Creek 4040s2 Integrated Amp

I came across this mid 80's Creek 404s2 amp yesterday on my way to work. I did not know anything about Creek but realized that this little amp was designed and built in England. I knew it would be worth while.

The 4040s2 is rated at 30 watts per channel into 8 ohms and 40 watts per channel into 4 ohms, there is a large toroidal transformer with two 6800uf caps, this unit states that it has 11 amps of back up power for peak music.

I have only had about 30 minutes of time with this unit playing through the Visonik Euro 7's, Tannoy Oxford Gold's and the B&W D5's and wow! does this little unit sound open and transparent.

I will run this unit soon with the Mission 770 Freedom IV's and the Celestion Ditton 110's soon.

There will be more to come in the future on this amazing little amp.

Sears Professional Series AM-4657 Amp

Just for fun I picked up this well built by today's standards and probably by the mid 80's standards this Sears Professional Series amp.

Sears always had a audio and TV department and they produced only a few decent products some of it on par with Radio Shack stuff.

This amp, although it is built to look like a Sansui was actually built in Korea by AGS, who also made Audio Reflex products. This amp is also known as the Audio Reflex A-120.

The build quality is pretty decent and uses silicon transistors on the output stage, it has a fairly heavy transformer, two 4700uf  caps and really nice machined controls.

My bet is this unit is around 45 watts per channel, I have had this unit running the Celestion Ditton 110's and the sound is very neutral, bass is nice and tight and the mid range is pleasant with nothing missing in the high end. It is a pretty clean amp all around.

Sure this is no Sansui or Pioneer from the same era but like Radio Shack units probably do not get any respect, which is too bad. 

Current vintage audio stuff for sale in Vancouver

My collection is pretty good and deep right now and I need to sell a few gems.

Speakers for sale from  my collection:

EPI 100V, Classic old school speaker fully refurbished with Solen caps, how they should have made it originally.
Absolute pristine condition. $150.00. Stands not included.

SOLD

Celestion Ditton DM110, Great British loudspeaker, made even better with new Solen Caps. Excellent sound stage made even better post upgrade. Stands not included $120.00. Grills in perfect condition.

Camber 2.5 Speakers, A well made Canadian classic that can rival an Energy 22. Super deep bass for a 7 inch woofer and a perfect sound stage image. Mirror imaged and an exceptional build quality. $120.00 stand not included. Grill in perfect condition.

SOLD

Well matched Rotel RX-830 receiver with a pair re capped Mission 700 Leading Edge speakers with Solen caps. I can not say enough about these two pieces together, you would swear the musicians are right in front of you. $200.00 gets you on the road to great vintage sound.

Aurex SA-5000, Same as the Toshiba SA-5000. 50 watts per channel of Direct Coupled goodness. Seriously well built amp from when Toshiba was at their best in home audio/visual. Toshiba is not as well known but made exceptional products in the 80's. $120.00

JVC R-S33 Receiver, second from the top of the line, this JVC receiver is a strong 40 watts per channel that runs "Class A" amp with "Class B", like a hybrid. The best in design and aesthetics from JVC in the 80's. $120.00

Local cash sales in Vancouver only.

Contact me through the Blog at psdave@gmail.com

Celestion Ditton 110 crossover re cap

I opted to re cap the Celestion Ditton 110's with Solen metal polyester caps, out with the old electrolytic 10% caps and in the 5% caps. Now they have opened up.

I have had a chance to let these caps burn in and now these speakers have really started to shine. The sound has really opened up in the mid range and high end. The imaging is spot on. Listening to Norah Jones, Come Away With Me and Norah might as well be in my room, that's how clear and precise these speakers turned out.

Celestion Ditton 110 speakers

This little pair of English speakers came home yesterday, a pair of Celestion Ditton 110 speakers.

A very nice sounding well balanced and neutral pair of bookshelf speakers, typical British sound that is very polite, with nice imaging.

One dome was slightly dents in and a quick shot with the vacuum cleaner popped the dome back out to the best it will get.

These speakers are not as exciting or in your face like Mission speakers that reside with me but more along the lines of the few pairs of B&W speakers that I have had.