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Post by AudioHTIT on Apr 16, 2024 16:51:42 GMT -5
Well, this one is out of the ordinary. I have a pair of VTL MB450 Tube Mono Blocks, I normally use them to power my Magnepan 20.1Rs. A while back, one of them stopped working, I did a lot of troubleshooting, but couldn’t get it running. Eventually I took it to a local shop who has diagnosed that the secondary winding of the output transformer is bad, and they are no longer available from the factory, the factory also has no recommendations for how to get a replacement. The guy I spoke with at the shop mentioned the possibility of getting a transformer ‘Cloned’; as I understand, someone would check out the transformer (or it’s specs), and build a duplicate. He was going to check into it, but has more or less flaked. So has anyone heard of such a service, know anyone with the expertise to do this, or help with the problem? I know it won’t be cheap, but neither were the amps, and not many looking for a single high powered tube mono-block. This is an old picture, they're currently wrapped up (it would be the far transformer, though they look the same)  A view from underneath, bottom left  |
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KeithL
Administrator 
Posts: 9,976
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Post by KeithL on Apr 16, 2024 17:06:27 GMT -5
I have heard of such services - although I don't know of any specific ones offhand... However I can tell you a few things... 1. To specifically duplicate a transformer would be expensive. 2. The odds that someone can make a copy of a transformer so exact that it sounds identical are pretty slim. This means that, if you want the amps to remain "matched", you'll probably have to replace the transformers on BOTH amps. IT LOOKS LIKE VTL SELLS "TRANSFORMER UPGRADES"... so maybe you can just buy a pair of those for both of your amps... And it looks like they list your model... www.vtl.com/support/product-upgrades/Well, this one is out of the ordinary. I have a pair of VTL MB450 Tube Mono Blocks, I normally use them to power my Magnepan 20.1Rs. A while back, one of them stopped working, I did a lot of troubleshooting, but couldn’t get it running. Eventually I took it to a local shop who has diagnosed that the secondary winding of the output transformer is bad, and they are no longer available from the factory, the factory also has no recommendations for how to get a replacement. The guy I spoke with at the shop mentioned the possibility of getting a transformer ‘Cloned’; as I understand, someone would check out the transformer (or it’s specs), and build a duplicate. He was going to check into it, but has more or less flaked. So has anyone heard of such a service, know anyone with the expertise to do this, or help with the problem? I know it won’t be cheap, but neither were the amps, and not many looking for a single high powered tube mono-block. This is an old picture, they're currently wrapped up (it would be the near transformer, though they look the same) View AttachmentA view from underneath, bottom left View Attachment |
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Post by AudioHTIT on Apr 16, 2024 17:22:29 GMT -5
I have heard of such services - although I don't know of any specific ones offhand... However I can tell you a few things... 1. To specifically duplicate a transformer would be expensive. 2. The odds that someone can make a copy of a transformer so exact that it sounds identical are pretty slim. This means that, if you want the amps to remain "matched", you'll probably have to replace the transformers on BOTH amps. IT LOOKS LIKE VTL SELLS "TRANSFORMER UPGRADES"... so maybe you can just buy a pair of those for both of your amps... And it looks like they list your model... www.vtl.com/support/product-upgrades/Thanks for your thoughts, I was thinking the same thing about having to do both of them. Unfortunately the model they list is the MB450 Series II, mine is the 'original' MB450 (or Series I), I think that's why they said no when my shop tried to get one. I've dealt with VTL a few times over the years, including this issue, they haven't been too helpful unless I want to send them the amps with a lot of money, and wait a long time (though with this problem they had no suggestions). That said, I'll try asking again about this upgrade and try to find out what's different about the Series II xfmrs. Incidentally, since this amp died, I've been bi-amping the Maggies with two pair of PA-1's, they work pretty well. |
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