Lucky Pierre Posted December 15, 2018 Report Share Posted December 15, 2018 Greetings fine folks, I hope this post is appropriate for this forum, considering I will be driving AR-5s or AR-3s. I am also avoiding our friends in the other forum because I have seen what happens when one asks for recommendations there I am thinking of treating myself and upgrading my amps. I am hoping for a little inspiration. Current set up is a pair of AR-5s (restored by me); recapped, but stock, pair of Dynaco Mk III; factory wired PAT-4 preamp. I am picking up a Marantz 7T to replace the Dynaco pre-amp. I also have my newly acquired AR-3s awaiting restoration. For the amp upgrade either monoblock or a stereo amp will work. In addition to great sound, I would like the amp to look good; a statement piece, if you will. I definitely want to see the tubes glowing. I'd really like a pair of Lowey re-designed Fairchilds, but they are out of my range. I already have a matched quad of Gold Lion KT-88s, so a HK Citation II is at the top of my list. What else should I consider? Another caveat is that I am definitely NOT looking for someone else's project or modifications, nor do I want to go the CL or Ebay route of acquisition. I prefer to keep my gear in as close to original condition as possible. TIA! Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ar_pro Posted December 15, 2018 Report Share Posted December 15, 2018 How about one of these? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky Pierre Posted December 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2018 That might be a little out of my range. If I were going to go as high as a 275 in really good condition, I would be looking for a pair of Fairchilds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nefertem Posted December 16, 2018 Report Share Posted December 16, 2018 Peter do you want tubes or solid state I had a Marantz 7T for a few months and it had issues this was in the 80s so be sure everything is in spec and no issues Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidR Posted December 16, 2018 Report Share Posted December 16, 2018 I use a Bob Latino VTA ST-120 (Dynaco mod) powering my AR10Pi. 60 wpc in pentode and 32 wpc in triode. Sounds beautiful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ra.ra Posted December 16, 2018 Report Share Posted December 16, 2018 Peter, you might want to search the forum for some threads by CSP member stupidhead in New Hampshire - - - maybe a year or two ago he was in the process of acquiring and re-storing a gorgeous HK Citation power amp, and I think his speakers of choice were AR-5's. When considering both AR-5's and AR-3's, make sure to remain cognizant of the different ratings for nominal impedance: 8 ohm and 4 ohm, respectively. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky Pierre Posted December 16, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 16, 2018 Thanks ra.ra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidR Posted December 16, 2018 Report Share Posted December 16, 2018 On 12/15/2018 at 10:58 PM, ra.ra said: When considering both AR-5's and AR-3's, make sure to remain cognizant of the different ratings for nominal impedance: 8 ohm and 4 ohm, respectively. That being the case the ST120 would not be practical as it needs to be wired internally for either 4 ohm or 8 ohm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky Pierre Posted December 16, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 16, 2018 Well, the Citation II idea may be out the window. I'm auditioning a pair of Webster 2A3 organ amps. Only about 32 watts (I think), but a definite step up from the Mk IIIs. Also, a lot less expensive than a Citation II, which means more for other goodies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bfastr Posted December 16, 2018 Report Share Posted December 16, 2018 I like the organ amps. never heard of using them. makes sense tho. I like all the tubes. I bet it looks great at night. when I was much younger I was into building linear amps for ham radios. I loved to build them open so I could bask in the warm glow of the tubes! problem was the sweep tubes I used generally all required a plate cap attachment for the B+ and it was usually over 1000volts. got shocked more than once by open connections. I recognize the blue tooth receiver from parts express. I have one myself, its not a bad way to add BT to an old system. a little noisy at high levels, but otherwise not too dusty for under 40 bucks Bob F Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky Pierre Posted December 16, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 16, 2018 Thanks Bob. Yes, that is a nice inexpensive little BT receiver. I stream a lot of independent radio stations from across the country. (Check out KMNO out of Maui!) I have an ARcam miniBlink on my other system. I've starting trying to learn all I can about these amps. I hope to be put in touch with the builder soon. After an hour or so with them, I think they are keepers. Except I might have to find more efficient speakers now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidR Posted December 17, 2018 Report Share Posted December 17, 2018 Those Webster amps should sound very good if all tubes are up to snuff. A good site to get tubes for those amps is https://www.vivatubes.com/ They are located in western MA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKent Posted December 17, 2018 Report Share Posted December 17, 2018 2 hours ago, DavidR said: A good site to get tubes for those amps is https://www.vivatubes.com/ Thanks for that lead David. Good source for my KLH Model Eight radio restorations! -Kent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidR Posted December 17, 2018 Report Share Posted December 17, 2018 12 hours ago, JKent said: Thanks for that lead David. Good source for my KLH Model Eight radio restorations! -Kent They are very nice to deal with as well. They had tubes for an old Zenith Shortwave/AM radio I have and of course my amp. They package the tubes VERY well - best I've seen. Very good prices, too and they have sales often. