Search results

  1. pat5jfet

    Recap Amber Series 70 later versions

    I recently acquired a later version of this amazingly well built component. This one has the PCB bolted to the heat sinks. The To-220 transistors are also bolted to the heat sink assembly. Any ideas on how to remove the PCBs for recapping.?? Earlier versions use a plug board for the circuit...
  2. pat5jfet

    Can this dust cover be saved?

    It is possible to craft dustcover replacements with acrylic sheets. You need a good blade on the table saw and learn to glue the thing together which “requires” 90 degree jigs of wood. I have seen it done or cut with a circular saw by old pros. Glueing is the challenge.
  3. pat5jfet

    Can this dust cover be saved?

    Looks like gouges are too deep for abrasive action and buffing.
  4. pat5jfet

    Vintage sealed cab bookshelfs - what should I keep an eye out for?

    I have owned EPI, Advent, Polk, Dynaco and several AR bookshelf loudspeakers. The only ones I still own are the Polk 4s, very efficient with a Peerless tweeter. They sing with the Dynaco St 70. The old 1970 and 80s tweeters just don’t cut it compared to modern dome tweeters. The SEAS tweeter...
  5. pat5jfet

    Thinking about a B&K ST-120

    The manufacturer was highly regarded by the Audio Press especially the St-140. Look for reviews from the 1980s. B & K “borrowed” the design from Jensen’s Stereo Shop and I had one of those in a Dynaco Chassis (MOS FET 120 C) and it was a tube like solid state amp, but with a real lower end, of...
  6. pat5jfet

    Onkyo CP-1260f Auto play / Stylus height issue

    It now works well. It delivers a very insightful reproduction of the music and is a joy to operate. Maybe all those ICs and switches are reliable!
  7. pat5jfet

    If you own a turntable and LP's, how old are you?

    71 and did not ditch vinyl in 1989. I still have records purchased in 1964. Onkyo CP-1260 f, Dual 506-1, Sony Ps-2700. Once had manual turntables but it impedes my vinyl sessions too old to get up and lift the tone arm. CD hurts my ears. Fingernails on a chalkboard.
  8. pat5jfet

    Recapped the entire unit with "Audio-Grade" capacitors... Mistake?

    I had some 15000 mfd Gold Tune uninstalled in the box for years and finally put them in the Audio Concepts mod DH-200. The results were startling much more top end and the Elac speakers woke up finally. So I recapped the updatemydynaco St-80 and a primitive MOSFET conversion St-120 with the...
  9. pat5jfet

    Onkyo CP-1260f Auto play / Stylus height issue

    My 1260f Failed to function in Play mode. The screws holding the plastic sub assembly (which holds the printed circuit boards with switches) to the “wooden plinth” were loose and too short. Hence the tactile play switch would not engage. Replaced screws Play mode starts but the tone arm is...
  10. pat5jfet

    Recap old amp

    Old polarized caps in the power supply are a pending disaster. So they should be replaced especially if 4 decades old. If the pcb (s) are easy to reach may as well do the entire amp. Caps are cheep (if lower voltage types found in solid state gear). For high end gear it is worth the $$ to...
  11. pat5jfet

    FM 3 Advice

    I owned two of these FM-3z and had one aligned professionally by a well-known vacuum tube tuner specialists. I replaced power supplies, caps on the boards, PECs, all tubes tested good. They could never function in my crowded FM environment (not enough adjacent channel selectivity) so I...
  12. pat5jfet

    Dynaco Stereo 120 Resistor Smoke

    Wow! That will be awesome. They don't need much power with those horns and a big paper cone woofer.
  13. pat5jfet

    Dynaco Stereo 120 Resistor Smoke

    I had a PAT-4 and installed the Van Alstine boards, two long PCBs with TL071 op amps. Had a little op amp edge but with tremendous bass response. Used a Zenier regulator for the PS. Updatemydynaco has a PAT-4 rebuild. A PAT-4 would look great with the St-120 real retro 1970. A PAS 3 or 3X...
  14. pat5jfet

    Dynaco Stereo 120 Resistor Smoke

    Good looking St-120, nice chrome. It is hard to find one with non rusty metal work. I have a flea market find St-120 from Florida's forgotten coast, ended up having to use bondo and Krylon metallic grey on the gone chrome. Updatemydynaco will bring many 40-53 year old pieces into the modern...
  15. pat5jfet

    How did anyone afford gear in 70's-80's??

    Purchasing Audio gear was a high priority back in the 1970s. Any slack funds would be allocated to this end. I had Sony and JVC gear first but in 1974 built a Heathkit AJ-29 tuner, next purchased a Thorens TD-165 while in grad school (1976) then switched to Dynaco in 1978. With Koss passive...
  16. pat5jfet

    ARXA Restoration, where to start?

    Thanks to Marc for sharing his knowledge of this issue. I have been drinking Dr. Tweakos AR Snake Oil for 30 years. I have now gone to the medicine cabinet, and poured the bottle into the toilet. However, in George Merrill's defense, his acrylic/lead subchassis did include a new bearing well...
  17. pat5jfet

    ARXA Restoration, where to start?

    "Rings like a bell" is one of the terms used in the Audio Amateur article on modification of the AR XA or XB; also the use of dampening materials comes from AA. Going from ring to bang is a big leap in semantics and engineering. This is a link to an interview with Merrill...
  18. pat5jfet

    ARXA Restoration, where to start?

    A subchassis should be dead and neutral, not prone to delivery of energy to other parts (spindle rotation to tonearm). Tap it with a small hammer and listen. Look up George Merrill's mods which use some mix of acrylic and lead for a new subchassis. Using dampening materials on the stock...
  19. pat5jfet

    Found a JCPenny table

    Nice work. How does it compare to your higher end turntables in lucidity? Is it equal in the delivery of more info from the vinyl or better resolution?
  20. pat5jfet

    Good turntable for Dynaco System

    To match the vintage of the Dynaco: AR XA or an earlier Dual (12xx series) or a Radio Shack Elac. An earlier Thorens such as the TD-145 also matches the era. Higher-end BSR changers were also in vogue in the late 1960s, but I would not do that. Remember the Dynaco were budget components in...
  21. pat5jfet

    ARXA Restoration, where to start?

    Also possible to dampen the plinth with automotive dampening sheets or antiphon and use a good quality bearing oil. The tonearm could use some metal polish as could the counterweight. If you are going stock, new head shells are available on eBay. The sub chassis rings like a bell. Dampen it...
  22. pat5jfet

    Still in shock...

    Clamp tonearm and put down (or on) the stylus guard. Removal of the head shell is better. Unless you have a Rega or Black Widow tonearm.
  23. pat5jfet

    Help, Technics SL-B500

    Manual TT operation does get old (mute on the remote helps) although for DIY it is easier to tweak an old AR or more recent Rega. Even semi-automatic makes it easer to use the old record collection and with a Technics DD or belt drive one still has great performance and some modicum of...
  24. pat5jfet

    New Semi-Automatic Table Recommendations?

    The old DD Technics I have is a taste of what may be possible. I works really well with a Grado Gold (stylus cost 2X more than the table!). I have never owned a truly high end Japanese offering from Denon, JVC, Kenwood, Pioneer or Sony but am now thinking that is the way to go.
  25. pat5jfet

    New Semi-Automatic Table Recommendations?

    Thanks to all for the advice. The reviews of the semi-auto and full auto Thorens decks ($800-$1k) do not inspire confidence. A friend had a Dual CS5000 nice looker (real wood) and performed well. Motor lacked torque. I will look to having the Technics recapped or finding a high-end Japanese...
Back
Top Bottom