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Craftsmen 500

perchdog

perchdog

AudioDouchebag
Hopefully I am not jinxing myself.

Been looking for one of these for quite sometime, made the deal she's coming to LIvonia. I am trppin over daisies, farting butterflies... Finally found a match !!

Not so crazy about the square corners on the opt, seems out of place with this vintage. From what I understand the square cornered opt came on the later more powerful 500a but it is the same transformer used on both models..
 

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perchdog,
Congratulations. Farting butterflies . . . I like that.
I'm very excited for you.
I'm next in line to find a mate 500A. I have one. It's funny . . . sometimes the opportunities come clustered. If someone had one today, I'd have to make them wait for payment.

I'm totally excited for you. AKer JonS knows tons about 'em.
 
Audiodon,
Thanks for your kind words.. I am truely excited about this and I have been looking hard for a 500. It was not a score by any means but also not a bad deal plus I got it for much less than I was prepared to give. I guess its time to put a fire under my 400C restore, this is going to be cool...
 
I heard my NYC buddies pair and its a great pair of monoblocks you got there!!!
 
perchdog said:
Audiodon,
Thanks for your kind words.. I am truely excited about this and I have been looking hard for a 500. It was not a score by any means but also not a bad deal plus I got it for much less than I was prepared to give. I guess its time to put a fire under my 400C restore, this is going to be cool...
Click to expand...

I've got a pair of the 500As. Wonderful amps. About 12-15 watts per channel. Designed by Sid Smith of Marantz fame. I also have a pair of the Ultralinear 550s. Also great with more power.
 
perchdog said:
Thanks Jack,
Thats exactely the way I understand it. I have been hell bent to find a mate for the first one I aquired, now what to do ?
Click to expand...

I bet they would sound their best with a modern preamp...my friend uses a Conrad Johnson and its fab...not terribly expensive..I forget which relatively older PV something...
 
Jack,
I will have to check that out when I have the finances available. For now I have an old Fisher looking for work.
 
Well received my amp today...

Pretty cool but noticed some differences. The first amp I bought I believe is completely stock as left factory, this is evident by the bumble caps. Obviously the orange drops in the 2nd amp where changed out some time later.
I can not help but notice the output transformer on the 1st amp has 7 leads plus the white wire from 16ohm speaker terminal (need to verify). The 2nd amp has 6 and no white wire. At first I was very concerned but after searching web the opt's on both amps do appear to be pretty much stock condition except the caps.
Anyone familer enough with these amps to enlighten me on exactly what the differences are ? I am having a problem locating schematics on web, any idea where I can find these, I am guessing there should a few different versions out there. And finally, is there any reason I should be concerned if both amps operate ?
 

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Ultimately what matters is how they sound as a stereo pair. You can look on the 500A as a progression on the 500. The difference may be as simple as design changes, cost reduction, vendor changes, or the change of a model year.
 
wow, freaking huge trannies....they look amazingly simple underneath and should be able to have them paired up with not much trouble.
 
Even if you do up both and don't find that absolute centered stereo image we're all hoping you will, you might be surprised and find someone who also has two mismatched monoblocs and is looking for someone just like you.
 
Thanks guy's.
Don you are absolutely correct except for I guess there is always the possibility of trading with someone that has a single as well. I do hope it works out and I never intended on letting this stop me, I am also aware of anothe that exists but not sure if it is a 500 or 500a, I wil talk to this fellow real soon.
What you all think, russian caps ? Sould I retain the bumble bee like the person did in my newer amp ?
 
perchdog said:
Thanks guy's.
What you all think, russian caps ? Sould I retain the bumble bee like the person did in my newer amp ?
Click to expand...

NO and NO! The Russian caps will ruin the character of those amps. The bumble bees , if you check them, you will find they are probably leaking DC current, not good. Look around , DIYaudio is a good stop, and you will find others who have done these to keep the original voicing.
http://76.76.148.108/~glennl/wiki/craftsmen_500/
 
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The existing caps (except for the mica "domino" feedback compensation caps) need to go.

I personally would recommend a high quality tubular film-and-foil type, mylar or polypropylene, like Cornell Dubilier WMF or Solen SM. I have a mix in mine now, including two k40s, two Jensen copper foils, and a Sonicap for the filament voltage offset on the phase splitter. But I'd do it differently if starting from scratch.
 
i like the cd's for sure. i do believe in using quiality components. As far as the bumble bees are concerned i do agree with changing out 60 year old caps unless they are micas or ceramics. This is far easier then the few units i have been playing with.
Wondering what would you do different ?
 
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