Sadly, I know... You can source them from Angela instruments.
I didn't buy from them for the absurd 59$ shipping fee outside States...
If you buy them I would really appreciate if you buy two also for me
They're available from both Mouser (684-MK132V-100K ) and PCX (CADDOCK-51222)
According to Suburra there's no better feedback resistor than 12K MK132 (available from PCX), if you're willing to try.
I'm ordering for next tests:
200R MK132 (LM318 PS)
12K MK132 (Feedback)
390R MK132 (Shunt to AGND)
3K3 Amtrans AMRG (Input - according my friend Suburra they're quite as transparent as naked Vishays but more musical)
Got the page:
Resistor, Riken, 1/2 watt
If anyone wants to roam around the site for additional parts, I can add to an order. I'm sure USPS will provide good rates everywhere.
http://angela.com/
Resistor, Riken, 1/2 watt
If anyone wants to roam around the site for additional parts, I can add to an order. I'm sure USPS will provide good rates everywhere.
http://angela.com/
Notes along the way:
On Symphony no. 4 Allegro Ma something or other, I just heard some loud annoying cracks and pops. On replay I discovered them to be the strings on the basses slapping against the finger boards. FANTASTIC!
Moving into the 9Th as I write. Will be fun and exciting.
On Symphony no. 4 Allegro Ma something or other, I just heard some loud annoying cracks and pops. On replay I discovered them to be the strings on the basses slapping against the finger boards. FANTASTIC!
Moving into the 9Th as I write. Will be fun and exciting.
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I can’t say anything about the amps, but after three hours with my buddy Ludwig, I’m ready to take on the entire planet – blindfolded, by myself and with one hand tied behind my back.
The FEs didn’t miss a beat (pun intended). On the vocal passages on the 9th the recording engineer (or the position in the house) placed the chorus to left of stage. The solo voices were distinct, fully separated and easily identifiable by position. When the orchestra comes back in I can hear the heavy rosined bows, the bite of the French horns and unbelievably the individual vibratos of specific members of the chorus.
Amazon.com: Leonard Bernstein: The Symphony Edition: Gustav Mahler, Johannes Brahms, Ludwig van Beethoven, Robert Schumann, Jean Sibelius, Franz Joseph Haydn, Carl Nielsen, Leonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic Orchestra: Music
(I have the digital uncompressed vol #3 files)
My Radio Shack meter at 12 feet peaked at 92 db. The Lm3886s never went above 101F. There was never a hint of stress or anything being under powered. I had the PC (JRiver Media Center) at 90% volume and the Lexicon at about 20%. I used “Direct Sound” as ASIO overloads the Lecicon.
Summary – It’s been quite some time since I actually got chills hearing music I have known for years. Dario hasn’t yet paid me for saying this but, this morning I did. I could be fully satisfied with this stock build as my go to amp. I definitely can hear elements that can be improved and refined based on the upgrade paths experienced with the MyRef V1.2 and 1.3s, but that’s just frosting on a very impressive cake.
Dario, you hit it out of the park!!
P.S. I know I sound like a broken record – but builders are going to love the stage and its stability.
The FEs didn’t miss a beat (pun intended). On the vocal passages on the 9th the recording engineer (or the position in the house) placed the chorus to left of stage. The solo voices were distinct, fully separated and easily identifiable by position. When the orchestra comes back in I can hear the heavy rosined bows, the bite of the French horns and unbelievably the individual vibratos of specific members of the chorus.
Amazon.com: Leonard Bernstein: The Symphony Edition: Gustav Mahler, Johannes Brahms, Ludwig van Beethoven, Robert Schumann, Jean Sibelius, Franz Joseph Haydn, Carl Nielsen, Leonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic Orchestra: Music
(I have the digital uncompressed vol #3 files)
My Radio Shack meter at 12 feet peaked at 92 db. The Lm3886s never went above 101F. There was never a hint of stress or anything being under powered. I had the PC (JRiver Media Center) at 90% volume and the Lexicon at about 20%. I used “Direct Sound” as ASIO overloads the Lecicon.
Summary – It’s been quite some time since I actually got chills hearing music I have known for years. Dario hasn’t yet paid me for saying this but, this morning I did. I could be fully satisfied with this stock build as my go to amp. I definitely can hear elements that can be improved and refined based on the upgrade paths experienced with the MyRef V1.2 and 1.3s, but that’s just frosting on a very impressive cake.
Dario, you hit it out of the park!!
P.S. I know I sound like a broken record – but builders are going to love the stage and its stability.
