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1990s Power Amplifiers

Can anyone comment about the Sony TA-N330ES? I have one but I am on the fence about full restoration.

here some pictures
339471-sony_tan330es_power_amplifier_es_series_mint_.jpg
 
Power amp full restores are not bad if you can get the big caps at a reasonable price. With so few caps overall compared to a receiver, I'd total up the bill of materials and decide from that cause the work involved is way less, fewer boards to do and maybe about 1/4 the number of caps

Recapping a power amp is like a vacation compared to doing receivers.
 
kjello said:
Also the S200 which is
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Available with and without a phono amp built in. My friend got one, no phono. We are working on it for him. I got a PS Audio phono amp from barter town I have to hook up for him. Might be a while.
 
Blue Shadow said:
Available with and without a phono amp built in. My friend got one, no phono. We are working on it for him. I got a PS Audio phono amp from barter town I have to hook up for him. Might be a while.
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I got my phono stage installed in the S100 last year. I dont regret that :)
33A65E50-20AE-4584-B360-7B9F3EA49032.jpeg
 
@kjello where did you find the phono stage? It looks like it cost new what a ps audio separate phono amp can be purchased for in good used condition
 
Blue Shadow said:
@kjello where did you find the phono stage? It looks like it cost new what a ps audio separate phono amp can be purchased for in good used condition
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I got it from a Danish guy in the Nad Electronics group on Facebook - Thomas L. Madsen, I payed around 80 EUR + shipping.
Its a flexible RIAA stage with multiple dip switch options for precise adapting to different pick up types.
 
Lots of good stuff from the 90’s. Aragon, Acurus and Adcom in my budget range. All overachievers in their price range. Bargain then, a steal now.
 
Grenadeslio said:
I'll second Belles, one of his first amps is pictured in my avatar.

only 100watts/channel 8ohm, but enough current to pull a freight train
View attachment 2343106

nudes with items for size reference
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I hear it's 185watts into 4ohms

I have two with very close serial numbers and at one time they were biamping my Infinitys. Now just one so the other can drive the AR's for some Belles magic in the living rm.
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I've since picked up a Belles 150A "Hot Rod", supposedly NOS, but no way to prove it (it was physically mint and had the original box and paperwork).

Sounds very nice but it does have a transformer hum that bugs the heck out of me. Been running it for six months or so. Dead silent as far as speaker noise goes, which is why it replaced my ATI 1502.

The ATI is probably due for a re-cap..
 
damacman said:
Have had a 218THX for some time now. But have eyed that 208 for just as long ...
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They are suprisingly similar in sound. 218 possibly a hair stronger in the low frequencies, 208 maybe a bit more 'liquid' midrange. I think maybe 218 is more neutral and 208 slightly warmer. All imho.
 
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Adcom products graced many audio showrooms in the 90's as an entry into the higher end segment. My GFA-5400, which I bought new, still performs like new in a friend's system. He always told me that he would buy that amp when I was ready to sell it. He did and is still very happy with it.

adcom_gfa-5400_power_amplifier.jpg
 
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jayvis said:
Adcom products graced many audio showrooms in the 90's as an entry into the higher end segment.
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Well stated. Not high end but a cut above. Some good stuff. Some cost cutting in build quality so they can be priced lower.
 
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