Natural Progression Rebuilds for the Counterpoint SA-12 and SA-100 Power Amplifiers

6th Production Run now shipping!

"I can't think of a higher compliment than to say that your design reflects your musician's ear. Bravo, maestro!"

"The bass on my ProAc Response 3's is well-controlled, musical, with plenty of deep-bass extension. With good source material, the timbral colors couldn't be more natural or true-to-life, revealing a lot of low-level detail that enriches the realism. Very very neutral. Some of my jazz recordings now swing so hard I can't listen to them without bouncing up and down or tapping my feet. Bravo!"

--Tom Linker, Austin TX.

"The mono NP100 arrived yesterday. I carefully inserted it into the system . . . turned it on and let it warm up . . . and played my favorite CD. Magnificent is the word. Now I have the best total sound I have ever had. What a difference in the presence and warmth of the center channel with the NP100. Even my wife hears and feels the difference!"

-- Charles Whitlock, La Grange, KY.

" The burned-in NP100 is, in a word, magical. There are "romantic" amps that sound warm and fuzzy, but emit sonic haze at the extremes. And there are razor-sharp-definition amps that reveal every nit, but leave one cold. The NP100 combines the virtues, but exhibits none of the vices, of both. . . . On a scale of 5, I'd rate the NP100 a 6 on performance (if I could) and a 7 on value. This is a no-brainer steal, folks. "

-- Jim Treanor, Computing Administrator, Oregon State University

"I thought I would drop you a note to express my thoughts on my upgraded SA-100 (NP100 Basic Upgrade with custom FRED rectifier upgrade [$249]). While I could start with a long-winded spiel, a list of adjectives to try to describe the amp, I feel it would be much more accurate to simply say, `This amp has an uncanny ability to make music sound like real music.'"

-- Branwell McClory

"I've had the amp in my system now for about a month . . . What an improvement!! I would definitely decide on the upgrade again -- one would be hard pressed to find better performance at this price. Any amp I've listened to over the past year or so that sounds as detailed, harmonically rich, and controlled as the NP100 retails for at least 2-3 times as much. Build quality is superb. I inadvertently shorted the speaker cables but didn't realize it until a few days later, when I noticed the distorted soundstage. I checked and all that happened to the amp was two blown rail fuses. Testimony of a well-built component!!"

-- Volker Franke, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Western Maryland College

"This is truly an impressive new amplifier, and a real bargain for the price of the upgrade. Every SA-100 owner should rush to take advantage of the amazing transformation accomplished by your NP100 upgrade!"

--Bill Sloan  

 

"The NP100 and SA-1000 upgrades sounds great! It's like a $4,000 system upgrade for a lot less. I'm very happy with the results. Keep me on your mailing list for future upgrades."

--Michael Carey, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

Read these testimonials in their entirety on the testimonials page.

Designed in 1984, the SA-12 was an instant success. In 1988, with a modest increase in power and a slightly different chassis, it became the SA-100. Both of these amplifiers use MOSFETs in the output stage, devices which had initially attained a period of popularity in the 1980's due to their soft and musical sonic characteristic. Critical listening has shown, however, that MOSFETs soften the sound perhaps too much, and add their own coloration — a kind of fine-grained mist.

Also, due to high internal losses and occasional flaws in manufacturing, MOSFETs have not proven to be as reliable as bipolar transistors. Unfortunately, repairing these amplifiers with new replacement MOSFETs is now impossible because these special parts are no longer available. If you are visiting this page because you have an SA-12 or SA-100 with a blown output stage, click here to read about your repair options.

Many years have passed since I designed those amplifiers, and during that time I designed several new models of power amplifiers, including the Natural Progression (NPS) class. These amplifiers took hybrid design to a new level by utilizing a unique new output stage that offered fast, clean sound without bipolar or MOSFET sonic colorations, an output stage that used extremely rugged devices for greatly enhanced reliability.

A greatly-improved version of this technology is now available for SA-12's and SA-100's. It's called the NP100-- a new amplifier that can drive a two-ohm load all day without wimping out.

