[Amps] Wrong Business

[Will Matney]

Pete,

The problem is where most audiophiles dont have any electronics training. The either play in a band or just like to listen to music. In amateur radio, most all have a little knowledge of how the electron works. With the audiophiles, about any snake oil salesman can sell them anything. I kept lookin through the link posted earlier, or went back to http://www.soundstage.com and found another amp that sold for $10,000 using two tubes! I think they were a set though (making 4 tubes) and were round chassis like a clock. I swear I've not seen nothing to beat it. There's another website though where the author does try to debunk a lot of myths named Tales form the Tone Lounge (  http://www.tone-lizard.com/index.html  ). The author used to build guitar amps himself. He tears into the ones saying one capacitor has "better tone" than another, and that transformers made certain ways are better than others. I've personally seen some transformers, maybe 250 VA ones sell for $300-$400 each or more!

Really, I'm looking at getting into test equipment repair, mainly with B&K Precision on their older equipment. I wrote a letter off to them and I'm supposed to call the owner today of BKManuals, Mr. Jon Doutt. I got an e-mail back yesterday from them expressing interest and asking me to call. B&K dont service any of the older equipment any more and Mr. Doutt bought out all the old lines. If it works out, I'll have new B&K 747 tube testers for sale along with the new B&K model 1040 tester originally made for CB servicing. It can actually be used in amateur radio servicing too. The one good thing is it has a two tone mic input through a small speaker to check modulation, etc.. I have an old one here and used it a good bit. Hopefully, if everything works out, I'll be doing servicing for them here, plus doing some transformer work for the company which is the shot in the arm I needed. Those orders will allow me to get the trnasformer business off the ground. I was upfront with them about being handicapped and figured they might not do anything over it, but I was surprised.

Anyhow, if you get a chance, do some reading over at http://www.tone-lizard.com/index.html and you'll like it. They have a lot of info on older test equipment too, with histories, and service data.

Best,

Will

*********** REPLY SEPARATOR  ***********

On 8/5/05 at 7:46 AM Pete Smith wrote:

>Boy, doesn't the pseudo-science in these reviews drive you nuts?  for
>example:
>
>"My limited experience with KT88s tells me they're a good choice to
>replace 
>triodes; the tube has a rich, juicy midrange reminiscent of triodes, and 
>can generate some real power. After all, the KT88 is a pentode."
>
>Whaaa?
>
>73, Pete N4ZR
>
>
>At 07:13 AM 8/5/2005, Will Matney wrote:
>>Ken,
>>
>>By those costing $6290-$7990, I know now how he got to move to Rio de 
>>Janeiro to live! That might be how he supports a gambling problem since 
>>it's big business in Rio. What I thought was so funny, it look like a 
>>toaster that two tubes poped out of.
>>
>>Best,
>>
>>Will
>>
>>*********** REPLY SEPARATOR  ***********
>>
>>On 8/5/05 at 7:01 AM kenw2dtc wrote:
>>
>> >Will,
>> >
>> >Don't build a cheap amp, build this one:
>> >
>> >http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/audiopax_stereo_88.htm
>> >
>> >73,
>> >Ken W2DTC
>> >
>> >-------------------------
>> >
>> >
>> >> Folks, I am definately in the wrong business. I was doing some
>research
>> >on
>> >> audio transformers over a discusstion I had with another membor of
>this
>> >> mailer a while back. Oh yea, Rich those windings I spoke about are
>> >called
>> >> interleaved windings. Anyhow, while reading about them at sevral
>places
>> >> using google as the search, I came across the website below. I knew I
>> >was
>> >> in the wrong business as look at the audio amp and the price! The
>> >website
>> >> is kind of neet too, especially the toolbar at the top.
>> >>
>> >> I swear I'm strongly thinking about building these to sell. I didn't
>> >know
>> >> there was that many idiots out there who would blow that kind of
>money.
>> >> The only part I'd hate is lying to the customers about all the claims
>> >they
>> >> have on capacitors and transformers.
>> >>
>> >> http://www.vintone.com/clipper.html
>> >>
>> >> Best,
>> >>
>> >> Will
>> >
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>>
>>
>>
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