help in finding a good stereo repair shop in WA

[Dr. Doug]

Help out there! Where can I get a Spectro Acoustics 500 SR power amp reconditioned? I usually use it to power my two Allison speakers. The amp needs some reconditioning. I live in Yakima, WA and am close to both Seattle and Spokane, WA.
Thanks to all who answer.
Doug from Yakima

 

[TLS Guy]

Help out there! Where can I get a Spectro Acoustics 500 SR power amp reconditioned? I usually use it to power my two Allison speakers. The amp needs some reconditioning. I live in Yakima, WA and am close to both Seattle and Spokane, WA.
Thanks to all who answer.
Doug from Yakima

That will be a problem. That amp goes back to the early 70s. Spectro Acoustics had a fairly short life. I believe the founder went into the missile industry.

The point is that I have done an exhaustive search for you and I can't find a schematic or service manual, not even at Hi-Fi engine, which has a huge list of service manuals and schematics of vintage audio on file.

Without at least a schematic, service will be impossible.

I did see references to the fact that the topology is similar to the Citation 12, but I can not confirm that. If it is then this amp is a MOS FET.

A vintage audio piece like this is not something a repair center should be asked to tackle.

This unit requires a specialist vintage audio restorer.

You will have to do some homework. See if you can find a specialist restorer who would take this unit on. Specialist restoration of gear this old is very expensive, and not always possible, due to important components being NLA.

The other thing you need to do, is an exhaustive search for an service manual, or at least a schematic.

The problem is that Specro Acoustics were basically a bunch of employees from Phase linear, Bob Carver among them, in their 20s who had a garage operation. A schematic may never have been published.

What precisely is the matter with the amp?

If I know what the problem is, I can give an opinion as to whether a repair might be possible without a schematic.

If this unit has serious problems, it is probably the end of the road for it.

 

[ski2xblack]

If Bob Carver was part of the original Spectro Acoustics crew as TLS says, maybe he can be of assistance. I think he's in Seattle/Snohomish, Wa.

Home - Carver Service

 

[TLS Guy]

Help out there! Where can I get a Spectro Acoustics 500 SR power amp reconditioned? I usually use it to power my two Allison speakers. The amp needs some reconditioning. I live in Yakima, WA and am close to both Seattle and Spokane, WA.
Thanks to all who answer.
Doug from Yakima

I have come across this post from the original owner of Spectro acoustics.

I wish I knew how to post pictures here? Maybe Ryan can show me. Bob has some pictures of Spectro, but I still have a bunch. The history is quite interesting as it happened in a fun time when bob and I were still young. I started my electronics career in 1971 working for Bob Carver. Heard of him? He was the brains behind Phase Linear and the Carver Corporation. Bob's partner at Phase was Steve Johnston. One of the guys working with me at Phase was Ken Cox. Ken and I got tired of waiting for Phase Linear to come out with their Phase Linear 1000 preamplifier, so we built a simple preamp ourselves. We built 23 of them because lots of our friends wanted a preamp so they could really use the Phase 700 watt amp, just like Kan and I. By the way Bob Ca and Steve J were a couple of the people that bought these home made preamps. Turns out they were pretty good. I even still have one. A dealer from Canada was down visiting us at Phase and saw our little preamp. He said he could sell them if they were available. That was the statement that made Ken and I start Spectro Acoustics. By the way, Ken Cox and Steve Johnston went on after our HI-FI career to found Trace Engineering while I was designing nuclear cruise missile launcher power supplies. I was a whopping 21 years old while at Trace. When Ken and I started Spectro, one of our first products was the RobKen 2123. The model number came from our ages.
I have to go to a convention at the moment, so will continue this later.

You might be able to track him down on this forum, at least he might be able to send you are circuit.

If not and there are serious problems, I fear you are out of luck.

 

[Ears to you]

Help out there! Where can I get a Spectro Acoustics 500 SR power amp reconditioned? I usually use it to power my two Allison speakers. The amp needs some reconditioning. I live in Yakima, WA and am close to both Seattle and Spokane, WA.
Thanks to all who answer.
Doug from Yakima

Have you tried this place? I've been in there, and he seems to specialize in vintage gear, and might have a source or suggestions for repair:

The Audio Connection
5621A University Way NE
Seattle, Washington 98105
(206) 524-7251

 

[TLS Guy]

Have you tried this place? I've been in there, and he seems to specialize in vintage gear, and might have a source or suggestions for repair:

The Audio Connection
5621A University Way NE
Seattle, Washington 98105
(206) 524-7251

I have checked them out and I don't think they will be any help to him.

This is the sort of chap he is looking for.

 

[Dr. Doug]

Thanks to TSL Guy for the helpful comments! I do know that Northwest Audio Svc can do repairs on old vintage gear. The trouble with my Spectro Acoustics 500 SR is that some of the lights are burnt on on the display panel, and there probably needs to be some capacitor replacements on the 30+ year old unit. Bob Carver certainly did have a handle in designing this amp, and they were manufactured in Richland, WA..not far from Yakima, WA (where I live). Someone also mentioned "The Audio Connection" in Seattle, WA as another possible place to get my Spectro Acoustics amp "rejuvenated."

 

[Dr. Doug]

Just where is Pacific Stereo located anyway? Let me know or post some info about this place.
Dr. Doug

 

[TLS Guy]

Just where is Pacific Stereo located anyway? Let me know or post some info about this place.
Dr. Doug

His web site does not say, but I suspect he is in California.

However this is my advice.

Open the unit up yourself. Inspect the large power supply caps. If there are not leaking any crud, I would leave the amp alone as long as it is working normally without hum or buzz.

You can remove the bulbs and match them up. Radioshack may have them.

With the date of the equipment being early it is quite likely the bulbs are incandescent. When you remove the bulbs you can check the voltage with a volt meter, then you know what you are looking for.

If they are LED bulbs they may well be soldered in, and you will need to do some soldering.

If you are going to own and use vintage equipment you have to hone your skills and be somewhat self sufficient.

At the moment this sounds like something that will not require a service manual, only a little common sense.

I bet we can talk you through the bulb replacement.

When you get it open pictures will really help.