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Inspire by Dennis Had Enjoying Vacuum Tube Audio

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  #5121  
Old 12-06-2018, 07:55 PM
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straitwire straitwire is offline
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That sounds about right to me BearCity, the only thing I can add (for trivia purposes only) is that the first PSE did not have a rectifier tube, then we added tube rectification to the circuit and the customer without tube rectification wanted to have his configured with a rectifier tube so we added a tube socket hole and wired it for tube rectification...
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  #5122  
Old 12-06-2018, 10:03 PM
Bombadil Bombadil is offline
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I find Dennis' designs fascinating. But I wonder if the long term value of his amps is going to be low due to the lack of uniformity, schematics, and available information? I've seen his Motorola-based SE EL84 amps, which originally sold at $1195 (I think), selling for under $500.
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  #5123  
Old 12-06-2018, 11:25 PM
Rosco65 Rosco65 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BearCityUSA View Post
As I understand it there have been2 versions of the PSE. The first, like mine, is on the large chassis running deep. A symmetrical layout with Rect in rear, driver in front surrounded by output tubes. This was designed around the KT-88 tube, 6sn7 and the rectifier was not a rectifier but a IIPS mod. It uses diode rectification. There were a couple of PSE that went out before mine w/o the IIPS upgrade in that DH developed that around the same time. I remember a picture of a chassis with two rectifier sockets so someone out there has tube rectification and the IIPS. Second gen PSEs are layed out with the chassis running long ways side to side. These have (3) gas regulator 'tubes'. There is one of these for sale at the moment on several sites. As I understand the PS with the gas regulators is the only difference but you know how Dennis rolls. Always changing things up.

When getting mine I told Dennis I had not found a KT-88 I liked so no need to supply any. He supplied GL KT-77s instead and said it seemed like he had designed the amp around that tube they ran so well in it. As always system determinate.

I am sure Tony can say more.
I believe I own the last PSE (deep chassis, black with gold) Dennis made without the IIPS. He release the IIPS version almost immediately after I received my amp. Dennis told me to pack it up and he would retrofit the IIPS for free.
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  #5124  
Old 12-07-2018, 08:06 AM
Breakdown7 Breakdown7 is online now
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I have a first generation PSE (deep chassis, black with gold). It was built after the IIPS design was implemented late in 2016. It has a single 5R4 tube towards the back (rectifier/IIPS mod tube), with a 6SN7 up front with the four output tubes. I personally prefer the slim width design and deep depth. Reminds me of the layout he used with the CAD 805's back in the day.

Last edited by Breakdown7; 12-07-2018 at 08:16 AM.
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  #5125  
Old 12-07-2018, 10:57 AM
decooney decooney is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Breakdown7 View Post
..I personally prefer the slim width design and deep depth. Reminds me of the layout he used with the CAD 805's back in the day.
Me too. It's a preference thing I guess. I built my amp stand that way, makes for a nice tidy narrow space since I have other equipment. My SA-280V12R is the same, slim width deep depth, based on the 805 chassis too.
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  #5126  
Old 12-07-2018, 02:54 PM
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BearCityUSA BearCityUSA is offline
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Funny. I am the opposite. I like the wide asymmetrical layouts, but I personally and professionally have an aversion to symmetry. Love my PSE anyway. It means something to know Dennis had me in mind when building it.
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  #5127  
Old 12-08-2018, 06:50 AM
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Beatlebum Beatlebum is offline
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[ATTACH]57397

My badass KT66 based PSE using a 5R4 rectifier and 6SL7 input tube (17-22 wpc depending on output tube used) along with my 45 amp.






Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMG_2790.jpg (79.8 KB, 102 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_1835.jpg (87.3 KB, 103 views)

Last edited by jdandy; 12-08-2018 at 08:53 AM. Reason: enlarge photos
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  #5128  
Old 12-08-2018, 09:25 AM
FloridaBoy FloridaBoy is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bombadil View Post
I find Dennis' designs fascinating. But I wonder if the long term value of his amps is going to be low due to the lack of uniformity, schematics, and available information? I've seen his Motorola-based SE EL84 amps, which originally sold at $1195 (I think), selling for under $500.
Does it really matter? Very few items in the hobby appreciate and I've seen a couple of posts on other forums where vintage McIntosh was sold after Inspire gear was purchased.
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  #5129  
Old 12-08-2018, 01:39 PM
Bombadil Bombadil is offline
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I can understand selling vintage McIntosh gear. People pay crazy prices for that stuff and to my ears it is okay but not great.

As to Inspire gear, my concerns were not about it appreciating but rather rapidly depreciating. Not a big concern for me, but perhaps for others. If one has a PSE Inspire with the voltage regulators and needs it repaired in 10-15 years, what are they going to do? No schematics & a custom circuit. Could a repair shop figure one of them out?
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  #5130  
Old 12-08-2018, 03:37 PM
decooney decooney is offline
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Predicting future monetary value of anything that is low volume custom-made is always a crapshoot. Hand built custom cars, motorcycles, bicycles, functional art, audio gear - same situation. All you can do is hope its built to last and that you can achieve long term use and place a value on the enjoyment you get from it. Any time I buy one-off custom stuff, I first convince myself that I have to be okay with it if i get stuck with it. And, something else that is better always comes along. I can't imagine what original Porsche' 911 owners thought each time a newer/faster/better version came out the first 20 years. Now the very early 911 originals are priceless! Hard to tell what $ something will bring decades later.

I had some nice audio gear made by a decent higher volume manufacturer that I hoped to keep life term. While I had the schematics, you simply could not find or recreate certain parts that were no longer available. No guarantee there either, sold the remains for scrap parts. Or plan to hoard spares and spare parts!

IME not all techs can figure out what another designer/builder was thinking and can sometimes think something is "off" or wired incorrectly if they don't have a schematic of the original design layout. It gets worse if others came along later on and made secondary mods or upgrades. Pop the cover and take lots of photos and build your own documentation if you have nothing else to go on. That's worth something too.

At this price point its a great value no matter what
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