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Threshold S300 Power Amplifier

This is my first foray into the high end area of audio. I have a few questions please. By the way this amplifier will be used with Magnapan 1.6 speakers eventually. Right now I am using Mirage OM-9 omni speakers. They are 6 ohms. These sound to me like the original "Time Windows" for anyone who remembers them. The amp has already been serviced with new caps, speakers terminals,etc.

1. Does anyone know why Nelson Pass decided to make class A and class A/AB power amps? I've heard that class A amps are sweeter and more warm than class A/AB. Is this a fact?
2. What pre-amp that can accomodate at least 2 reel to reel tape decks and the Original Elite Rock Turntable sound great with this amp?
3. What power cable, speaker cable and interconnects will make this amplifier sound its best? I listen mostly to large and small scale choral and orchestral works as well as jazz groups. I love a warm sound and the sound of the human voice especially choral works. I am willing to listen to and learn from all comments. And I plan to benefit from all that's said here. Thanks so much.
rbwinterlink
ferrari
617 posts
 
Have used Klyne, Spectral and Coda preamps as well as Threshold preamps with this amp. However the best of the group I used was the Threshold FET 1, which will accomodate two RTR decks. Although the FET 1 will most likley need servicing by now due to age. Also his first preamp the NS 10 will handle two RTR, although they are hard to find now and somewhat pricey now. As for me the best cables I have found were John Hilligs Superconnect IV and Discovery Cables. Both work very well indeed with Threshold units.
unsound
7,329 posts
 
CORRECTION. Sorry, I left something out on my previous post, it should have read as:...."For example, a Threshold S/300 should offer 30 Watts per channel of Class A power before offering an additional 120 Watts per channel of Class AB power into a 8 Ohm load, or 15 Watts per channel of Class A power before offering 285 Watts per channel of Class AB power (INTO A 4 OHM LOAD)."
rbwinterlink OP
72 posts
 
Unsound
Thank you so much for the clarification. I appreciate your input sir.
chrissain
470 posts
 
hi, i owned a s300 for years with great results, its a very good amp. the sa-3 is still my favorite threshold amp , but the s-300 served me really well. i am now using tubes, but the threshold had a vivid quality that I miss sometimes. very transparent.
johnss
569 posts
 
With the S300 the single biggest thing you can do is add a set of bypass caps to the two main filter caps. This will be bigger than a power cord. If I remember, the rail voltages on the S300 are 80VDC, so you would want to use 100VDC caps as a min. Try a 3.3uf, a .47uf and a .01uf in parallel on each caps. Parts cost will set you back about 6 bucks.

The S300 and S500 benefit greatly from parts upgrades, especially the resistors if Vishay bulk foil are installed, but that is a story for another time.

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