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Possible local score, value?

RS Steve

RS Steve

Tube Junkie
Subscriber
I have been contacted by a somewhat local person asking if I would be interested in his vintage equipment.

From what he has told me they are moving and need to part with anything they do not need anymore. All he has told me after I asked what he was asking for it was that he wanted it to go to someone that would appreciate it. :scratch2: I am just curious what type of value is there so I can either score or walk away if he asks too much.

Most of the equipment has been stored in his attic for some time, so that being said, I imagine it will all need servicing. He could not remember all the model #s but I will check when I pay him a visit.

The list of equipment he could remember is.

1- JBL L-220's (need surrounds)
2- Soundcraftsman 800 watt amplifier
3- Adcom top of the line preamp
4- Akai reel to reel
5- cassete player/recorder
6- cheapy turntable
7- misc. cables, speaker wires, head demag, record cleaner
 
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Depending on how much he is asking. A nice-looking pair of L220s will most likely bring between $1500 and $2000. Not sure on the rest.
 
I always try to make the seller give me a price as the may value it totally different than you do. They could be thinking anything from $100 to a couple grand, so you really need to figure out what it's worth to to and then what it's worth to him and see how the match.
Good luck!
 
I think the Soundcraftsman amp is a PCR-800, I can't find anything with 800 watts like he said. It is rated at 200 wpc 8 ohms.
 
RS Steve said:
I think the Soundcraftsman amp is a PCR-800, I can't find anything with 800 watts like he said. It is rated at 200 wpc 8 ohms.
Click to expand...

May be when it's bridged and/or at 2 ohms, it puts out 800 watts.

Anywho, Soundcraftsmen amps are like Speakercraft in my opinion.
Very good mid level.
Also, if it's PCR-800, fan may be little too loud.

Found specs:
Power Output: 205 watts per channel at 8 ohms, 300 watts per channel at 4 ohms, 275 watts per channel at 2 ohms (shouldn't 2 ohm output be even higher?), 600 watts at 8 ohms, Mono Mode;
Total Harmonic Distortion: Less than .05%;
IM Distortion: Less than .05%;
Signal-To-Noise Ratio: Greater than 105dB
Slew Rate: Greater than 40 V/microsecond
Rise Time: Less than 2.2 microseconds;
Frequency Response: ±0.1dB, 20 Hz/20kHz;
Size: 4 7/8" x 8 ½" x 12" Deep

Another site has this specs:
205 wpc RMS into 8 ohms
300 wpc RMS into 4 ohms
450 wpc RMS into 2 ohms --> better.
 
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Mystery said:
May be when it's bridged and/or at 2 ohms, it puts out 800 watts.

Anywho, Soundcraftsmen amps are like Speakercraft in my opinion.
Very good mid level.
Also, if it's PCR-800, fan may be little too loud.

Found specs:
Power Output: 205 watts per channel at 8 ohms, 300 watts per channel at 4 ohms, 275 watts per channel at 2 ohms (shouldn't 2 ohm output be even higher?), 600 watts at 8 ohms, Mono Mode;
Total Harmonic Distortion: Less than .05%;
IM Distortion: Less than .05%;
Signal-To-Noise Ratio: Greater than 105dB
Slew Rate: Greater than 40 V/microsecond
Rise Time: Less than 2.2 microseconds;
Frequency Response: ±0.1dB, 20 Hz/20kHz;
Size: 4 7/8" x 8 ½" x 12" Deep

Another site has this specs:
205 wpc RMS into 8 ohms
300 wpc RMS into 4 ohms
450 wpc RMS into 2 ohms --> better.
Click to expand...

I already have a MA5002 amp, and 4002 preamp so I really don't need this stuff. He wants to get rid of it all at once though so I'll see what happens when I get there. I can always find a new home for the stuff I don't want.
 
Or more... saw a couple pairs sell at or above $4K this past year, though none since.

John

kansei said:
Depending on how much he is asking. A nice-looking pair of L220s will most likely bring between $1500 and $2000. Not sure on the rest.
Click to expand...
 
jdurbin1 said:
Or more... saw a couple pairs sell at or above $4K this past year, though none since.

John
Click to expand...

I am trying to get there to look things over this week, probably Friday. I might be able to talk him into just selling a few things instead of the whole lot. Looks like the speakers are the best part, I have read a lot of posts about the L-220, and it seems there are some that do not like their sound.
 
I have not heard JBL L220s, but heard JBL L330s on one of my upgraded Fisher tube amps. The L330s were stunning.
 
It's interesting that the only item on such a list that he can positively identify is an expensive and desirable pair of speakers.

The 800 watt amp sounds unlikely and the TOTL preamp may not be. Some AKers don't even understand what TOTL means, so I can only imagine how broad a definition a civilian might apply to the term.

I'd get a good handle on what L220s are worth in various conditions and don't pay any more than that amount if you plan on using them, less if you plan to flip. Consider the other stuff to be a bonus if it works, and no loss if it doesn't.
 
stereofanboy said:
It's interesting that the only item on such a list that he can positively identify is an expensive and desirable pair of speakers.

The 800 watt amp sounds unlikely and the TOTL preamp may not be. Some AKers don't even understand what TOTL means, so I can only imagine how broad a definition a civilian might apply to the term.

I'd get a good handle on what L220s are worth in various conditions and don't pay any more than that amount if you plan on using them, less if you plan to flip. Consider the other stuff to be a bonus if it works, and no loss if it doesn't.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure the Soundcraftsman amp is the 205 wpc model, people tend to tell you the bridged mono wattage to impress. The Adcom preamp he explains it like it was their best model at the time, with all the bells and whistles. What gets me is that he gives me the impression that he will take most any offer since I seem like the type to give his babies a good home. He does not have any of it listed, so I get first crack at the stuff. The reason he couldn't give me model #s is that the equipment is in the attic, and his health will not allow him to climb up there. So I will get to haul the stuff down and verify what's there. It should be interesting anyway. :scratch2:
 
Well, a set of the L220 tweeters sold for $1800+ on eBay, so if this guy has done any sort of homework, this could get expensive. If you are looking for keepers though, you could spend several thousand and still get a deal.
 
That was a little bit of a fluke as well, the 076 cateye tweeters usually sell for more like a grand, $900 etc.

As for sound, the L220 sound just fine but for what they cost you can find a few faults vs. other speakers in that price range & similar size etc. Mostly they center around the midrange performance, secondly around the bass which can be fine-tuned by changing the amount of mass attached to the passive radiator.

I liked my pair well enough, but at the end of the day I took a good offer to sell them and kept my L150A instead because I think it's a more well-rounded speaker to listen to across a wide variety of types of music.

One thing's for sure; if you get them at any kind of reasonable price you shouldn't have any trouble getting rid of them for the same or more if you do find they aren't everything you wanted them to be. There doesn't seem to be any signs of regression on value with that series of JBL consumer models (nor the pro models from the same period). Only caveat to that is condition; I would not pay a lot for a pair that's beat up cosmetically unless you have the skills to completely refurb them.

John
 
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