Bottlehead releases an 805A monoblock amp kit
- Thread starter BmWr75
- Start date
Have you compared these prices to other similar amps out there. I saw a used Inspire amp sell for close to this price. I was a single stereo amp so you're not getting two amps, and these are new prices compared to a used amp. I think people might not realizes the cost of quality materials, and craftsmanship labor cost, and then the cost of doing business these days. UL listing, insurance, shipping cost for material to the business and shipping materials and cost to ship to customers. With a buisness there are so many ways to bleed out cost and if you want to stay in business those costs have to passed on. These don't appear to be mass produced cheap amps, so those that want cheap are going to have to go that way, but you get what you pay for. Every decent kit amp is expensive these days.
Bottlehead stuff was never fancy looking, that was never the point. You can doll them up if you want but its not bad looking as-is honestly.
I do sort of wonder if the top plate is actually attached. The old Foreplay did not have it attached, which is sort of a pain in the neck since it wants to lift out of the base and expose you to a bunch of energized bits any time you unplug a cable, or it will just fall apart if you move the thing. Gluing some wood into the corners of the base and drilling 4 holes through the top plate is on my list of things to do for mine.
I do sort of wonder if the top plate is actually attached. The old Foreplay did not have it attached, which is sort of a pain in the neck since it wants to lift out of the base and expose you to a bunch of energized bits any time you unplug a cable, or it will just fall apart if you move the thing. Gluing some wood into the corners of the base and drilling 4 holes through the top plate is on my list of things to do for mine.
Could not disagree more. There are any number of amps like that, the price reflects what goes into making an amp like that along with what it takes to keep a business afloat, and no money for oversized transformer cans or other garbage. The whole point of a kit is that the buyer can do whatever tacky cosmetic thing *they* want...
albusark
Dynaco Fan
I agree with your sentiment and I'd like them to sell the clearly unfinished amp as a kit so the customer can style it and assemble it. These are built amps and they look like prototypes at a steep price. Anyway, the sound is more important than anything else so I look forward to hearing how they perform.
Looks like a kit to me, the page is titled "Bottlehead Paradyne 805A Monoblock Amplifier Kit" with this picture:
Why does that empty plate not look like the layout of the finished amplifier? I do see it on that page, but I think it's a completely different product.
Jack
Jack
I think it's amazing what you guys will argue about.
The tubes shown in that photo don’t appear to be the same as the new 805A amp. Probably just stock photo of some other kit.
Just to be clear, I didn't mean to imply that it's not a kit. The difference in the top plate just caught my attention. I probably shouldn't have said anything.
Jack
albusark
Dynaco Fan
Yes I mean a kit with a couple gallons of paint and a spray gun at this price, it should come with everything you need to style it.
I like the way they look.
That is not anywhere close to a "steep price" with the current situation with high import parts costs etc. Sure you might be able to DIY build something cheaper, but try selling tube amps as a business. For comparison, a Decware 300B amp is more than this.
Personally, I wouldn't dream of trying to create a manual for assembling a tube amp that runs at 1000VDC. That alone is quite an achievement, considering the risks and liability involved.
Kilowatt ham amplifiers from Heathkit had +3,000V on the anodes. I remember how nervous I was after building one to throw the big switch for the first time!
Jack
Jack
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