Audio Proz

[vintagecrank]

Can anybody vouch for this company? I have a vintage component I would liked to have completely restored?

Thank you in advance.

 

[62vauxhall]

Although I live in BC, Vince himself called me several times after an initial e-mail to AudioProz. It regarded a newly acquired, semi-working, beat up APT Holman preamp. I totally re-capped it and it worked well for a week or so then got noisy. I was not inclined to go looking for the source in a crowded chassis so I contacted Audio Proz. Vince gave me a deal since I ready re-capped it and it was shipped back in about 2 weeks. The cost was quite reasonable, the preamp had been problem free ever since and all the old, removed parts were returned with the unit. So yes, I can recommend AudioProz.

Vince has/had a manifesto on the website. And there's an interview online somewhere. I've seen several times reports that Vince is unique. That may be, he certainly has steadfast opinions but he knows his stuff.

 

[vintagecrank]

Thank you very much for your endorsement. Yea I'm going to send it in , do you know what level of repair you got? He has 3 on his site.

Thanks again!
Craig

 

[Aptone]

I have used Vince the Audio Pro for level 3 rebuilds on my Apt preamp and two Apt amps. He is a man of strong opinions, and I like him for that. I endorse him and his crew.

I have also had him fix a bunch of other stuff.

George

 

[w1jim]

Just make sure to follow his instructions and terms precisely - he's a quirky guy but as noted he knows his stuff.

 

[62vauxhall]

I probably got the basic, "get it working again" job. But, having said that, I did replace all 41 electrolytic capacitors myself so I don't really know what "level" I wound up with.

Something I noticed on their website was a disclaimer that any sonic improvement derived from the "full meal deal" refurb may not be detectable by end users.

And yes, follow any after service instructions. There was a handwritten note included with my preamp instructing to exercise the push button switches. I interpreted that to mean from time to time in the future not immediately upon receiving. When one channel cut out within two days I called them and was set straight. Probably a good thing it was not Vince who answered otherwise I may have gotten an earful.

 

[vintagecrank]

Well I got my APT Holman sent off to Vince at Audio Pro. I tried to follow his directions as best that I could. However when Imtried to call him to let him know I was shipping but know one would answer the phone. So I just sent a email from his website. "I do hope I get my soup....Seinfeld"

Thanks for everybody's input. Vince is a good guy, just way over worked. Finding technicians that are good is probably not a easy thing to do.

I don't know what the tur around is for a level 3 Reconditioning is. I forgot to ask and I don't want to bug him.

 

[Aptone]

I don't know what the tur around is for a level 3 Reconditioning is

My experience is that they tend to do them in batches. They will accumulate a few and then do them all at the same time. I would expect 1-4 weeks, but that is just my guess.

 

[vintagecrank]

Thanks Aptone, do you have one of these by chance? If so what are your thoughts?

 

[vintagecrank]

I probably got the basic, "get it working again" job. But, having said that, I did replace all 41 electrolytic capacitors myself so I don't really know what "level" I wound up with.

Something I noticed on their website was a disclaimer that any sonic improvement derived from the "full meal deal" refurb may not be detectable by end users.

And yes, follow any after service instructions. There was a handwritten note included with my preamp instructing to exercise the push button switches. I interpreted that to mean from time to time in the future not immediately upon receiving. When one channel cut out within two days I called them and was set straight. Probably a good thing it was not Vince who answered otherwise I may have gotten an earful.

Can you clarify the problem with the button please. I'm sorry I just not sure what happened and very interested to learn!

 

[Aptone]

Thanks Aptone, do you have one of these by chance?

"One of these" being Apt equipment? Yes, I have the Apt preamp and two Apt 1 amps running in mono. I even named myself after the amp. The preamp and one of the amps have been in my family for 30+ years. They were in the family room and saw daily use when my brother and I were teenagers before we moved out of the house. The pre has seen so much use that it no longer says "volume" over the knob as we wore the text off with our fingers. The other amp I bought off e-bay. The amps have been champs with no issues. The pre started to have some trouble which is what prompted me to find Vince. I guess the mute button is notorious for causing issues. Maybe this was vauxhall had a problem with as well?

Audio Pro did the upgrades one component at a time about 3-5 years ago (as I had the money to do it). I have been impressed with the equipment. the pre has a lot of nice features and is noted for a really good phono section. The amp appears to be bombproof and sounds really clean to my ears. There is a good review of the pre here: http://kenrockwell.com/audio/apt/holman-preamplifier.htm

 

[sqlsavior]

I bought a broken Apt-Holman preamp (one channel out, listed as "untested", but the picture had the balance control all the way to one side), and sent it to Audio Proz for the level 3, iirc. Got back a wonderful sounding unit, along with a bag of all the old parts. It worked fine for about a year, then broke, so I sent it in again. The breakage included the phono stage, with a no-longer-available transistor. When I got it back, I didn't like the phono stage anymore, so gave it to my brother, who doesn't do records. I thought they were good, but they can't restore everything.

 

[62vauxhall]

Can you clarify the problem with the button please. I'm sorry I just not sure what happened and very interested to learn![/QUOTE

Shortly after getting the pre back one channel quit. When I called Audio Proz, Ken (?) answered. It was explained that the compound they used on the switches had not done it's thing yet and the note enclosed with the returned unit was to advise me to exercise them ASAP. I did not realize that thinking instead it meant not to let the switches remain unused for any length of time. After getting clued in, I operated each push button about 50X each and cured the problem.

