I just sent my S500 to Jon to have it upgraded. Jon said he could turn it from a class A/AB to class A up to 160 watts that would make it like a stereo SA1. I can't wait to hear just how the upgrade will sound. New caps, fast recovery rectifiers, cardas binding posts, new power switch and I should have a new amp. I owned an SA/4e when they first came out and like an idiot sold it about 15 years ago, I hope these upgrades get me close to that sound! I will be using a CJ PV 14L preamp so I should have a pretty good tube sounding powerhouse.
Threshold S300 Power Amp
QUESTION PLEASE:
Who might be using this amplifier in their 2 channel audio system? What do you like about this amp? And please share speaker cables and interconnects that work well with this amp. I have recently purchased this amp used and would also like to learn anything else I might need to know to take great care of this unit. Finally, where would I get a manual? Thank you so much for your responses.
Who might be using this amplifier in their 2 channel audio system? What do you like about this amp? And please share speaker cables and interconnects that work well with this amp. I have recently purchased this amp used and would also like to learn anything else I might need to know to take great care of this unit. Finally, where would I get a manual? Thank you so much for your responses.
- ...
- 20 posts total
I had an S300 in the mid 80s that sounded decent but kept popping fuses so I got rid of it for a Classe 25 that had much more oomph. Eventually traded that guy for a CA200 with side heatsink (basically a CA201) that sounded even better along with a McCormack 225. With amps like Classe and McCormack that can be had for 1000 - 1500 there’s really no reason to buy a used Threshold of that era. |
Unfortunately it suffered from a very wicked turn-off transient, about a minute or so after the power switch was turned off. I had the S300 Stasis MkII with optical bias, it never had this problem, a few others dry caps and such, but I fixed all those and gave it all most double the uf’s in the power supply, tightened the bass it was a nice amp. Nelson said to me over at DiyAudio to bias it up higher so on a 30c-35c day you can just keep your palms on the heatsinks for 6 sec then have to remove, bricklayers need not apply. If anyone needs I still have all the circuit diagrams and adjustments for it. First to get them has to spread them around. Here’s an old shots of him when he was into esl’s I posted at diyaudio he got a kick out of, I believe this was a Plasma and not an ESL. http://airspeaker.co.uk/Nelson%20Cover.jpg http://airspeaker.co.uk/9108CMTHR-IMG-JS-Ionic.jpg I have a pair of these from 10khz up on my ESL’s https://www.ebay.com/itm/Magnat-Plasma-MP-02-ion-tweeter-massless-air-plasma-speaker-Plasmahochtoner... Cheers George |
- 20 posts total