Leave the upgrading to the professionals. KT88 Alps volume control. Panasonic volume control. Stepped Attentuator

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Upgrades & Repairs

Leave the upgrading to the professionals.

KT88 valves , 6550 valves , 300B valves ,
"Click stop" volume control , Alps volume control , Panasonic volume control , "Stepped" attenuator , heavy duty selector switch

Some of customers prefer our inexpensive valve amplifiers to
£3,600 Naim , £8,000 Chord , £1,400 Musical Fidelity ,
Quad , Audiolab , Arcam , etc, so our amplifiers does NOT need "unauthorized" upgrading !

Our more expensive amplifiers uses transformers that cost £250 + £150 + £250 = £650.

Do you think that changing £10 volume control or £5 capacitor
will make more difference than £650 of transformers ?

It is interesting that salesman who recommend £10 volume control or £5 capacitors
use smallish cheaper transformers !

If you want the amplifier upgraded,
you must get it done by us.

This is not a con to get money out of you !

These are the reasons why upgrades must be done by us.

This might sound pretty obvious but
you cannot put KT88 valves into amplifiers designed for EL34 valves !

We use "fixed bias" and
KT88 valves need 10 volt to 20 volts more negative bias than EL34 valves.

If you do not understand what I am writing about,
do not tamper with the amplifier. You will damage the valves and your amplifier.
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing ! Do not tamper with the amplifier.

If you want to use KT88 valves in our EL34,
telephone us on England 01634 268662

You cannot upgrade the EL34 valves,
without damaging the "tamper proof" seals on the CE safety cage
and losing your 2 years guarantee.

This might sound pretty obvious but
you cannot put 6550 valves or 300B valve
into most (but not all) amplifiers
designed for EL34 valves or KT88 valves !

300B valves and the "screen grid" of the 6550 valve have a "design - maximum value" of 450 volts.
But the "design - centre value" should be about 400 volts OR LESS !

Our EL34 valves and KT88 valves will tolerate much higher voltage,
so we have a big safety margin,
and we can give 2 years guarantee for our EL34 and KT88 valves in our amplifiers.

If you want to design a reliable amplifier,
use a valve or transistor,
that will cope with the high voltage,
and still have a big safety margin !

It is plain common sense.

Why don't you ask manufacturers of 6550 valve amplifier and 300B valve amplifier
to give 2 years guarantee on their amplifier AND VALVES.

You cannot upgrade the EL34 valves,
without damaging the "tamper proof" seals on the CE safety cage
and losing your 2 years guarantee.

Replacement valves cost £50 for the entire set of 4 big EL34 and 4 small 5670 valves
has 1 year guarantee, which is reasonable for £50 worth of goods !

This might sound pretty obvious but
you cannot put ECC83 , ECC82 , ECC81 , ECC88 ... and so on ... valves
into amplifiers designed for 5670 and 6N3 valves !

The "pins" and the "sockets" looks the same,
but the connection inside these valves are different.

This might sound pretty obvious but
you cannot put 5670 and 6N3 valves into amplifiers
designed for ECC83 , ECC82 , ECC81 , ECC88 ... and so on...... valves !

The "pins" and the "sockets" looks the same,
but the connection inside these valves are different.

If you do not understand what I am writing about,
do not tamper with the amplifier. You will damage the valves and your other amplifier !
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing ! Do not tamper with the amplifier.

Volume control

We use a good quality volume control with "click stops".

Money back guarantee (less £30 for UK return carriage, within 30 days) that
our amplifier with "click stop" volume control will sound better than
most (but not all) transistor amplifier or most (but not all) valve amplifier
with Alps volume control or Panasonic volume control
or volume control made by the "King's New Clothes" company !

If you think that your transistor or valve amplifier
with Alps volume control or Panasonic volume control sound better,
we will refund your money (less £30 for UK return carriage, within 30 days)

You cannot upgrade the volume control,
without damaging the "tamper proof" seals
and losing your 2 years guarantee.

It is a stupid idea to ?upgrade? to a "stepped" attenuator,
because the signal in most (but not all) "stepped" attenuator goes through

lead of a resistor, the resistor, lead of this resistor,
solder joint, tin plating, PCB track, tin plating, solder joint

lead of a another resistor, another resistor, lead of this other resistor,
solder joint, tin plating, PCB track, tin plating, solder joint

... and again ... and again ... and again ... and again .... and again ...and again ...
and again ... and again ... and again .. and again ... and again ...and again ...

After the signal has gone through
HUNDREDS of these "parts" of the "stepped" attenuator,
how can the signal still sound good ?

Many years ago, somebody was selling a "high end" stepped attenuator
in an almost empty box, with exotic wires.
"Stepped" attenuator was fashionable at that time, and he sold it at a huge price,
until a Hi Fi reviewer challenged the hype, and denounced it as mediocre Hi Fi ,
in an almost empty box, at an outrageous price !

Please do not think that "stepped" attenuator is a new idea !
"Stepped" attenuator is a old idea, that was discarded many years ago,
for "high end" equipment !

"Stepped" attenuator is a good idea for laboratories doing measurements.
But since the more "fashionable" Hi Fi reviewers laugh at laboratory measurements .........

    You cannot upgrade the volume control,
    without damaging the "tamper proof" seals
    and losing your 2 years guarantee.

Selector switch

We use a heavy duty selector switch.

It has a METAL shaft in a METAL housing / bearing.

For some strange reason, we have some upgraders who claim that
selector switch with PLASTIC shaft and PLASTIC housing / bearing are very good.

Yeah ! Right ! Very funny, pull the other leg, it got bells on it !

Our selector switch is HEAVY DUTY METAL shaft & bearing,
so it will be a bit stiff. I apologize for the stiff action, but
most HEAVY DUTY METAL equipment are more stiff than CHEAP PLASTIC parts !

Occasionally, a customer might damage the METAL selector switch !
How long will a PLASTIC selector switch last ?