It looks like Transcendar is gone for real this time. I had a pair made by them less than a year ago then I tried to get another pair and they said they were too backed up to take orders. Now my last two emails have gone unanswered. Too bad because they were great for the money, now what will I do? Any ideas on better than Hammond but faster than Edcor?
I think you might find transcendar is still there.
(was 20 mins ago**, then I tried to call their phone.....disconnected..OUCH!)
I got some cryptic answer from him 6 months ago, and if you realise the supply chains problems it's highly likely, like most businesses it's a mess after the crisis of the last 2 years.
I decided to not to bother him for a while for a transformer nobody else makes, and are the best of the best.
I would be quite bothered if they disappeared for good, **and that does appear to be the case.
(That's [was] for a miniaturised PPP transformer which knocks out full band width 50W, and is a faithful reverse engineered replica of the original 1960s item).
I have just 2 left, (unused) and ONE spare.
(was 20 mins ago**, then I tried to call their phone.....disconnected..OUCH!)
I got some cryptic answer from him 6 months ago, and if you realise the supply chains problems it's highly likely, like most businesses it's a mess after the crisis of the last 2 years.
I decided to not to bother him for a while for a transformer nobody else makes, and are the best of the best.
I would be quite bothered if they disappeared for good, **and that does appear to be the case.
(That's [was] for a miniaturised PPP transformer which knocks out full band width 50W, and is a faithful reverse engineered replica of the original 1960s item).
I have just 2 left, (unused) and ONE spare.
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The little 15W Edcors sounds good to me, are a nice size and have UL taps, but like you said, they take forever to get. I ordered two pairs for some projects recently and it took almost 2 months (which is better than a year ago!). But they were less than $50 each.
I have used the GXSE15-8-5K and GXSE15-8-3.5K on several amps and they do sound pretty good.
Not in the same league as Transcendar though.
I would expect the CXSE series to be closer.
Not in the same league as Transcendar though.
I would expect the CXSE series to be closer.
That’s just after I got my last pair from him.
I might have to go with Electra Print but they are over $500 a pair as apposed to $200 for the Transcendars. What a huge loss to the community!
I already have a Toroidy PSU transformer specially made to order with exactly the right combo of windings.
I had them wind 5 seperate isolated secondaries...for 250VA ultra compact 520-450-330, 330, 24CT, 6.3 & 12.6V. A real gem!
The transformer supplies a genuine 100W RMS output from 2 x 50W channels under full load.
Toroidy do make good power toroids, and there are other Polish firms too, one of whom made my gorgeous 750VA 220-110V power convertor transfo I got as NOS USSR stock for about 25USD.
For us, the PL price inc delivery is dead on, with voltage stability under high loads, better than my old Parmeko/Gardners oil cooled C core stuff.
I wouldn't go near a toroid output transformer tho, as it's not a patch on genuine Partridge or UTC LS series.
The co in PL (which is quite close to us in fact), cannot make anything even close to the output transformers that Transcendar made, - an exact copy of the absolutely outstanding 1960s Scott model, which both measures well, and sounds fantastic.
Being an ultra compact transformer design with really quite astonishing performance (Berning also used them in his amps), I simply don't know what to do to replace them, as they really are "golden age" stuff.
I can't scrap old amps for parts, like people are doing with Marantz, and only have a limited number of drop through units from the 60s with roughly similar characteristics.
Adding to that I need 50 of them.. 😱
I had them wind 5 seperate isolated secondaries...for 250VA ultra compact 520-450-330, 330, 24CT, 6.3 & 12.6V. A real gem!
The transformer supplies a genuine 100W RMS output from 2 x 50W channels under full load.
Toroidy do make good power toroids, and there are other Polish firms too, one of whom made my gorgeous 750VA 220-110V power convertor transfo I got as NOS USSR stock for about 25USD.
For us, the PL price inc delivery is dead on, with voltage stability under high loads, better than my old Parmeko/Gardners oil cooled C core stuff.
I wouldn't go near a toroid output transformer tho, as it's not a patch on genuine Partridge or UTC LS series.
The co in PL (which is quite close to us in fact), cannot make anything even close to the output transformers that Transcendar made, - an exact copy of the absolutely outstanding 1960s Scott model, which both measures well, and sounds fantastic.
Being an ultra compact transformer design with really quite astonishing performance (Berning also used them in his amps), I simply don't know what to do to replace them, as they really are "golden age" stuff.
I can't scrap old amps for parts, like people are doing with Marantz, and only have a limited number of drop through units from the 60s with roughly similar characteristics.
Adding to that I need 50 of them.. 😱
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I’m not big on output toroidal but I do use Antek power transformers. They are great value and always in stock!
