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Musical Concepts modification of B&K pre and amp?

Hello,

I have ave the Pro-MC10 and EX 442, both Sonata Series.  The are no noticeable problems, at least to me, but they must be 30+ years old.  Other than a Yamaha receiver about 15 years ago when I started playing vinyl again, these are the only amps I have experience with.  I don’t have audiophile friends, and I’m not interested in listening to the limited lineup at the only audio store (mostly home theater now) within an hour and a half.  So, I haven’t heard any other high end systems.  I really my B&Ks from Gillian Welch or Lucinda Williams to Talking Heads to Neil Young with Crazy Horse.  But you should hear the Talking Heads.  

My system - Soundsmith SMMC1 cartridge, Mofi Studiodeck on the way (both B&O RX2s have called it a day), Musical Surroundings Nova Phonomena phono preamp, the B&Ks, refurbished Ohm Walsh 4’s, 2 REL T5 subs.

So my questions are:

1) would Musical Concepts modifications address a potential failure just due to age?
2) what would I need to spend on what would be comparable new preamp and amps?  I’d love to try the PS Audio BHK pre and amp, but am certainly not willing to spend that much now or in the near future.

So, I am weighing leaving well enough alone ($0), Upgrading my sound with Musical Concepts mods ($1,000 - $1,500), or New amps of better or comparable sound (?$)

I think the Ohm Walsh speakers like the 200 watts, and the music room is about 15 feet wide and 40 feet deep.

Thanks for your thoughts,

Steve

sryeager
sryeager OP
125 posts
 
I should add I have read all the related posts I could find on this forum, but some were 18 years ago, and I have been using my amps almost that long.  So, looking for an update .

Steve
arcticdeth's avatar
arcticdeth
1,572 posts
 
I have a B&K pro 10-mc. The newer series. Of the sonata without the blue lines on faceplate.....

must have bought new in early mid 90’s.
Still use her. Only issue with that pro 10-mc is the sealed volume pot, it gets static a lot, as it’s sealed, and there is no replacement.
sryeager OP
125 posts
 
Do you know if only the volume pot is sealed?  I've been cleaning all my contacts before the new turntable is in the way, and I could not find the right size allen wrench or whatever is needed to get the knobs off.  If they are all sealed, maybe I won't continue trying.  My volume pot is silent, a tiny scratchiness at one spot on the balance control, and a slight click on the source knob selecting CD.  Mine has the blue lines on the face plate. 

Steve
jasonbourne52's avatar
jasonbourne52
2,863 posts
 
If your B&K preamp/amp still sound fine and work trouble-free leave them alone! The Musical Concepts mods are a side ways move at best!
bdgregory
1,714 posts
 
I went through a similar process about 8-9 years ago with my B&K m200 Sonata mono blocks. I ended up having them upgraded, and still love them to this day.  That said, I honestly can’t say whether I would do it again, but what I can say is it was a material improvement over the originals. 
 As for question 1: yes. You have old electrolytics that need to be replaced, and once MC upgrades the amps, they will repair them.

As for question 2: who knows? I tried to replace my amps over the years and never found one that was a winner. Those area all gone (Ayer, Conrad-Johnson, PS Audio, Musical Fidelity, Parasound), though I couldn’t bring myself to spring for anything that was a huge increase in budget, only newer, slightly more pricey stuff.

As for Musical Concepts’ work - it’s first rate. The amps sounded far better than the upgraded models. I know this because I had 6 of them at the time and could a-b them, just as I a-b’d them with replacement candidates.

So while it’s a big $ outlay, it’s going to depreciate quickly, just like a new amp. They will sound better for sure, but so will a new purchase. 
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