EAR 834P - Sale or try and repair...

I have heard this model as the original design, original design undergone modification and as a Clone version built with bespoke parts.

These have not been heard in my own system but at a few Phonostage Bake Off sessions on another system and not necessarily all three in the same room on the same day. 

All when heard share a similar influence on the sound being produced, which is typically a loose weighty bass end.

The Clone version being the one with the tidiest presentation in relation to the across frequency cohesion and the tightest of the bass lines being produced.

If a 834P, was in need of a overhaul or wanted to be given a change to its voicing, the variants of components selected to be used with the Clones may prove to be a interesting investigation.

I have an Ear 834P that has been in storage since 2009. I haven''t plugged it in or listened to it (same thing I guess). 

I opened it up this morning and found a fair amount of humidity rust and at least one damaged tube. It wasn't underwater but the storage unit humidity for 15 years didn't do me any favors. I have photos I can attach via email. Not sure if this is a worthwhile effort to recondition?

I feel quite confident there is guidance available that could direct you to having the long term shored 834P up and running for less that a $100 if like for like components are selected, extend to $100-$200 if a upgrade route is wanted and depending on value of Boutique Parts selected, add another $100 if Copper Foil Cap's are wanted.

If EE work is not done by ones own hand a further $100 will cover the support of a professional EE. A enthusiast EE with Phonostage and Valve experience will find this refurbishment quite unchallenging, it might be the cheaper option if help is needed.

Is the weighty and loose bass produced by this model still your preference after a 15 year hiatus from experiencing its influence.  

Nope, "moving with the times" and "time to pull the trigger" as they say. Hopefully I'll be listening to it for another 15 years.

For other's - I'm using a Rega 25, RB330 tonearm with a modified/upgraded 5-pin DIN connector, and a newly retipped van den Hul MC2 Special cartridge. The Rega sits atop an Auralex turntable isolation pad.

***Open to suggestions/recommendations for an interconnect running from the Rega's 5-pin RB330 tonearm to the EAR 834P and then another interconnect from the EAR 834P to my preamp (Anthem Statement D2).

@bigkidz: looked up your website, really nice work! I didn't see any pricing for repairs, but if I go that route, I will send you a PM. I am kind of on the fence as I have wanted to do some of the upgrades myself for some time. But starting to get cold feet. I would like to add a couple items, just have not done enough research to know what would be a proper (and easy) modification on this one. 

@theflattire what SUT do you have? I have a Dynavector 10x on a VPI Classic (next year or so I plan to change out Dynavector)