probably have to miss Rod's do. Going to Tanzania for a few days...

When you get back then

big box arrived today

waiting for my son to stop playing the computer to help me lift it out

Edited June 20, 201213 yr by frankn

Looks power amp ish

it is

Wonder if I can get a new face-plate? Have to ask Peter

Will fire it up tomorrow to test it - Sal's in bed now

it is

Wonder if I can get a new face-plate? Have to ask Peter

Will fire it up tomorrow to test it - Sal's in bed now

Wow Frank, are you planning on taking up arc welding as a hobby?! Not that I can talk, with my valve monoblocks that are of similar size...each! Wow, I imagine that the new ME will deliver a more expansive sound with loads of headroom and control, but look forward to hearing your findings.

Nice big amps to monster your Quads.

Can I suggest deleting the first photo with your home address which is legible on the box and anyone can see it including some potential unsavory characters?

Edited June 20, 201213 yr by jaspert

Well spotted Jaspert.

Thank's to Alistair and Jaspert - fixed(actually it is my office address but removed anyway).

Ran it this morning - sounds good.

frankn

have the valves gone? Going?

how many amplifiers do you have now?

I hope it sounds just like you wanted it to, especially when the speakers are 'on'.

wow l thought my 850 was big that thing makes it look tiny, that thing is monstrous.

Benjie,

No the tube amp is still there, you can see the transformers in the picture just in front of the ME's. Might have to make some rationalisation soon.

Lusk, the front face plate of the 1400 is bigger (like a frill necked lizard?)and the feet larger than the 850 so its presence certainly demands attention. The actual casing isn't that much bigger.

Can't say much about the sound between the ME's yet, not enough time listening.

Hi Datafone - the ESL's have been there for a year or so now.

Yeah, I'm a bit slow around some parts here

Congrats on the amps, and love the TT

The 1400 complete strip down & rebuild is now nearly complete. Some interesting fingers had been inside in the past but all is being restored to new or better, all with Mr Stein approval. Will report back in due course. To be fair, I'll have to get the 850 an overhaul as well before making final comparisons. I'm cognisant that the 1400 may be too overwhelming for the Quads. We shall see.

The only remaining question is whether to keep the bias at 10w or increase it up to 15w? I have no idea if it would make much difference with the Quads

Edited July 17, 201312 yr by frankn

The 1400 complete strip down & rebuild is now nearly complete. Some interesting fingers had been inside in the past but all is being restored to new or better, all with Mr Stein approval. Will report back in due course. To be fair, I'll have to get the 850 an overhaul as well before making final comparisons. I'm cognisant that the 1400 may be too overwhelming for the Quads. We shall see.

The only remaining question is whether to keep the bias at 10w or increase it up to 15w? I have no idea if it would make much difference with the Quads

 

Optimum bias for the ME1400 equates to 20 Watts Class A. Check with Peter to be certain.

Edited July 17, 201312 yr by Zaphod Beeblebrox

Thank you ZB, good idea & will do

Been busy there Frank. We must catch up soon.

Let us know when you want some average, old ears to come and listen - I think the upgrade should be christened with something decent, red in colour and from the turn of the millenium.  From the Adelaide Hills.  I know just the thing!  It will need to be decanted, but you are good at that frankn.

 

Benje

Hello Frankn,

 

I tried to have the faceplate of my 850 replaced but Peter didn't have any. I asked Zaphod to disassemble the front of the amp for me so that I could get a new one made up. I took the old gold plated face plate to a professional engraving company in Sydney and asked them to manufacture a new aluminium plate for me. They anodised it black and engraved all the lettering in the same font as the original, then filled it in with gold. Didn't cost much - approx. $80.00. I also had them strip the air vents on either side of the face plate and give them two coats of black paint. Zaph put some new foam on the back and the end result is pretty darn good.

 

Of course, it wasn't your average engraver in a shopping centre. It took a while to find this place and they were really reluctant to do such fiddly, one off work. However, if you can find one where you are, they will need to be extremely proficient with metal work and have a thorough understanding of linishing and such 'stuff'. I don't. If you do go down this path, do your research.

 

I've included a picture of the end result.

 

Cheers,

 

Tricky.

 

BTW - love the speakers and the set-up. Awesome.

 

 

Hi Tricky,

That looks really neat.. I also asked Peter if he had a new or near new faceplate for the 1400 but I no luck so far.  Perhaps I will look into something along those lines.

Cheers

Frank

frankn,

 

Yeah, I'm really pleased with the work they did on it. Also pleased with the work that Zaph did on it as well.

 

Good luck with the plate - just choose the right people.

 

Cheers,

 

Tricky

After the ground up rebuild - doesn't look much difference

But sounds bloody good. Waiting on a new faceplate as the final touch(possibly)

Wow, those look great Frank. Love the styling of ME, its aged well to my eyes

Cripes FrankN

 

do the lights flicker and dip when you turn that beast on?  a 5kVA power supply!  And it only weighs 54 kg!

 

Makes the 850 look like a mini system - only 2kVA and 38 kgs.  Pfftt.  Obviously underpowered.  You better sell it.

Edited October 16, 201312 yr by Benje