Lafayette 550 - Worth Restoring?

[Lavane]

Yeah my thoughts as well, that is why I don't own any Dynaco's as I don't like those old circuit boards on top. But the OPT's and power Transformers look like some good build material.

With the Dynaco's the boards can be lowered some in the chassis, and a cover put over the board. I've seen a few done that way.
I put a plexiglass cover over mine. The new Tubes4hifi ST-70 and ST-120 has an optional chassis where the board is under the chassis.
Then there is always the cage that can cover everything.

 

[peteheinrich]

Jim McShane used to sell a rebuild kit for these with a couple of improvements like screen stoppers, inrush limiters, and more capacitance in the PS. If you move forward I'd reach out to him. As everyone has said, it's definitely worth restoring as long as the boards look OK.

 

[Nyjblbob]

tubeactive, I think you have your Duda Lafayette stories mixed up.
1st off, yes the 550's started production with Acro's.
But they then used Todd Transformers, Not Fried!.
I just called a good friend of mine who has one!
The 100 numbers afaik, were the 1st production run of LA550's
that Ed Duda Personally Hand built with selected close tolerance components,
That Ed also Marked inside the chassis E.D. with a pencil.
This was to prove to all the Reviewers, that were invited to the Press release
Duda told a few Hi-Fi Guru's, Go ahead take any amp or 2-3 and lets Test them.
Then of course Duda Knew they would exceed all published Specs, Like a McIntosh.
Even Duda admitted that the choice ofusing the 7027 tubes was a big mistake.
Part of the Owner of Layafettes down fall! Extreme cost cutting.
Duda and Hegerman never got along. Duda always told me the Real Genius at Layafette
was not Stu, but Vic Brociner.
I had tried a couple of KT 550's that Duda had rebuilt, and didn't care for either one.
I felt an 8b, Mac 240, any Fairchild, or any of the Big Fisher monsters, Even the Cit2
Just sounded better!. I never had or tried the 600 pre-amps.
they are Rarer than the 550's. My Citation 1, rebuilt by Duda is my reference Pre-amp.
bobhorn

 

[tubeactive]

tubeactive, I think you have your Duda Lafayette stories mixed up.
1st off, yes the 550's started production with Acro's.
But they then used Todd Transformers, Not Fried!.
I just called a good friend of mine who has one!
The 100 numbers afaik, were the 1st production run of LA550's
that Ed Duda Personally Hand built with selected close tolerance components,
That Ed also Marked inside the chassis E.D. with a pencil.
This was to prove to all the Reviewers, that were invited to the Press release
Duda told a few Hi-Fi Guru's, Go ahead take any amp or 2-3 and lets Test them.
Then of course Duda Knew they would exceed all published Specs, Like a McIntosh.
Even Duda admitted that the choice ofusing the 7027 tubes was a big mistake.
Part of the Owner of Layafettes down fall! Extreme cost cutting.
Duda and Hegerman never got along. Duda always told me the Real Genius at Layafette
was not Stu, but Vic Brociner.
I had tried a couple of KT 550's that Duda had rebuilt, and didn't care for either one.
I felt an 8b, Mac 240, any Fairchild, or any of the Big Fisher monsters, Even the Cit2
Just sounded better!. I never had or tried the 600 pre-amps.
they are Rarer than the 550's. My Citation 1, rebuilt by Duda is my reference Pre-amp.
bobhorn

Excellent follow-up, @Nyjblbob !
Thanks for the clarification.
Todd transformers, EIA # 926, are delicious ! Early stereo Fisher and all Fairchild amps employed Todd transformers...

 

[gadget73]

curious what tube he'd have preferred to use in these instead of the 7027.

 

[Nyjblbob]

6550's-Kt88's

 

[Dswankey]

Respect to @Nyjblbob & @tubeactive for sharing their remembrances in posts 20 & 23, might either of you remember which Lafayette pre-amp would of been recommended to pair with this amp?

 

[Nyjblbob]

Ed Duda always praised the 600 Pre-amp! so yea that was his choice.
But the benchmark pre always was the 7c This directly from Duda.

 

[Dswankey]

Ed Duda always praised the 600 Pre-amp! so yea that was his choice.

Interestingly enough, many years ago, I spotted one of these in the background of a picture on an estate sale listing. The estate sale company didn't know what it was and listed it as a "stereo"

Having figured out what it actually was and that it was barely featured in the picture I decided to get to the sale early figuring it would be an easy snag. As I was pulling up early the next morning (still dark out) I spot one of the local flippers pacing back and forth on the front porch which was his thing the guy was a mess!

He was not well liked, obnoxious and would chain smoke while waiting oblivious to other people waiting in line.

Once I realized that he was there for exactly that piece I said F it I didn't really need a pre and just turned around and went back home. Sure enough later that day it was already listed on ebay.

Just thought I'd share, also again sorry to the OP going off topic again.

 

[fxer1982]

yes on redoing the stereo amp..

 

[peteheinrich]

I had tried a couple of KT 550's that Duda had rebuilt, and didn't care for either one.
I felt an 8b, Mac 240, any Fairchild, or any of the Big Fisher monsters, Even the Cit2
Just sounded better!.

I don’t have mine any more, so I guess that says something. I found it very balanced and detailed with lots of low end grunt, but the midrange always sounded a bit choked/flat/lifeless compared to the other couple PP power amps I’ve been able to compare it to in my system (Dynaco ST-35 EFB, Fisher KX-200).

I wanted to like it more than I actually did.