Considering the conversion of my sugden a88 into a power amp.
The pre amp section has all pots noisy and other issues and believe sugden said a good few years back they have no replacements of certain bits.
Think it may be a good option to use as power amp as the pre amp section has a DIN socket at right hand side and looks like power section plugged in via a 5-pin din.
Wondering about a few options to improve things as well. Currently it's 80watt with 10 in class A (character I'd say is the delicious class a/sugden sound but with speed and bass clout of a naim).
I am wondering about whether with better heatsyncs if I could bump it to nearer 20 class A and 80 total. Or would i need better psu as well (currently the design employs two a48 heatsyncs and 2x a48 transformers and iirc 4x10,000 caps.
Also if replacing caps would it be better to get a bank of smaller ones? Or increase number of 10,000's for a bit more reservoir for transients.
If replacing transformers for more ability I guess if I get a dead a48 I could add a third or forth same as the current two? Or would I be better to just replace with a modern larger transformer?
Yep a lot of questions, early days but reckon repairing isn't best option (case is pretty damn tatty too) so could either get a nice plain front panel in brushed aluminum to cover front and keep it in current case...
If anyone has some advice and ideas, comments or thoughts please reply 😉
Thanks
John
The pre amp section has all pots noisy and other issues and believe sugden said a good few years back they have no replacements of certain bits.
Think it may be a good option to use as power amp as the pre amp section has a DIN socket at right hand side and looks like power section plugged in via a 5-pin din.
Wondering about a few options to improve things as well. Currently it's 80watt with 10 in class A (character I'd say is the delicious class a/sugden sound but with speed and bass clout of a naim).
I am wondering about whether with better heatsyncs if I could bump it to nearer 20 class A and 80 total. Or would i need better psu as well (currently the design employs two a48 heatsyncs and 2x a48 transformers and iirc 4x10,000 caps.
Also if replacing caps would it be better to get a bank of smaller ones? Or increase number of 10,000's for a bit more reservoir for transients.
If replacing transformers for more ability I guess if I get a dead a48 I could add a third or forth same as the current two? Or would I be better to just replace with a modern larger transformer?
Yep a lot of questions, early days but reckon repairing isn't best option (case is pretty damn tatty too) so could either get a nice plain front panel in brushed aluminum to cover front and keep it in current case...
If anyone has some advice and ideas, comments or thoughts please reply 😉
Thanks
John
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I had my A88 completely overhauled
Hello sorry for the slow reply, but I have just seen this post. There were only 100 A88s manufactured, so we are owners of a very rare amplifier. I bought mine new in 1983. Last year I had it completely overhauled even down to stripping the sticky paint finish abd respraying the case. The company that did the rebuild is AMS, see the pdf attached. Also a picture of the finished item. I an running it with a pair of Tannoy Revolution XT6F speakers which seem to be a perfect match, trimming the bass which can be boomy in some speakers, but allowing the warmth of the midrange and a crisp high end to gel together magnificently. Unless I spent a ridiculous amount of money (which I do not have) I think I have an amplifier that is hard to beat.
Hello sorry for the slow reply, but I have just seen this post. There were only 100 A88s manufactured, so we are owners of a very rare amplifier. I bought mine new in 1983. Last year I had it completely overhauled even down to stripping the sticky paint finish abd respraying the case. The company that did the rebuild is AMS, see the pdf attached. Also a picture of the finished item. I an running it with a pair of Tannoy Revolution XT6F speakers which seem to be a perfect match, trimming the bass which can be boomy in some speakers, but allowing the warmth of the midrange and a crisp high end to gel together magnificently. Unless I spent a ridiculous amount of money (which I do not have) I think I have an amplifier that is hard to beat.
Attachments
I am very surprised to hear that only 100 were sold.
I have the T48 matching Tuner.
The exterior is a two tone grey "nextel" finish. A furry finish that looks and feels like a very fine short pile velvet.
Unfortunately the 5 mechanical station push switches wore out. It still works using the 6th knob as a multi-turn tuning knob.
Replaced with a Quad FM4.
I have the T48 matching Tuner.
The exterior is a two tone grey "nextel" finish. A furry finish that looks and feels like a very fine short pile velvet.
Unfortunately the 5 mechanical station push switches wore out. It still works using the 6th knob as a multi-turn tuning knob.
Replaced with a Quad FM4.
Andrew, there were only 100-150 or there abouts as they made on commission for someone in. Nigeria iirc. In end they didnt have money or some such problems ensued. Sugden sold them via normal channels.
It is based on a48 but has double the power and double the class-A so about 80w and 10 in class A.
Anyway both my pots (volume and balance are goosed, the selector switches are on way out and there are no spares) and outside was pretty tired when I got it.
The cost to repair (and there are no spares left for selectors) makes it pointless to go through full refurb route (looking after my autistic wee boy means money is short) and tbh the selectors fail eventually on them all so even if I could afford repair it will likely have issues again. If outside (front panel too) was in good order I'd consider that route.
So I have ordered din socket so I can make up a lead from phono to do socket and will try the power amp section with a meridian 541 as the preamp. If it sounds noticeably better than my crimson the power amp route it is.
May mean if any of you guys have an a88 then I could maybe part with my preamp/selector boards etc if you wanted spares to try and work out a way to refurb them.
Will let you know how test goes hope it'll give me something nice. The a88 to me sounded like an a21 rather than 48 but with lots more balls and bass grip/slam. So hopefully adding a modrnish pre of reasonable quality will give me same sugden sound with maybe even more resolving power then a vintage pre section with very old pots and .
Anyway should get din socket in next few days so will report back then on how it sounds.
John
It is based on a48 but has double the power and double the class-A so about 80w and 10 in class A.
Anyway both my pots (volume and balance are goosed, the selector switches are on way out and there are no spares) and outside was pretty tired when I got it.
The cost to repair (and there are no spares left for selectors) makes it pointless to go through full refurb route (looking after my autistic wee boy means money is short) and tbh the selectors fail eventually on them all so even if I could afford repair it will likely have issues again. If outside (front panel too) was in good order I'd consider that route.
So I have ordered din socket so I can make up a lead from phono to do socket and will try the power amp section with a meridian 541 as the preamp. If it sounds noticeably better than my crimson the power amp route it is.
May mean if any of you guys have an a88 then I could maybe part with my preamp/selector boards etc if you wanted spares to try and work out a way to refurb them.
Will let you know how test goes hope it'll give me something nice. The a88 to me sounded like an a21 rather than 48 but with lots more balls and bass grip/slam. So hopefully adding a modrnish pre of reasonable quality will give me same sugden sound with maybe even more resolving power then a vintage pre section with very old pots and .
Anyway should get din socket in next few days so will report back then on how it sounds.
John
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