newbie History of WAD amps.

[Dave the bass]

Being a newbie here I'm getting a bit confused re- the different kits that there were out in 'Wad-land'.

I recieved my 'Big Banger' issue last week along with an old copy (as a bonus for subscribing I'm geussing, cheers) of HFW from March of last year, in the Mar 2005 theres a review of a Shanling Valve amp and in Noel Keywoods' lab test reference is made to a World Audio K5881 amp which is rated very highly (above the Shanling).
In the same mag are adverts showing a line up of kits...Kat/kit El84, some 300b monoblocks and a 6550 integrated/power amp too if i remember (I don't have the mag with me at present).

My question, what was the line up of amps in kit form available to Joe public? I've missed out on a lot I know The K5881 doesn't feature, was it 'special order' or something?

DTB

[NealG]

OK here goes:

Apr 93 - Mullard 5-20 monoblocks.
June 93 – KLP1 Line Pre amp
Aug 93 – 300B PP
Oct 93 – K5881 MK1
Dec 93 – K4WSE
Oct 94 – 36W SS kit
Feb 95 – K5881 PSE
Jun 95 – KLPP1
Nov 95 – K6L6
Nov 96 – K5881 MK2
Oct 98 – KEL34
Dec 98 - HD83 Headphone amplifier
Nov 99 – KEL80 Monoblocks
Feb 2000 – KiT88
Apr 2000 – KaT88
Jun 2000 – PSU/Pre/PhonoII
Oct 2000 – 300B PSE Monoblocks
Dec 2000 – KeL84
Apr 2001 – KiT34
Aug 2001 – Passive Pre
Oct 2001 – KiT6550
Jun 2002 – 2A3PSE
Dec 2002 – Kecl82
Aug 2003 – 300B PP Monoblocks

Missing HD83 - Anyone? - Found it, thanks to Rich!

Not all of the kits where available at the same time!!

I would say the 'classics' are the first 300B, K5881 & PSE, 4WSE and KeL80. Best seller, probably the K5881.

The newer 'bling' versions came in with KiT88.

[Dave the bass]

Blimey!

Thats thorough! Many thanks Neal G. I never realised there were so many.

Thanks for clearing that up Neal.

DTB

(P.s. Whats the best )

[NealG]

Original 300B PP from '93

[Ianm2]

and Neal has just about all of them in triplicate

[Dave the bass]

Originally Posted by Ianm2

and Neal has just about all of them in triplicate

...thats just bein' greedy, c'mon dish 'em out...theres some out here that haven't got a valve Hi Fi amp fullstop

Gizzus an amp, £2.37 in the budget.

DTB

[petercom]

NealG, that's marvellous. It will be very helpful when I am writing up the FAQ on WAD (now we have a lot of the documentation I can start compiling a reference to older designs).

[NealG]

No problem, drop me a line if you need help with anything.

[Richard]

Missing HD83 - Anyone?

DEC 98 sup 41

Rich

[NealG]

Thanks Rich, list updated. Sad or what! Now where's that anorak...