I am rather bias on the subject of Orion Amps.
The era of HCCA, SX, GX, XTR, NT amps from Orion are IMO un-beatable.
The designer, who last name I can not for the life me, Mark something, starts with B, anyway designed the amps with one goal. HEAPS of grunt with SQ.
Orion amps have 3 levels of protection. Simple ones that do NOTHING to the audio signal on the way through. A line fuse, input voltage sensing that mutes the outputs if input voltage drops below 9 volts and thermol protection that mutes output if the temperature of the amp exceeds 90C.
The topology of the amp makes sense to me with respect to design and layout. Power supplies are beefy with more than enough driver and output transistors. If they suffer from anything its input voltage. They don't like voltage drop or exceeding load limits. If you do then drivers and outputs will fail. The amps design makes repair easy.
I won or I should say, my clients won more IASCA comps with these amps than anyother brand. And I have tried most {of that era}. If you are building an SQ system but want to play with SPL as well these amps if the order.
I don't know what Orion is all about today. I have tried to get my hands on a couple but the brand is locked up with Autobarn. After looking at the
Orion Web site I . . . I'm somewhat convinced that the product line has changed. Directed purchased Orion some years back and as such I expect that the core people that made Orion was it was are not there anymore. The product range has been reduced a lot. Networks, EQ, pre-amps are not to be found on their site. Hmmm?
IMO it is better to buy one these amps, even if it looks like its been through hell and back, than any other amp short of PPI, which is not much more than an Orion product with a different paint job. {PPI was started by 1/3 of the founding members of Orion who sold out and went on there own. PPI was and maybe still is a quality product but I won't buy it because I know the inside story to the start of the company. At the very least a version that grounds my opinion of PPI.
} Heat sinks are easily separated and can be cleaned up very easily.
If anyone has a couple laying around and doing nothing, send them to me! PLEASE :clapping:
:-) >Call'm like I hear'm< )-:
Owner/Designer/Builder IASCA/CAN/NT National Champions 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990
Designer/Builder of IASCA World Champions 1991, 1992, 1993
Designer/Builder of IASCA Australian State/National Champions 1996, 1997, 1998
Mobile Dynamics Accredited Workshop Instructor
GAIT Accredited - IASCA Accredited SQ/Install
CAASQ Judge
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i would keep it and save your money
