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Tag McLaren PA10 Pre Amp Upgrade

5 out of 5
  

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overview
Why do we upgrade equipment?

Almost any Hi-Fi component can be upgraded to higher performance using our techniques and components. The two things go together – the know-how and the right component. Over the last 30 years, we have developed our knowledge of where the biggest problems lie and how to overcome them to unleash better performance from a given piece of equipment.

TAG McLaren PA10 Pre Amp upgrade

In 1998 Hi Fi World said of the PA10 – “Justifies its price with a very musical and revealing performance”. We’d have to agree.




This is a lovely transparent class A preamp. Essentially a souped-up UK made Audiolab. Featuring 5 line level inputs, three tape loops and an excellent moving magnet/moving coil phono stage as well as a dedicated headphone amplifier. This provides a great platform to upgrade! Our upgrades build on the strengths of the amplifier. Everything you love about the sound remains – it just gets so much better.




Component Upgrades

38 significant component upgrades/changes are made across the power supply and analogue circuitry including inputs and outputs. Upgrades include capacitors and diodes which give a smooth and detailed sound. The unit is completely disassembled to gain access to key areas of upgrade.




For the majority of the capacitor changes, we use Russ's favoured Panasonic Audio Grade caps. Where possible, we will endeavour to use the superb Kimber Kaps. Post upgrade, the unit is then soak tested for 24 hours.

Power

To further clean up and give the power supply an upgrade, we fit an upgraded IEC socket, ClarityMains™ conditioner and external grounding post. A large 10,000uF capacitor is also fitted to help smooth out the power supply. You can see that the customer opted for the ClarityMains only due to running the amplifier from a balanced mains circuit. Fitting a Silencer and Mains Zapperator is also an option, let us know when you book your upgrade.





Different Model?

If you don't have exactly the same model as listed above, but a very similar unit, then it's highly likely that the same or similar upgrades will apply. But we can't guarantee that until we have the unit here for inspection. Get in touch and let us know what you have.




How the service works

Equipment upgrades are proving hugely popular. During peak times there may be a wait of several weeks before we can carry out the upgrade. So before we get your equipment here, it must be booked in so we can ensure a speedy turnaround of the upgrade. Once you have placed your order, we will contact you to arrange a suitable week and getting the equipment here.

In Person
For those of you who are local enough or if you fancy a trip to the lakes, you can drop off your equipment personally and then collect it when it’s complete or we can ship it back to you.

By Courier
We can arrange a courier collection of your equipment for an additional cost. We currently use UPS.
To make things easier, we can offer several collection options.

1. We can arrange a specific day for the courier to call and collect your equipment. Someone will need to be available all day at the collection address as we’re unable to arrange a time slot for collections.

2. Dropping off at a UPS Access Point. UPS use a network of local shops to deliver and collect parcels from and to. We can either post you a collection label or email you the label (you will need to print the label at home/work). Securely box up your equipment, affix the collection label to the outside of the box and take it to your preferred Access Point where you will be issued a receipt. UPS Access Points can be found here (link opens in a new window), simply enter you postcode to find your nearest one.


 
Exclamation IconEquipment condition.
 
It’s important to note that this service is specifically aimed at upgrading equipment in good working condition rather than repairing or servicing. Why? Well, these are two very different processes. Our upgrades look at improving existing parts – like capacitors, for example – and we have an awful lot of knowledge and experience of doing this. As many of these parts do wear over time, replacing them can have the added benefit of actually making the equipment more reliable and longer-lasting, but that is an added bonus rather than the central aim, which is to improve performance.
 
When it comes to servicing and repair, however, the specific knowledge of individual pieces of equipment that is required, along with access to the original electronic schematics, makes it unwise for anyone other than the manufacturer or authorised service agent to carry out this type of work. 
 
The upgrade comes with a 2 year warranty, including all parts that we've used. This excludes failure of components beyond the work we have carried out. We therefore ask that the equipment you send for upgrade is in good working order.
 
Please note this is just an upgrade modification, it does not include the TAG amplifier
Customer Reviews
Overall product rating 5 / 5
5 / 5

reviewed by Andrew S. J.
03 Feb 2021
Yes, I recommend this product.
"Lost For Words..."
Well..... ... ...... ............ ... ...... .......... ......!!! That's me lost for words, in case you hadn't realised. I was nervous about sending off my precious old preamp to the team at RA but I needn't have worried. The transparency and soundstage seem to have expanded well beyond the limits of my little living room, never mind the speakers. The service was superb and the preamp returned in quite a short time, considering the problems with lockdown at the time of writing. This has been one of the best value things I have had done: I would have had to spend in the order of 3 to 4 times this amount on an equivalent new one, so I am just over the moon by the improvement in the sound. Even the headphone amplifier sounds so much better - this using probably the most revealing headphones available (Focal Utopias) and compared to the quite expensive Moon headphone DAC that I use. I wholeheartedly recommend this upgrade if you have a TAG McLaren preamp and, if like me, want to keep the sound you love but massively improved.