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Robin or Rodin Mod of an ARC SP3-A1???

Topic: Robin or Rodin Mod of an ARC SP3-A1???

I just purchased a modded SP3A-1 on ebay, item number 310503686812. On the transformer are the words "Robin or Rodin Full Mod". It has a completely different tube power supply with a tube rectifier 6BE3. Also, the number 1 main out does not have contour or bass/treble connected, only balance. This line output sounds like a SP8?? clean, open, transparent...especially on the phono stage where it appears the circuit has been updated. The number 2 main/line out has all the tone controls connected and sounds like a vintage SP3! deeper soundstage and rich/warm. How did this guy do this? It's like having two different sounding preamps in one. Has anyone ever heard of doing this to a SP3? Also, the problem in one channel appears to have been from a Beldon wire touching a resistor on the phono board...can been seen in one of the pics. I may have lucked out on this one..after getting the wires not to touch it has played perfectly for several hours.... Any comments would be welcome. Thank You.
whitestar23

Showing 1 response by salectric

salectric
758 posts
 
Apfdirtdoctor,

I loved your story about comparing the old SP3A1 to the SP3C. It confirms what I had suspected just from reading the description of the "C" update. I can definitely imagine different reactions with one person preferring the "modern" sound and another the vintage sound. That's been my experience with many vintage vs. modern comparisons, and it's one of the reasons this hobby can be so much fun. At least you have both so you can choose whichever one fits your mood at the moment.
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