Help on ancient Audionics CC-2s

Correction to my post above. Picked up the 2nd CC-2 on 6-13-24 NOT 6-13-23. And so far I love them bridged driving my 6 Ohm, nominal impedance Martin Logan EM ESLs.

Thanks for the kind words sargonicuse.

I still have one CC-2. It is disassembled at this time. I sold the best one one to Marty. They do sound better in mono given the right speakers. I often used mine with Mirage MI's with good results. Alas my Citation 2's in mono and my Krell bettered them.

If Marty is around, Hello. How are the amps performing these days?

A few years ago, I walked into a Boulder camera store and saw a pocket book documenting a "Classic Camera Series - Nikon FE2". Hey, I bought that camera new, a month after Nikon introduced it! Not only that, it was my *second* SLR, after my 1963 vintage Pentax Spotmatic finally quit working after twenty good years.

Well, if the camera was a "classic", what does that make me?

@rwwear Thank you very much for posting this! I, too, owned an Audionics CC-2 and the BT-2 preamplifier that I enjoyed for more than twenty years before the CC-2 died one day in a spark and puff of smoke when I turned it on. Even though I lived in a high-tech town at the time (Ann Arbor, MI) there was no one who could bring it back to life.

Your post inspired my recollection of more treasured memories from my early audio days. Audionics first came to my attention in a review of the CC-2 published in Volume 1, Number 5 of The Audio Critic, a very influential (and controversial) journal during its day. There still has never been another like it. For any who might be interested the entire library of TAC may be downloaded free at:  Downloads (biline.ca)  

The Audio Critic remains a worthy read, entertaining and highly educational with some of the first published writings on issues that continue to rage today.

Objectivists vs Subjectivists anyone? Measurements? Questionable and highly suspicious commercial media reviews? Start here. Also, uniquely valuable are the many letters and interviews from and with some of the founding technologists in this field, some of the true OGs!

Thank you again!

 

Hi there folks, old Audionics hand here.

First off, replace all electrolytic caps, both large and small. Electrolytics have a finite lifetime, and modern ones are more compact, more reliable, and quite a lot better sonically. The CC-2 was designed in 1977, after all. We used the best we could get then, but they are horrible by modern standards. Something as basic as Nichicons are far better.

I have mixed feelings about using bridge mode. There’s no free lunch here ... you get twice the voltage, but only half the current. In other words, that 8-ohm speaker now looks like a 4-ohm speaker to each section of the amplifier. Worse, a 4-ohm speaker now looks like a 2-ohm speaker, and I can guarantee you that the CC-2 will not like that one bit. If you want 2 channels with total separation, just use two amps with one half silent (short the input on the unused channels).

If memory serves, there are some blue tantalum caps in the signal path. Those are very undesirable sonically, but in our defense, nothing was published on cap sonics back then. If there’s room, replace them with modern film caps.

 

I just (6-13-23) picked up a second CC-2 on eBay for $70 to my door, and found bridging instructions somewhere online but can not find that source now. For each speaker of a 2 channel system you connect the + speaker wire to positive terminal of Channel A on the amp and the - cable to the negative terminal of Channel B. (this necessitates stripping the pos. and neg. cable wires back a good 8 to 10" to reach opposite corners of the CC-2 for each speaker. Then use the Channel A RCA input for that Channel from the preamp. This means both amps are connected exactly alike with the only difference being that one pair of leads is from the left speaker and the other is from the right speaker. I hope this helps. BTW, I  completely love these amps bridged, both driving my Martin Logon EM ESL's  Bob

I have my old friend, bone stock CC-2 running the Totems in our sunroom. One if not the first low TIM amps….

I have the manual on how to run them in mono bridge if you’re still interested.

I have a CC2 that I would like to refurbish with new caps.  any current information out there or recommendations from you guys.  Thanks.  

I owned CC2s. Someone above mentioned darkness to the sound, which describes many amplifiers from the past. When I purchased, originally for kicks, the Nuforce STA 200 in early 2017, I began selling many amplifiers from my collection. I am in no way saying this amp is the best, but it did, better many 20 plus year old amplifiers in my collection. The storage caps, ime, would not be the only parts, needing to be replaced, to get them to sound more open, and competitive, with other modern designs. Again, this is my opinion, and my experience. Enjoy ! MrD.

I have two. I may sell them. I'm sure they could use some work.

I have one cc2 that i referbed myself.  Would like another to bridge in mono.  If anyone knows about one. please email me

I'm pretty sure you connect the two positive speaker outs and flip the mono switch.

I'm looking for manual for the audionics cc-2 or a copy need instruction in speaker wiring in mono mode

I have a pair of CC-2s that I would like to ran in bridge mode .I'm told that the speaker +and _ poles have to be connected to +poles of the amp?.Can anyone help don't want any damage .Help

Can anyone tell me where i might get my cc3 repaired ? Just in case ! Mine is different all gold alloy case work with silver heat sinks . If I wanted to recap the 15,000uf that are in there , what should i go with /type ? I know it has to be same voltage but is that it?

I'm not using them now as one needs new caps. I thought about modernizing them but I have lots of amps. Maybe someday.

I fondly remember a pair of CC-2s I owned long time ago. The only fault I could find was some darkness to the sound that I am sure can be solved with good modern capacitors. I agree the amplifiers sounded best in mono, although if your speakers have a low impedance, it would be better to run them in stereo.

thanks RWwear. Thanks much, I'd already read this link but will indeed go back and glean more (and actually sent a query to Lynn Olsen, if he's still around). In fact, I used to work in retail audio back in the day here in Oregon (home of Audionics of Oregon; we were a dealer for them) and loved the little CC-2s when they came out. It was a sweet little combo paired with Infinity Infinitesmals and a sub. Once I get the caps replaced I too will run them in mono. I'm reliving my vintage days a bit (it's a bit cheaper than moving forward:) ) and also found one of my all time favorites that I used to own from my '80s audio retail days, too, a Robertson Audio 4010, that I would love to find another of to pair with it.
I will most likely get recommendations from the guys at InnerSound repair here in Portland, OR as they have also worked on my two Audionics CC-3 amps (that are prototypes I suspect that I picked up in perfect shape for a great price, complete with original Audionics of Oregon boxes---they have a Fosgate-style faceplate, but seem to be definitely a Bob Sickler design, right before the buy-out. Thanks so much for your helpful reply. What are running yours with in related gear?

Thanks for the read about Bob Sickler. The CC-2 amp was indeed very special for its time.

Read this if you haven't already
I have a pair CC-2's and have used them for biamping and have run them in mono. The mono configuration sounded best in my system. One of mine needs new caps and if you read the blurb above you will know more about this.