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky Pierre Posted December 17, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2018 Great resource, David. Thanks. ...And they have Nixie tube clocks! What Zenith do you have? I have a Transoceanic my grandfather gave me when I was 8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidR Posted December 17, 2018 Report Share Posted December 17, 2018 It still works. I got mine from my grandfather too. (file photos from the net. it was easier) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GD70 Posted January 6, 2019 Report Share Posted January 6, 2019 Hi Peter! Happy New Year! Love those tube amps! Power at lower to medium volumes should be sufficient, but if you want some higher volumes, especially if you're listening to live stuff, you'll want a lot more power. At the previous Frankenfest, I was demoing my 3's, driven with my JVC separates, that amp pushes 210 wpc, and the 3's sound so much better with power. Just some food for thought. Cheers, Glenn BTW, how's your brother liking the 4x's? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky Pierre Posted January 11, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2019 Happy New Year all. Just to update: I think I have decided that I might not be a tube guy. I am sure if I found the right speakers, I would be. I just don't want to spend the time to find the "right" speakers. I think I am going to divest of some gear and get a Marantz 240 to go with the 7T. I'm listening to the AR3s now on a 100+ watt Carver (specs are hard to find for a 4 ohm load). I've certainly not heard in my own home something that sounds this good. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnfalc Posted January 11, 2019 Report Share Posted January 11, 2019 I run my AR3as and AR90s (separate rooms) each with their own Carver M-1.5t amps (and I keep a spare, just in case). These work wonderfully. The only limitation I would point out to potential users is that your home wiring must be up to snuff in terms of its current delivery capability, this because of the nature of the power supplies in the Carver amps. I bought the amps "as is" and "for parts" and enjoyed fixing them (50 years ago such work paid my way through UC Berkeley). They're totally reliable, take up little space, by design the keep the output devices within their safe operating areas, and sound great. Power (given the caveat mentioned above about house wiring) is NOT a problem! Here's a product sheet from back in the day: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021930/uploads/editor/ka/pme5br8zsaqj.pdf Cheers, John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidR Posted January 12, 2019 Report Share Posted January 12, 2019 1 hour ago, Lucky Pierre said: Happy New Year all. Just to update: I think I have decided that I might not be a tube guy. I am sure if I found the right speakers, I would be. I just don't want to spend the time to find the "right" speakers. I think I am going to divest of some gear and get a Marantz 240 to go with the 7T. I'm listening to the AR3s now on a 100+ watt Carver (specs are hard to find for a 4 ohm load). I've certainly not heard in my own home something that sounds this good. Peter I did the Carver route. Some don't do well into 4 ohm loads. I think I went thru 5 or 6 different amps and never really found one that was really good sounding and that includes modified ones. There's more to an amp than just watts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakecat Posted January 12, 2019 Report Share Posted January 12, 2019 14 hours ago, Lucky Pierre said: Happy New Year all. Just to update: I think I have decided that I might not be a tube guy. I am sure if I found the right speakers, I would be. I just don't want to spend the time to find the "right" speakers. I think I am going to divest of some gear and get a Marantz 240 to go with the 7T. I'm listening to the AR3s now on a 100+ watt Carver (specs are hard to find for a 4 ohm load). I've certainly not heard in my own home something that sounds this good. Peter I am not so much into tubes either. I even sold a Marantz 7 tube pre because I didn't want to go down that road and because I know little about them and didn't feel like becoming a tube student..;). AR3's and 3a's dip into 2ohm territory so I got a McIntosh 2205 with a MX-117 pre. It brings out the juice in the AR's. But I got the 2205 mostly for the pair of LST's I have...but they still sit in storage room unplayed...until I can get the time to refinish and set them up properly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio AR Posted January 12, 2019 Report Share Posted January 12, 2019 2 hours ago, lakecat said: I am not so much into tubes either. I even sold a Marantz 7 tube pre because I didn't want to go down that road and because I know little about them and didn't feel like becoming a tube student..;). AR3's and 3a's dip into 2ohm territory so I got a McIntosh 2205 with a MX-117 pre. It brings out the juice in the AR's. But I got the 2205 mostly for the pair of LST's I have...but they still sit in storage room unplayed...until I can get the time to refinish and set them up properly. Also I use McIntosh, in my case Mc2105 with my AR10 PII replica, but it is insufficient as power for them while the sonic total yield is excellent. I also own AR LST, as Lakecat these are still waiting for the restoration of the woofers (removed waiting for refoaming for more than 6 months ...) and for these I have just bought an Adcom GFA-555. Next week, health permitting, I will connect the Adcom to the AR3a / AR3a imp. and to the AR10 to see the difference in listening with the current amplifiers .I think this amplifier will drive excellently 4 ohm speakers (declared a value of 320 watts per channel with an impedance of 4 ohms). I add 2 photos of my AR LST Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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