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Vector Research VA-1450 (Rotel RB-850) Nudie

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I've used this amp in a couple of diff systems. I can't say that it's a "bad" sounding amp, but it does seem to lack oomph.
I'd say it's a clean, accurate and possibly "fast" amp. I found it clipped at (via scope and load) 58 watts into 8 ohms and 88 watts into 4 ohms.
It's not my style I guess, in that while the power is there, it's still rather sterile. Good for rear speaks or vocal-intense type application. LOL, not sure.
I have not refurbed this amp at all, and didn't think of doing that until just now. Normally, I say "if it works, leave it alone" - but I wonder if I could change the SQ?
Up the filter caps, tighten grounds, replace most Ecaps, some with film. Replace known noisy transistors or diodes. Check for busted solder joints.
Oh ya, I like this idea. I've (now I'm rambling) listened to this amp enough times in enough systems that I think I have a feel for it. I'll do this work and see if that feel changes.
Whoop!
 
One year later - this amp was doing garage duty last summer. Hooked to those EV Sentry 500's that I got a few years ago.
This amp couldn't quite match the Vector Research 7000 that it replaced. My opinion is the same as above - it's a decent amp. Clean sounding, not colored. It pushed the EV speakers fairly well, and sounded great at lower volumes. But for garage duty, I want something that can pound those EV's.
I like the VR-7000 better, I'll be putting that back in place next spring (I live in Iowa, with an unheated garage - no winter listening, LOL).
 
I have a VR-5000 pulling garage duty, still going strong; used to have a 7000, Those two are about the only receivers this separates guy ever enjoyed listening to.
 
Thanks for this link. (From the other thread.) I never realized their was a connection between VR and Rotel. I wonder who the "parent" company is. I hope I didn't blow the outputs on mine. That's a bunch of transistors to replace.
 
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