Greetings, I'm new here and happy to have found an Altec specific board as I've got a pair of Altec 344a integrated amplifiers that I'd like to restore.
Any hints regarding faceplate cleaning, sonic improvement or other pertinent mods (i.e. things that make them run cooler, etc.) as well as cabinet refinishing, would be greatly appreciated.
It was particularly exciting for me to find these amplifiers as I'm a fan of EL84 output tubes and it appears that Altec pulled out all the stops, so to speak, with this early design.
I was also fortunate enough to get some sort of balance control, also an Altec piece, that was marketed in the late fifties as a means to use two Altec 344a amplifiers as stereo.
Hopefully some of you folks have some experience with restoring these beauties. I'd like to pair them with two RCA LC-1 speakers which, hopefully in this forum, won't cause too much consternation since they're not Altec drivers.
Nelson
P.S. Notice the serial numbers aren't too far apart!
Hi, I'm new here too and I don't know much about your project. I just wanted to tell you those are really cool !!!!! I love em, best of luck with them.
Nice pair of 344As Nelson! Last time I saw one was over twenty years ago when I was working as tech for Angela Instruments. First thing I usually did was check the power supply for shorted caps, then use a Variac for slow turn on and then check the coupling caps, making sure they are not leaky.
In this day and age, I'd keep them stock aside from replacement of leaky caps, 20% drifted resistors and perhaps tubes (although yours look fine, just need some Windex but be careful if you don't want to lose the stencil markings), that way you preserve the value. I might try some paper in oil caps for coupling but Sprague Orange Drops are also good, easier to find and cheaper. I'd really avoid irreversible modifications on classic equipment nowadays.
I think JE2A3 gave you good advice. Keep them close to stock, both for resale and for historical reasons.
Actually, they really are not good enough, to use on the RCAs, and so, IMHO, their very BEST use is to resell them to a COLLECTOR.
I would not restore them, because what YOU think is OK to replace as a restoration, a collector may likely hate.
Surely, if I were running your RCAs, ( I have had them ) for my MAIN SYSTEM and my listening enjoyment, I would ditch the ALTEC electronics.
I would use a better single ended 2A3 amp on your RCAs, preferably only a two stage with no negative feedback and a stiff but nimble power supply, and superbly efficient wiring ( speaker cables ) to coiuple the amp and the RCA speakers.
Also, I would NOT like the idea of you adding a balance control to those mono units, one iota. It adds more wires and pots to the signal path, which will only distance you further from the music, due to the losses in the added parts
KISS rules - in high quality audio system design.
If you are capable of DIY, write to me and I will be most happy to send you an article I once wrote, on a 2A3 SET amp design to build.
Jeff Medwin ................ Dr.Low Ohms
Last edited by LowOhms; October 15th, 2016 at 09:05 PM.
You're right, je2a3 did give sound advice and I think that's the route I'll take, thanks. It is not possible for me to write to you Jeff as there's a 10 post minimum and I've only been reading the boards until now. Anyway, I'm interested in listening to my LC-1s through a well-designed 2A3 amplifier, I've heard that they're magical. Thanks for the offer, I've done some DIY projects in the past.
You're right, je2a3 did give sound advice and I think that's the route I'll take, thanks. It is not possible for me to write to you Jeff as there's a 10 post minimum and I've only been reading the boards until now. Anyway, I'm interested in listening to my LC-1s through a well-designed 2A3 amplifier, I've heard that they're magical. Thanks for the offer, I've done some DIY projects in the past.
Best regards,
Nelson Ressler
Hi Nelson,
I am not sure exactly what you mean by a 10 post minimum. I'm newish also, and no Forum expert up here - but here is what you might do.
Simply send me a personal email, my address is [email protected], and I will be happy to send you back email attachments - most all you need to know, to do a really nice 2A3 amp for your LC-1As, using my favorite amp topology. Its what I run presently on my VOTT A7-800s. Just two audio stages, all direct coupled, VERY dynamic sounding on efficient speakers. No feedback. Optimized for a JJ 2A3-40 tube.
Originally Posted by nelsress
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