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Forgot about an appointment but here is a quick and dirty report:
With the Mini2496 and WASAPI drivers (I messed up the ASIO) the first impression is being more engulfed in the music. The other parts are a little more tricky. The first thing played after the switch was Bill Chase's signature album "Chase". That's one of the nosiest (in a good way) pieces of music with bunches of screaming trumpets, almost violent percussion and fast moving electric bass. While good, there is more sibilance, but I think (hope) the DAC is just letting more of what's in the recording show through.
It's the same with the end of the 9th - meaning the differences between what sounds like less fullness eventually turns out to be a cleaner presentation. It will take more time than I have this afternoon to give a credible opinion. Were'r getting into the area of subtleties now.
Also, I played the first few minutes of the sound track from a James Bond movie and it almost sounded like 5.1 from two speakers. Nice.
I'll jump back in this evening.
Regards,
With the Mini2496 and WASAPI drivers (I messed up the ASIO) the first impression is being more engulfed in the music. The other parts are a little more tricky. The first thing played after the switch was Bill Chase's signature album "Chase". That's one of the nosiest (in a good way) pieces of music with bunches of screaming trumpets, almost violent percussion and fast moving electric bass. While good, there is more sibilance, but I think (hope) the DAC is just letting more of what's in the recording show through.
It's the same with the end of the 9th - meaning the differences between what sounds like less fullness eventually turns out to be a cleaner presentation. It will take more time than I have this afternoon to give a credible opinion. Were'r getting into the area of subtleties now.
Also, I played the first few minutes of the sound track from a James Bond movie and it almost sounded like 5.1 from two speakers. Nice.
I'll jump back in this evening.
Regards,
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With standard resistors is pretty normal to have a hint of sibilance and a leaner presentation.
R13, using standard resistors, should be a carbon film, it helps a lot.
Audiograde resistors, in this regard, do make a difference.
Also C102/C202 are a possible source of sibilance.
And don't forget that in this moment you have a (a bit harsh) Panny FM in C9, a Black Gate makes a night and day difference in those aspects.
I'll wait for your opinions
Be carefull with PS resistors swapping... let caps discharge before removing regulator's resistors.
Signal path resistors are safe to play with (obviously the amp must be turned off...
).
SMD resistors...
I'm considering to use more SMD resistors in signal path for the definitive design.
Using an homemade adapter (see attachment) I've tried on R7 (feedback resistor):
In the next week I'll do some more critical listening sessions but at least the feedback resistor will be SMD.
I'm considering to use more SMD resistors in signal path for the definitive design.
Using an homemade adapter (see attachment) I've tried on R7 (feedback resistor):
- KOA RK73H 1% thick film 100ppm
- Susumu RG32 0.1% thin film 25ppm
- IRC PFC12 0.1% 25ppm
- RK73Hs sounds good, a bit veiled, similar to Caddock MK132s
- RG32s are incredibly neutral, transparent and detailed, similar to naked Vishays
- PFCs sounds rich, full bodied and dynamic, similar to Rikens
In the next week I'll do some more critical listening sessions but at least the feedback resistor will be SMD.
Attachments
Very good results with latest combination.
The sibilance is for the most part gone. Although absolutely necessary with tube equipment, I'm starting to understand that ALL sound devices require a "warm up" period. I suspect my rushing to get things done yesterday didn't allow the Mini2496 to settle in. It's been my experience that even the MyRef-C V1.2 and V1.3 need about 30 to 45 minutes to really shine.
I won't go into a lot of detail, but I played B&Ws Audiophile Test CD, an award winning Kari Allison offering from the HD Tracks organization, a lot of the Beethoven stuff and a lot of Big Band Jazz. All the vocals backed by just guitar and bass revealed those essential fret noises and overtones. The crack of the stick hitting a cymbal and the punch of toms and foot pedal in drum breaks were accurate and balanced.
I have often reported that, while my absolute preference, LDR attenuators required me to max out the volume pot to get my version of "live" levels with my systems. The combination of WASAPI computer output, Mini2496 DAC and the Fremen Edition amps push enough SPL that I can let the neighbors know what musical mood I am in.
Where the system sits now is like this. Imagine a blackboard that's been used to explain a complicated formula complete with arrows and erasurers and side-notes. Now the board has been washed and only the essential and proven elements rewritten. Both the FEs and the Dac are at stock builds and ready for Dario's upgrades.
Honestly, what I'm hearing now is "Top Notch" and I can only imagine what's to come.
P.S. This all fits nicely with my personal motto: "I tried golf, booze, sex, fast cars, flying and employment - all presented unwanted complications. Thusly, I've determined the pursuit of musical nirvana to be the only valid human endeavor."
The sibilance is for the most part gone. Although absolutely necessary with tube equipment, I'm starting to understand that ALL sound devices require a "warm up" period. I suspect my rushing to get things done yesterday didn't allow the Mini2496 to settle in. It's been my experience that even the MyRef-C V1.2 and V1.3 need about 30 to 45 minutes to really shine.
