Du Kane Amps - Thoughts?

[jgordon]

In the course of starting my bar, I have met a number of interesting people. One of them was a very unassuming guy with a huge collection of audio gear.

I told him I was looking for workhorse monoblocks, and he suggested that I try out a few amps he had lying around.

I stopped by today and he gave me these for a month, to see how I liked them.

Du Kane 1B45Cs. 6L6 power, with tone controls and what looks to be some beefy iron. He mentioned that DuKane had built amps for Western Electric and others. He also said, and given the rest of his collection, this is a very straight line, "these are good - not excellent quality, but around the level of Mcintosh."

What do you guys think? I know, the only opinion that matters is mine, but I'm curious.

I also need to know how to hook up my speakers. I'm used to the standard ohm rating. I have 8 Ohm speakers, and these are industrial amps - the only tap I recognize is the common (ground). Where would my hot lead go on the back?

Thanks.

 

[battradio]

They are ok PA amps have worked on them in the past , the outputs are the limiting factor , the 25 volt output will be good for about 6 ohms . I would say they are a step below a Magnavox pull for home audio(but NOT around the level of Mcintosh) .Use 25 volt to 25 volt

 

[Isotonic]

"these are good - not excellent quality, but around the level of Mcintosh."

An absurd statement. I have not heard every amp from this era, but my experience and general consensus puts McIntosh at the top.

Try them, consider them if you like them, but so far he has lost credibility in my book.

 

[jgordon]

That's certainly a vote below where I was hoping they'd be. I guess a listen will be the only real arbiter.

This guy runs around with modded Western Electric stuff, very esoteric amps - I have no reason to doubt him.

They'd be for the bar, so I'm balancing my fidelity expectations with their hopefully stout nature.

 

[gadget73]

These are more intended for constant voltage distribution. With such a rig, you'd have say a half dozen speakers, each with it's own transformer. Most of the time the transformers are multi-tapped for different wattages. You add up the wattage and make sure it does not exceed the output of the amp. Sometimes you'll find fancy installs with a level control per room or something. Those are the same deal, but your volume control is often a multi-selector switch and just changes what tap on the transformer is used.


Anyway, PA amps are not all created equal. Some are tuned for max power at a more limited bandwidth, and aren't well suited for hifi duty. Others just kick butt all across the board. PA amps are if nothing else very ruggedly built though. Consider they were usually designed to be left running for very long periods of time without breakdowns. They were not usually run to the ragged edge of reliability for that very reason.

BTW, nice record collection.

 

[rpampt]

I am assuming you mean a "bar" as a business and not in your basement.

That being said, it will probably work fine as a bar amp. The 25v ouputs allow for long runs and adding an unlimited number of speakers. Just need to have speakers designed for 25v tap. (Have their own transformer).

Fidelity, even if not great, will probably be fine in a noisy bar. Just not sure that tube gear is the greatest application for something like a bar.

 

[jaymanaa]

I've never heard any Dukanes, but they sure do look nice. Try them out and see what you think. Careful too, that 70v rail will give you a rusty zipper if it's turned up way loud. Back in the day that's how we would check and make sure the slave amps were working, just touch the speaker leads real quick, you didn't need a meter.

 

[jaymanaa]

I am assuming you mean a "bar" as a business and not in your basement.

That being said, it will probably work fine as a bar amp. The 25v ouputs allow for long runs and adding an unlimited number of speakers. Just need to have speakers designed for 25v tap. (Have their own transformer).

Fidelity, even if not great, will probably be fine in a noisy bar. Just not sure that tube gear is the greatest application for something like a bar.

Hmm, and I got the feeling he meant his home bar.:scratch2: Some of those power tubes look a little bit tired, but ya never know. Is that PPP 6L6s, and is that the opt there up top? If so, I'm guessing a human voice frequency response. I'll be interested to hear what you think.

 

[rpampt]

I've never heard any Dukanes, but they sure do look nice. Try them out and see what you think. Careful too, that 70v rail will give you a rusty zipper if it's turned up way loud. Back in the day that's how we would check and make sure the slave amps were working, just touch the speaker leads real quick, you didn't need a meter.

Rusty zipper!!! You kill me Jay.

 

[rpampt]

Hmm, and I got the feeling he meant his home bar.:scratch2: Some of those power tubes look a little bit tired, but ya never know. Is that PPP 6L6s, and is that the opt there up top? If so, I'm guessing a human voice frequency response. I'll be interested to hear what you think.

Well, you may be right. I gotta say I was right on another thread earlier today though. So my correct % is above 0.

 

[jgordon]

I'm talking about a professional bar - whiskey, bourbon, and cocktails. Nice place in manhattan. We're opening in early October.

I'm concerned about the need for transformers though. I don't have any, and I don't want to blow my speakers.

 

[golana]

My thought, is that these would be EXCELLENT for the bass in a bi-amp situation.

 

[kyle]

To the OP. I think Dukane made some great amps and preamps. See the pic for some of the models I kept from the amps and pre's I had.
I sold off about ten Altec 15095s and kept the Dukane's because they sound better to me in my step up transformer. I also had Mac MC60s and a MX110 to compare with at the time so I'm not talking through my hat. I've owned both and the Dukanes are really good.I haven't heard everything or many of the new designs so take it in that light but the Dukanes are good products. Keepers in my opinion.

 

[Trio]

I would suggest going with the 70 volt tap instead. Less voltage drop on long runs, and the transformers are still reasonably priced.

I sold a few Dukane PA amps about a decade ago. one being the same model as yours. It had decent sound. The limiting factor I could see was the height of the cage. A pair of 6L6 WGBT's will fit nicely. Unless you plan to run it topless in the bar, then anything will fit.

In the conversation I had with the buyer of the one- he was looking for that model specific because he heard someone else use one for their harmonica (blues) and he thought it was a perfect match. I had made his day.

 

[Tom Bavis]

I'm talking about a professional bar - whiskey, bourbon, and cocktails. Nice place in manhattan. We're opening in early October.

I'm concerned about the need for transformers though. I don't have any, and I don't want to blow my speakers.

It's a 45 W amp. Each speaker needs a transformer, like this one: http://www.parts-express.com/pe/sho...source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=pla (a LOW-END type). You connect three speakers with the transformers set to the 15W tap, or six on the 7.5W tap, or any other combination that comes close to 45W. These are 70V transformers, so they'd connect to the 70V output. 25V transformers aren't used much... dunno if you'll be able to find any.

 

[battradio]

http://www.homedepot.com/p/NXG-70-Volt-Line-Matching-Transformer-NX-70VTR/100606227#.Uj5nAr8o6Uk

Even Home depot has 70 volt matching transformers , better quality and wattage can be had from Edcor

http://www.edcorusa.com/c/53/wsseries

These would be fine in a setting like a bar , not the best for home use . Would be fine connected to a tuner or CD player , they will need to be recapped if you are going to use them every day