Older amp - Threshold SA3

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Older amp - Threshold SA3

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CapriRS

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26. June 2004 @ 22:16

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I recently bought one off ebay without ever having listened to one - just did some digging on google and found one or two good user reviews.

Anyone know much about this amp? For the same price I probably could have bought something like a 50wpc or 75wpn NAD that would have been brand new. I'm sure this Threshold is at least 15 years old. Would a newer amp and advancing technology necessarily provide me with better sound?

this is the monster - its crushing my rotel preamp at the moment...

http://powerthings.com/pics/threshold1.jpg
http://powerthings.com/pics/threshold2.jpg

Only downside so far is that I've noticed a slight rise in my electric bill - I know classA does suck a lot more power....

Thanks in advance

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The_OGS

Senior Member

27. June 2004 @ 10:43

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(LoL) Electric bill! Mostly heat, keep her cool (but won't help your bill).
Well she's a beauty. 15 years old is OK and, people had good hearing 15 yrs ago... (mine was probably much better then)
There is no new technology or newer amp that would sound distinctly better.
Oriphus is very knowledgeable and you might receive his comment, check out this info:
http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/79383
Regards

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CapriRS

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27. June 2004 @ 13:14

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Heat is right :) Check out some of these temps. Its been running all day at low to moderate volume but from what I understand of classA - its basically running full all the time so how loud I play should not affect how much heat it produces.

room temp:
http://powerthings.com/pics/room.jpg

front:
http://powerthings.com/pics/front.jpg

top:
http://powerthings.com/pics/top.jpg

left channel:
http://powerthings.com/pics/left.jpg

right channel:
http://powerthings.com/pics/right.jpg

Looks like the left channel heatsink is making a little better contact than the right. Still 3 degrees F difference is not something I'm going to worry about. I might construct a stand for my stereo and where the amp will sit which will be on top of the stand, I'll place two 80cm fans gently blowing air across the heatsinks. I'll use a 9V adapter instead of a 12V to keep noise levels down on the fans.

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goose2000

Junior Member

14. August 2004 @ 07:01

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i would like to see a pic of your amp, but your links arent working

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CapriRS

Account closed as per user's own request

14. August 2004 @ 07:08

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Hi,

Yes I had pulled the images down since it had been a while but I put them back so hopefully they work fine.

Let me know if you need more info about the amp.

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goose2000

Junior Member

14. August 2004 @ 07:48

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Oh my god... that amp looks very mean. Whats the specs on that? I,m running a Denon AVC-A1SRA A/V Amp which is nicely built but yours is just dedicated POWER all over isnt it. LOL
Going back to the amplifier class's, im not sure if mine comes into it? or if it does im not sure what class it would be?

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This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 14. August 2004 @ 07:50

CapriRS

Account closed as per user's own request

14. August 2004 @ 08:27

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The amp is a full Class A amplifier which basically means its always running at full power - Generally these amps are not very powerful (wattage ratings) due to the amount of power they use and heat they give off but the trade-off is that most of the time, they sound better.

Now back to this amp. Its rated for 50 wpc RMS which by today's standards is nothing but I swear that its not far behind my 200WPC power amp that I had before (well still have but not connected). That one was a Soundcraftsmen PM860. This threshold also has much 'tigher' bass and feels like its able to play deep notes better - I say feel because the notes are really deep. The clarity is incredible as well. Music has much more depth that I never knew it had.

I bought the amp used off ebay which might have been a risk but I got it in great condition - a nick here or there but pretty much close to perfect. It also doesnt look its been serviced inside so its orignal parts. If I had to buy another amp, I'd buy this one again in a heartbeat.

Note: It does get hot and in a small room, it will raise the temperature a few degrees - just a warning :)

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sdifox

Member

18. August 2004 @ 06:45

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Class A amps suck power even when you are not making any sound so yeah, it's power hungry. But it does give you better control of the speakers so that is why the money on object crowd go with Class A.

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