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The Dynaco Tube Audio Forum

Dedicated to the restoration and preservation of all original Dynaco tube audio equipment - Customer support for Tubes4hifi VTA tube amp and preamp kits and all Dynakitparts.com products


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    What a wildfire does to M-125 amplifiers

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    JXBJXB


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    What a wildfire does to M-125 amplifiers Empty What a wildfire does to M-125 amplifiers

    Post by JXBJXB Sun Jan 23, 2022 11:05 am

    Hi forum. 11 months ago I built, with my son, a pair of M-125 amplifiers and really enjoyed them, first using them to drive Magnepans and then most recently a pair of Wharfedale Lintons.

    Unfortunately, a wildfire destroyed my home (and more than 1,000 others) on 12/30. The amplifiers were in my basement office/listening room which was on the perimeter of the house. It is estimated that the fires reached 2500 degrees, for many hours. My entire collection of gear (~40 years) was a loss. These amps were the most recognizable of my gear after the event likely due to their very solid construction. My Audible Illusions preamp was barely more than a chassis, my Nakamichi cassette decks just the metal shell and a few motors. I did have a pair of Heathkit W5Ms that fared about as well as the M-125.

    Pretty fascinating to see which components on the amps "survived" this catastrophic event. I'll rebuild eventually - both the home and my system. It'll be a fraction of what it once was but I'm sure to have some VTA or Dynaco stuff again!

    -jb

    What a wildfire does to M-125 amplifiers M-125_10

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    ericoto


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    Post by ericoto Sun Jan 23, 2022 1:23 pm

    Wow what I mess I am sorry to hear of your misfortune, I hope it all works out well and that no one was injured. What did the inside look like? Any hope for the transformers?
    ttocs
    ttocs


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    Post by ttocs Sun Jan 23, 2022 1:25 pm

    wow! so sorry you and your neighbors had to endure the catastrophe. very sad.
    hope you rebuild your lives as best as possible.
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    rebellovw


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    Post by rebellovw Sun Jan 23, 2022 8:13 pm

    Very sorry to hear about that - I have a set of M125s as well.
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    JXBJXB


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    Post by JXBJXB Sun Jan 23, 2022 11:01 pm

    ericoto wrote:Wow what I mess I am sorry to hear of your misfortune, I hope it all works out well and that no one was injured. What did the inside look like? Any hope for the transformers?

    Yeah - nobody hurt. I didn't even bother looking at the insides, nor would I bother trying to reuse the transformers. These are just a total loss Sad
    Bob Latino
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    Post by Bob Latino Mon Jan 24, 2022 9:15 am

    Hi James,

    Probably the only thing that is salvageable on your amps are the two stainless steel chassis and maybe the screws that hold the parts to the chassis. I am sure that inside the transformers the insulation has melted on the primary and secondary wires rendering the transformers unusable. Sorry about your misfortune with the Colorado wildfire. I can't imagine how difficult it will be to rebuild after an event as catastrophic as you experienced ..

    Bob
    cci1492
    cci1492


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    Post by cci1492 Mon Jan 24, 2022 6:23 pm

    Sorry this happened to you and your neighbors. With any luck the "no loss of life" part still holds and your insurance covers most of the things you lost.
    pedrocols
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    Post by pedrocols Mon Jan 24, 2022 9:24 pm

    I wish I have the right words. That must have been devastating.
    Thom
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    What a wildfire does to M-125 amplifiers Empty This almost happened to me last week...

    Post by Thom Fri Jan 28, 2022 1:44 am

    I can't tell you how very sorry I am that happened to you. It almost happened to me last week.

    Last Monday I woke up to the very recognizable smell of an electric fire. I hurried downstairs and found out it was coming from the craft room along with a very light fog of terrible smelling smoke. I immediately called 911 and because I live out in the country the firetrucks didn't get here until about 15-20 minutes and seemed like forever to me. Before they arrived I walked into the living room and looked at all my irreplaceable vintage audio equipment and as the smell and smoke got worse I thought this is it, I am going to lose everything that I own and not only my cherished audio stuff but everything I had worked for since I was 14. I can't truly explain what was going through my mind but I would not wish that upon anyone. After the fireman got here it took about another 10 minutes with a "Flir" heat seeking camera and discovered that my electric water heater was on fire and they quickly put it out. I have never been relieved so much in my entire life and I wish that yours would have ended up like mine.

    Good luck and God bless

    Thom




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    mchavez


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    Post by mchavez Fri Jan 28, 2022 9:36 pm

    Wow it just hurts to look at those poor amps. but things can be rebuilt, the lives and loved ones are the most precious. All my good thoughts to you folks who have lost so much!!!

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    colin86325


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    Post by colin86325 Sun Feb 27, 2022 12:18 pm

    It's hard to understand the impact of a wildfire until you see pics like this--really feel bad for you and your neighbours. I hope everyone was safe.
    Since you and your son built the amps, maybe you can clean the chassis up a bit and make some more memories rebuilding them together. I could see a resto-mod approach, similar to the way people restore old cars and keep the old patina intact.



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