Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,063
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Post by Bigman80 on Aug 2, 2018 17:29:53 GMT
I bet there is nothing in either the Lk1 or the Kairn that a competent engineer can't fix. I've always regarded this fixation with whether the manufacturer 'has spares' to be one of the more amusing things about hi-fi enthusiasts. I mean it's an amplifier, not the space shuttle. It can always be fixed even if the manufacturer went out of business a century ago. Even if there is a specific op-amp that is no longer made there will still be a work-around. Although admittedly that will take more time and money. Youd be right as I understand. Used to know the service engineer at my local dealer before he emigrated. He reckoned LK1 bits could be had easily but he did speak to Darran whenever he had an LK1 issue as the guy apparently knows them inside out. Given that mates have had them too and only 1 issue between us, i reckon its a good shout as long as you are ok to fit a battery if needed. |
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Post by dsjr on Aug 2, 2018 17:33:44 GMT
There's one on fleabay for a ton. looks good physically, but the logic board doesn't work and the battery has been removed. I'm tempted to stretch my Paypal credit to give it a try for old time's sake, but as the battery is removed I'm thinking it's been replaced and still doesn't work. I am aware of the button-lock 'feature' but the issues I refer to are complete failure of the board and the leds illuminating like a Christmas tree. I don't have the income to waste a ton if the thing is un-serviceable, or going to cost fifty quid at least more to get someone to fix it when it's only a project. I've already got a good MM phono stage as you know and with the vero-pins added, it can be more easily converted to MC if necessary...
Seriously westie, where and when did you get your cheapo LK1's from? Do any of your mates still use them? They're thirty or more years old now remember...
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Post by dsjr on Aug 2, 2018 17:37:27 GMT
People, you must be 18 or over to chat with DSJR. I'll get my coat. S. Shane, there's only ONE HiFi item I ever shed tears over having to give up, and that was the ATC 100A's, which I miss to this day. Not that I ever 'wet meself' over them mind. |
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,063
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Post by Bigman80 on Aug 2, 2018 17:38:54 GMT
There's one on fleabay for a ton. looks good physically, but the logic board doesn't work and the battery has been removed. I'm tempted to stretch my Paypal credit to give it a try for old time's sake, but as the battery is removed I'm thinking it's been replaced and still doesn't work. I am aware of the button-lock 'feature' but the issues I refer to are complete failure of the board and the leds illuminating like a Christmas tree. I don't have the income to waste a ton if the thing is un-serviceable, or going to cost fifty quid at least more to get someone to fix it when it's only a project. I've already got a good MM phono stage as you know and with the vero-pins added, it can be more easily converted to MC if necessary... Seriously westie, where and when did you get your cheapo LK1's from? Do any of your mates still use them? They're thirty or more years old now remember... Honestly Dave, its not worth it. You can get fully working ones for that or less. If you like, I will grab one cheap and loan it to you. I bet I can get one wihin 3 months  I've had LK1/2 or 280 for under £200 a few times. £100 for a non working one is robbery. Yeah, I'm a cheapskate!I tend to haunt Ebay Newly listed "Buy it Nows". One mate still has an LK1. He's used it for about 6 years. only a battery replaced.  |
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,063
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Post by Bigman80 on Aug 2, 2018 17:41:12 GMT
DSJR, Stop humping that AP20!!!! S. I'd be lying if I said I didn't titter! AP20 is a sweetspot in NVA goodness for me. Only a lack of bass stops it being a killer,. but its not like it ruins it. Its just a bit light. |
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Post by dsjr on Aug 2, 2018 18:28:32 GMT
Yet you didn't care for the A80's which use the same boards and have larger power supplies in all-perspex form anyway, the earlier ones used different board layout. Anyway, I'd be happy to have an LK1 to try if it's cheap, in pretty good nick and preferably with remote too. Not a power amp though please  |
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,063
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Post by Bigman80 on Aug 2, 2018 18:38:24 GMT
Yet you didn't care for the A80's which use the same boards and have larger power supplies in all-perspex form anyway, the earlier ones used different board layout. Anyway, I'd be happy to have an LK1 to try if it's cheap, in pretty good nick and preferably with remote too. Not a power amp though please All NVA amps should sound very similar because they are all basically the same amp with more and bigger transformers and caps. For some reason the A80s were rubbish. They hadn't been tampered with so I don't know why they sounded so poor. I had recently had the 4 A40s which were the best I'd had from NVA. I later had an AP10PX which lacked grunt but was still more enjoyable than the A80s. All the NVAs were beaten by an Audion Sterling running KT90s though. That was a great little amp.Best valve amp I have had by some margin. I had a much dearer Audion which didnt quite do it for me, but that one was memorable. |
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Post by macca on Aug 2, 2018 18:46:29 GMT
I bet there is nothing in either the Lk1 or the Kairn that a competent engineer can't fix. I've always regarded this fixation with whether the manufacturer 'has spares' to be one of the more amusing things about hi-fi enthusiasts. I mean it's an amplifier, not the space shuttle. It can always be fixed even if the manufacturer went out of business a century ago. Even if there is a specific op-amp that is no longer made there will still be a work-around. Although admittedly that will take more time and money. Youd be right as I understand. This is what my double E mate tells me. So far he has fixed everything I have given him. Even a B&O CD6500 that everyone told me to bin, way too complex to sort. He's using that in his own system now. Useful bloke. He can fix televisions too, all types. |
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