Is your amplifier worth it? You bet. There is nothing in your SA-12 or SA-100 that is outdated, no new power amplifier technologies have been invented. You have the basis of a powerful, dynamic and sonically exciting amplifier in your possession. You'd have to spend three or four times the money to purchase a new amplifier that would outperform the upgraded SA-12/100. This rebuild comes with a 5-year warranty.

Rugged metal bipolar transistors replace the original amplifier's fragile MOSFETs.

I've been doing these rebuilds now for a couple of years and you can read testimonials about the sound quality here.

The Upgrades:

Basic Rebuild
Premium Rebuild
Premium "Gold" Rebuild
Premium "PLATINUM" Rebuild
Kit Version
Option: Improved Input RCA Connectors
Option: Upgraded Speaker Terminals
Option: Balanced inputs
Option: Monobloc Conversion
Option: Built-in Volume Control
Option: High-Sensitivity 6SL7 Version
Option: Alternate Low-Sensitivity 12SX7 Version
Option: Circuit Board Damping
Tube Options
Ordering

NP100 "Basic" Rebuild

The NP100 Basic upgrade.

This rebuild replaces the original circuit board and output MOSFETs with a clean, simple differential triode driver stage, regulated power supplies and rugged bipolar transistors in the output. I'm using very high-quality components, including ceramic tube sockets with gold pins, Nichicon ES and TRT capacitors. The new board is double-sided with heavy copper cladding. All that remains of the original SA-12 or SA-100 is the chassis, the heatsinks, the power transformer and the power supplies. The rest is either replaced, modified or bypassed. The finished product is called the NP100. Gone is 20dB of feedback, gone is the thick, closed-in MOSFET sound, gone is the fragility of the MOSFET output stage. Three indifferent-sounding polypropylene coupling caps (per channel) have been reduced to a single Dynamicap capacitor/channel. The signal path is cleaner, simpler. The rebuilt amplifier retains the basic liquidity of the old design (same designer, after all), but with greater dynamic liveliness; deeper, wider soundstaging; deeper, more powerful bass; greater dynamic nuances; and sweeter, more transparent treble. The amplifier sounds luscious and rich, the music seems to emerge from a silent background. Click here for details of the rebuild.

Pricing for the NP100 "Basic" Rebuild: $1450
Notes:
1. Please specify High or Low Sensitivity when ordering.)

NP100 Premium Rebuild

The NP100 Premium is the Basic rebuild, but with several parts enhancements.The circuitry is the same, but the parts upgrade is extensive:

• Mills, Caddock Tetrinox, and Vishay "Naked" bulk metal-foil resistors are used in critical locations (the eight essential voicing resistors are upgraded to TX2575 naked Z-foil resistors -- click here for an overview about my resistors choices).
• On-board power supply capacitors are upgraded to low-distortion, low-impedance, extended bandwidth Black Gate powdered-graphite capacitors, Continental Capacitor and Nichicon Great Supply caps,
• High-speed Fast-Recovery Epitaxial (FRED) Diodes for the output stage. These diodes are a substantial upgrade over the original parts due to their soft recovery characteristics and lack of ringing which significantly reduce noise, glare and grain.

The sound quality improvement with these better parts must be heard to be understood. It is much more cohesive from low bass to high treble and sounds far less electronic than even the best high-fidelity gear available on the retail level simply because the cost of the parts involved prohibits using them in retail products.

Pricing for the NP100 "Premium" Rebuild: $2550
Notes:
1. Please specify High or Low Sensitivity when ordering.)

NP100 Premium "Gold" Rebuild

The NP100 Premium upgrade (courtesy Johnson Wu)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This rebuild takes the NP100 to the peak of performance by replacing the last vestige of the amplifier's original circuitry: the transformer and main output storage capacitors. With this upgrade, you receive the Premium Rebuild, and then I replace the old transformer with a custom-made high-current and low-noise Plitron toroid transformer, built to my specifications; and all four main filter caps are upgraded to Nichicon Super Through KG electrolytics. All essential wiring is upgraded to Van Den Hul "The Wind II" hybrid wire. The transformer makes a tremendous difference by providing faster, more detailed highs, a dead-quiet background, livelier dynamics and punchier bass. The Super Through upgrade caps provide exceptional coherence and resolution all the way down into the bass region, something that you won't hear in designs that use standard low-cost aluminum electrolytics. These kinds of parts simply are not available on products found on the retail market, which means you probably have never experienced anything that sounds this good.

