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Cloning Class A Classics Continued..


I was recently tempted by reasonably priced "clones" of Pass and/or Krell amps.

Which made me wonder:

If these classic, high end deigns have enduring value, and still compete effectively with the insanely more expensive high end components of today..

...then why isn't someone banging them out on an assembly line, and selling them for the price of dirt, like the Behringer A500 which receives raves in another thread.

Does anyone build or know someone who builds reasonably priced, Class A clones?

Thank you,
cwlondon
ghostrider45
449 posts
 
There are still patent issues to contend with. Nelson Pass is kind enough to share some product design with the DIY community, but I'm pretty sure he stipulates that any use be non-commercial. I think there was a licensed clone of the Aleph 30 available at one time.

I'm not aware of Krell or others releasing designs, so you are talking about pirated copies.

Hypothetically, if I bought such a Clone I'd want some assurance of support over its lifespan. That would drive up the cost and make the clone far less competitive with the original.
buconero117
2,311 posts
 
Cayin and VAS claims to build clone's of a number of tube classic HK, Marantz and Mac units. From what I understand the design's are in the public domain. It is very hard sonically to tell if it is true as few people will have functional, working units of the old units.
rello
311 posts
 
I beleive Threshold (Nova Audio) re-released the s/350e.

www.thresholdaudio.com
mantisory
95 posts
 
Another major issue is coming up with the parts that they used in the originals. Transformers in particular are troublesome...
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
So are the Tim Rawson Aleph J clones "approved" by Nelson Pass?
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