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Acoustat servo amps ??

hey!
I'm looking for any info on acoustat servo amps for monitor III speakers. right now i have the transformers (not the medallion) and love them w/ my arc vt100mkII. however i keep hearing that the servos will bring these to a new level.

i'm debating on whether or not to go for the servos and sell my arc.

mostly i listen to jazz 50% lp, 50% cd and am using the speakers with a vandersteen 2wq sub.

anyone have thoughts? is it worth it? how much can i expect to pay for the servos? where should i look? should they be upgraded and how? who works on them...etc.

how about a passive pre w/ these? recommended?

im also interested in thoughts on the model IIIs compared to the other models... 4s, the 2+2s, X, spectra 1100, 22, etc.

any info is appreciated.

thanks in advance
kublakhan
drrasta
224 posts
 
I owned the "monitor III" speakers with their "servo-charge" amps for 18 years, having purchased them in 1979. The "model III" succeeded Acoustat's attempts at selling a tube-powered speaker. Acoustat offered a couple upgrades over the years to the amps that involved replacing capacitors, I believe. They definitely helped on the low end and with clarity. Joe Curcio offered a $2000 mod to the amps that involved replacing part of the diode circuit with tubes. The power tubes were 6hb5's, which are unique to this amp, so may be getting a bit hard to find. I sold my speakers a few years back for about $650. If you're lucky you might find someone selling them locally. They were a great pair of speakers, but had their own issues and quirks.
elgordo
530 posts
 
Kubla, if you send me your phone number I'll give you a call and share my 23 years of experience with Acoustats. I am a former dealer who sold monitor IIIs and have had 2+2s for the past ten years. Just bought another pair of 2+2s this week (these have the Medallion interfaces) and haven't even uncrated them as yet. Don
3ox
29 posts
 
If you want to hear Accoustats at their best, the servo amps are the way. One of the best stat systems I have heard over the years was a pair of Accoustat 2+2's with servos. Unfortunately, the servos are hard to find and expensive when you do find them these days. There is a cult for these amps, so most of them have been hunted down and are in the hands of people who know their worth. I have a friend with a pair but he won't part with 'em...just in case he gets "Accoustat Fever" again. Happy Hunting!
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