Magnavox 8601 Single Ended Amplifier Dave Gillespie MOD Sweetest SE amp

Description

Beautiful Magnavox 8601 Dave Gillespie
Circuit
amp
Up for sale is one of my beloved restoration pieces. It started life as a console amp and has been completely rebuilt. As a lifelong audiophile I discovered some time ago that these magnavox amps sound amazing with the right mods. One of the caveats is that they are u-g-l-y UGLY. So to remedy that I have painstakingly disassembled and painted the chassis in epoxy white. Then I added a standard IEC plug and fuse. A clear coated piece of Mahogany finishes of the front and a smart LED on off switch. It was my first build of Dave Gillespies design and I can say it will not disappoint. Google Magnavox flea amp and read the forum on audiogon to see how much people love this amp.  All of the components are new and the amp has been part of my listening room for 3 years now. I am selling this because I have built another one with more upgrades so I no longer need it. You will need efficient speakers to run this amp such as Klipsch or Zu audio. The sound when paired right is absolutely stunning. Gobs of soundstage and absolute clarity. The bass is strong and wonderful and the highs are like candy. I have included a set of original american Zenith tubes with the amp but as a recommendation my favorites were Electro harmonix.If you are not a fan of El84 then you must not have heard them. These little tubes are wonderful. Gold lions sound great as well. It's a toss up between the two with the clarity of the EH winning out slightly. The input has been changed to a 12ax7 and is a JJ. I included this tube to get you up and running but I recommend changing it. Either Electro harmonix or vintage telefunken are the best in this position.   So what you get is one awesome looking awesome sounding maggie that has been restored and modded for reliability and sound. This unit will last for years and be a treasured part of your collection. If you want one this is the one to buy for sure. Thank you audiofriends.
A word on Shipping...
Hifi Audio is an interesting animal. Many of us buy used gear to be budget friendly. Unfortunately local gear is scarce and having gear shipped is risky. Much of this stuff is heavy and delicate to say the least. I am very familiar with audio gear and how to ship it. I did it for many years, but now I have an excellent shipper who is amazing at packaging. Great care and attention is used in packaging these items. I don't consider the sale finished until you have received your item safely and securely. I also do my best to ship as quickly as possible. Many times I ship in the same day. Custom packaging takes a day longer. Tracking numbers will always be provided and all items will be appropriately insured.
About Me
I am an have been an audio enthusiast for the past 20 years. During that time I have collected a lot of vintage audio gear. I still love vintage gear but about 12 years ago I caught the Audiophile bug. I have quickly become obsessed with pure audio sound. I have spent many thousands in search of audio bliss. It truly is a disease. Gone are the days when I could sit back with my Klipsch heresy speakers and Stomberg Carlson Tube amp and enjoy some Pink Floyd. I have moved on to greater things and now own power cords that cost triple what my original setup did. I think the transition came when I got into SET amplifiers. IF you cannot tell I am a tube guy mostly but I can also appreciate a great Class A (ie. Nelson Pass First Watt) amp as well. I build my own speakers and have been experimenting with open baffle speakers lately. These speakers require high efficiency. The low watt sound can be very satisfying. Monarch Audio Cicadas taught me that. They had an incredible snap that I had never heard. Unfortunately at 3-4 watts a piece the bliss was short lived when I hooked them up to a defective amp.
Most of all I enjoy the audio community. I have been buying hifi pieces for years and always love the personal encounters I have had with fellow audiophiles. We are a quirky bunch and as I all to well know a little lonely. I have spent countless hours listening to systems that were not my own.
I enjoy listening to the passionate stories told by the people I meet. Audiophiles are so diverse and complicated and very dedicated to the sound. Social interaction has taken a back seat to the love of gear but I disagree. It is the people that make this hobby. All else is second.
We all like to say that we are collectors and not sellers. I disagree. Buying and selling gear has been the most fun I have had in the hobby. I buy and sell because it allows me to experience many different pieces. All of my gear has been thoroughly loved. I often spend my time listening while servicing a piece of gear. It is very satisfying.
Thank You for reading this far. You are a better person than I for sure. If you are an audiophile or an audio enthusiast thank you for being part of the community I love.