Altec 9440A - cloning best solid state amp ever

[bra]

Is it possible to clone Altec 9440A using modern transistors ? Some say that this Altec is best solid state amplifier ever made. Unfortunately I have no chance to listen it. Maybe someone have pics or fotos of pcb's ? Schematic i for free available on internet, so it is no problem.

[madtecchy]

The best soilid state amp for wich use?. using up to date semiconductors to copy this altec may and im sure will alter its sonics. I guess to get it to sound the same as the factory one would need as many original components as possible. Good luck.
ps This may be a very good sounding amplifier. Im sure if you take a good luck around this forum members have designed and built amplifiers with help from some of the best guys in the field. Take a look around.
Regards ian

[Original Burnedfingers]

The 9440 is a good commercial/industrial use amplifier. They sound good and at one time I had 5 of them in my home theater rack running bridge mono. Certainly not the best sounding amplifier in my opinion and probably not worth the time to update the semiconductors. I have seen it done in the past and to do it correctly it requires some machine work to the heat sinks. Sonically, replacing the transistors will NOT make this amplifier sound better and I noticed no difference between a stock amplifier and one with up to date parts. If DJK sees this thread maybe he will chime in with some part numbers and advice.

I have the Altec owners manual with schematics as well as all Altec literature concerning this amplifier.

[Stormrider]

I had one, bought for 10$ at a tag sale. Worked good after I refurbished it some. New caps, cleaned switches/pots, reflowed connections, etc... Sold it for over 400$.

These amps were great for their time, and if you can pick one up working or non-working I would do it. However, for a new build there are better designs out there.

[bra]

Originally Posted by Stormrider

I had one, bought for 10$ at a tag sale. Worked good after I refurbished it some. New caps, cleaned switches/pots, reflowed connections, etc... Sold it for over 400$.

These amps were great for their time, and if you can pick one up working or non-working I would do it. However, for a new build there are better designs out there.

Why I don't live in USA ? 9440 for 10$ ???!!! Here in Europe it is impossible to get it in good price :-(

[ingenieus]

It would be quite a formidable undertaking, with lots of output transisitors on a huge heatsink and a huge power supply to keep it all going. I'm not sure that it would be worth the effort to build a clone of a high-power quasi-complementary circuit.





Here are some extracts from the service manual. If you want to duplicate those meters and switches on the front panel, it gets even more complicated.

It would be much easier to get an old one and modify it.

BTW, I got the diagrams here:
http://alteclansingunofficial.nlenet...ers/index.html

[bra]

So , maybe it is better to use power end section with National's drivers like LM4702 or LME.....

[indianajo]

Wow, three parallel driver transistors to drive only 4 output transistors. What an effort of design overpowering feeble early parts.

[WithTarragon]

It is unfortunate that you can not a find a used one. in the US they show up frequently on eBay. If that is the same model as the one I remember (it may have been 944something), the bass had a very clean, accurate powerful sound. Remarkably so.

[Stormrider]

The 9440A for 10$ I got was probably my best ever junk sale find/deal. I doubt I will ever match that again on something else.

How about instead of a clone, redesign with lower power in mind using modern parts?