 

New: April 2006: All fuses upgraded to HiFi Tuning gold/silver.

Pricing for the NP100 "Premium Gold" Rebuild: $4400
Notes:
1. Please specify High or Low Sensitivity when ordering.
2. As is the case with all Plitron parts, allow eight weeks for delivery of the upgrade transformer.)

It had to happen. A level above the Premium Gold, for the simple reason that the more places you use the good parts, the better it sounds. We start with a Premium Gold, then add:

All five fuses upgraded to HiFi Tuning gold/silver.

All critical resistors in the signal path and in the power supplies upgraded to "naked" Vishay TX2575 Z-foil resistors, bringing the total number of TX2575 used from 8 (obtained in the Gold upgrade) to 34.

Alas, the good parts that sound so good, cost so very much, too. I'm not kidding: see how the price goes up from the Premium Gold to the Premium PLATINUM. But these parts are simply wonderful: they confer a degree of realism and naturalness to the sound that has to be experienced. Click on the links for the fuses and resistors (above) to read what these parts do.

I am making available some additional modifications for the NP100 that either greatly improve the unit's sonics, or make it more "user friendly" in certain situations. Please note that these options have been priced with the assumption that they will be installed concurrently with the NP Upgrade, in other words, while the amplifier is already being worked on. As stand-alone modifications, these options will cost a bit more. If you wish to have any of these installed separately, please contact me to discuss the details.

Option 1. Improved Input RCA Connectors

The old RCA jacks are removed and Cardas GRFA RCA jacks are installed in the chassis.

Pricing for Option 1. Add $90 to upgrade the input RCA jacks connectors.
(add setup fee if not done with either the Basic, Premium or Premium GOLD upgrades.)

Option 2. Improved Speaker Terminals

I replace the original speaker terminals with Cardas CCGR posts. Some chassis modification required.

Pricing for Option 2. Add $240 to upgrade the speaker terminals.
(add setup fee if not done with either the Basic, Premium or Premium GOLD upgrades.)

Option 3. Balanced inputs

The new NP100 can be wired to handle balanced signals directly without a transformer or additional circuitry. These are true balanced inputs: the tube stage is a differential one and provides + and - inputs. While your amplifier is in my shop, I can modify the chassis and mount Neutrik XLR connectors. Your RCA inputs are not removed and can still be used with unbalanced sources. For that purpose In that event, I supply shunting connectors to ground the negative polarity input for when the RCA inputs are being used. Some chassis modification required.

Pricing for Option 3: Add $190 for balanced inputs.
(Balanced inputs cannot be installed on amplifier without Basic upgrade as a mininum)

"Total Connector" Upgrade Package:
Subtract 15% when you buy Options 1, 2 and 3 all together. Only $440! Two RCA's, two sets of speaker terminals and two XLR balanced inputs.

Option 4. Monoblock Conversion. I can convert a stereo NP100 into a powerful mono amplifier with over 300 watts of power. This is a bridge-mode amplifier and, as such, has better control over the speaker, providing tighter bottom end. These bridge-mode amplifiers are 6dB "hotter" than the stereo amp, so you will need to turn down your preamp a bit to compensate. One input jack is removed and the hole in the chassis plugged.

 

Pricing for Option 4. Add $120 to convert to mono with upgraded RCA input jack OR,

Add $175 to convert to mono with balanced XLR input (some chassis modification required).

Mr. L. Rosenberg's NP100 with built-in volume control option.

