Pro Logic THX Multi Amp Stereo

At the heart of this system is a Technics SA-TX50. This reciever controls the entire amplifier rack as well as serving as an amplifier itself. It gets input from 4 Technics CD players, a Technics cassette deck, a Technics turntable, a National HiFi VCR & a Nintendo 64. It then decodes the signals into a 6 channel output which is then distributed to the main amplifier racks. The amplifiers are assigned to the following groups: Main, Center, Surround & Subwoofer. Each amplifier is set to enhance low, mid or high frequencies in its assigned group resulting in an excellent sound. It easily makes neighbor rattling bass while delivering a flawlessly clear treble with no distortion. A single remote cotrol easily controls most functions except the cassette deck, turntable & vcr. The 5 CD players make life easy for the average couch potato. The Technics SL-MC6 & SL-MC7 110+1 CD stackers holding a total 0f 444 CDs keeps more than anough cds to keep playin 2 ad a half weeks long, but we have a Technics SL-PD887 5 CD changer on tap for when my pals come over with their cds. Watching videos is truly an experience with the amazing depth & surround this big system delivers, it really takes you there despite the small TV screen. Nintendo gaming is also a whole new adventure with some of the surround effects available.

The Amplifier Rack

There is 32 amplifiers in the rack. You'll probably notice that all the amplifiers are fairly old. Youre probably thinking why?, Its because they are far superior in performance & reliability. Ive owned enough late models amps to clearly see this. The mid 80s Technics amplifiers had better Power supplies, Resevoir Caps & superior Power ICs. Besides that they just sound better. The new class A amp circuitry delivers a great power bandwidth with next to nil distortion & loads of power to boot. All amplifiers in my rack are new class A except the SA-TX50 which is class H+, its a fairly good amp but the older amps still retain an edge over it in performance. The rack as stands has a power bandwidth of DC to 120Khz with a CONTINUOUS Power output of 5270w but I have measured a total of 8600w of power with no distortion (calculated VxA) under high volume.

Speaker Array

There are 68 speaker enclosures in this system mostly Technics with a few Dynamic Audio & Four Cerwin Vega! subs. Its been a struggle fittin them all in a room so things are a bit if a squeeze. You cant see much of the walls anymore & it has been said that we used speakers as our wallpaper. Theese speakers range from 92db/w to 96db/w with frequency responses of 20hz to 25khz. The Four Cerwin Vega subwoofers are in Jensen bandpass sub boxes. They make a superb thunderous bass line, but the bandpass enclosures make the subwoofers need big watts to get going. The The performance enhanced SE-M100 makes light work of this. The Technics SB-1955s have a superb wide dispersion horn tweeter that rings out a razor sharp treble that really adds a fairly significant edge in cd performance. The SB-X300, SB-X500 & SB-X700 with Flat cone woofers & midrange units give off a real smooth clean sound. All speakers are connected to the amps via heavy duty OFC cable.

 

This all started in 1990 when I came across my 1st Technics amplifier, The SU-V4X . Before Ihad this I had a few Sony & Yamaha amps, I got this Technics amp from a friend who had bought a new stereo. Originally they thought the amp was dead, but it turned out her daughters friend had blown up the speakers. The first thing I noticed on this amp was the new class A symbol that illuminated when switched on. Looking through the ventilation on the top it was clear this amp had power with a refrigerant tube in the heatsink & the biggest Power IC I've seen in a domestic amp (significantly larger than the STK series IC). The performance was nothing short of amazing, it quickly outdid my 110w/ch Sony & 100w/ch Yamaha & I was even more suprised to learn it was rated at 75w/ch. Not long after that I sold the Yamaha & Sony. The Technics proved over time to be a sensational amplifier. Soon I came across a second SU-V4X & things were going to stay that way. I had this habit of leaving the radio on overnight & falling asleep to the music which resulted in chaos when a direct lightning strike took all my hifi equipment including my 2 fave amps. After ordering parts I found the SVI2004A no longer available. The SVI2004C they were replacing it with is way short of matching the original ICs performance. Now the hunt had started....

This stereo had never been originally planned to get this big. It has been slowly added to since `93 after I lost the SU-V4X's. I read classifieds, Raided all the pawnbrokers & now search the web for another SU-V4X and in doing so have found quite a few good models as I go along. As I keep looking I keep buying & adding to the system. Now after all theese years I have come up with a remarkable outcome. This stereo is bigger than I ever thought it would ever get & its been a stack of fun getting all the components and building this masterpiece. Im still trying to find another SU-V4X and invariably the system will get a bit bigger. All new developments in this system will be posted here.

 

21/7/00: SU-X90 Acquired through E-bay thanks to the seller, Andy... :)