Amp/Preamp Asylum

Update on my BGW amp

38.15.201.120

SoundMann

A

I finally managed to change the capacitors in this thing. I had to resort to mauling one of the clamps in order to do it. If one thing is clear, the designer never intended for this amp to be serviced.
Anyway, I fitted it with 2 new 18,000uF Nippon Chemicon caps, plus a new Cera-Mite ceramic as the original Sprague appears to be unattainable.
The amp sounds much bolder in its presentation, with fuller and more controlled bass too boot.
I have just received some pure copper banana plugs which will terminate a new set of 12 guage cables which in turn will replace the current 16 guage cables I have been using. It's damping factor should further improve.

Edits: 07/16/24

Follow Ups:

RE: Update on my BGW amp - SoundMann 19:10:13 07/17/24 (2)
Well, I am happy to report that this amp is turning out to be one of the best I have ever owned. I have istalled the new speaker wires, and now I have the cleanest and tightest bass that I have heard from these modules.

I still have a full week of burn in, but it is already producing an ideal amount of imaging, transparency and balance while it more than hints at the optimum amount warmth and liquidity.

At this point, I greatly prefer it to the defective Onkyo amp I purchased around Christmas time last year.
- RE: Update on my BGW amp - triode3 02:53:07 07/18/24 (1)
  I am late to reading your other post where you just got the 250D, but just wanted to say...
  
  Many decades ago I had a 750C. Someone gave it to me (was broken) and after repairs I always found it quite amazing. I never told my audiophile friends, as we always considered them "PA" or "touring" amps, and not "Laboratory amps" as BGW called them.
  
  Fast forward to today, I have a 250D and use it as my reference amplifier. Glad to hear someone else (other than the rumors that Klipsch used them as a reference amp, not sure if that is good or bad really, I do not care for Klipsch) considers it a good amplifier. Their little one rack unit amps are also really great for secondary rooms.
  - RE: Update on my BGW amp - SoundMann 03:07:35 07/18/24 (0)
    Thank you for your response triode. I am using the amp without an active or passive preamp (my current one is capable of both) as the amp sounds best being driven directly by the source.
    
    Instead, I use the recording out jacks so that the preamp only serves as a source selector.
Small suggestion - E-Stat 17:16:28 07/16/24 (3)
When I replaced the big Mallorys in a Stasis 3, I also added 1 uF film bypass caps across the terminals. That is now standard fare for modern amps to refine the top end. Neither expensive nor difficult to implement.
- RE: Small suggestion - SoundMann 17:36:42 07/16/24 (2)
  Adding a small bypass cap was entertained, but I find the amp to have an optimal level of refinement already.
  - It's not too late - Ozzie 15:12:08 07/23/24 (1)
    Add the cap. It is a very cheap addition.
    - RE: It's not too late - SoundMann 20:59:45 07/29/24 (0)
      I already have a stiff ceramic strapped across the rectifier.

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