Arkless Electronics
Trade: Amp design and repairs.
They look Chinese to me... that shiny metal band suggests it anyway...
Audio Innovations Valve amps
- Thread starter BlueYeti
- Start date
DimitryZ
pfm Member
You don't need a converter, just an adapter. Your balanced preamp can drive standard RCA input with half of it's balanced signal.
These are widely available online and in guitar center type stores. Cardas makes an audiophile version for bigger money.
Piero Fraternali
Member
In this days of COVID quarantine, I finally had the time to get my AI 200 preamp + AI 800 amp out of the closet, after almost 20 years of inactivity. Unfortunately, the preamp does not switch on, it seems a failure in the power supply unit. I would be grateful if someone could provide the schematics, because service is hard to find in Italy. Thanks!
Piero Fraternali
Member
Thank you very much. I'm new to the forum and will check out to PM a member
.Take care also there (UK?) because the situation here is terrible and I wish other countries do not experience what we are heving in Lombardy.
Piero
pure sound
Trade: manufacturer/distributor
Hi Piero, Let me have an email address and I'll send schematics. If a 200 pre does not power up you should first check that the fuse has not blown. It will either be in a drawer that is part of the mains socket. This draw can be levered out with a small bflat bladed screwdriver. If not in a drawer it'll be in a fuse holder near to the power socket. Check that this fuse has continuity. Replace it if necessary. If the fuse if good but the tubes don't light up it then suggests the power transformer is dead.
Rgs
Guy
I had the AI 800 back then
Great little piece of kit and one of the most reliable AI.
Should I ever need a valve amp again, this one it could be.
Piero Fraternali
Member
Yesterday I cleaned up the contacts with a deoxidizer spray cleaner and now the passive part works. So it seems not to be a PSU failure. Now the next suspect if the frontal ECC82 valve, which may have burnt. I will continue investigating.. lot of time in this quarantine ;-)
Piero Fraternali
Member
Dear Guy, very kind of you. My email is [email protected]. Yesterday I cleaned up the contacts with a deoxidizer spray cleaner and now the passive part works. The CD input is fine. So it seems not to be a PSU failure. Now my next suspect is the frontal ECC82 valve, which may have burnt. I will continue investigating.. Lamentably I have little experience and no electronic equipment at home and we cannot go out and buy. So it will be a little empirical. I may order a replacement valve and hope that delivery is not shut down... Thank again to all of you for your prompt support!
tuga
Legal Alien
The first Series 300's were supplied in the case Moko's has. This was a very basic design with a sloping front and large rectangular ventilation slots. Despite the low price of £299 (the cheapest new valve amp you could buy in 1986) and fine sound, it took a fairly committed enthusiast to buy and own one. Fairly soon afterwards AI commissioned Rod Keith (now of Stands Unique) to design a more appealing case which would allow the existing innards to be fitted. He came up with a softer and more attractive case design which was available in cream/grey and later in black.
the internals were identical with transformers from Hinchley in Devizes.
Later in around 1990 the 300 Mk2 was launched with some circuit modifications and was built into the casework with 4 corner pillars that was also used for the 200 series, L2, P2 and 400 integrated.
Hinchley had stopped making audio transformers by this time so transformers came from SP Wound components in Christchurch, Dorset.
Hey, that's my photo of the 300mk2 I owned for several years!
Piero Fraternali
Member
Yes it is passive. One question: does a PSU problem affect all inputs ? Is the fact that the regulation (volume, balance) of the non-phono inputs works fine an indication that the PSU is working too or they would function also in case of PSU failure?as far as I know the S200 is a passive pre, only the phono section's powered. so if the valves don't work and it's not the fuse you may have a PSU problem
coltrane
electrobaroCKjazzer
as it's, except for the phono input, passive, everything should work in the absence of a PSU - except if there's a valve buffer stage for the line inputs. Guy may appear again here and advise - or if he's already sent you the schematics you now know his e-mail address and, thus, can turn directly to him asking
pure sound
Trade: manufacturer/distributor
I have sent links to downloadable schematics. All of the line inputs and control functions are passive so don't need power. It's just the phono stage that does.
There's no buffered Tape Out on a 200 Pre.
There's no buffered Tape Out on a 200 Pre.
Lokes
Member
Hello Guy,
I thought it a good idea to clean any dust away from my S800 mk3 power amp,
it's in immaculate condition, I removed the top cover and noticed R12 had cooked,
I've not had a valve failure since owning the amp ( 9 years ) or noticed any smoke etc, so maybe it happened prior to my
ownership. The other 1k resistors are all fine.
At last I get to my question, I know it's a 1k ohm resistor but is it 2 watts or greater ?
I'm going to change the electrolytics on the board as the amp must be over 30 years old by now,
is there anything else you think I should do while I'm at it ?
I'm limited to a Fluke multimeter , no scope at present.
Regards,
Jules
I thought it a good idea to clean any dust away from my S800 mk3 power amp,
it's in immaculate condition, I removed the top cover and noticed R12 had cooked,
I've not had a valve failure since owning the amp ( 9 years ) or noticed any smoke etc, so maybe it happened prior to my
ownership. The other 1k resistors are all fine.
At last I get to my question, I know it's a 1k ohm resistor but is it 2 watts or greater ?
I'm going to change the electrolytics on the board as the amp must be over 30 years old by now,
is there anything else you think I should do while I'm at it ?
I'm limited to a Fluke multimeter , no scope at present.
Regards,
Jules
Marc O'Brien
pfm reMember
I've very recently acquired a modded AI S500 and AN J's, to be honest the combo sounds awful.
notevenclose
pfm Member
Hmm. Not my recollection, although in truth I always thought the AI stuff was as much 'right time right place' rather than being as exceptional as hyped at the time in some quarters.
But more pertinently, both these products must be positively geriatric by now. Presumably hard to tell if what you're listening to is anywhere near original spec?
But more pertinently, both these products must be positively geriatric by now. Presumably hard to tell if what you're listening to is anywhere near original spec?
Marc O'Brien
pfm reMember
The amp is freshly serviced and modded, the speakers are in fine condition, look almost new, they are 90s J type Bs though, i tried the amp with my other speakers and it was the same. I spend a bit on the mods, and the results aren't good, after a quick listen anyway, push the volume past 12 o'clock and things start to distort. I'd like to try another valve amp to rule out this one being dodgy, but that's expensive after just spending out on this one.