Soundcraftsmen PCR800 Amplifier- Vintage Audio Review Episode #32

[@DO-GD]

One of the best sounding amps I've ever heard, hooked up to a pair of Bose 201's on Auralex foam IDk how it hasn't blown them!!!

[@vintageaudioreview]

Thanks for sharing your experience and support for the PCR800. I have always liked Soundcraftsmen gear and will be reviewing another one of their amps in the future,

[@DO-GD]

Thanks I use it mostly for critical listening/editing of digital. I have a huge digital music collection and I'm constantly ripping CDs. It helps to differentiate little nuances in different versions of the same song etc. as well as making sure edits/crossfades are perfect before bouncing to a new file. I also use as reference when transferring vinyl/Cds to digital (in analog).@@vintageaudioreview

[@vintageaudioreview]

@@DO-GD And what preamp do you use ? The one in the review is a spare power amp that I keep on a shelf in the garage, but maybe I will take it out and listen to it again for a bit to get the cobwebs off...

[@multicyclist]

Great video, so I subscribed! I have 3 PM840s, which are I believe electrically identical to the older PCR800s. Fantastic amps IMO. Replacing the aging 11,000uf power supply capacitors will probably improve S/N under power. I don't notice any fan noise at all when I use a pair in bridged mode, listening at 500-600 watts RMS in per channel. 😄

[@vintageaudioreview]

Thanks for subscribing! I have not pulled out the schematics to compare the PM840 with thePCR800, but I do believe they are similar. It would take a lot of time at loud listening for the fan to come on full- the fan is always on for the PCR800, but did go to the high speed mode while testing with tones, which is more strenuous. Another Soundcraftsmen amp review will out soon.

[@multicyclist]

@@vintageaudioreview I was really just kidding. I could not imagine listening to anything that loud for more than a few moments. Your though testing using is really needed on KZbin. Love it.

[@vintageaudioreview]

@@multicyclist Thanks again and I played my amps pretty loud, having 350w clipping light go on (not for very long and sometimes I plug my ears if I am just just checking things out with real music, so it is possible tat is what you do, plus you may have some real inefficient speakers. I appreciate your appreciating what I do- the main focus being objective testing of gear which has put on a few years of use. But sometimes I will test something new. Keeps me off the streets at night, for sure!

[@rickhedez521]

Hello, nice video!. The gap in the transformer is for one of the three 2N2907 transistors which monitor the temperature. The other 2 are glued under the output heatsinks

[@vintageaudioreview]

I would never have guessed that, though I will have to look closely to see where the 2N2907's wires exit the transformer. Thanks for the info and comment!

[@JeffGuild10]

Curious about the DIY AB-1 circuit you built to invert the signal for bridging mode. It looks pretty simple. Do you know if anyone makes/made these for sale (besides Soundcraftsmen)?

[@vintageaudioreview]

I do not. It was pretty easy to make if you know how do that kind of thing. There was a Yamaha preamp that would invert the output's phase as i recall- though would also work. If you find them on ebay they are a bit pricy. Somewhere I must have a schematic- if you email me I could send it to you if I can find it.

[@JeffGuild10]

@@vintageaudioreview Thanks. If it's the same as the diagram you shared at 1:52 on this video, then I've already got it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYfGeYuqa5WJrrcsi=uDoX4OozQ8Q8ixVu&t=112

[@hugogaldames4156]

Did he mention their great ,lush sound!

[@vintageaudioreview]

Thanks for the comment, and by "he", I think you man me, and I did mention that I thought they sounded fine- I don't use a lot of adjectives to describe the sound of amplifiers. If you watch the episode on the Conrad Johnson amp, I do mention that I thought the PCR800 sounded better....

[@wiedrock]

Mine 'pops' the speakers when turning on and off. Does yours do this? I don't see a speaker relay anywhere inside; wondering if that's why? Or maybe the designer used a different method?

[@vintageaudioreview]

There was no speaker relay used in the design. I don't know if mine pops- I typically would note it in my review. I am using another Soundcraftsmen amp in one of my systems and it does make a small pop when powered on- not sure if it does when powered off as there are some other things clicking off, but will certainly make note whenever I review that amp. When I have a chance I will hook mine up and see if it does pop and reply here. It is nothing to worry about, just part of owning some vintage gear that has its quirks. Thanks for commenting.

[@captnjim44smith74]

You didn’t replace the burned resistor ?

[@vintageaudioreview]

Thanks for much for watching and commenting! Yes, the resistor that is in there is the replacement I put in. I re-watched the video and I just pointed out the burned spot beneath the resistor, but probably should have mentioned that it was R33, a 10ohm, 1/2w I believe, and was replaced.

[@jebrehbaker8613]

How's it making stock power with transistors missing?

[@vintageaudioreview]

@@jebrehbaker8613 Very good observation and question. It looks like there were two different versions of the PCR800. One of them had slots in the front cover and, rather than "Power", it had "PCR" above the green LED. I am guessing that it also had more FETS, most likely rated at a lower Power level, in order to handle the power, but I really do not know for sure. But mine must be a proper configuration or it would not work so well.. Thanks for the comments!

[@rickhedez521]

@@jebrehbaker8613 The PCR800/S800 was the entry level and only has 4 MOSFETs per channel. The pricier/higher current PM860/S860 has 6 MOSFETs per channel. The performance is the same at 8 and 4 ohms but the PM860 is 450W/ch stereo at 2 ohms and 900 watts mono at 4 ohms. The SCRs in the power supply board are also of higher amperage on the PM860/S860 (Littlefuse S4010s on the PCR800/S800 and S4020s on the PM860/S860)

[@moshezuhmih]

it looks like a piece of junk 😂

[@vintageaudioreview]

Thanks for commenting, though I disagree with your take, It is a great performing and sounding amp.

[@moshezuhmih]

@@vintageaudioreview If it sounds like it looks then I doubt it

[@vintageaudioreview]

@@moshezuhmih I actually think it is kinda cute..and looks are often deceiving 😄

[@moshezuhmih]

@@vintageaudioreview This is what I tell myself every day when I look in the mirror 😄

[@vintageaudioreview]

@@moshezuhmih Like your sense of humor! Sometimes I feel the same way.