Option 5. Built-in Volume Control
Using a high-quality CD, SACD or DVD player and just don't want to go through a preamp? For the most direct sound, consider getting a volume control on your upgraded amp. I can't guarantee that we'll use the same knob in the picture (we're running on old Counterpoint parts here), but I can guarantee that you'll hear your music with more immediacy than ever before. We've got a couple of ways to go:

Pricings for Option 5. Add $115 to install built-in volume control with good-grade metal-body 25mm Noble volume control
OR, Add $210 to install TKD conductive-plastic volume control.
(Note: if your disc player isn't capable of putting out at least 7 volts of signal,
then you should get the high-sensitivity version of
the power amp [below] or you may find that you aren't able to get
get satisfactory sound levels even with the
volume control turned all the way up.
(add setup fee if not done with either the Basic, Premium or Premium GOLD upgrades.) )

 

Option 6. High-Sensitivity 6SL7 Version.
The basic NP100 rebuild described above uses a pair of 6SN7 (ECC32) dual-triode octal tubes for what I call the "low-sensitivity version". I like this tube -- it's a very linear tube, favored by many hi-fi buffs, and one that I used in my highly-sought SA-11 Line Stage (1984).

     With this tube, the NP100 has a gain factor of 7x (17dB) and needs an input signal level of at least 4 volts rms (12 volts peak-to-peak) to reach full power output. This is normally not a problem with most preamplifiers, especially tube preamps, which are capable of high output levels. It also has a couple of advantages: First, you'll be running the volume control at a higher level, where you have more control, and second, preamp background noise will be reduced to inaudibility -- great if you have sensitive speakers or listen in a quiet environment.
      However, if your preamplifier cannot provide this level of output (see its owner's manual), or if you are using a passive preamp and your source components are incapable of putting out this relatively high level of signal, you should specify the high sensitivity version of the NP100. This is based on the high-mu 6SL7 (ECC35) tube, also an octal tube, also a high-fidelity favorite. The high-sensitivity version has a gain factor of 23x (27dB) and only requires 1.2 Volts (rms) of signal to be driven to full power. There is no additional charge for the high-sensitivity 6SL7 version.

Option 7. 12SX7 Version (alternate low-sensitivity tube).
A tube type that is becoming a favorite among audiophiles tired of paying high prices for NOS 6SN7-type tubes is the 12SX7. Like the 6SN7, it's a very linear tube. And like the 6SN7, it is a low-gain tube (don't confuse gain or sensitivity with power -- you get the same power, you just need to turn your volume control up higher).  With this tube, the NP100 has a voltage gain of 6.5x (16dB, contrast with the 6SN7's 7x/17dB voltage gain) and needs an input signal level of at least 4.3 volts rms (13 volts peak-to-peak) to reach full power output. That said, I don't personally think this a noteworthy tube, sonically.
     Again, this is not normally a problem with most preamplifiers, especially tube preamps, which are capable of high output levels, but check the manual. You also get the same advantages of the 6SN7 version:  running the volume control at a higher level where you have more control; and lower preamp background noise.  Note that 12SX7's and 6SN7's are NOT interchangeable, and you cannot power 12SX7's from the original SA-12/100 transformer, the AVA9458 transformer must be installed at the same time.  Other than needing the new transformer, there is no additional charge for this low-sensitivity 12SX7 version.

(Still confused? Click here to read more about amplifier sensitivity.)

Amplifier Type	Sensitivity (rms volts input drive needed for full power of 100W)	Gain (RCA Inputs)	Gain (Balanced)
Original SA-12/100 (provided for your reference):	1.0V	29dB	N/A
Pre-2000 NP100: Standard Sensitivity 6922 Version	2.25V	22dB	28dB
Pre-2000 NP100 Optional High-Sensitivity 12AX7A Version	1.0V	29dB	35dB
New NP100: Low Sensitivity 6SN7 Version	4V	17dB	23dB
New NP100: High-Sensitivity 6SL7 Version	1.2V	27dB	31dB
New NP100: Low Sensitivity 12SX7 Version	4.5V	16dB	22dB

Gain and sensitivity options for NP100 amplifier.

Option 8. Circuit Board Damping
Circuit boards are light and stiff -- they are resonant as heck, which causes smearing of the sound. Your audio will be substantially improved when we apply thick wool felt damping pads between the circuit boards and the chassis to damp all resonances. This results in MUCH tighter imaging and spatial resolution, MUCH greater retrieval of low-level details, a surprising reduction in edginess, and a greater weight to the tone, which makes everything sound fuller and more "real." Click here for pricing. (add setup fee if not done with either the Basic, Premium or Premium GOLD upgrades.)

