Please Help ID This Amp

[Ed Lapple]

I‘m hoping that some smart person can identify this amplifier and ??? The big transformers are labeled Dynaco A-440. I don’t know if this is a Dynaco unit or a custom build. There is a second unit which has 6 more big transformers in it. I’m sorry that’s the only picture of it because I just couldn’t drag it from under the rack. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[cademan]

It looks like a theater amplifier but I have not seen one yet in that time frame that looked like it was stereo.

They kinda have an RCA look to them and I also believe that RCA PA amplifiers of that genre used the 6146 transmitter tubes as outputs.

The other chassis looks like the matching power supply as the amp chassis itself looks to not have its own built in power supply.

It could have been a kit as there are no rivots but wow, what a kit.

Could be a pretty decent set up when restored.

 

[zackthedog]

The Dynaco A-440's are 4.3K p-p and rated for 100 watts. 8 and 16 ohm outputs with tertiary windings for screen or cathode. For those alone I would grab the unit, and the other one if it's the same. I'll bet that could be restored and put out some healthy musical watts. There certainly won't be any bandwidth issues. ;-)

 

[gadget73]

Thats a heck of an amplifier right there. Not a looker but performance-wise it should be capable enough that looks don't matter.


guessing this is a 2 piece affair, one is the audio amp, the other is the power supply. Need both to make it go.

Screws for assembly make me think this is either a heck of a home-brew or a low run commercial thing. Someone designed this for performance, not WAF.

 

[Lavane]

It can't be that old. Look at the components on the driver boards. At leased mid 70's at the oldest?

 

[gadget73]

yeah that doesn't have the look of 50s/60s phenolic boards. Wouldn't have seen transistors either, let alone ones in that package.

 

[Ed Lapple]

I think that it is home brew; it came from the estate of a guy who was an audio nut and could afford it. I have both pieces and it came with two speakers, they are EV Sentry IIA, with Altec Horns on top of the cabinets, using Heathkit drivers and a couple of humongous crossovers mounted on back. Here’s some pictures. He also had a complete Ampex Crescendo Console and a Victrola. Nice toys, thank you for the help everyone.

 

[gadget73]

Interesting that the horns are mounted that way. Normally you see them sitting flat to give a wider spread rather than vertical to give a taller spread. Not sure which is "correct" exactly.