Hello from New York

[Glen B]

Hello all.

I'm Glen from Brooklyn, New York. I found this site quite by accident recently while doing a Google search. I've been an electronics hobbyist and music lover since about age 11. I scratch built my first (tube) amp at age 13, and well, the rest is history.

I currently collect and restore vintage electronics and do mods. My "specialty" is Classé legacy electronics. I have owned a number of the brand components over the years, and since I do my own servicing, have looked at their designs in-depth and collected a wealth of information, some of which I've shared in the past with fellow owners and service technician members on some other forums.

I hope that I can make a positive contribution here. :)

Oh, here are picture galleries of some of my projects:

DIY balanced AC power line conditioners with surge protection:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-5/191557/2083672

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-5/191557/1741050

Vintage Phase Linear 400 Series 2 amp, installed DC protection circuitry/output relays, and upgraded the input and output connectors. Recap planned:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-5/191557/1927085

Vintage SAE Model 2400/Mark 24 total refurbishment, input/otput connector upgrade, replaced captive power cord with IEC power inlet:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-5/191557/1986567

Classé DR-10 with upgraded output connectors and IEC power inlet:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-5/191557/DR-10_13.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-5/191557/DR-10_14.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-5/191557/DR-10_15.jpg

Classé CA-300 output connectors and IEC power inlet upgrades:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-5/191557/2009226

One-off DIY wireless learning IR remote switcher for Classé legacy amps which have a non-standard 12V trigger on RJ12 phone jack. Built for and sold to the owner of a CAV-150:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-5/191557/2097974

DIY DC blocker/transformer noise filter. Goes between amp and wall. Blocks DC offset on the AC power line caused by halogen lights, fan speed controllers, light dimmers, other speed and temperature controllers, etc. Built and sold several of these to audio/HT system owners to cure audible mechanical amplifier hum Eliminates mechanical hum in amplifiers caused by saturation of the toroid transformer core by power line DC:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-5/191557/2020464

[Seth=L]

I've had a passing interest in Classé components, however they've always been far from reach financially. I settle for much less.

I'm new here as well, and welcome!:)

[MartinT]

Very nice projects, Glen, and welcome. That SAE certainly looks a beast. What system do you run for yourself?

[Techno Commander]

Welcome Glen. Nice collection of goodies you have there.

[Welder]

Wotcha Glen :)

Impressed by the DIY kit. Maybe you might consider publishing the relevant info on the power conditioning units once you’ve got settled in.
That Google; it’s got a lot to answer for, fancy sending a New Yorker to a bunch of limeys.

(Gorn orf to make a drop of tea ;))

[Glen B]

Thank you all for the warm welcome. Welder, while am an American citizen, I was born in a British colony.


I've had a passing interest in Classé components, however they've always been far from reach financially. I settle for much less.
The used market is a good way to acquire the components you like for a fraction of their original cost. Classé equipment is built to last a very long time, so even used components once they were well taken care of by the previous owner, should provide many years of trouble-free musical enjoyment.


Very nice projects, Glen, and welcome. That SAE certainly looks a beast. What system do you run for yourself?

I run three systems, dedicated 2-channel, home theater/secondary 2-channel, and a “pro” system for DJ’ing family parties.

2-channel:

Denon DP-59L TT with Audio-Technica ATOC9 MC cartridge
Marantz Reference Series SA-11S2 SACD player
Classé CP-50 preamp with phono stage
Classé DR-10
Classé CA-300
Classé RC-1 remote interface
PSB Stratus Gold i speakers
DIY balanced power line conditioner
Acoustic Zen interconnects, speakers cables and power cords
NeoTech DIY power cords
Furutech and Oyaide power connectors

HT/secondary 2-channel:

Toshiba DVD player
Onkyo TX-DS696 multichannel receiver
Phase Linear 400 Series 2
Axiom M3v3 on-wall speakers
Paradigm CC-170 center channel
Optimus X-55A surrounds
Dayton Audio 12” powered sub
Belkin PF-60 line conditioner

Party system:

Windows PC with M-Audio Audiophile 24/96 sound card
Virtual DJ software
Harrison Labs FMOD inline crossovers
Luxman G-11 Lab Standard EQ
Realistic graphic EQ (to EQ sub)
Pioneer reverb amp
SAE-2400
Audiosource Amp 100, bridged (sub)
2 Pyle Pro tweeter/mid drivers with Pyle Pro exponential horns
2 Pyle Pro 8" sealed back midranges
Pyle Pro 15” passive sub

[Glen B]

Wotcha Glen :)

Impressed by the DIY kit. Maybe you might consider publishing the relevant info on the power conditioning units once you’ve got settled in.

Following are links to discussions of balanced power on some other forums where I and others have posted on our projects, and the feature article in Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity e-zine that got me started down that road in the first place.

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_10_3/feature-article-isolation-transformer-8-2003.html

http://www.htguide.com/forum/showthread.php4?t=28320

http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/tweaks/messages/103826.html

http://forums.audioreview.com/showthread.php?t=5473

[goraman]

Glad to have you around.(WELCOME)
We Yanks are growing in numbers now.