SAE Historic Amplifiers - How it all Began

[MakeMineVinyl]

Yesterday, I took some pictures of the original handmade prototype of the very first SAE power amplifier from 1968, and the first-off-the-line production version of that amplifier, the SAE MK II.

These are historic audio amplifiers, and are literally the genesis of almost every solid state power amplifier made since then.

Thanks to Morris for letting me post them here.

Here are links to the high resolution images. Enjoy!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/12GygD7XG_RNzPrpV7s6cCCbd3ubh_9zr/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GpipAgmR0TXt_GxVhsQIMsTYLV2F8OTB/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1l0SOIYrJxtIL09fO3S4tJKN3_g-Ux6SV/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bmGD-dQpze0JGhQ81ZAA1MA_f6aa-Uro/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ugHuWmWRniutZn2wg4FMbrwmHk7_ynDE/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tuDZsI-A0ltgYaLdRgvYPGcGo8RpVcWY/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qJJqRP2I2DRnnEZFpnxTmyy56oHOzw2R/view?usp=sharing

 

[Dentman]

That's one clean looking layout. Looks like a tank. What are your thoughts on SAE amps of me late 70's to very early 80's?

 

[MakeMineVinyl]

That's one clean looking layout. Looks like a tank. What are your thoughts on SAE amps of me late 70's to very early 80's?

I was never really into anything solid state then as now, preferring vacuum tubes for everything. The SAE amps were at the top of the heap for quality and power though, and were what many people aspired to being able to buy.

 

[Flint]

Thanks for sharing... those are some great photos.

 

[Wardsweb]

That is AWESOME! Here is a bit of SAE History that I put together.

http://wardsweb.org/audio/sae_history.html

 

[Deleted member 133]

In 1978-79, one of the guys on my res floor had a 100 W/ch SAE amp (wish I remember the model number). It became our workhorse for multiple floor parties, and, for one of those, powered my first pair of Koss CM/1030 speakers.

I've only ever owned one piece of SAE gear (the SAE 5000 - not an amp.)

 

[heeman]

I owned SAE 2 Intergrated Amp and Tuner. This was back in the early 80’s.

Blue fluorescent power meters and display.

Couldn’t afford the good stuff.

 

[Wardsweb]

Playing around on my work bench.

 

[lakedmb]

Magazine quality photos! Very nice! Love the simplistic looking design.

 

[Wardsweb]

My office system at work.

 

[Wardsweb]

Party system for rolling out onto the patio.

 

[MakeMineVinyl]

Party system for rolling out onto the patio.

View attachment 8224

We have some of those components sitting around on shelves, unfortunately gathering dust. It would be nice to display some of it. At any rate feel free to incorporate the photos into your SAE page.

 

[MakeMineVinyl]

Magazine quality photos! Very nice! Love the simplistic looking design.

Thanks! I've been doing all of our product photography for a few years now. Most of the magazine reviews use my photos.

 

[lakedmb]

That’s awesome. I’d love to see a behind the scenes look at your setup some time.

 

[TitaniumTroy]

I remember the SAE brand and various pics of their electronics from the magazine's back in the day. Always liked their looks especially the sequential lights, but was not familiar about the company itself.