Dual CV-1260

[poppachubby]

Hey all! Essentially I am hoping for some feedback on this unit. Dual didn't make alot of amps for very long so they are rare. Not sure if there's any reason to get too excited, but I have been offered this amp. In a previous post, I had the wrong unit (sorry kid). This is infact the correct amp that I am looking at.

I chum somewhat with the seller, neither of us know what price point would make a good deal. Any suggestions would be great. They manufactured these for 4 years and the MSRP was approx. $400. Hey E-Stat, if you are looking, the meters alone are worth $100!!

[02audionoob]

I saw a completed eBay listing for one of these in Germany. It went for 24 Euros, plus shipping.

[poppachubby]

I saw a completed eBay listing for one of these in Germany. It went for 24 Euros, plus shipping.

When?!? Just now? Link me man...that would be great...

[blackraven]

Looks like a nice little integrated amp. What years did they make them? I love the meters.

I've still got my 1976 Technics SU7600 integrated amp that keeps plugging a long and still has its nice warm sound to it. It was a very popular amp back then. If I only waited a yr, next years model had VU meters.

http://www.stereomanuals.com/vintage...ted/su7600.htm

[02audionoob]

ebay auction for cv 1260:

http://cgi.ebay.at/Dual-CV-1260-Clas...QQcmdZViewItem

[poppachubby]

ebay auction for cv 1260:

http://cgi.ebay.at/Dual-CV-1260-Clas...QQcmdZViewItem

Once again noob, you're the man!! I'm gonna call him right now. How did you get a listing from Germany? You crazy yank you....

[poppachubby]

Well, he won't go any lower than 150. I think I will bring it home and audition it first. 150 based on it's rareness, and Class-A status. Fair enough I suppose. Have to hear it now. First, I need to re-foam my Avants before I could consider anything.

[dakatabg]

This amplifier was made 1985 - 1989 and it is rated 60W per channel

[blackraven]

Unless I'm misunderstanding what you mean by Class A. It can't be a true Class A amp. Its not big enough, it would need massive heat sinks and weigh 100#'s plus if was a true 60wpc in Class A.

[JohnMichael]

What I was curious about is it said it was 60 watts DIN and we usually use 60 watts FTC.

http://www.angelfire.com/electronic/...FTC-Power.html

I know my Onkyo A-9555 is rated at 85 watts FTC but is rated higher by DIN standards. The 60 watts DIN is most likely less by FTC standards. The amp may be less powerful and not pure class A but biased higher than usual before becoming AB. Always tough to tell with different standards.

Oh and I did notice some fuses that we could upgrade.

[02audionoob]

I thought I saw somewhere it was actually 40W at 0.03% THD...although the higher 60W RMS number was there, as well as an 80W peak number.

[poppachubby]

Unless I'm misunderstanding what you mean by Class A. It can't be a true Class A amp. Its not big enough, it would need massive heat sinks and weigh 100#'s plus if was a true 60wpc in Class A.

100 lbs? It's heavy, the power supply alone is probably 25 lbs. However BR, there is no minimum weight to qualify a Class-A. Class-A is an indicator of performance. Although I don't know all of the science, it's an amp that's conducting all of the time, whether the speaker is or isn't. Size and weight is simply a bi-product of neccessity. EDIT: I found this wiki BR, only read about half of it and started to fall asleep lol. I'm sure if E-Stat sees this thread, he will comment.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electro...lifier#Class_A

I can't imagine why a company as reputable as Dual WERE, would write Class A just to market it. I think John is correct, they probably manufactured it in Zimbabwe or some remote country where Class A standards were low.

Why Zimbabwe? I don't know, it's just the first country that popped into my head. Not to offend any Zimbabweans (??). Anyhow, guys, I was hoping for some direction in finding a price point. Once I get it home, we can debate, talk and argue about every last detail of this unit.

[blackraven]

That amp may be class A for the first 5 wpc but in no way puts out 40-60watts in Class A. Like I said before, it would need massive heat sinks. At idle it would be putting out 4x's the number of watts in heat alone. Class A amps run very hot and need massive heat sinks and none are seen. My Parasound Halo amp runs in Class A for the first 10watts and then Class AB . It weighs over 60#'s and has massive heat sinks running down both sides of the unit. Some companies will make claims of Class A when it is truly AB.

[poppachubby]

Some companies will make claims of Class A when it is truly AB.

Why? More importantly how?

[JoeE SP9]

PC, since most amps run in class A at least some of the time any manufacturer could call any amp Class A. Actually some do, although they may only produce 3 or 4 Watts in Class A before switching to Class A/B. There are manufacturers who bias their amps so that as many as 10 or 15 of the first Watts are run in Class A. The more power a given amp produces in Class A the larger and heavier the power supply and heat-sinks need to be.
Amps that are true Class A such as the Krell KS series and the original Levinsons are all large heavy and run hot. Generally a full Class A amp will "double down". That is, it will double the output power every time the output load is cut in half. IE: 100 Watts @ 8 Ohms, 200 Watts @ 4 Ohms, 400 Watts @ 2 Ohms and 800 Watts @ 1 Ohm. Consequently most full Class a amps have published power ratings for 8, 4 and 2 Ohms.
E-Stats amps which are not pure Class A are large and heavy. They are heavily biased to run more than a few Watts in Class A. I don't know how hot they run but they have plenty of heat-sink area and "mucho" output transistors.

[poppachubby]

Hahah, double post Joe, I knew you were a bot. Thanks man!

[JoeE SP9]

Damn, my secret is out!

[blackraven]

Pops, here's what a Class A monoblock looks like, and this one is relatively light and small.

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volum...06-part-1.html

Here's a 50wpc Class A amp that weighs in at 90#'s, its all heat sink!

http://www.tnt-audio.com/ampli/amaudio50r_e.html

Here's and interesting article about Class A, and if you scroll down to where it says "Are those Class A amplifiers I see advertised really Class A" you will get your answer.
http://www.aikenamps.com/ClassA.htm