Fellers--I need a name and email address and a site with some feedback to reply. Since I travel more now, please allow a couple of days for response--if I am mobile. Thanks so much. Soon, I will move this to other sites as well--,meanwhile, I am still enjoying them--sort of saying goodbye.FOR SALE OR TRADE: Very, very nice pair of Heathkit W5 monoblocks professionally modified by two highly experienced tube amp pros to extract the musicality of the special breed of 6L6: the 6AR6 tube. Premium parts used by the well known and highly regarded tube circuitry artist ( name on request--he is perhaps the most creative tube amp designer in the DIY domain--and his moniker is shared by my favorite Santana album, as a hint)to do some more black magic and cerebral expression to take the sound a step further, which he did. Background: If you like the GL6 tube sound, which I do, but feel it puts out a wee bit too much upper midrange glare ('shouty'), these modified amps take care of that so nicely with the 6AR6 tube that is properly juiced, such that the sound is transformed to a warm-of-neutral seductive, holographic and transparent sound--especially midrange tone, EVEN on horn speakers--like from Klipsch--or other full range single driver speakers, particularly those that are ribbon- or super-tweeter complemented. The 6AR6 is a premium tube, invented for long life and efficient electron transfer with new plate materials and coating technology. The Ultralinear output transformers of the Heath W5 monoblocks with their Peerless 16458--arguably are among the best output transformers ever made (flat: 1-80K Hz). Male and female voices portrayed with SET-like realism,but also extended highs and tight lows. The damping factor for the Heaths is 50, which is quite excellent for a tube amp. I hear this on the 15" Cornall woofer and Hammer S-12 lovely driver, which in fact must have OPTs in tube amps with excellent damping characteristics driving it. Furthermore, the S/N is ~100 dB--literally unheard of back in the day. On my Cornwalls and Hammer S-12 98 dB speakers, these blocks are virtually dead quiet, unless you listen as if they are a headphone, with ear right up to drivers--and even then--virtually noise free. It puts out 20 solid watts per channel and has adjustable fixed-bias
(the only true way to go to get maximum power and dampening) with easy to use bias-level and bias balance controls on each block to ensure perfect push-pull tube matching--no matched pairs even needed. Except for the world-class iron and original cases--which are in quite nice shape with nicce badged cages--all the parts underneath are new and very high audiophile quality. I will post more pictures of the outstanding workmanship and high quality parts. If you search Audio Asylum, you will find a few acknowledged tube audiophiles expressing their surprise at how good the 6AR6 sounds--and note--they were not privileged to have custom designed Heath W5! These monoblocks will come with two strong matched quads of the old-style TS 6AR6 tubes. Although you do not require matched tubes due to the military grade balance and bias pots adjusters, a matched quad is always better to start with, ensuring all tubes will age similarly and in balance. The drivers and signal tubes have been optimized to take 6CG7 and EF86 (instead of a pair of 12AU7, which originally was a horrible choice by Heath, because they 'veiled' the sound and compressed the sound stage. meaning they sounded too 'tubey').
The blocks should give a lifetime of service, reliably, including top-shelf tube rolling options. Just look as the expert soldering and elegantly laid out circuitry. More pictures to come. Given the age, I am rating at 7/10 'vintage-audio standards'. One amp is in outstanding condition (9/10 given the age) and another is quite respectable (6-7/10), but with more wear on chassis. Comes with the two original tube cages. Heathkit put the buck into the iron, not the casing. These are very special amps, I assure you. DEAD quiet on my 97 dB speakers--and they will be very if not dead quiet even on 103 dB sensitive speakers! If you are local to Philly, you can even try them out, I accept returns if not delighted. Thanks I only reply to AA or Agon members who have feedback elsewhere and also supply me with their user name on Agon and email address. My feedback as this same seller name is spotless on Agon, here, Ebay and HeadFi. Thanks.
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