Signal Output ?

[IEHAGY]

I just noticed my Stromberg Carlson Stereo 8 has a set of RCA jacks for "signal output" in addition to tape output. What exactly are these for? Does this mean it could be used as a preamp ??

Thanks for any help solving the mystery.

 

[century tek]

I don't know your SC unit but its possible that its a fixed output like the tape out so it would not be able to be used as a preamp. Someone else will chime in and know for sure.

 

[Tom Bavis]

Yes, it's essentially "preamp out". The Stereo 8 - ASR-880 - consists of the ASE-8 preamp and ASP-80 amp bolted together. The problem is that it's the output of a 1 megohm pot, so the capacitance of a cable will result in some roll-off of the highest frequencies (the longer the cable, the more high frequency loss). Internally there might be a 8" of shielded cable to the power amp input, not long enough to be a problem. The power amp input is 470K, quite high, and many amps - especially solid-state - are much lower which would affect the volume response and maybe tone flatness as well.

Here's a bit of trivia for you - one of these amps was installed in JFK's White House - here's the story (page 4 of link) www.antiquewireless.org/uploads/1/6/1/2/16129770/gatewayv4no4_may_2015.pdf

 

[IEHAGY]

Gotcha, thank you very much for the detailed response and piece of trivia !

So its seeming it would be foolish to attempt to use it with the Mccormack Dna 0.5 I just purchased while I look for a more permanent preamp solution ?

 

[Tom Bavis]

The preamp is internally connected to the power amp, so you would need to disconnect that and install the "amp in" connector (there's a cover plate where it would go). Then a short RCA jumper to use the internal amp or a longer (not TOO long) cable to an external tube amp (impedance is too high for most solid-state amps)