 

About Tubes.

• The low-sensitivity version of the NP100 ships with a pair of Sovtek 6SN7 triode tubes. These tubes are currently in production, and sound very, very detailed and transparent. They are, however, a bit analytical-sounding -- not the richest or most emotionally involving sounding tube out there. The good news is that the amplifier is extremely neutral-sounding, so it will sound like whatever tube you put in it.
  

Though I don't stock them, I will mention the Sylvania JAN VT-231, which sounds kind of thick yet is so scarily rich and full that it will raise goosebumps on your arms; and the RCA "Red Base" 5692 which provides a warmer and rounder sound than the Sovtek, and is every bit as detailed. There are other tube types that will work well, too.

I will happily install something beside the Sovtek 6SN7 tubes in your low-sensitivity upgrade if you send them to me while I build up your amp. More information about tubes can be found on the 6SN7 section of the tube page. Firebottle Audio's web page has a huge list of tube resources, including dozens of online vendors.

• The high-sensitivity version of the NP100 ships with a pair of 6SL7 triode tubes. I was lucky enough to get a bunch of these excellent-sounding tubes. You might be able to do better, but these are quite good. Of course, there are other tube types that will work well, too. Want me to install better tubes in your upgrade? Send them to me and I'll put them in when I build up your amp. Information can be found on the 6SL7 section of the tube page. Firebottle Audio's web page has a huge list of tube resources, including dozens of online vendors.

Scheduling

Customer List for NP100 Production Run #2 (started 2000), now sold out
No.	Customer	Style	Sensitivity	UPS Tracking Number (assigned when unit ships)
1	Enlow, D.	Basic	Low	1ZE958424242101134 (SHIPPING ON 10/17/00)
2	McCabe, P.	Basic	Low	1ZE958424242169947 (SHIPPING ON 10/17/00)
3	Lockwood, P.	Basic w/ enhancements	High	Awaiting replacement trafo.
4	Besserman, S.	(To Be Determined)	High
5	Whitlock, C.	Basic, Mono	High	1ZE958424242367358
6	Linker, T.	Premium	Low	1ZE958420342402463
7	Dr. Baker, J.	Premium GOLD	Low	1ZE958420342671511
8	Kittredge, J.	Premium	Low	1ZE958424242532222
9	Uren, K.	Premium	Low	1ZE958424242568668
10	Holland, R	Premium (originally Basic)	Low	1ZE958424242016316
11	Abreau, T.	Premium GOLD	Low	1ZE958424242363914
12	Bunch, B.	Premium	Low	1ZE958424242187016
13	Shiota, T.	Basic, high sensitivity	High	1ZE958420342240503
14	Grove, M.	Premium Gold	Low	1ZE958424242462978
15	Petersen, M.	1999 NP100 Upgrade to 2000 NP100 Premium GOLD Mono	High	1ZE958424242013211
16	Petersen, M.	Second 2000 NP100PG Mono to match first	High	1ZE958424242806829
17	Gambhir, S.	Premium	High	1ZE958424242943878
18	Arain, R.	Basic	Low	1ZE958424242217037
19	Castellano, D.	Basic	High	1ZE958424242845028
20	Doherty, P	Premium GOLD	Low	1ZE95842A842448305
21	Kanazawa	Premium GOLD	Low	1ZE958426742162808
22	Op de Beek, G.	Basic	Low
23	Kiyomoto, M.	Basic	Low	1ZE958424242139372
24	Sugahara, C.	Basic	High	1ZE95842A842402256
25	Koo, J.	1999 Basic	Low	1ZE958424242204587
001	Lorenz, K.	Special: Used 1999 upgrade	Low	1ZE958424242382046

---

 