During the call, I got the impression they were using or had used with mine, something new that was more a paste than a liquid ie: DeOxit.

 

[vintagecrank]

Oh man I did not want to hear that. Thier supposed to play on for another 30 years....Sheet!

 

[vintagecrank]

My mute relay was gone 4 days after I bought from someone on eBay saying it was in great condition and had been in the shop and given good for go. Guess that tech should have used another word for "GO"

 

[vintagecrank]

I bought a broken Apt-Holman preamp (one channel out, listed as "untested", but the picture had the balance control all the way to one side), and sent it to Audio Proz for the level 3, iirc. Got back a wonderful sounding unit, along with a bag of all the old parts. It worked fine for about a year, then broke, so I sent it in again. The breakage included the phono stage, with a no-longer-available transistor. When I got it back, I didn't like the phono stage anymore, so gave it to my brother, who doesn't do records. I thought they were good, but they can't restore everything.

Crap! They could not find a equal transistor....dang I'm starting to have buyers remorse and I have not got to hear it
So disappointed!!!!!

 

[62vauxhall]

That seems to be the bane of vintage SS - obsolete transistors and no direct replacements. Did you contact them after the second repair? I doubt they would substitute a substandard transistor but one can only use what exists. Personally, I would have called. Not to complain but to report on an observation and ask what difference one would expect from the modern transistors vs the originals and if that could be responsible for the change you experienced. Just speaking for myself, it would interest me to learn what characteristics led to the selection of the substitute(s). I don't know 5% of what other contributors on this forum do but it's enough to understand what Vince (if it was he who took my call) was talking about.

 

[seminole54]

According to my information, Vince worked as a tech for APT Holman towards the end of their run. When they shut down he acquired a sizable amount of replacement parts for the amps and preamps. When those parts ran out 30 years later he was forced to substitute equal but modern parts different than what Holman voiced the preamp and particularly the phono stage with. Had the company still been around and under the control of the original designer when the original parts were discontinued the whole phono section would have been reworked from the ground up to keep his voicing vision intact. But since that is not the case Vince is left to substitute equal valued "modern" parts that suit him. sqlsavior is not the first person who has sent a unit to Vince since the original parts ran out that has disliked the phono stage. When I had my bought new in 1978 unit re-capped several years ago I had a recommended AK member, who was at one time Vince's boss, just do the preamp section and the properly functioning phono stage was left alone. When it was returned it worked as new with no change in voicing or function. If you agreed to anything above Level 1 then you have given Vince license to change the unit from it's original state. Whether or not you like it will be a personal decision since you never heard what the original preamp sounded like. The APT Holman phono stage from it's inception as part of the Advent 300 was one of the great accomplishments in modern audio and was the basis for the NAD phono stages for years to come.

 

[vintagecrank]

That seems to be the bane of vintage SS - obsolete transistors and no direct replacements. Did you contact them after the second repair? I doubt they would substitute a substandard transistor but one can only use what exists. Personally, I would have called. Not to complain but to report on an observation and ask what difference one would expect from the modern transistors vs the originals and if that could be responsible for the change you experienced. Just speaking for myself, it would interest me to learn what characteristics led to the selection of the substitute(s). I don't know 5% of what other contributors on this forum do but it's enough to understand what Vince (if it was he who took my call) was talking about.

It has never been worked on by Vince, somebody on eBay left me with Preamp supposedly been reworked and given a okie dokie. Really feeling bummed out.

I sent Vince a notice to stop and do nothing. I'm not putting level 3 in with special knob kit for a amp that could be useless if the transistor in phono goes and can't be replaced

 

[vintagecrank]

According to my information, Vince worked as a tech for APT Holman towards the end of their run. When they shut down he acquired a sizable amount of replacement parts for the amps and preamps. When those parts ran out 30 years later he was forced to substitute equal but modern parts different than what Holman voiced the preamp and particularly the phono stage with. Had the company still been around and under the control of the original designer when the original parts were discontinued the whole phono section would have been reworked from the ground up to keep his voicing vision intact. But since that is not the case Vince is left to substitute equal valued "modern" parts that suit him. sqlsavior is not the first person who has sent a unit to Vince since the original parts ran out that has disliked the phono stage. When I had my bought new in 1978 unit re-capped several years ago I had a recommended AK member, who was at one time Vince's boss, just do the preamp section and the properly functioning phono stage was left alone. When it was returned it worked as new with no change in voicing or function. If you agreed to anything above Level 1 then you have given Vince license to change the unit from it's original state. Whether or not you like it will be a personal decision since you never heard what the original preamp sounded like. The APT Holman phono stage from it's inception as part of the Advent 300 was one of the great accomplishments in modern audio and was the basis for the NAD phono stages for years to come.

Hi Seminole, appreciate your input. When you say I gave Vince a license to change the unit, he has not received mine yet to look at. Maybe I need to go back and read level 3 to see if I don't have the right to cancel and cut my losses.
Seems to me orders are cancelled in business every day. Now if he was half way through it I would not expect him to stop but the way your stating is I have no right to change my mind. I don't remember agreeing to any terms either.