Need opinion about Mitsubishi DA-A10DC Power Amplifier

[djn]

There is on available locally for 350 and i need an amp to drive my woofers. Anyone use this amp?

 

[djk]

Good sounding, fragile, and filter caps un-obtanium.

$350 seems about twice what its worth.

 

[djn]

No one else?

 

[djk]

It's 40 years old.

I was a dealer and authorized service center (back in the day).

 

[djn]

I looked it up on past sales on ebay and 350 seems much to high im going to pass.

 

[globalplayer]

Being japanese and looking high-end it probably sounds very good.
No idea about bass performance though.

Mitsubishi DA-A10DC - Manual - Stereo Power Amplifier - HiFi Engine

 

[djk]

They do sound good, but do not like less than 8Ω.

Checking completed auctions, $200 seems more typical.

I know of nowhere to find those dual section filter caps.

 

[cumbb]

Hihi;-)
Bought that amp. Antique, the parts;-) Common circuits, common "erection" - for the most;-)
Sounds horrible. Gray, flat, curtained, grainy, rustling ... a lot of noise. What else;-?!
Removed the boards and used trafos and caps to build a (nearly) JLH - choke including (second trafo).

You could use germanium-transes: TO-3-fixings;-)

 

[cumbb]

... to face the horrible sound;-)-;

 

[djk]

It sounded better than a Hafler DH200, or a Crown D150.

What amps from that era do you favor?

 

[globalplayer]

... to face the horrible sound;-)-;

"Horrible" might be exaggerated.
It has a low damping factor though so low impedance loads might be not that good of a idea.

 

[cumbb]

Pioneer SA-500 do buy;-))) The best solid state of Pioneer. Ever.
Or a SM-700. Beauty;-)
NO KIDDING! But, you have to modify a lot;-!!!

As example;-)

 

[globalplayer]

Upgrade the output stage I presume.

 

[cumbb]

... of ...-?

 

[ilimzn]

... of ...-?

How about you restored it before pulling it apart, how did you expect something 40 years old would sound, especially after going through who knows what during that time?
I truly hate it when people do that, except if the unit is not fit for anything else but parting out due to mechanical damage and cosmetics that cannot be restored to a reasonable level.
None of the vintage stuff sounds like in it's day, and it's almost a miracle if you find a piece that comes close, usually if it worked fairly regularly and in a good environment. If it sat somewhere in a basement or cellar for a decade, it's not going to be even close. Plus, some parts then were not as good regarding longevity, especially some early plastic case transistors - many parameters would degrade, in exploitation it would mostly be perceived as excess noise.
Properly restored, it's a (very) different story.

 

[globalplayer]

... of ...-?

The Pioneer?

 

[cumbb]

Good sound does not depend on age. But this 40 years old stuff sounds as horrible as every actual ML or Krell or Accu: "...the unit is not fit...". I want listen music, not drive washing machines or elevators or mowers;-)
... or collect garbage.

Pioneer: I would separate ground and chassis - not use the chassis as circuit, replace all the wires, remove the first stage of the power amp, remove the line amp, replace all the solder joints with new - a little bit other.-) And many more.

 

[analog_sa]

Pioneer SA-500 do buy;-))) The best solid state of Pioneer. Ever.

What could possibly beat a cap-coupled quasicomp class B?

I think i know the answer: a NAD3020

 

[djn]

I decided to spendmy money on having my Carver M1.5T amp rebuilt. I like the looks of the Mit, but i think the Carver will sound better.

 

[djk]

"but i think the Carver will sound better. "

After some freshening up, I think you will be right.

I am really fond of the later M1.0T