Old Iron British Amps.....?

Is this amp OK?
Message
Author
BassheadUK
Posts: 107
Joined: Sat Jan 26, 2013 8:43 am
Location: Southwest UK

Old Iron British Amps.....?

#1 Post by BassheadUK »

I was advised in another thread to look at the old english such as C-Audio or Citronic PPX range. I have been watching some one an auction site and the PPX are really really cheap.

Why....?

Is it because mobile DJ's dont want to lug around 22kg amps? Is it because the newer ones consume less mains power so you wont overload a mains socket?

Are they really better than todays lightweight equivalents...?
I plan to build a couple of DR250's & Autotuba.
WARNING - LAB12 T39's are EXCELLENT

sine143
Posts: 3066
Joined: Sat Feb 06, 2010 3:27 pm
Location: Raleigh NC

Re: Old Iron British Amps.....?

#2 Post by sine143 »

dunno bout better. cheaper though :)
Built:
2x Tuba 30s delta12lf loaded (gone)
4x Otop12 d2512 loaded
8x t48s (18, 18, 24, 24, 30, 30) 3015lf loaded
2x AT (1 mcm, 1 gto 804)
2x SLA Pro (dayton pa6, 6 goldwood piezo loaded)
1x bastard XF208

2x OT212 (delta pro 450a loaded, eminence psd)

Grant Bunter
Posts: 6915
Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2011 11:12 am
Location: Ilfracombe Queensland Australia
Contact:

Re: Old Iron British Amps.....?

#3 Post by Grant Bunter »

I have a couple of old iron amps and use them in my rig.
They are not user friendly weight wise, they weigh 35kg before I put them in a sleeve.

They didn't cost me much.

It is said that modern lightweight class D amps like clean power to work.
My amps historically are "bullet proof", tour well and work under almost any conditions, including somewhat dubious power in outback Australia.

The main benefit is they are nowadays cheap. I couldn't have afforded to buy them when they were new!
So, if you're prepared to lug some weight, you can save money, if nothing else...
Built:
DR 250: x 2 melded array, 2x CD horn, March 2012 plans.
T39's: 4 x 20" KL3010LF , 2 x 28" 3012LF.
WH8: x 6 with melded array wired series/parallel.
Bunter's Audio and Lighting "like"s would be most appreciated...

byacey
Posts: 948
Joined: Thu Jun 14, 2012 9:09 am
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Re: Old Iron British Amps.....?

#4 Post by byacey »

Stay away from the Old H&H amps; the output boards like to catch fire. One thing they designed to last forever though, were the fuses. Even with charred PC boards, the mains fuse was still in excellent shape.
Built
T48s
WH8s
SX212

BassheadUK
Posts: 107
Joined: Sat Jan 26, 2013 8:43 am
Location: Southwest UK

Re: Old Iron British Amps.....?

#5 Post by BassheadUK »

Funny that, I have been watching several and they seem to be the higher priced ones (H&H) - There is one in the cupboard of the charity that I volunteer at thats marked up "DO NOT USE" i was going to drag out and see why, but perhaps I can see why without seeing why.....!

I like the look of the PPX900 - Seems great value and thats something that I'll need after renovating the house and a baby on the way is a cheap amp!
I plan to build a couple of DR250's & Autotuba.
WARNING - LAB12 T39's are EXCELLENT

User avatar
Bas Gooiker
Posts: 752
Joined: Fri Jul 06, 2012 5:05 pm

Re: Old Iron British Amps.....?

#6 Post by Bas Gooiker »

BassheadUK wrote:Funny that, I have been watching several and they seem to be the higher priced ones (H&H) - There is one in the cupboard of the charity that I volunteer at thats marked up "DO NOT USE" i was going to drag out and see why, but perhaps I can see why without seeing why.....!

I like the look of the PPX900 - Seems great value and thats something that I'll need after renovating the house and a baby on the way is a cheap amp!
The HH V series is very highly appreciated because of its high sound quality. PPX 900 and c-audio SR series is also great amps. Even at their age they will run effordlesly even in 4 ohm bridge.
Life is just a game, don't take it to seriously!

byacey
Posts: 948
Joined: Thu Jun 14, 2012 9:09 am
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Re: Old Iron British Amps.....?

#7 Post by byacey »

The V series came later. I believe they had the Power Mosfet outputs; and I never worked on any of these aside from perhaps cleaning the input controls and blowing the dust out of the cabinets.

