Cool, rare, or odd-ball amps to look out for?

[AdamAnt316]

Tube gear can show up where you least expect it. Last year, I came across a generic-looking piece of mid '60s silver-front audio gear at a ham radio swapmeet, and thought little of it at first, thinking it was early solid-state:

After a few passes, I noticed the Sansui logo on the front panel. I asked the seller about it, and he told me it was a tube amp. I was skeptical at first, until he turned it around to show me the back panel:

Yep, there are tubes in there. After plunking down $100, I brought it home, took the top cover off, and was greeted by this:

Not only tubes, but the largest output iron I've ever seen in an EL84-class amplifier! Not every obscure generic-looking amplifier is going to turn out to hide a gem behind its front panel, but sometimes, you get lucky..........
-Adam

 

[Dswankey]

It took me awhile to track down this thread but here's one, the company was called Merrell out of Brooklyn

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/merrell-sa-210-tube-amp.639271/#post-8488427

 

[radioactive]

For British tube amplifiers
Beam Echo

 

[GordonW]

Ditto on the RCA RS-177, well built and easy to use as a standalone - but - in comparison, the same makeup Motorola's RS711 are the cats meow. Don't get me wrong, the RCA is a keeper but the moto has beefier output transformers. I have two of the moto's, one kept in a pristine Drexel cab with tuning eye and another I use for stand alone. Man I love this hobby.!!!

Should that be HS711? I tried to look up RS711 and didn't get anything. HS711 returned results that looked like it fit the description.

I haven't come across one of the HS711s yet... but will be interested in playing with one if I ever get an opportunity.

Regards,
Gordon.

 

[Pio1980]

Brook, by Lincoln Walsh.

 

[ToxicTele]

Should that be HS711? I tried to look up RS711 and didn't get anything. HS711 returned results that looked like it fit the description.

I haven't come across one of the HS711s yet... but will be interested in playing with one if I ever get an opportunity.

Regards,
Gordon.

My bad - yes the HS-711. Currently listening to one right now - as I'm working on the RCA RS177F. Have a weird ground problem that I'm trying to shake out of it but thats a different thread.

 

[Lossless]

I don’t know if I should post here but I recently acquired a super rare Fisher RS-Z1 receiver. 1990 model year,
150 wpc @ 4ohm , 1 of 3 known working models in the United States .

 

[Lucky Pierre]

Lot's of great suggestions. Thanks!

I do admit that I have a huge soft spot for early Realistic tube gear. I just wish it came up for sale more often.

 

[manu et deo]

All tube gear is just plain sexy, if I can afford it, I get it!

 

[PakProtector]

The RCA SP10 and its PPP SP20 brother are a bit on the rare side, but are very fine 6V6 amps. They are about the only commercial amps I'd just listen to w/o feeling the need to beef them up.
cheers,
Douglas

 

[Old-School]

Add XAM to your list. Department store brand for E.J. Korvettes in the 60's and 70's. Maybe not super high end, but super cool. Their stuff was built by other makers, like EV, Lafayette, HK, etc. Definitely worth the price of admission.

 

[zackthedog]

Add XAM to your list. Department store brand for E.J. Korvettes in the 60's and 70's. Maybe not super high end, but super cool. Their stuff was built by other makers, like EV, Lafayette, HK, etc. Definitely worth the price of admission.

I had an XAM integrated amp that was very similar to the Harmon-Kardon 7591-based integrated. A lovely amp. Good catch!

 

[fxer1982]

from Rochester new york...Stromberg Carlson console amps 1958-1960's when they closed their doors...General Dynamics corp that took us to the moon owned and had used their engineering group to design their console amps. first to design and use interleaved transformers in some of their amps mainly the Ap-437 tube amps are monsters rated at 40 watts continue and 80 watts peak....these are the best to my ear they made....

 

[triode17]

I also should have stated that I am interested in 1940s-1960s

Brook amplifiers.

 

[PakProtector]

I also should have stated that I am interested in 1940s-1960s

That rules out the RCA MI-9355 amp then. Shame, cause it is a PP 845 monster. Two 845's and two 866's. Its input TX can take anything from a speaker-level source up to direct off the plate of a 300B.
cheers,
Douglas

 

[derekva]

The Heathkit Williamson designs as well as the Stancor DIY Williamson designs (807 tube) are both good, with some modifications.

 

[SpruceMoose]

PACO SA-40 integrated tube amp and matching tuner. Made by Precision Apparatus Corporation. Cool little amp, sounds very nice. I only have the amp, no tuner.

 

[Gundy]

Munston out of islip ny
And precise, not sure if anyone mentioned those.