why are old school amps worth so much?

[tomtomjr]

Here is a link to more pics. This is about 60-70% of the audio collection. The pic of the 3 amps together are prototypes out of Jim Fosgates car back in the 79-80 era. There are 4 of them total. They are three PR-2100's (modified) and one PR-250 that is modified for mono 1ch only. Enjoy the pics. http://s250.photobucket.com/albums/g...DIO/?start=all

[jol50]

Crickey!!!

[MatthewS]

Originally posted by tomtomjr
Here is a link to more pics. This is about 60-70% of the audio collection. The pic of the 3 amps together are prototypes out of Jim Fosgates car back in the 79-80 era. There are 4 of them total. They are three PR-2100's (modified) and one PR-250 that is modified for mono 1ch only. Enjoy the pics. http://s250.photobucket.com/albums/g...DIO/?start=all

You see...

There's just no excuse for that........ none of it...

- matt

[junglejuice]

Originally posted by tomtomjr
Here is a link to more pics. This is about 60-70% of the audio collection. The pic of the 3 amps together are prototypes out of Jim Fosgates car back in the 79-80 era. There are 4 of them total. They are three PR-2100's (modified) and one PR-250 that is modified for mono 1ch only. Enjoy the pics. http://s250.photobucket.com/albums/g...DIO/?start=all

Man what a collection....

[tsmith1315]

uhh... uhh...



you win.

[Jonny Hotnuts]

Hey TomtomJr, Make me a deal on the Mcintosh......that is, if you need a bit more space!
-ALSO-
If you have a Fosgate RF2000 I am looking for another.

jonny_hotnuts@hotmail.com

All I have to say about everything else.....damn.

[nsxxtreme]

Define "old school". Amps made today are the same amps made 20 years ago wrapped in a new package. The only thing "new" is the entry of class D amplifiers into the car audio world. These serve subwoofer duty and offer higher efficientcy.

When it comes to mids and highs everyone still uses class AB or class A which the technology is the same. Why not buy and older amp? Your getting the same thing as a newer amp at a cheaper price. Most of my amps are stuffed behind panels so I really dont care about the bling factor. I'd buy an older quality amp to run my mids and highs over an amp made in china anyday JMO.

[MatthewS]

Originally posted by nsxxtreme
Define "old school".

Old School - An era when 90% of the entire market was NOT produced under one roof in China. Or a time when more then 10 engineers held the state of the art in their hands.

Do I get a cookie?

Amps made today are the same amps made 20 years ago wrapped in a new package.

Maybe in terms of what they do (amplify) but thats where the similarities end. Put aside the fact that designs changed with part evolution and there are still plenty of differences to chose from.

The only thing "new" is the entry of class D amplifiers into the car audio world. These serve subwoofer duty and offer higher efficientcy.

Class D was invented in 1959, and was rumored to be in some very early car amplifier models as early as the 70's if I recall that correctly. And you forgot about class X & T (the true recent additions to the topology chart) and classes G & H which are also very old. And although your statements on serving subwoofer duty are correct, that was not their intent by design initially. They more or less got stuck there because of impractical distortion levels when used full range. It should be said that todays class D topologies will gladly perform in full range operation with very respectable distortion numbers because part technology has imporved to the point where we now have designs that allow error correction of each and every pulse on the train in realtime. JL audio has taken advantage of the newfound bandwidth in it's 'single-cycle control' system. Class X & T used some math in the processing and ended up being well suited for full range, although I would not cry audiophile grade!

When it comes to mids and highs everyone still uses class AB or class A which the technology is the same.

Again, the theory of operation is the same, the technology and topology is not.

Why not buy and older amp? Your getting the same thing as a newer amp at a cheaper price. Most of my amps are stuffed behind panels so I really dont care about the bling factor. I'd buy an older quality amp to run my mids and highs over an amp made in china anyday JMO.

About the only thing I agree with here is the Chinese build house stuff comment. Otherwise I have been around the inside of too many amplifiers to know that they set themselves apart from each other in some way or another. Saying 'it's the same stuff in a different bag' just won't ever sit well with me. I'm not trying to argue or dispute your statements, but I have to openly disagree with a lot of it.

If I were to seriously define what sets 'old school' apart from 'new school' I would probably say;

Old school: A time when each company had an engineer on staff working to incorporate said companies ideas about features, quality, and innovation into a marketable design.

New school: A time when 90% of the companies have no engineer, no shipping dept, no tech department, and an outsourced customer service department. A dude (preferably one who can meet the minimum buy at a Chinese build house) makes a call and says 'I wan't this heatsink, this soldermask color, put my name on the PCB too! I want it in chrome, it needs to have at least 1k watts and some blinky lights! oh and add a fan.. and two more PS caps! - How much for a thousand units?'

- Matt

[davesaudio]

Originally posted by tsmith1315
Apologies in advance for the drivel...



I suppose fist fights could break out over these questions...

Car radios emerged in the late 20's or early 30's, and had an amp in order to drive a speaker.

Early aftermarket audio products were just a part of the hot rod/custom product market. Eventually, a few die-hard audio fans began to look for ways to get decent sound in their cars. Some mounted turntables!

The first stories I read/heard involving external amplifiers were of Audiomobile founder Paul Stary and Zapco founder Robert Zeff.


Tim

I had a Craig "Powerplay" amp early 70's and a "Lear Jet" cassette.

Transformers in and out-
radio had to be in "series" ( ground and supply thru the Powerplay

Noise-wow added 4 pole switch to cut it out of the circuit for low volumes use....

[junglejuice]

Originally posted by nsxxtreme
Define "old school". Amps made today are the same amps made 20 years ago wrapped in a new package. The only thing "new" is the entry of class D amplifiers into the car audio world. These serve subwoofer duty and offer higher efficientcy.

When it comes to mids and highs everyone still uses class AB or class A which the technology is the same. Why not buy and older amp? Your getting the same thing as a newer amp at a cheaper price. Most of my amps are stuffed behind panels so I really dont care about the bling factor. I'd buy an older quality amp to run my mids and highs over an amp made in china anyday JMO.

Class A car amps are very rare and most of the ones labelled as such are in fact AB (ie Soundstream) due to the fact that they are so in effecient.
20 years ago car amps were bipolar and not mosfet so that is different and there are numerous other changes as well between old and new school amps.
Chinese and Korean amps have a reputation of unreliablity and extremely exagerated power figures.

Old school for me!!!