[78-L] Thinking of replacing my Owl 1

[joe@salerno.com]

I very much am enjoying my KAB Mark 12 (I think is the model number). 
Kevin has been on this list and is a good guy to deal with. Unsolicited 
testimonial, usual disclaimers apply.

I think the problem is the IC in your OWL. IIRC it is a fairly common 
one that might be available and replaceable.

Or maybe some little capacitor is drying out.

joe salerno


Jeffrey Lichtman wrote:
> For years I have been using an Owl 1 pre-amp for playing 78s. It has 
> starting giving me trouble in the past few months, so I'm thinking of 
> replacing it. Unfortunately, most pre-amps that have comparable 
> functions are very expensive. What I need are:
> 
>     - selectable equalization curves (preferably with turnover and 
> rolloff separately selectable)
>     - channel selection: left, right, left + right, left - right (for 
> vertical recordings)
> 
> I don't generally use the Owl's hiss and rumble filters - I prefer to 
> do this filtering after recording. It would be nice to have a stereo 
> output mode to allow the selection of the quieter channel 
> dynamically, but I've been doing without this for so long that I 
> don't see it as a necessity.
> 
> The company that made the Owl 1 is out of business, so I can't send 
> it in for repair. It's possible that I can repair it myself - the 
> problem is that one channel drops out, and flicking the power switch 
> off and on will bring it back for a while. I suspect the problem is 
> the power switch itself.
> 
> If I can't repair the Owl I will have to replace it. I found a 
> company in New Mexico that makes a comparable unit called the TDL 
> Technology Model 4010. They have a web site with the unit described here:
> 
> http://www.tdl-tech.com/data4010.htm
> 
> The price is right at $487, but it bothers me that they don't publish 
> technical specs that I can find: things like S/N ratio, distortion, etc.
> 
> Does anyone here have experience with this pre-amp? Can anyone 
> suggest a different one?
> 
> Thanks.
> 
> 
>                         -        Jeff Lichtman
>                                  swazoo at rcn.com
>                                  Check out Swazoo Koolak's Web Jukebox at
>                                  http://swazoo.com/ 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 78-L mailing list
> 78-L at klickitat.78online.com
> http://klickitat.78online.com/mailman/listinfo/78-l
>