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Old Amps that can still Kick Butt

Not being a believer that time necessarily = progress, I would like to offer the following example of a sonic gem that has transcended time and can totally kick butt in a modern milieu:

The Robertson 4010. I got one of these about two years ago because it was in immaculate condition, the price was so low and I was inquisitive. I hooked it up and let it warm up for a couple of days. OMG this thing was in the super amp league: Transparency to die for, slam that you couldn‘t‘ believe for for a 50W amp.. Peter Moncrieffe wasn‘t wrong in his review of this amp: this thing is in the Sterreophile Class A component category hands down. Even after all these years.

What amps have you encountered that have defied time and can still kick butt today?


128x128pesky_wabbit
bpoletti
1,530 posts
 
@nitrobob

Hafler DH-500s were great amps once their front-end boards were modified.  The biggest problem with the DH-500s was the variable speed cooling fan.  It would always kick on during the quiet passages AFTER the big crescendo.  

Like the DH-500, the DH-110 was a solid amp once the driver boards were modified and beefier power supplies replaced the stock ones.  But stock units were so-so.
pesky_wabbit's avatar
pesky_wabbit OP
1,183 posts
 
Any older krell. I love my first gen ksa-100. Had the electrolytics replaced and it’s good for another 30yrs.. 80lbs, dual mono, pure class A. There are very few amps I’d upgrade to and those will cost a small fortune.
Yeah the KSA-50 was really something
ashoka
82 posts
 
Robertson 4010 Made in where? where to buy?
jmalen123
143 posts
 
The Soundcraftsmen MA5002. Class H beast runs cool, powers any speaker and sounds sweet. Matched with the SP4002 preamp was for me unbelievable fun in the 80s. I have 4 of each. Don't ask.
nitrobob
238 posts
 
bpoletti

Yes, I remember that 3 speed cooling fan. Mine was 3 separate speeds. Didn’t take much to get low speed running, only after really spirted sessions would it be up on high. And we had a BUNCH of them...If you caught it in between songs you would hear the relay click up on the next speed. We torcher’ed our equipment back then. But that Hafler never flinched.
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