Hi.
I bought a Heathkit SA-3 integrated amp about a year ago, and after doing a rebuild - new caps/resistors - couldn't get it to work.
So, I tore it down completely, made a new "enclosure" and built a new amp from the "bits"
Powered it up safely, and no blue smoke or magic sparkles.
Sounds very nice with a couple of caveats...
The Volume knob is insanely sensitive. Reaches full volume at about 8/9 o'clock, and if it gets dialled up further, there is no change in volume. It also starts to distort quite a bit before it reaches max volume - gets grainy and "scuzzy" (Max volume is not very loud). Granted, I realize this is a flea watt amp, but I'm running it into 90db speakers and feel it should be louder overall?
I removed both the treble (C10 & C11/R13 & R14) and bass control (C17 & C18/R29 & R30) as I didn't want them and wondering if this might have something to do with it?
Also, there is a small cap (C1 & C2) as well as a resistor (R1 and R2) on the RCA inputs. Wondering what they do? Are they a filter of some sort?
Thank you!
Per
I bought a Heathkit SA-3 integrated amp about a year ago, and after doing a rebuild - new caps/resistors - couldn't get it to work.
So, I tore it down completely, made a new "enclosure" and built a new amp from the "bits"
Powered it up safely, and no blue smoke or magic sparkles.
Sounds very nice with a couple of caveats...
The Volume knob is insanely sensitive. Reaches full volume at about 8/9 o'clock, and if it gets dialled up further, there is no change in volume. It also starts to distort quite a bit before it reaches max volume - gets grainy and "scuzzy" (Max volume is not very loud). Granted, I realize this is a flea watt amp, but I'm running it into 90db speakers and feel it should be louder overall?
I removed both the treble (C10 & C11/R13 & R14) and bass control (C17 & C18/R29 & R30) as I didn't want them and wondering if this might have something to do with it?
Also, there is a small cap (C1 & C2) as well as a resistor (R1 and R2) on the RCA inputs. Wondering what they do? Are they a filter of some sort?
Thank you!
Per