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Post by ChrisB on Jul 15, 2014 0:11:23 GMT
What do you think would be the contenders for the most important/influential amplifiers ever? Name 3 from the UK and 3 from the rest of the world. I expect that if you make amps, then your answers could be a lot different to those from people who don't. But you can interpret the question anyway you choose!
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Post by MartinT on Jul 15, 2014 6:41:42 GMT
British Leak Stereo 20 Quad 405 NAD 3020 (British design)
RoW Hafler McIntosh Mark Levinson
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2014 6:45:35 GMT
BritishLeak Stereo 20 Quad 405 NAD 3020 (British design) RoWHafler McIntosh Mark Levinson I don't know enough to comment really but your UK list agreed with my thoughts but instead of the NAD, I had the first one ever made - but I don't know what that was either
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Post by lurcher on Jul 15, 2014 7:12:25 GMT
I would have to add to that list:
Wireless World Push-Pull Quality Amplifier Williamson(s) Ongaku
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2014 7:22:08 GMT
williamson any early western electric Nelson Pass Zen
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Post by MartinT on Jul 15, 2014 7:55:18 GMT
I would have to add to that list: Wireless World Push-Pull Quality Amplifier Williamson(s) Ongaku For me, it was the Linsley-Hood 75W quasi-complimentary amp. I learned an awful lot from that circuit and listened to it for years.
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Post by ChrisB on Jul 15, 2014 8:08:32 GMT
My nominations would be:
UK Williamson Leak Stereo 20 ....the final one is tricky, but I think I'd have to say the Lecson pre/power because it showed the UK could design something that didn't look like a part from a Russian tractor (I actually think they look horrible, but that's not the point!)
ROW Dynaco Stereo 70 Levinson ML-2 Krell KSA-100
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2014 8:13:22 GMT
ahh I'd forgotten about the dynaco, almost ubiquitous
there's also Jennings, for the UK...the AC30, or maybe that doesn't count being a stage amp, although I used an AC100 as one half of my stereo in the early 70s, the other half was a linear 30....never quite got it balanced
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Post by MartinT on Jul 15, 2014 8:51:00 GMT
I was thinking of the Dynaco, too. Couldn't remember the Levinson model no. so I guess I was thinking of the ML-2?
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Post by julesd68 on Jul 15, 2014 9:35:55 GMT
BritishLeak Stereo 20 Quad 405 NAD 3020 (British design) I would go for these but was also thinking about the Cyrus 1 - hugely influential in the scheme of budget amps at the time, as can be seen by the ridiculous prices people are now paying for them!
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Post by yomanze on Jul 15, 2014 9:40:34 GMT
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Post by MartinT on Jul 15, 2014 9:59:04 GMT
The Hitachi MOSFET circuit is up there as one of the most influential Agreed about influential, but having built one it wasn't a great circuit as it stood. Clinical and cold. However, the adaptations showed the MOSFET to be a damned fine semiconductor.
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Post by itcosthowmuch on Jul 15, 2014 10:18:46 GMT
UK
Quad II Leak TL12 Naim NAP250
honourable mention, A&R Cambridge A60
Outside UK Krell KSA100 - moved the high end almost overnight Dynaco Stereo 70 - classic, much copied Carver 400 Cube - switched mode power supplies
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2014 10:47:42 GMT
Interesting to see how the Stereo20 is rated . Mine has only been replaced after 25 years solid use. The difference even now is a whisker. Classic designs really are just that it seems.
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Post by Dr Bunsen Honeydew on Jul 15, 2014 12:27:15 GMT
The audio amplifier was invented in 1909 by Lee De Forest when he invented the triode vacuum tube
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2014 18:24:54 GMT
The audio amplifier was invented in 1909 by Lee De Forest when he invented the triode vacuum tube I'd have to agree re the invention of the triode. No 1 position for me, although my understsnding is that he De Forest Audion triode first appeared in 1906/7 but was used only as a detector valve in wireless receivers. It was Western Electric who produced the first amplifiers using a development of the Audion called the Type A in about 1912/13 which was used for amplification on long distance telephone lines. The subsequent outbreak of war was pivotal in the rapid development of the amplifier as we know it. Next would have to be the development of the transistor amp. As far as I know the Westrex 2185 A amplifier was the first commercially available transistor amp. Last would have to be a tie between the Wireless World Williamson and the Mullard 5-20 as the circuits influenced a myriad of amplifiers during the 1950/60's hifi boom
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Post by pinkie on Jul 16, 2014 12:18:03 GMT
Oh well, having been reminded of it in another post, and with it sitting on the desk saying "finish me" I have to go for an honourable mention for the Pink Triangle Pip (not sure which of Quad 405, Leak 20 and Nad 3020 I would want to eject though) Yes - not sold in any significant quantities, and sunk without trace due to issues not related to its design And designed by a friend, and sold whilst I was MD at Pink, but allowing for all that, still a radical innovation and contribution to amplifier design. The transconductance RIAA in particular. (Seems only fair I give his amp a boost, as he is reviewing technical content for me - and I love it to bits. So much I now have 2!)
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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2014 12:22:33 GMT
Oh well, having been reminded of it in another post, and with it sitting on the desk saying "finish me" I have to go for an honourable mention for the Pink Triangle Pip (not sure which of Quad 405, Leak 20 and Nad 3020 I would want to eject though) Yes - not sold in any significant quantities, and sunk without trace due to issues not related to its design And designed by a friend, and sold whilst I was MD at Pink, but allowing for all that, still a radical innovation and contribution to amplifier design. The transconductance RIAA in particular. (Seems only fair I give his amp a boost, as he is reviewing technical content for me - and I love it to bits. So much I now have 2!) So, is the damn thing going to be finished in time for you to blow off my OTL in a few weeks?? Are the 57s going to give it the palpitations or will it manfully strive to cope with the load that a 1950s/60s amp handles with ease
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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2014 12:28:38 GMT
There's a reasonable collection of hifi kit in the Museum of Scotland, including a Quad 303. They also have a Sinclair System 3000 integrated stereo amplifier from 1971 (must be an early British made integrated?) a NAD 3020i, a Cambridge Audio P50 and a Linn Klimax (remember it's a Scottish museum) amongst others.
If you go to the Museum of Scotland website and search their collection all the hifi stuff (including tonearms, valves, styluses etc) is in the Shaping Our World gallery.
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Post by pinkie on Jul 16, 2014 12:40:47 GMT
It's only a pre. You'll need your own power, although at a pinch I will have Cageys P10 with me
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