM broadcast amplifiers.

[andyrlb]

If I had to guess I'd say they are FM broadcast amplifiers.

Not of much use then [emoji20]


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[struth]

interesting that they are a matched pair..

[Jimbo]

An electric sub station?

[walpurgis]

Those look vaguely familiar for some reason, they certainly look like power amps. I'd be tempted to try them with a passive pre-amp and 'sacrificial' speaker driver of some sort. BNC to RCA (Phono) adaptors are cheap.

[struth]

i'd open one up and have a looksee

[andyrlb]

i'd open one up and have a looksee

I have every single Allen key , torx keys , hex keys going ( for work ) and none of them ( metric and imperial) fit properly so at the moment I can’t even open the things [emoji35]


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[andyrlb]

Those look vaguely familiar for some reason, they certainly look like power amps. I'd be tempted to try them with a passive pre-amp and 'sacrificial' speaker driver of some sort. BNC to RCA (Phono) adaptors are cheap.

That’s exactly what I was hoping someone would say


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[struth]

thought the silver ones were the ones. the black things dont look to be holding the case to the inside as the metal is cut as holes. not sure what they are tbh

[Pigmy Pony]

I think I once saw them on an episode of The Invaders. A Quinn Martin production. It began with an old deserted diner, and a man too long without sleep to continue his journey. So he went online and put in a cheeky bid on some amps from outer space :)

[andyrlb]

Finally got one open …

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220827/95267beefb496e1453cb0c64efc7b3cc.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220827/a36b750884cd8472939e13d1535a70f3.jpg


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[struth]

look like rf mosfets. wonder what is under the gold panel?

[andyrlb]

look like rf mosfets. wonder what is under the gold panel?

A large toroidal transformer


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[struth]

looks like a dual mono version of a mf design by tim de p:eyebrows:

[struth]

maybe a p170 split into 2 cases... pity jez wasn't around. he'd know for sure.

[andyrlb]

maybe a p170 split into 2 cases... pity jez wasn't around. he'd know for sure.

Jez from Arkless ?


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[struth]

Jez from Arkless ?


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aye...

[andyrlb]

aye...

Is he on wigwam now ?


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[struth]

Is he on wigwam now ?


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no idea andy.. he worked with mf so will know their designs. sure the mf p170 used those mosfets in the amp(i think). it was a simple design, but im no expert. it was a dual mono tho in one case.

[brian2957]

I think he posts on PFM.

[andyrlb]

Cheers guys


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[Wakefield Turntables]

Jez is on PFM.

[andyrlb]

I think he posts on PFM.

Messaged Jez about this and I’m unable to add the photos


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[andyrlb]

Conclusion is that they could be musical fidelity clones .


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[Wakefield Turntables]

Is that good or bad?

[struth]

good you got a definitive answer

[andyrlb]

Is that good or bad?

Good compared to my initial thoughts that they may not even have been audio amplifiers.
I placed my VERY low bid based on this picture and the auction description was “ 2 amplifiers “
So I think I got lucky, guys on diy audio are saying they appear to be quality amps .
They are mirrored too which is unusual.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220828/ea4328b0e37690a5e1a169267279c164.jpg


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[Lawrence001]

I was wondering where the outputs were but if they're those massive red and black "buttons" at the back then they look great [emoji16]

I thought they were some sort of reset buttons on first glance. [emoji23]

[brian2957]

Messaged Jez about this and I’m unable to add the photos


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Why don't you ask Jez for his email address and email the pictures to him instead.

[andyrlb]

Why don't you ask Jez for his email address and email the pictures to him instead.

He has replied to me and like others said they’re hitachi design and likely to be MF clones .
I’m now trying to date them .


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[andyrlb]

I’ve dated the caps to 1983 week 33,
So 1980’s build


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[Macca]

Unless the caps were sat about for years before being used?

[andyrlb]

Unless the caps were sat about for years before being used?

True but I ( and others) are also going on the casing , the amp board .


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[struth]

80's would likely be right. caps look fine

[andyrlb]

Just waiting on some bnc adapters and then I’ll hook them up .
Had them powered up since 5am and tested the outputs, all good .


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[Puffin]

As a keen DIYer there is much more info at the link below. Will be interesting to see how they sound.

https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/what-are-these.389699/page-3

[andyrlb]

As a keen DIYer there is much more info at the link below. Will be interesting to see how they sound.

https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/what-are-these.389699/page-3

That’s where we’ve been discussing them


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[Macca]

well I'm glad my guess about them being FM amplifiers was wrong. Looks like you got some pretty serious monoblocs.

[andyrlb]

Keepers me thinks ….

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220828/eb7418df1bc4f07d56c0233ed49b5af0.jpg


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[andyrlb]

well I'm glad my guess about them being FM amplifiers was wrong. Looks like you got some pretty serious monoblocs.

Oh yes , the pass labs clone going up for sale soon mate [emoji2]


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[walpurgis]

I take it the big Wharfedale driver I can see the edge of is the 'sacrificial' test unit? :)

[andyrlb]

I take it the big Wharfedale driver I can see the edge of is the 'sacrificial' test unit? :)

Yep [emoji1787]
I have a pair waiting to go to the skip


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[walpurgis]

I have a pair waiting to go to the skip

That's a shame :).

[Lawrence001]

I sold a pair of Wharfedale 15" drivers on eBay for about £40 a few years ago. Mind you they had AlNiCo magnets not sure about yours.

[Filterlab]

Keepers me thinks ….

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220828/eb7418df1bc4f07d56c0233ed49b5af0.jpg


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Those speakers look awesome there sir. :D

[andyrlb]

Cheers mate


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[337alant]

I’ve dated the caps to 1983 week 33,
So 1980’s build


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If the amps are dated from the 80s you may consider replacing the 3 electrolytic caps on the PCB

Alan

[andyrlb]

If the amps are dated from the 80s you may consider replacing the 3 electrolytic caps on the PCB

Alan

Good point Alan , I’ll do that whilst I change the input sockets and someone said to apply new thermal paste too.

Thanks
Andy


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[walpurgis]

Have you tried them in the main rig yet Andy? I must admit I do like the look of them, far preferable in my opinion to the fancy 'boutique' look that many makers waste money on, Like Chord for instance.

[andyrlb]

Have you tried them in the main rig yet Andy? I must admit I do like the look of them, far preferable in my opinion to the fancy 'boutique' look that many makers waste money on, Like Chord for instance.

They have been in the main system since Saturday Geoff , new speaker terminals and rca sockets on their way and I’ll replace the little caps on the pcb whilst I’m at it .
I’m really enjoying my £85 investment ( that’s what they owe me ) hence the big pass lab clone is up for sale .


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[andyrlb]

And some guys on diy audio helped me establish what the output was, close to 100 watts .


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[andyrlb]

Caps replaced on the pcb and bnc sockets changed for rca and replaced the heat sink thermal paste .

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220909/2dd29ee566b067481e5c1eb1850b4eb4.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220909/bc6ebd10185aba36430fdd5ce87551cb.jpg


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[andyrlb]

So apparently these are actually appx 200w not the 100 that I was initially told .
Happy days [emoji4]


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[Lawrence001]

Are those transistors you're selling from these?

[andyrlb]

Are those transistors you're selling from these?

No , the transistors came from the 2 monster amps .


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[Lawrence001]

Ah I thought these were them just went to the top and saw they're not.