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Robertson 4010

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Gerald Wang

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Nov 21, 1996, 3:00:00 AM11/21/96
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Does anyone have any opinions on this amp from Singapore? I know that it
used to be a favourite of the Canadian magazine UHF. I am interested in
knowing how it compares with other amps, such as the Bryston 2B for
example. The amp supposedly uses "sealed vacuum tubes" and its sound
character combines the virtues of solid-state and tubes.

Thanks in advance,

Gerald

Vinnie

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Nov 23, 1996, 3:00:00 AM11/23/96
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I had this amp about 10 years ago. IMO I found the high end to be
unusual.....not good. It was thin and brash and the same time. It
seemed to marry the worst of transistors and tubes Also I remember it
having very little depth. When I traded the amp for none other than a
Goetz Amp (from the Guy that made speakers) I started enjoying music
again. I subsequently got a cj Premier 4. The Roberson 4010 could
drive "difficult" leads.

I have rarely seen these amps lately. I sold mine for about $350. I
wouldn't spend more than $200 on this amp --if I had a gun to my head.
If I didn't -- I'd get a used B&K ST-140 for $250 and enjoy the music.

All the best,

Vincent

gtw...@calum.csclub.uwaterloo.ca (Gerald Wang) wrote:

"We make the impossible......merely difficult"

Gerald Wang

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Nov 23, 1996, 3:00:00 AM11/23/96
to tt

In article <32967a4a...@news.interport.net>,

Vinnie <vgr...@interport.net> wrote:
>I had this amp about 10 years ago. IMO I found the high end to be
>unusual.....not good. It was thin and brash and the same time. It
>seemed to marry the worst of transistors and tubes Also I remember it
>having very little depth. When I traded the amp for none other than a
>Goetz Amp (from the Guy that made speakers) I started enjoying music
>again. I subsequently got a cj Premier 4. The Roberson 4010 could
>drive "difficult" leads.

The one being offered to me is said to be from 1993. Do you know when they
stopped making this amp? I know that a lot of Canadian magazines liked the 4010 a lot (1989). Maybe improvements were made to it over the years?

>
>I have rarely seen these amps lately. I sold mine for about $350. I
>wouldn't spend more than $200 on this amp --if I had a gun to my head.
>If I didn't -- I'd get a used B&K ST-140 for $250 and enjoy the music.

>
Thanks for the advice. Is the B&K really that good? I had the chance to buy the ST-1400 for that price, but I acted a bit too late. %:-|

Regards,

Gerald
--
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gerald Wang
University of Waterloo
2A Computer Engineering

Ian McArthur

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Nov 24, 1996, 3:00:00 AM11/24/96
to

> Does anyone have any opinions on this amp from Singapore? I know that it
> used to be a favourite of the Canadian magazine UHF. I am interested in
> knowing how it compares with other amps, such as the Bryston 2B for
> example. The amp supposedly uses "sealed vacuum tubes" and its sound
> character combines the virtues of solid-state and tubes.
> Gerald
The Robertson 4010 was a great sounding amplifier. It was solid state with
sealed modules (hard wired components) not vacuum tubes. It would sound
better than the 2B but is certainly not as rugged. With no protection,
shorted outputs was a common mistake.

It dates back to 1985 - 86 and I don't know if it is still available.

Ian McArthur
KeyNote Technology
Rep for Martin Logan, YBA, Atlantis, Mordaunt Short, JMlab, Definitive Tech
etc


Steve Zipser (Sunshine Stereo, Inc.)

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Nov 25, 1996, 3:00:00 AM11/25/96
to


Wan't this amp based on John Iverson designs? (He of Electro Research &
the Arizona disappearing act fame?).
Zip

Gerald Wang

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Nov 25, 1996, 3:00:00 AM11/25/96
to z...@netrunner.net

In article <3299B2...@netrunner.net>,

Hi Zip,

I was told the same thing by someone else, who described it as being a
"copy" of Mr. Iverson's design. That's all I know, as I'd never heard of
John Iverson or Electro Research before.

Regards,

Gerald

Stu Wein

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Nov 26, 1996, 3:00:00 AM11/26/96
to


The Robertspn 4010 as well as the Robertson 6010 was marketed by Robertson
Audio in Van Nuys Cal. It was manufactured by the same company that bought
Electro Research from Mel Schilling and John Iverson. Both Mel and myself did
the early marketing for Robertson. The two amps in question were made in the
early 1980's by Robertson and actually were quite good. However, they were
designed to my knowledge by David Tan and NOT John Iverson. At that time John
was involved in the Eagle thing. The Robertson could have had a decent future
if the promised advertizing funds and new products that were promised ever
materialized, they didnt. Unfortunatly its the story with to many promising
products and companies. Great products but no critical funding. hope this
helps. And no although I know John Iverson, I too am at a loss as to where he
is or what space visitor happened to pick him up on one of his very
interesting journeys.


Stu Wein
SW Marketing Inc.
Distributors of NEUTRIK and other connectors to the consumer and pro audio
industries.

tkri...@concentric.net

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Dec 2, 1996, 3:00:00 AM12/2/96
to

In article <01bbda45$b39e1160$79bd...@keynote.pathcom.com>,

"Ian McArthur" <key...@pathcom.com> wrote:
>
> > Does anyone have any opinions on this amp from Singapore? I know that it
> > used to be a favourite of the Canadian magazine UHF. I am interested in
> > knowing how it compares with other amps, such as the Bryston 2B for
> > example. The amp supposedly uses "sealed vacuum tubes" and its sound
> > character combines the virtues of solid-state and tubes.
> > Gerald
> The Robertson 4010 was a great sounding amplifier. It was solid state with
> sealed modules (hard wired components) not vacuum tubes. It would sound
> better than the 2B but is certainly not as rugged. With no protection,
> shorted outputs was a common mistake.
>
> It dates back to 1985 - 86 and I don't know if it is still available.
>
> Ian McArthur
> KeyNote Technology
> Rep for Martin Logan, YBA, Atlantis, Mordaunt Short, JMlab, Definitive Tech
> etc

I listened to a Robertson Forty Ten at a "home high-end" store, and it
sounded impressive at the time. I recall the source being a Michell
Gyrodec table with an AudioQuest cartridge, with the amp driving Goetz
speakers. I then purchased one (from the old Audio Doctor in Buffalo,
MO), and that unit sounded horrible. Maybe the worst-sounding power
amplifier I ever owned. (The Audio Doctor was gracious enough to buy
it back.) The opinions on that piece were all over the place, and I
think that the amplifier, over time, was made with different parts,
devices, etc.. For I never heard two identical amplifiers sound so
different. (I recall the old Acoustat TNT and Adcom 555 having
similar
problems, albeit not quite as severe.) So when someone blindly
ordered
a Robertson Forty Ten, what they were getting could have been totally
different (electronically and sonically) from the unit raved by Peter
Moncrief in that infamous IAR review. In fact, I think that review
destroyed Moncrief's credibility as a reviewer- not because he gave an
inaccurate review, but he was unfortunate to review one of the "best"
Forty Tens, where many audiophiles purchased and listened to "lousy"
ones. And then totally lost faith in Moncrief.

Todd Krieger

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