Video output transistors for driving CRTs made fantastic VAS stages, and color TVs had 3 of them. The audio portions were often MJE340 or TIP50 equivalents, operating off the B+, back before they used chipamps. Those were also like gold. Good PNPs were a little scarce and had to be hoarded like the apocalypse was coming. Rewinding transformers was pretty much a given, safe or not, if it saved a week’s (or a month’s) groceries.
There isn’t as much that can be salvaged from today’s equipment, but people are always getting rid of old gear for new. And you don’t get fake transistors if you pull them out of a working Sony amp that the display or computer has gone poof in. When you run into 2 pair of original unobtainium Toshiba outputs it’s always worth the effort to extract them.
What I do see around here more often than not is warnings against using salvaged parts. “Always buy new from Mouser” seems to be the mantra. If I followed that advice I would have simply given up on electronics when I was a teenager.
There isn’t as much that can be salvaged from today’s equipment, but people are always getting rid of old gear for new. And you don’t get fake transistors if you pull them out of a working Sony amp that the display or computer has gone poof in. When you run into 2 pair of original unobtainium Toshiba outputs it’s always worth the effort to extract them.
What I do see around here more often than not is warnings against using salvaged parts. “Always buy new from Mouser” seems to be the mantra. If I followed that advice I would have simply given up on electronics when I was a teenager.
When we closed and sold the shop's building in 2016, I brought home BOXES/CRATES of inventory/stock from there.
Hundreds of transistors, caps galore, resistors, tubes,transformers, etc.
Not to mention a nice selection of test equipment and such..
I'm set...... for life. 😱
After renovating my basement into a mini-shop area, it's been my sanctuary for the past few years now. - and it's STILL making me money on the side!
I love it! 😀
But I still have issues with overpriced stuff - I know well it's inflated to the max for the greedy ones.
This is common across the board in industry.....
A GE Monogram dishwasher replacement control board - GE wanted $550 for it.
A lousy relay board with a couple of chips, measuring 8 inches by 4 inches!
Nothing on it of precious value - maybe cost $40 to build - perhaps less in quantity.
I set GE straight on my disgust, and told them I'm a tech and not some dummy..... they put me on hold for a few minutes - came back with a $150 price, shipped.
WOW.....much better, more sane.
You gotta lay it on the line with these creeps, including the audio world.
Hundreds of transistors, caps galore, resistors, tubes,transformers, etc.
Not to mention a nice selection of test equipment and such..
I'm set...... for life. 😱
After renovating my basement into a mini-shop area, it's been my sanctuary for the past few years now. - and it's STILL making me money on the side!
I love it! 😀
But I still have issues with overpriced stuff - I know well it's inflated to the max for the greedy ones.
This is common across the board in industry.....
A GE Monogram dishwasher replacement control board - GE wanted $550 for it.
A lousy relay board with a couple of chips, measuring 8 inches by 4 inches!
Nothing on it of precious value - maybe cost $40 to build - perhaps less in quantity.
I set GE straight on my disgust, and told them I'm a tech and not some dummy..... they put me on hold for a few minutes - came back with a $150 price, shipped.
WOW.....much better, more sane.
You gotta lay it on the line with these creeps, including the audio world.
That was probably the wholesale price, which any contractor with a dealers license would have already gotten. $550 plus $200 labor and tax on top of that is what the “repairman” would have charged you.
That is unfortunately how the economy works - moving money around from area of low concentration to area of high concentration. And of course we all know the first law of thermodynamics is in full force.
That is unfortunately how the economy works - moving money around from area of low concentration to area of high concentration. And of course we all know the first law of thermodynamics is in full force.
Yes, that is backwards - which is possible with the application of energy of course. But the first law states that energy (wealth) cannot be created or destroyed - only moved around. The total amount of either remains fixed. Goes into one pocket only if it comes out of another. Keep it from coming out of yours - you do have some control over the rate.
Wealth is indeed created. We made it up! The entire monetary system is nothing more than numbers in a computer system created and controlled by the ruling class.
