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Audio Research SP-3a $50 good or no?

rhiohki

rhiohki

Well-Known Member
I suppose the Audio Research gods wanted me to get something else instead of the D-150 at a far far cheaper price.

I just drove about 40 miles to pick-up a mint in box Audio Research SP-3a with manual and service receipts. Total price paid: $50. good yes?

Now, I have a receipt from audio research in which the original owner had some caps replaced circa 1997. I bought it from the original owner's nephew who said he hadn't plugged anything up. I'm assuming I should still bring this up with a variac? I'm still a NooB on the tube stuff. I'm afraid to just plug this in to the wall outlet. Some help would be greatly appreciated.

pics coming soon
 
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50$ for an sp-3A? That is a steal. This is the best preamp that came out of the 70's, bar none! It still holds its own with today's gear.

Btw, audio research can refurbish your sp-3a to the latest sp-3c version for around 1K$, they still service and support their vintage gear! The info can be found on their website.

True, they go for good money on the bay but I don't think you'll ever get another screaming deal like this one if you part with it. I had one and gave it to a friend and I still miss it, a very special preamp!
 
jgarcia said:
i will give you 100. you wont like that tube stuff anyway.lol.

enjoy. j garcia
Click to expand...

lol. I don't plan on selling this at all. In fact, I was ACTUALLY perusing ebay recently for this preamp and was trying to get one on ebay for cheap. I'm glad I didn't since I now have this.
 
Some pics:

AR_SP3A_front.jpg

AR_SP3A_back.jpg

AR_SP3A_boxdocuments.jpg


still need to get the nudie shot, but I'm trying to find my flat-head screwdriver right now.
 
Looking at it closely, and looking at the following site:
http://www.arcdb.ws/SP3/SP3.html, it looks as though this is a SP-3A-1?. Pic of the inside is below, I know I still have the cage on, I'm looking for my flat-head screwdriver now. Also, it was taken to DKL Sound Lab in MD back in 1977 and on the report the model was listed as a SP-3A-1. So was it upgraded? If it is a SP-3A-1, what's the difference?


AR_SP3A_topcage.jpg

AR_SP3A_soundreport.jpg
 
the sp 3 a has differnt power pcb with more filter caps i got both `
the sp 3 is not differnt in sound to the sp 3 a
this amp ic very sensetive to the tubes used try valvo , telefunken
phonosection is killer
 
OK, I'll step up. You officially SUCK for finding this for $50. With the box and receipts. You are living right.

I mean all this blab in a nice way! Jeez what an incredible deal. Congrats on getting it and I hope it sounds beyond what we all think it will.
 
An ARC SP3-A-2 was the first high end preamp I ever bought. I paid $500 for a used one in the early 80's. Although I'm still use an ARC preamp the SP3 was always my favorite. It stomped all over the highly modified Dynaco PAS-3 it replaced.:smoke:
 
The serial number, reverse the first two digits to get the year of manufacture and using the ARCDB you can see that the SP-3 came out in 1972 was made into the A in 1974 and -1 in 1975.

The sticker in front of the transformer will tell you a bit about the model if updates have been done. The letters printed on the database talk a bit about the upgrades but not specifics, really.

Keep us posted.
 
Wornears said:
OK, I'll step up. You officially SUCK for finding this for $50. With the box and receipts. You are living right.

I mean all this blab in a nice way! Jeez what an incredible deal. Congrats on getting it and I hope it sounds beyond what we all think it will.
Click to expand...

LOL. Thanks. This will go down as one of my all time great scores this year. What a way to close out 2006.
 
To answer your variac question...I think it will be ok to plug it in without one. I've never seen an ARC filter cap fail. If you don't have a variac, any shop will bring it up for you for $20.
 
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