I won't go into a lot of detail, but I played B&Ws Audiophile Test CD, an award winning Kari Allison offering from the HD Tracks organization, a lot of the Beethoven stuff and a lot of Big Band Jazz. All the vocals backed by just guitar and bass revealed those essential fret noises and overtones. The crack of the stick hitting a cymbal and the punch of toms and foot pedal in drum breaks were accurate and balanced.
I have often reported that, while my absolute preference, LDR attenuators required me to max out the volume pot to get my version of "live" levels with my systems. The combination of WASAPI computer output, Mini2496 DAC and the Fremen Edition amps push enough SPL that I can let the neighbors know what musical mood I am in.
Where the system sits now is like this. Imagine a blackboard that's been used to explain a complicated formula complete with arrows and erasurers and side-notes. Now the board has been washed and only the essential and proven elements rewritten. Both the FEs and the Dac are at stock builds and ready for Dario's upgrades.
Honestly, what I'm hearing now is "Top Notch" and I can only imagine what's to come.
P.S. This all fits nicely with my personal motto: "I tried golf, booze, sex, fast cars, flying and employment - all presented unwanted complications. Thusly, I've determined the pursuit of musical nirvana to be the only valid human endeavor."
Attachments
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I don't use it too.
In fact, IMHO, it sounds better if it's unconnected.
It's there if you want to connect PCBs to safety ground (directly or via a ground breaker).
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This may or may not be off topic but I think it is relevant to the capacity of the Fremen Edition.
The most significant enhancement I've experienced in the last week was dialing in on the settings of the WASAPI driver on the PC audio feed. If you are interested take a look at the second half of this link.
JRiver Media Center 17 In Detail | Computer Audiophile
The intent is to pass bit perfect data to a DAC as described in the article. I played a Bobby McFerin (remember "Don't Worry Be Happy") track (just at 48K)) titled "Freedom Is A Voice" on this album:
Amazon.com: Blue Note Years 1: Boogie Woogie Blues & Bop: Various Artists: Music
"Blown Away" is indeed often used and sometimes misused to describe one's impression, but seriously, I was. All the normal high-end qualities were present, but the synth bass pads were like nothing I have heard from two speakers. I have built and used dual 10" 2.5 quft subs, and I currently am using a "Sunfire" type with a 68lb magnet and a 500W plate amp. Neither of those could improve on the sound I heard from the FEs on this particular track. For those who might not be familiar with the terminology, a "pad" is a sustained, semi-sustained sound/note/chord that can be used in almost any octave but generally appears from the mids and down. This one was completely engulfing and beautifully controll at tone changes.
So - any doubt about these amps (even at the stock build) to be able to reproduce the full sound spectrum have been erased. I don't have a lot of true 24 bit - 96K material but Im going to get some more today. If it's there and it's clean, the FE amps will let you hear it.
Let me encourage the other beta builders to proceed - post haste!
It's getting lonely up here on the soapbox.
The most significant enhancement I've experienced in the last week was dialing in on the settings of the WASAPI driver on the PC audio feed. If you are interested take a look at the second half of this link.
JRiver Media Center 17 In Detail | Computer Audiophile
The intent is to pass bit perfect data to a DAC as described in the article. I played a Bobby McFerin (remember "Don't Worry Be Happy") track (just at 48K)) titled "Freedom Is A Voice" on this album:
Amazon.com: Blue Note Years 1: Boogie Woogie Blues & Bop: Various Artists: Music
"Blown Away" is indeed often used and sometimes misused to describe one's impression, but seriously, I was. All the normal high-end qualities were present, but the synth bass pads were like nothing I have heard from two speakers. I have built and used dual 10" 2.5 quft subs, and I currently am using a "Sunfire" type with a 68lb magnet and a 500W plate amp. Neither of those could improve on the sound I heard from the FEs on this particular track. For those who might not be familiar with the terminology, a "pad" is a sustained, semi-sustained sound/note/chord that can be used in almost any octave but generally appears from the mids and down. This one was completely engulfing and beautifully controll at tone changes.
So - any doubt about these amps (even at the stock build) to be able to reproduce the full sound spectrum have been erased. I don't have a lot of true 24 bit - 96K material but Im going to get some more today. If it's there and it's clean, the FE amps will let you hear it.
Let me encourage the other beta builders to proceed - post haste!
It's getting lonely up here on the soapbox.
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I should be putting together a single channel in about a week or two. But my power supply will be different. I am tempted to start as close to the original FE edition, but my modded power and other mods to the MyRef works so well, should I... with the same quality components I have on what I am playing with now?
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