Old SS amps

Those who don the rubber gloves and wellies and are with the adeptness to build Valve Amp's in the Modern Day, will get quite excited if Iron is found from the 1930's.

Shoe Box Size Tranx''s from the 30's, working with modern Components and Valves from the 40's, is today being realized and I meet the odd individual keeping the Art and Themselves Alive.

A Friend during their earliest interest in Audio, had acquired enough Quad II Amp's to fill a few shelves in their Mancave, they refurbished these and made monies to Upgrade when making new Purchases, some would say the Quad II is all one needs. Not bad for a 1950's design. With Horn Speakers they did quite a nice job.

Another Friend is using Sansui AU 111 with a complete overhaul of Parts as their main Amp's, these 1960's Amps are adorned with Valves from the same era and are driving Stacked ESL 57's, there is a substantial amount to like with the EAR Acute as a Source, also adorned with 1960's Valves.    

 My Own Valve Power Amp's that are in regular use, are a design completed in the 90's and built during the late 90's / early 00's.

Today I am able to listen to quite a few Valve Amp's designed / Built in the 90's era and am always thoroughly impressed. One Owner bought into a design for very very fair monies, with a Mirror Chrome Casing and Interstage Tranx's incorporated as part of the design. This has been compared to currently available of the Shelf Modern Design Valve Amp's used in the same system and has shown itself to be a Kick Ass Amp'. The owner of this Amp' does not need to Spend an extra £6K - £10K to get something quite similar.

Another Friend specialises in Overhauling SS Japanese Amp's from the 70's to the 90's. Amp's overhauled are used in certain Systems where other supporting devices are approx' £30ish K in Value. I am associated with a few of the owners of these Overhauled Amp's, and know the Owners are not in any frame of mind to change, they proudly wear their Amp's used on their Sleeve. I am very very Familiar with a Overhauled SS Sansui Amp' from this era, there is nothing to suggest it has shortcomings that are discernible. I recently added one to a Shortlist to be used as a Amp' in the SS System to be produced for my Wife, for her to enjoy her Vinyl Collection         

I have been to Audio Events as a Entry Paying Visitor where the Enthusiast / Hobbyist owner of Audio Equipment are sharing the Event with the Commercial Sector as an Exhibition.

For the Hobbyist Enthusiast there is to my knowledge nothing for sale on the day unless entered into a Charity Auction.

There might be a service offered by a few of the Hobbyist / Enthusiast attendees that is available to further investigated outside of the show.

The Commercial Sector are what they are, Exhibiting Items from a recent design and production as a clear purchasable item.

At Events like this, there are the Commercial Exhibits that raise to the occasion, and will insert into a System being exhibited a Source produced from a Vintage era, a Japanese DD TT or British ID TT are to be seen in place of an alternative recent design model as a Analogue Source.

The Hobbyist / Enthusiast are usually with a System that is made up of devices bordering on Vintage or actually Vintage.  Their Sources used are ranging from Quite Old Tech, Recent Tech, Current Tech.

At such Events the Enthusiast / Hobbyist Exhibiting Rooms are constantly visited and able to hold visitors who are receiving demo's of the system with their own music brought along or the System owners selection.

Commercial Rooms are getting similar volume of footfall, but rarely are seen able to hold a captive audience for a period of time, as does the Hobbyist / Enthusiast. There is not really personalities involved, but the lesson quickly grasped is that a Audio System built using a range of products from different eras, is able to be extremely impressive as a system when assessing the End Sound. It is also quickly learnt if an inquiry is made or a little further investigation is carried out, that a system need not extend to much more than £5K to be an obvious competitor to systems costing in current New Purchase Markets £60K and ascending.

Getting out and doing footwork, having experiences of Audio Systems is the only way to have a really good lesson in a short time line. Reading about a device or system is only that, "Reading about a device or system". Reading is not experiencing End Sound.    

I am 'Tipping my Hat' to those giving a Boost to and Promotion of the environmental considerate Circular Economy.

Land Fills need not be the Journey's End.

I know many who are Participant and unknowing, I am a knowing Participant and am Proud of the collective Walk the Walk being done.

@bdp24 Was the Tympani Bass Panels used in Conjunction with the 57's?

I'm assuming in recent times the Bass Panels from a 25ish Year Old Speaker to augment a 65ish Year Old Speakers Bass.

 The Circular Economy is thriving.

If Yes to my assumption, I would like it if you would be willing to share more.

@bdp24 Thank You for the reply.

I asked about the IV Bass Panel as their are reports to be found of it used as a Bass Extension.

My 57's are Stacked, and I will one day produce a Ripole Bass to be coupled to them. This design has a Figure if Eight Radiation that has similarities to the 57 Radiation.

To date, but not with 57's all ESL Speakers heard with a Bass augmentation from a Typical Driver has been noticeable for the add on. This is not saying not liked, but noticeable is a distraction. The Ripole description commonly suggest the Bass Source is lost in the space and not detectable. That is the same description I can add for the 57's, hence the attraction to the design.

Many many years past I was demo'd at a Commercial Audio Event a Gradient Dipole with ESL 63's, I don't remember being that impressed, maybe the price at the time to feel the need to pursue the set up.

The most impressive / indelible demonstration and my Benchmark is the Tim De Paravicini 57''s directly coupled to Valve Power Amp's, his demo' room was non emptying, the experience changed my interest in End Sound for life. I have a close mimic version of this End Sound able to be produced today in my own system.   

Usually when I want substantially noticeable bass presence, I bring in the Cabinet Speakers to be hooked up and give them a run for a period of time.

I am not monogamous about End Sound or Orientated to one formed sound only. , This does not cause any concerns, being able to have variances in the flavour of the Sound acle to be produced, there are other Upstream devices at hand to do similar for the Speakers Types when in use.  

Tinned Compressed Air with a Straw Nozzle and Deoxit is a real friend when entering the inner sanctity of the Vintage Circuits, Panel Control Dials and connections scream their thank you when getting Deoxit Treated from the Devices innards. 

Many Many sing once more with a few minutes of this care being administered.