Octave Research OR-1 Octave Research Stereo Amplifier [Template]

Solid state stereo power amplifier. This company never submitted their amps for review, Stereophile bought one to do.  Also in the review they said this company did not give any meaningful info on this amp, they had to talk to them for any.   Specs I have  are from a Stereophile review, Jan 1986.   85 watts into 8 ohms, 170W into 4 ohms. input impedance: 100k ohms.  Its pure class A and no feedback.  I bought this amp a few years ago from a tech, it has the most highly polished aluminum chassis and  machining I have ever seen.  There are a few scratches but they are hard to see.  I first seen this amp in my Audio Critic bulletin as their reference amp.  They never reviewed it as yet, then the very next bulletin was their last.   I seen an Stereophile review in my 1988 January issue on it by JGH.  JGH said he thought it was one of the best stereo amps, he was comparing it to the Audio Research M 300 Monos which is 3 times the price and was his reference.  The OR-1 has better bass and soundstage width.  I think its width is not as wide as my CJ premier  but way better bass yes.   He had the older styled internally amp and describes it having five separate transformers to run the amp.  2 transformers for the two output stages, 2 transformers for the voltage amplifiers and one for accessories includes onboard microprocessor that checks load, stability, and the presence of DC offsets at the input.  Its power supply is huge and can run anything down to 1 ohm impedance.    Thats like the big Krells do.    I don't have the owners manual if their was one.   It has a fat removable power cord. This amp I have has the same 5 transformers.     When you first plug it in keep the front panel on/off switch OFF, this powers the warm up which stays in this mode all the time, then when the amp is put in the ON position one Led (green) will appear, the right one, the other left Led does not go on,  this use to be the old warm up mode they eliminated this in the  newer amp.  (I'm not really sure what, if any changes they made except what I see on this amp compared to Stereophiles amp, on the front they changed the power ON/OFF switch)  After 2 hours it sounds its best, something to do with warm-up.   It has 2 fans pulling air from bottom to top with 2 fans on top of each transistors towers which have cooling fins. The fans are quiet, but you can hear them if you listen when no music is playing.  It uses bipolar transistors.  It has copper binding posts, the best, and high quality inputs jacks.  This amp is one of the most open and transparent amplifiers I have heard so its hard for me to sell.  Its sound is very close to the Bedini 25/25 and Rappaport AMP-1, which I consider champion in openess for solid state amps.   You will not be disappointed.  It weights 66lbs net.  76 lbs boxed.  I have the box from when I bought it and packing.  Its big boxed: L25", W24", H13"  Looking at FedEx to ship.  Send me your ZIP for shipping cost estimate.