[JohnR]

No expert here, but 1955 seems a tad early for RIAA equalization - ? My recollection is that preamps from that time often had a choice of weird EQ curves...

I once sold a 1930's pair of amps on EBay and the guy was surprised that they didn't have RCA jacks and speaker posts. I've more than once regretted selling those, they were in fantastic cosmetic condition and if I'd had more patience and money they could have been sitting in my living room now... 

If your phono preamp works then there's no reason why you shouldn't get signal.

[TheChairGuy]

Thanks John...yeah, my phono pre works fine running into my Dynaco PAS-4 preamp, no reason it shouldn't work on a line input on these vintage beauties/uglies.  I'll try it again before I scratch my head in wonderment again 

The phono worked, it just was too low sounding and very unpleasant.....as opoosed to the rediculously nice sounding CD sound it imparts (I didn't listen long, so maybe it was not current RIAA).

Languid caps and all, I think these might be the nicest amps I've owned (I have to compare to my Odyssey Khartago mono's again, but I'm not hungering to go back anytime soon).  Amazing....I really wonder exactly how far we have come in providing higher quality audio in the past 50 years when I hear these guys...have we all just been spinning in (expensive) circles all this time? 

[TheChairGuy]

Ha - figured out my phono issue - ME  (as too often is the case)

My cartridge wires are purposely wired backwards...as my nornal Dynaco PAS-4 preamp inverts phase.  This was done so I can play CD and phono without jiggling speaker cable, getting them both in phase,  each time.

Sooo, playing thru phono inputs on these Bell amps (which I assume now do not invert)  it was out-of-phase, and rotten sounding. It may also be a case that the gain is too low, as well, but mostly it was out-of-phase awful.

Interstingly, I don't think out-of-phase ever sounded so distinct to me...a credit to the fidelity of these little fella's.

As for my phono pre not working.....I accidentally pulled the Revelation Audio Labs power umbilical (from power supply) out.  Ooops - can't work with electricity 

[Tubes 4 Ever]

 aa It looks like I can take a tiny amount of credit for your tube innoculation  Glad to hear the Bells are performing. They sounded pretty nice without the work you had done so they really must sound pretty good now. But be fore warned there is no turning back now  I just picked up a Berning Micro ZOTL at a whopping 1 watt, and oh my sweet warm sound, great soundstage. By the way i really do prefer the vintage amps, could not give any technical reason just sound better. So keep rolling
Tim

[TheChairGuy]

You are the cause, my boy! 

They do still need help.  One of them is obviously worse sounding them the other....both probably aren't as good as they can be with 50 year old caps swapped out. I can't believe the drive on these babies....MORE than enough power for me in my room.

These are my first tube amps, and the first amps of any kind, that I can actually sit and listen to string instruments.  Yes, violins are finally sounding like live now....I really didn't think it was possible.

These are pretty small and probably weren't but inexpensive units when they were built.....I can't imagine what real decent 6V6 monoblocks with some potted transformers would sound like.

Oh, oh...going down a slippery slope again.....

aa It looks like I can take a tiny amount of credit for your tube innoculation  Glad to hear the Bells are performing. They sounded pretty nice without the work you had done so they really must sound pretty good now. But be fore warned there is no turning back now  I just picked up a Berning Micro ZOTL at a whopping 1 watt, and oh my sweet warm sound, great soundstage. By the way i really do prefer the vintage amps, could not give any technical reason just sound better. So keep rolling
Tim

[Tubes 4 Ever]

And being new to Toobdum never forget the secondary use>>>>>>>>portable heaters 

[TheChairGuy]

And being new to Toobdum never forget the secondary use>>>>>>>>portable heaters 

Tim, I'm fairly new to toobdum...I had a short affair with some vintage Dukane 50watt 6CD6 monoblocks (also chronicled here on Vintage Circle), but alas, one went 'pffffffft' one day early in my affair with them

The little Bell's don't put out much heat at all....no more than my Dynaco PAS-4 preamp and my Odyssey monoblocks do.  They probably draw a lot less electricity, too.  I'm told the 6V6's don't heat up too much...and the other three tubes in each side are small (and cheap) ones