It's the S500D that was a large, heavy electronic incendiary device that required the removal of 400 loctited machine screws, all located in near-inaccessible places to service. It was all bipolar transistor outputs.
Built
T48s
WH8s
SX212

BassheadUK
Posts: 107
Joined: Sat Jan 26, 2013 8:43 am
Location: Southwest UK

Re: Old Iron British Amps.....?

#8 Post by BassheadUK »

All the old Citronic PPX amps on the auction sites have dried up now :(
I plan to build a couple of DR250's & Autotuba.
WARNING - LAB12 T39's are EXCELLENT

BassheadUK
Posts: 107
Joined: Sat Jan 26, 2013 8:43 am
Location: Southwest UK

Re: Old Iron British Amps.....?

#9 Post by BassheadUK »

What are these Crown XTI's with built in limiters....?

Gotta weigh up the spending £50.00 on a 40kg amp and another £200 on a DCX, or just spending £3/400 on an amp with built in limiter.
I plan to build a couple of DR250's & Autotuba.
WARNING - LAB12 T39's are EXCELLENT

sine143
Posts: 3066
Joined: Sat Feb 06, 2010 3:27 pm
Location: Raleigh NC

Re: Old Iron British Amps.....?

#10 Post by sine143 »

what cabs?

you want the XTI 2 series. forget the original xti
Built:
2x Tuba 30s delta12lf loaded (gone)
4x Otop12 d2512 loaded
8x t48s (18, 18, 24, 24, 30, 30) 3015lf loaded
2x AT (1 mcm, 1 gto 804)
2x SLA Pro (dayton pa6, 6 goldwood piezo loaded)
1x bastard XF208

2x OT212 (delta pro 450a loaded, eminence psd)

BassheadUK
Posts: 107
Joined: Sat Jan 26, 2013 8:43 am
Location: Southwest UK

Re: Old Iron British Amps.....?

#11 Post by BassheadUK »

sine143 wrote: what cabs?
Undecided yet..... Probably starting with a couple of T39's followed by OT12's till I have time to engineer up some DR250's

Just seen the prices of the Mk2's.... Ouch.... Cheaper to get an old PPX and DCX for the time being !
I plan to build a couple of DR250's & Autotuba.
WARNING - LAB12 T39's are EXCELLENT

User avatar
VTypeV4
Posts: 51
Joined: Sun Dec 16, 2012 6:11 pm
Location: Newcastle-U-Lyme, Staffs, UK
Contact:

Re: Old Iron British Amps.....?

#12 Post by VTypeV4 »

I've enjoyed many years of trouble-free service from various PPX series amps. Our old 450 was hammered to within an inch of it's life everynight and never once complained. I put a 900 into a venue as a stop-gap measure to drive a little sub about 8 years ago.. It's still there! Great amps inspite of their weight.

Also consider Cloud CV and VTX series amps. These have a clip limiter in them which can be adjusted by a trim pot which can be handy. Just like the PPX, they weigh a ton but I've never seen one fail, my CV1000 has seen many nights of hammer but continues to do the biz without drama. VTX will sustain 2ohm /ch and 4 ohm bridge and even at the end of the night they're as cool as when they were switched on. Good 'honest' watts out of these..

Hope that helps.
Warwick Streamer LX5, Ashton BV300H w/410 & 115.
Leak Stereo 20.
Carver PT2400, MPX1200, 3600VZ etc..

Bikes..
'87 Yamaha FJ1200 1TX
'92 Yamaha FJ1200 3XW
'80 Honda CX500 A
'89 Honda VFR400 NC30

BassheadUK
Posts: 107
Joined: Sat Jan 26, 2013 8:43 am
Location: Southwest UK

Re: Old Iron British Amps.....?

#13 Post by BassheadUK »

Been watching the auction sites like a hawk and all that ever comes up are the 450's !

I want a 900 !
I plan to build a couple of DR250's & Autotuba.
WARNING - LAB12 T39's are EXCELLENT

BassheadUK
Posts: 107
Joined: Sat Jan 26, 2013 8:43 am
Location: Southwest UK

Re: Old Iron British Amps.....?

#14 Post by BassheadUK »

Took a plunge, Bought a JBL MPX1200 !
I plan to build a couple of DR250's & Autotuba.
WARNING - LAB12 T39's are EXCELLENT

User avatar
Bas Gooiker
Posts: 752
Joined: Fri Jul 06, 2012 5:05 pm

Re: Old Iron British Amps.....?

#15 Post by Bas Gooiker »

BassheadUK wrote:Took a plunge, Bought a JBL MPX1200 !
Highly regarded sub amp!

What poor driver is going to get hammered by this beast? :twisted:
Life is just a game, don't take it to seriously!

Post Reply