Customer List for NP100 Production Run #3 (started 2001), now sold out
No.	Customer	Style	Sensitivity	Code	UPS Tracking Number (assigned when unit ships)
1	Goldstein, C.	Basic	TBD	PP
2	Yu, O.	Premium GOLD	Low	PP
3	Yu, O.	Premium GOLD	Low	PP
4	Rifkin	Premium	Low	PP	1ZE958424242038098
5	Bennett	Premium Gold without KG Rail Caps	High	PP	1ZE958424242332653
6	Flowers	Basic with addt'l aupgrades	TBD	pp	1ZE958420342554175
7	Barthlow	Premium	Low	pp	1ZE958424242129196
8	Giust	Basic with transformer uppgrade	High	pp	Hand-carry
9	Welsh	Basic	High	pp	1ZE958424242479835
10	Campbell	Basic	Low	pp	1ZE958424242581625

Customer List for NP100 Production Run #4 (started 2002), now sold out
No.	Customer	Style	Sensitivity	Code	UPS Tracking Number (assigned when unit ships)
1	Berg	Basic	High	Exchange	1ZE958424242600265
2	Carmichael	Basic	Low	pp	shipped
3	Rosenberg	Basic	TBD	pp	shipped
4	Jacoby	Basic	High	pp	Hand-Carry
5	Carter	Basic	Low	partial	shipped
6	Parker	Basic	Low	pp	shipped
7	Daganhardt	Basic	Low	pp	shipped
8	Rigg	Premium	Low	pp	shipped
9	Rigg	Premium	Low	pp	shipped
10	Clyde	Premium	Low	pp	shipped
11	Pentelovitch	Basic	Low	pp	shipped
12	Mealy	Basic	Low	pp	shipped
13	Smith	Basic	High	pp	shipped
14	Used for replacement				shipped
15	Used for replacement				shipped
16	Used for replacement				shipped
17x	Mulrooney	Basic	Low	pp	Uses trial process circuit board. Built up as Basic, tested and fully warrantied. Sounds 95% as good as standard process circuit board. $650 SOLD
18x	Dye, J. has interest in this kit, depending on how the pcb sounds.				This one uses an experimental PCB with 5oz copper (new process, more than twice industry standard plating thickness) for sale only after evaluation. Call me.

 

Customer List for NP100 Production Run #5 (started 2003) The 5th Production Run is SOLD OUT and all units have been sold! See Run #6, below for new orders.
No.	Customer	Style	Sensitivity	Code	UPS Tracking Number (assigned when unit ships)
1	Dye	Premium	LOW	pp	1ZE958424240534457
2	Abraham	Basic	LOW	pp	1ZE958426740306406
3	Springer	Basic	LOW	pp	1ZE958424240402509
4	Withers	Basic	LOW	pp	shipped
5	Brown	Basic	LOW	pp	shipped
6	Brown	Basic	LOW	pp	shipped
7	Brotzen	Basic	LOW	pp	shipped
8	Brotzen	Basic	LOW	pp	shipped
9	Cuny	Basic	LOW	pp	shipped
10	Vaeth	Basic	LOW	pp	1ZE958424240050809
11	Liow	Basic	LOW	pp	shipped
12	Artisskis	Basic (kit)	LOW	pp	shipped
13	Castro	Basic	LOW		shipped
14	Conde	Basic	HIGH		shipped
15	Harvester	Basic	LOW		shipped
16	Jeffrey	Basic	LOW		shipped
17	Pearlman-Storch	Basic	LOW		shipped
18	Sheehy	Basic	LOW		shipped
19	Rapp	Basic	LOW		shipped
20	Rapp	Basic	LOW		shipped
21	Wallace	Premium	LOW		shipped
22	Rapp	Basic	HIGH w/ VOLUME CONTROL		shipped
23	Janusonis	Basic	HIGH		shipped
24	Simons	Basic	LOW		shipped
25	Mauri	Premium	LOW		shipped
26	Young	Premium	LOW		shipped