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I like money, it’s a huge convenience. Imagine we go back to barter, how many chickens for a pair of output transistors and how do I ship these chickens to the guy in Japan who’s selling them ?
Agreed... Although it's very annoying to have to convert Canadian dollars into US dollars to buy something from a person in China that will convert it into Yuan. Of course at each conversion, some rich bankers get a little more money. 
The image I'm getting,
Is one of a lack of focus,
With tonal shadings, that are overly brown.
And yellow.
Like the vast majority of listeners,
I prefer to blame the speakers.
Since you seem to want us to blame the amplifier,
I'll do that instead.
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And what's up,
With the Glaring Safety Hazard?
Is it really your neighbors house?
Or are you trying to hide something?
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As with All posts, from this poser,
The usual disclaimer -
J/K
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I don't quite understand your comments, sorry.
What "glaring safety hazard"?
And yes, the camera is an older Iphone, and the lighting is poor, however I trust people would ignore that, and view the photo as it is.
Here's a close-up of my amp in case you want a better shot.
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The only thing I see is a missing switch plate on the wall switch... Only a hazard if you're a moron.
I see that!
And I also have to say is that my neighbor is in the process of changing some wall plates to match the decor over there, since I saw a bunch of new plates on the dining room table.
But for gods sakes, why would anyone viewing the photo that I posted, want to even bring that trivial subject up... IF it was the previous snarky remark about a "safety hazard"?
Are some people THAT petty or obsessed with things?
I can assume that on here, and many other sites - people bickering over dumb crap and nitpicking over tiny blemishes on things.
Some people really need to get a grip. 😱
"Oh!..... the dustcover on my turntable has a blemish!....... I can't sleep at night because of it!.....my world is falling apart!"
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I think we are all under pressure, and easily provoked. If someone has a go at me, (rather than a valid criticism) I think it just best to let them live with their own need to do such things, knowing that it is not on a valid intellectual basis.
People with such needs will not see truth even when it is shown to them;
"A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still"
We neglect rigorous truthfulness to our own detriment.
People with such needs will not see truth even when it is shown to them;
"A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still"
We neglect rigorous truthfulness to our own detriment.
I agree.
However,
Not all of us are easily provoked.
And it helps to realize,
This isn't all that serious.
Which cartoon character said,
My life isn't a tragedy.
Its a comedy!.
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The entire content, was a joke.
The first part, written in the style of early stereophile,
And abso!ute sound magazines.
Which evidently are from a time period, so far back,
Is now irevalent , and nearly forgotten.
Being old sucks ....
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Another joke
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I agree.
However,
Not all of us are easily provoked.
And it helps to realize,
This isn't all that serious.
Which cartoon character said,
My life isn't a tragedy.
Its a comedy!.
I think Henry Miller said that if we view life through the emotions it is a tragedy, but with the intellect, a comedy.
I built one of those like 20 years ago to use with my computer. I had some LM1875's laying around, some spare time, mix in a bunch of new and used junk drawer parts, a case scavenged from some unknown something I picked up years before at a surplus store, and instant (well, it took a couple of days) amplifier! And the damned thing actually sounds pretty good. Does that count?
Mike
I would never spend that kind of money on a car but dang Koenigsegg makes some incredible cars. I would love to spend a day at the track with one of those things.
I have watched several YouTube videos explaining all of the cool automotive tech they have invented, and how it works. Money that rich people spend does advance the start of the art, and maybe someday we can all drive this kind of tech.
I have spending most of my time organizing stuff. The last 4 days spent on 4 huge boxes full of SMD parts that I got real cheap or free.
You built it, you like it, of course it counts...unless you like spending big money on audio stuff. If I come across a power supply suitable for lighting up a few LM3886's, I may play with them too.
I have uncovered enough stuff for several zero buck tube amps too. I'm thinking, how much good sounding power can I get from $5 worth of tubes?
How many we see depends on how long the virus lockdown lasts, and whether the weather is good enough to make PC boards.....I prefer to do that stuff outside.