AMS DMX 15-80S

Legendary stereo digital delay/pitch shifter/harmonizer/sampler for sale in excellent working order following a thorough service by an exceptional AMS technician (see report below).

For those who are not expert in the different AMS iterations, this machine is considerably more powerful than a "standard" DMX - it is stereo in and out, can do pitch shifting/harmonizing, and has the sampling "lock in" function (this is a factory "upgrade" with an extra plate on the front panel).

Delay times in this machine are 1.6s per channel.

CONDITION: In very good overall condition with some dings/scratches to the face/case. The case is very clean with with some rack rash. The base plate was missing so it has been fitted with a non-original replacement. See photos for more information on cosmetic condition. Full detailed service report below.

Finding a vintage digital AMS rack unit in top operating condition is becoming ever-harder; 'cheap' examples can be found online, but they can require a great deal of tech time, and sometimes fixes are simply not possible. Manufactured from 1979-1985 these were the cutting edge of digital technology; AMS designed and built these with great care and attention to detail and they soon became ubiquitous in studios worldwide. The DMX can be heard on thousands of recordings from the 80s to the present day and was certainly one of the core studio staples that defined the musical soundscape of the 80s. Today AMS units such as this can still be found in regular use in top studios worldwide. Their sound is still so coveted that Universal Audio have now collaborated with AMS to produce the UAD plug-in version. However, as with all digital emulations of vintage hardward, nothing can match the sound of the real thing.

Currently set to 240v operation.

For sales in UK/EU the price will include VAT. VAT-free sales are possible to businesses and individuals in the EU (outside the UK) with a valid VAT Number - please get in touch if you wish to buy this way.

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT SHIPPING: These units can be tricky to ship and we would prefer collection or delivery in person. If shipping by courier, we will pack with exceptional care - as always - however the buyer must be prepared for the possibility of having a technician re-seat cards or perform other tweaks on arrival. If you are in the UK then collection in person is an option, or we may wish to deliver by our independent courier who is experienced at handling delicate equipment. If you have any concerns or questions about this please get in touch.

The operation manual can be found here. Handy recall sheet here.

Serial Number: 3003

Tech Report: Soundgas DMX 15-80s #3003
Missing bottom panel, missing nudge button caps, missing internal IEC safety cover.
Wrong on/off switch fitted. Replaced with correct factory switch and cap nut.
CHB regen pot loose. Retightened.
Unit has been recapped recently. Some caps are too tall so shorting against other boards. Replaced.
No power: Main fuse missing…replaced.
Fan wires cut and not connected to power.
Transformer wires cut at IEC voltage selector terminals. Seems to have been hardwired for 240v only, but mains voltage wires just taped together!
Bad connection within IEC voltage selector input. Repaired and wired back to factory.
Remove all cards test PSU, all voltages present.
Replace cards.
+5vdc fuse blowing under load. Replaced wrong +5vdc Schottky Rectifier on motherboard. Replaced wrong caps, rewound wrong value inductor on switch mode supply. Wired large +5 reservoir cap correctly.
Remove all cards, test PSU.
Replace cards.
Power present +15,-15 and +5vdc. OK.
No audio. Bad tracks, rear of Deglitch card DIL socket.
Nudge up button not working. Repaired racked solder joint on back of IC on front panel board.
Assembled and fitted new ribbon cable set.
Fit new fan.
Cleaned all edge connectors and sockets.
Cleaned out internals of dust with compressed air.
Now working and reliable. Check voltages (OK)
8hr burn test. Test battery charging and NVRAM data retention: Passed.

Please Note: It is very important all vintage AMS RMX & DMX series rackmounts are powered for at least an hour at least every 6 months or risk of NVRAM battery leakage is greatly increased. It is highly recommended the battery is replaced every 5 years as routine maintenance on these units to avoid severe damage to the processor card. 

Some of our gear will have VAT at 20% added in the UK/EU, but a lot of it won't. This should hopefully clarify the situation but if you have any questions then please get in touch.

ITEMS WITH VAT:

• These items will have two prices visible: with and without the tax.
• If you are buying in the UK/EU you will receive an invoice showing the tax component.
• If you are buying these items outside the EU when you get to the check out and enter your shipping location you will be charged the ex-VAT price.
• VAT-free sales are also possible to businesses within the EU with a valid VAT number. You will need to contact us in order to buy via this means.

ITEMS WITHOUT VAT:

• Much of what we sell is classified as "Second Hand Goods" and so while we still pay some tax, there is no recoverable/deductible component for sales to any part of the world.
• So, the price you see is the price you pay wherever you are.

ALSO NOTE:

• Shipping charges are also subject to VAT at 20% within the UK/EU - this is included within the prices you see for shipping to those areas - it is not shown separately in the cart but will be shown on the VAT invoice you receive with your goods.

We are very experienced at packing and shipping valuable and sensitive gear worldwide. Binson Echorecs, large valve amps, vintage synths, rare racks, and even a CS-80 or two - you name it, we've sent it and it has arrived in one piece and ready to play.

SHIPPING DISCOUNT ON MULTIPLE ITEMS:

We keep it simple: if you buy more than one item you only pay the shipping on the item that has the highest shipping cost. This is the same no matter how many items you buy together (so the more you buy together, the bigger your shipping discount). If you check all the items out all together this will be calculated automatically at checkout. However, if you make an order and then wish to add to it before it ships please get in touch and we will refund the shipping on the item(s) that are cheaper to ship.

Note that this also allows you to purchase add on items such as transformers and other accessories, and also t-shirts and other merch, without paying any extra shipping on them.

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CAN I COLLECT MY GEAR (and save on shipping?)

Yes! If you want to use this option either get in touch before you purchase, or contact us afterwards and we will just refund you the shipping. Note that collection is by appointment only and only during weekday office hours.

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MORE SHIPPING INFO:

The shipping prices for our gear vary considerably depending on the type of gear, value and destination. To see shipping costs put the item you are interested in the cart and then either use the shipping estimator or go into the check out process. Or just contact us and we'll tell you what you need to know.

It is a fact that, with vintage items, there are going to be times when gear arrives in need of some adjustment or calibration, and some times a piece of gear that was working 100% just chooses the day after arriving for a new fault to develop. However, having been working with sensitive vintage gear for many years, we are very experienced at dealing with these occurrences and will always work with you and get the problem solved as quickly and painlessly as possible.

Note that we have have not entered automatic shipping for every country. The countries we ship to most often will have shipping rates and we are in the process of adding more shipping fees to the check out process. But if you are looking at an item that doesn't have the fee information you need then please use the contact page or call on +44 1773 856475.

Which carriers do we use?

We usually use Royal Mail, UPS and DPD/Interlink - it depends on the item and destination as to which is the most economical. If you have a preference then we should be able to accommodate it (but we may need to pass on any additional costs) - just let us know what you need.