FS: Audio Innovations S500
I bought this integrated valve amp from Lostwin from the WAM late June this year...then came a death in my family, the holidays...finally, I collected the amp a week ago.
During this time, I was offered a Croft S3 OTL...no brainer...I've gone for it. I've left a deposit on the OTL, so the S500 has now gotta be sold. I haven't even switched it on! It was connected to a BP PS but thats gone to a bestie... The imbelical cord is being disconnected as we speak by David Coe...
Why did I buy this amp...? well I'd never owned an AI, the spec for this one was pretty high....last year £300 had been spent on bringing it up to spec, and beyond by David Coe..but there's more...here's the low down...
This is LOSTWIN's much loved AI S500 integrated amp...he owned this amp for nearly 30 years, bought from Definitive Audio.
The amp has been in regular use except for a period of 10 years when it was stored due to house moves and kids. Been back in use for last 2 years.
Has been regularly serviced over the years firstly by David Wright and most recently David Coe. Just over a year ago David Coe completed an extensive round of upgrades including new caps, volume pot and tweaks to circuits with a particular focus on the built in MM phono stage. Cost was over £300
Current valves are EH EL34’s with JJ’s and a very nice NOS Tungsram as signal valves. All have been fitted within the last 2 years. Some nice tube rolling options with other EL 34's, 5881 or KT77's possible and the circuit is auto biasing
Balance and tape loop circuits have been bypassed
This is the early model with the superior Hinchley transformers
The MM phono stage is very good, when he switched to his VIDA recently there really wasn't as big a gap in performance as he was expecting
Set up in standard push pull mode it's output is a punchy 25W
Condition is very good, barely a mark on the black crackle finish, the Perspex cover is scratch free however I cannot currently track down the pins that hold the Perspex in place
Mods (detailed from David Coe) includes...
1. Replace all cathode bypass capacitors with the better performing Elna Silmic rfs caps.
2. Replace the main psu caps.
3. Replace the decoupling caps throughout all amp stages
4. Install Schottky diodes and pi filter on input valve and phono stage
5. Replace volume control with Alps Blue
6. Add high voltage regulator to phono stage
I'm looking for £860, collection only, as well as an audition of course...no point in buying a middle of the road example when this has been upgraded...one owner and has the better transformers...but most of all..it has been cared for!
I'm based in North London, Hornsey.
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Originally Posted by Stormin'Norman
