FM Acoustics Vintage

wizard

Member
Oct 17, 2010
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wizard-highend.blogspot.com
FM Acoustics Vintage amps

Some history - FM Acoustics stands for For Music and Acoustics.
The company was started in 1973.

800A - their first amplifier - released in 1975.
Power output was 300watt in 8 ohm and 400watt in 4 ohm with 0,01% distortion.
Damping factor 800, S/N 110dB, freq response 5-300k, weight 29kg.

Input impedance on 800A, 600A and 300A is 4-5k depending on level.

Transformer - 2500 VA.

View attachment 7436

View attachment 7437

View attachment 7438

View attachment 7439

From the 1997 price list

In CHF
800A Series III - 17250
800A LI Series III - 19800
800A ULI Series III - 22000

LI version drives down to 1,5 ohms, ULI version drives below 1,5 ohms.

2002 pricelist
800A LI Series III - 26000
800A ULI Series III - 28000
 
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mep

Member Sponsor & WBF Founding Member
Apr 20, 2010
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Looks like it borrowed heavily from the Phase Linear 400 Series 2 amp.
 

LL21

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Dec 26, 2010
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Thanks. Has anyone heard these? curious if they are "90% still in use"...how good do they sound compared with today's SOTA or even current production FMA?
 

JackD201

WBF Founding Member
Apr 20, 2010
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Manila, Philippines
Do current FM amps use EI Core transformers?
 

mullard88

Well-Known Member
Jun 5, 2010
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The old FM amps are extremely ruggedly reliable. I remember Manny Huber told me a story about one of his amps falling off the airplane, but still worked flawlessly. I had the 300 for a morning when Manny Huber brought it to my home the time I still had the Acoustat 2 + 2. I remember it had no problems driving the Acoustats but the combination did not create any "interesting" sonics for me. Thinkng back, I could not describe the sonics as the FM 300 - Acoustat combination's sonics were rather plain.
 

djanggo

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Aug 7, 2011
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Wow! Bet most other pretty looking stocky built fancy thick plate exotics would not hold up its value anywhere near this, especially for a used older superseded model. Getting back almost its full rrp (as I recall them to be) really say something. Been on the radar myself for a mint 1811 in this price range ($80K'ish) for the past years to no avail. Good thing (at a good price) is surely harder to come by.
 
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Dave_A

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Feb 25, 2013
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How much should one pay for an 811 and 811II?

811 was built from 1988 to 2002, and 811II from 2002 to 2008.

In 1997 811 price was $70000, and 811II price was in 2003 $95000 and in 2007 $125000.
811 from 1988 to 1991 around $35000, 1992 to 1997 around $45000, and from 1998 to 2002 $55-60000.

811II sounds a little bit better than the newer 115 monos, so the price is high even today.
A 2005 model price around $65000.

Mint units higher price.

I see...I wish I had bought the original 811 back in late '92 instead of the 611! You know?

Yeah, that 811 ad is a very attractive price! Too good to be true? Probably!
 

Dave_A

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Feb 25, 2013
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lasvegasaudioclub.blogspot.com

Dave_A

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Feb 25, 2013
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lasvegasaudioclub.blogspot.com
The old professional products are in the newsletters. They don't build new ones specially for the professionals now, they are now black colored Resolution series instead.
Professional login is for professional product users.

Ok, I see. Thanks for the explanation. So the login is for like studios, radio stations, etc?
 

MylesBAstor

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Apr 20, 2010
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Dave_A

New Member
Feb 25, 2013
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Actually 1000 monos is the pro mono version of 811. The stereo version is the 801 - from 1991 801A.
811 is the consumer version of 801/801A - nicer looking inside and outside. 811 sounds better from 1991 than the older ones because of upgrades.

2001A is the mono version of 801A, and the sound is so extremely good, 2011 is based on 2001A - a mint 2011 pair was recently sold for $200,000.

I see. Thanks for highlighting the differences. :cool:
 

nrg1951

New Member
Feb 9, 2014
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Mi FM 600 se ha roto.
¿Saben como repararlo?
Muchas gracias.My FM 600 is broken.
You know how to fix?
Thank you very much.
 

Robertos

New Member
May 30, 2014
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Firstly i would say hello to all here. I'm not really a forum using person so this is a little tricky for me.

I own 3 Fm acustucs 800a power laboratory amplifiers) with serials in range 200-275. Firstly im looking to identify what series they are, I, II or III.
The first two are in perfect working order but the third one is broken and is missing front handles and a few screws from housing. I did wrote to manufacturer a while ago if they can assist me, but i didnt get any reply from them.
I will probably sell one or two in the future and keep the best sounding one.
 

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