I'm about to do something really stupid...JBL 6020s

[JeffW]

Pink hair is a nice change.

"Well, as long as the collar and cuffs match." - James Bond

[mech986]

Anybody know much about the 6233 "Ice Cube" amp? I've got a couple but trying to figure out if worth it to restore. They used a sort of discrete version of a switched mode power supply built in the early 80's to keep weight down.

[grumpy]

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There's a really good service manual available... I'd be concerned about equivalent parts availability... The manual calls for replacing the inverter transistors as a quad set (implying to me that they need to be matched for the 20kHz switching transients to be minimized). The unit also has a special grounding terminal, further implying there were issues in certain installations (perhaps uncommon, but enough to introduce it as a production element). A full rebuild cost would need to be weighed against what was available new (possibly for less), vs. the jones to get something like this up and running.

Personally, I'd not be connecting it to speakers that were irreplaceable.

[mech986]

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There's a really good service manual available... I'd be concerned about equivalent parts availability... The manual calls for replacing the inverter transistors as a quad set (implying to me that they need to be matched for the 20kHz switching transients to be minimized). The unit also has a special grounding terminal, further implying there were issues in certain installations (perhaps uncommon, but enough to introduce it as a production element). A full rebuild cost would need to be weighed against what was available new (possibly for less), vs. the jones to get something like this up and running.

Personally, I'd not be connecting it to speakers that were irreplaceable.

Sound advice, just thought they were interesting, although this pair is pretty beat up looking. But a pair for $100 wasn't much to worry about.

[grumpy]

Oh, they're a cool design (pun intended). At $50ea, I'd have sprung for them too
especially if they were working.
I'd definitely want them thoroughly checked out before connecting them to anything serious.
Same goes for any other high powered amp that old.

[audiomagnate]

I know it's lame, but I'm unboxing these tonight.

[Double Dave]

I know it's lame, but I'm unboxing these tonight.

What did you make of them? Do you still have them? I picked up two of these last year, and two 6010B's. Couldn't resist the look of them.. I got them to compliment my 4355 project build. The 6010's for the tops, and the 6020's for the lows. Quad bi-amped vintage JBL amplification has some symmetry to it...

Mine need work too, but that's all part of the fun I suppose. Not plugged them in yet so have no idea of their functionality. Yet.