Customer List for NP100 Production Run #6 (opened mid-2004, filled Feb 2006)
No.	Customer	Style	Sensitivity	Code	UPS Tracking Number (assigned when unit ships)
1	Polyak	Premium KIT	High	PP	1ZE958424243131869
2	Ramallo	Basic KIT	Low	PP	1ZE958426742546386
3	Wickes	Basic	Low	PP	1ZE958424242975843
4	Pai	Basic GOLD	Low	PP	1ZE958423543553257
5	Velker	Premium	TBD	PP	1ZE958420355275238
6	Gamlen	Basic GOLD	Low	PP	1ZE958424241739949
7	Pearson	Basic	Low	PP	1ZE95842DH43158523
8	Kinney	Basic	Low	PP	1ZE958424242240430
9	Green Light/Klein	Basic	Low	PP	1ZE958424243343309
10	Jaxon-Bear	Basic	High	PP	1ZE958424343416630
11	Werner	Premium + Upgrade Transformer	Low	PP	1ZE958423554233662
12	Wallace	Premium GOLD	Low	PP
13	Flint	Premium	Low		1ZE958424242444738
14	George	Basic	Low
15	Garcia	Basic	Low
16	Bollinger	Basic	Low
17	Nichols	Basic	Low
18	Anderson	Premium GOLD	low, mono
19	Anderson	Premium GOLD	low, mono
20	Smith	Basic	High
21	Williams	Basic	Low
22	Hawk	Premium GOLD	low
23	Pappas	Basic	High, mono
24	Pappas	Basic	High, mono
25	Bullough	Basic	Low

 

Customer List for NP100 Production Run #6 (Opened Feb 2006) -- this production run has started. The first five prepaid orders received a 10% discount off the Basic portion of the upgrade ($949 less $94.90 = $854.10). Now that all five preproduction orders have been received, circuit boards and parts for 25 amp upgrades have been ordered and prepared. Amplifiers will be upgraded on a first-come first-served basis. Progress report: My engineer requested some modifications to the circuit board to ease assembly, especially where newer, better parts are being used in locations set up for earlier, less-good parts.      July 15, 2006. The new version of the NP100 circuit board design is now at the board fab house to have two blank proto boards to be built up for test and design approval. I expect the two blank protoboards by early next week. We'll want a week or so to build one up for testing (the other remains blank for visual examination if some bug crops up). This has taken longer than usual because in the process of making the changes, I unearthed several hidden problems on the pcb design that I wanted to clean up, and switched from my ancient, creaky old Protel Client 3.5 schematic/pcb software, to Altium Designer 6. There was a bit of a learning curve associated with the new software. My apologies for the slowness of the process; this has taken far longer than I like, and I've been feeling the pressure to get everyone's SA-100's upgraded sooner rather than later.    August 2, 2006. The prototype has been debugged and the (thankfully few!) errors on the circuit board have been designed out. The files are now at the board fab house to be turned into 25 blank circuit boards for this production run and we'll build them up, and install them in the amps that have been ordered below.    August 29, 2006. The board house will be shipping the bare boards to us on the 31st, according to their production manager. All the needed parts are here, ready to be soldered onto the boards. We're getting close.
No.	Customer	Style	Sensitivity	Code	UPS Tracking Number (assigned when unit ships)
1	Genther	Basic	Low (kit)		shipped
2	Genther	Basic	Low (kit)		shipped
3	Tso	Premium	Low		shipped
4	Vonada-Smith	Premium	Low
5	Silberman	Basic	Low		shipped
6	Goldstein	Basic with volume control	High
7	Hirose	Basic	Low (kit)
8	Gill	Premium GOLD	High		shipped
9	Gill	Premium GOLD	High		shipped
10	Dirnfield	Basic	Low		shipped
High fuel prices are increasing the cost of all parts. I have not raised the cost of the NP100 upgrades for many year. Prices for the Basic, Premium, Premium Gold, and Premium Platinum will go up 15% begining with #11, below, and for all upgrades thereafter in this production run.
11	Bear	Basic	Low		shipped
12	Mann	Basic	High		shipped
13	Audio Studio (for customer Bearly)	Basic	Low		shipped
14	Ohkawa	Basic	Low		shipped
15	Hirose	Basic	Low		shipped
16	England	Basic	Low		shipped
17	Rhodes	Basic	Low		shipped
18	Herrick	Basic	High		shipped
19	Miyashita	Basic	Low		placed
20
21
22
23
24
25

 

 

 

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

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