I got two nice OPT's from Primary windings in the UK recently, very affordable, but they took a while but I think you'll find this wherever you go. There are several other firms too, Majestic, Cantebury etc,though with the UK leaving the EU your delivery may be problematic. Or may not?
There's this chap in Poland - Ogonowski.eu - profesjonalne transformatry do wzmacniaczy lampowych might be worth contacting
Andy.
There's this chap in Poland - Ogonowski.eu - profesjonalne transformatry do wzmacniaczy lampowych might be worth contacting
Andy.
Cottage industries are big in the UK, not so much here in the states. Shipping of a heavy unit from anywhere overseas is a slow, expense proposition!
That has got to be understatement of the year!
I've been doing import/export with the UK for 35yrs and it's come to a complete standstill, ie. nothing moving in 6 months, so I just took the summer off and gave up!
Luckily all the heavy stuff I really needed from the UK and USA (2 ton+ of it) I imported over the previous 2 years, cos I knew what would come next.
So,with "Theresa the amazer" and the endless shinnanigins with Princess Nutnuts, and the others, for 2016-2020 those of us who relied on supply chains have simply had to cut out the UK altogether since the end of dec 2020.
I know I am not alone in this.
Some companies like JCB are hemorraging customers and people I know in the trade are finding other suppliers eg. in France.
Ie.
One false move and you are dead.
I have to say contacts with Transcendar (Gerry) were not what I expect of a reliable professional supplier, then when their web site goes out, and nobody answers the phone.....it's over!
So, yet another big PL transformer co is INDEL, who do a large array of goods (lots of EI trans) at unbeatable prices, and have distributors all over the ex-USSR.
There are also seem to be some excellent Italian winding companies, who appear to have an outlet in UK now. INMADOUT Transformers
who appear to have an outlet in UK now in Missenden.
If they are as good as this..it may be an option...
And of course askjanfirst.com is great to deal with.
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Yes, a total foxtrot uniform of major proportions would be more apposite. Could say more but we are where we are, well and truly up the smelly end of the creek without a paddling device.
Thanks for the heads re in MADout tfmr's, how do they compare on price? Are we talking audiophile prices? And lastly is it one bloke inna shed or a proper transformer winding form, IE likely to be next week?
Andy.
Hammond never sound good to my ears! I wish they did so my search would be over.
I agree with you Hammond transformers are crap.
Power transformers buzz and run hot, and outputs have absolutely nothing to offer musically.
I stopped buying them years ago.
It says made in Canada on them ,however if you take them apart you see Chinses workmanship.
Art
Power transformers buzz and run hot, and outputs have absolutely nothing to offer musically.
I stopped buying them years ago.
It says made in Canada on them ,however if you take them apart you see Chinses workmanship.
Art
Excuse me, did I read this right? Princess Nutnuts offers quality audio transformers for sale??
Lol!
I love that name! Being a yank, who is Princess Nutnuts referring to? Boris the Johnson?
Lol!
I love that name! Being a yank, who is Princess Nutnuts referring to? Boris the Johnson?
I'll disagree on the Hammond comments. I've built quite a few amps by now with Hammond PT's and they are a good product. I used Edcor too a few times and they buzzed just as much in a given circuit.
I've used the Hammond P-P OPT's in a Tubelab SPP and the sound was Excellent.
Finale Audio uses them extensively too.
For SE though I would probably choose something else.
Besides Edcor, and ElectraPrint which I've used in the past, you could also try ISO(ex-Tango) or Hashimoto if this is a somewhat premium build.
ISO FC-20S would probably end up around $550 total, ISO FC-12S $400 (if you could live with 12W).
Hashimoto HC-203U about $500 shipped, shipped from the importer in Michican (Isao).
NP-Acoustics have gotten good reviews but I never tried. A pair of 18W SE would be under $500 shipped.
Lundahl 1623 from K&K Audio, probably around $500 shipped.
I've used the Hammond P-P OPT's in a Tubelab SPP and the sound was Excellent.
Finale Audio uses them extensively too.
For SE though I would probably choose something else.
Besides Edcor, and ElectraPrint which I've used in the past, you could also try ISO(ex-Tango) or Hashimoto if this is a somewhat premium build.
ISO FC-20S would probably end up around $550 total, ISO FC-12S $400 (if you could live with 12W).
Hashimoto HC-203U about $500 shipped, shipped from the importer in Michican (Isao).
NP-Acoustics have gotten good reviews but I never tried. A pair of 18W SE would be under $500 shipped.
Lundahl 1623 from K&K Audio, probably around $500 shipped.
