WAVAC MD-805m 55-Watt SET monoamps - jeffreybehr - SET Asylum

SET Asylum

Single Ended Triodes (SETs), the ultimate tube lovers dream.

WAVAC MD-805m 55-Watt SET monoamps

jeffreybehr

Only $22K per pair...WHAT a bargain...NOT. :-)
I bought a used pair of these gorgeous things...

...in January, hoping they'd have enough power for my then-current speakers, Vandersteen 5As, when driven to the moderate levels I enjoy. They didn't, so I put them aside. I then replaced the 5As with the 10dB-more-sensitive Serenity Super-7s and bought a pair of Coincident Frankenstein IIs, 300B-based, 8-Watt SETs. You folks have seen a couple of my threads about those. As indicated in the 2nd of those, I ended up doing little to improve the mediocre (IMO, at least) parts in those amps and have been merely listening to them for months.
Since I'll be having the vast majority of the 2-channel portion of my system (including both pairs of poweramps) at an Arizona Audio Video Club meeting in Phoenix next Wednesday the 24th--YOU'RE ALL INVITED!--I've been breaking-in the WAVACs this week. I'm pleasantly surprised at the high SQ of the WAVACs* driving the Super-7s**.
I had my local friend prepare a schematic for the WAVACs. They're pretty simple, but they're sure filled with, again, mediocre PS caps--inexpensive Nichicon 'lytics this time--for $22K amps. Since it'll take LOTS less money and time to bring the parts quality of the WAVACs up to what I'd like AND I have a soft spot in my heart for 805 tubes (having owned and loved a pair of Antique Sound Lab Explorer 805s), I'm considering doing the following.
1. Replace the series-pair of 450V. Nichicons in the 2nd pole of the CLC output-stage PS with a 114uF/900V WIMA propylene cap. There's actually room within the amp for such a cap (cylindrical, 2" D. by almost 4" tall).

2. Replace the PS cap in the front-end supply with probably a Panasonic TS-ED. This line feeds the interstage-coupling transformer.
3. Replace the 1st and 2nd decouplers in this frontend supply with 350VDC BlackGate VKs I have a supply of.
4. Replace the binding posts...

...with my faves, the Cardas silver-and-rhodium-over-copper CCGRs.
All this can be done without changing ANY metalwork on or in the amps, so they can be returned to original fairly easily if necessary.
What do you think? Worth it? Foolish? JUST LISTEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!?
.
.
.
* now using old/new box-plate Mullard CV4024s, triode-wired RCA JAN-6Y6GT drivers, and GE 805s (marked on the aluminum base with only the circular GE logo, 'Made in U.S.A.', and '805', so I'm guessing they're not WWII vintage nor delivered under a military contract. I also have a pair of RCA 805/VT-143s marked as made in 1943 and also cryo'd by KuhlTube (SP?). As I've been writing, the postman delivered 3 trios of current-production 6V6GTs (by Mullard, Tung-Sol, and JJ); this evening I'll turn the amps on with the Mullards installed.
** Both amps drive the MR/treble of the S-7s fullrange, and there's no hi-pass filter on the bottom of the speakers' MR drivers.

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Topic - WAVAC MD-805m 55-Watt SET monoamps - jeffreybehr 18:25:55 09/19/14 (21)

FWIW, I'm selling the pair of GE805s and buying more of the RCAs. - jeffreybehr 20:06:25 10/9/14 (1)

What about a pair of United 805s? - Naz 04:38:52 10/15/14 (0)

Club-member comments on system and amps - jeffreybehr 13:00:49 10/3/14 (2)

RE: Club-member comments on system and amps - charles1dad 14:01:50 10/3/14 (1)

Indeed. The Franks never sound strained in my c. 3200CF listening room. - jeffreybehr 18:24:01 10/3/14 (0)

RE: WAVAC MD-805m 55-Watt SET monoamps - Caucasian Blackplate 22:17:14 09/26/14 (0)

Wednesday's Club meeting was a success; 'results' - jeffreybehr 19:20:04 09/26/14 (0)

RE: WAVAC MD-805m 55-Watt SET monoamps - rusiee 07:36:14 09/26/14 (2)

RE: WAVAC MD-805m 55-Watt SET monoamps - horn kid 08:49:53 11/2/14 (0)

TY for your thoughts. (NT) - jeffreybehr 18:03:39 09/26/14 (0)

These are sounding slowly better...I think...the more hours on them... - jeffreybehr 15:46:26 09/24/14 (2)

RE: These are sounding slowly better...I think...the more hours on them... - Caucasian Blackplate 22:28:15 09/26/14 (0)

RE: These are sounding slowly better...I think...the more hours on them... - charles1dad 16:33:58 09/24/14 (0)

Replacing Caps - Triode_Kingdom 18:03:57 09/20/14 (0)

RE: WAVAC MD-805m 55-Watt SET monoamps - Kloss 07:18:58 09/20/14 (6)

Well, seems they don't have much value in original condition, too. - jeffreybehr 15:51:19 09/20/14 (5)

RE: Well, seems they don't have much value in original condition, too. - morricab 07:24:21 09/21/14 (0)

Why ask a ? if you already made up your mind. - Kloss 06:54:52 09/21/14 (3)

If you did waste any time, it surely was only a few minutes. :-) - jeffreybehr 00:48:56 09/22/14 (2)

I can't believe anyone would modify a current WAVAC amp... - Jim Dowdy 01:58:13 09/22/14 (1)

TY. ... :-) (NT) - jeffreybehr 11:35:43 09/22/14 (0)

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