gc sounds different (better) after a while ....

[matjans]

hey laddies & lassies,

fyi. normally i don't really switch my amps off but after receiving our last electricity bills we started to pay attention to switching off machines we weren't using. So for a while i switched off my gainclone at night. Strange thing is, when i switched it on in the morning it sounds like sh*t. If i leave it on for say an hour or so, it sounds right again, no matter whether i play music or not.

Directly after switch on there's almost no bass at all and highs are harsh and too bright. This fades away after an hour or so and it sounds right again. strange!

Does anyone share my experience?

[uvodee]

Originally posted by matjans
Strange thing is, when i switched it on in the morning it sounds like sh*t. Does anyone share my experience?

As a Belgian living in the USA I can speak freely about this.
It's the over consumption of Heineken beer!!!!!
As you stated "in the morning' meaning while having a hang-over!!!!!

Try Stella beer instead, the sound will surely be mych richer and fuller! for sure!


Jean-Pierre

cheers !!!!

[Ropie]

I think it's a generally accepted view that audio equipment sounds better once it has had a chance to warm up. Electrons work more efficiently once their environment has reached their body temperature (or something like that)

Carlsberg will give you the best sound. Probably.

[carlosfm]

Originally posted by Ropie

Carlsberg will give you the best sound. Probably.

Jim Beam.

[Ropie]

Originally posted by carlosfm



Jim Beam.

Who's he?


Is this going to become one of those threads? I better get my 2 pence worth in and say that I prefer San Miguel. The nutty flavour compliments the detail of the GC

[crown300]

Perhaps the posting of a complete schematic would refocus our efforts.

Other than that, is the amp parallel with the Earths magnetic field at your location?

[KT]

Matjan,

Yes, I agree. On my Gaincard, the sound seems to take several days to get back to "sounding right" after it's been turned off.

To tell you the truth, when I first bought my Gaincard, it took more like three weeks before it became really musical. Before that I thought I had made a mistake with it's purchase.

I don't know why this happens, but it seems to take the GC much longer to settle than anything else I've ever used. I leave mine on all the time as the 25 watt model runs quite cool.

I owned the 50 watt model for a while, and that ran significantly hotter. I would consider shutting that one off if not using it constantly.

All of this makes me wonder if the root of the effect is in the power supply or the amp circuit.

I'm considering a battery supply with the clone I'm working on, but I wonder how this phenomenom would effect the sound, since the amp would have to be shut off to conserve battery life.

Oh, I like pale ale, myself.

Best,
KT

[lohk]

Hi KT,

did you finally manage to open your Gaincard and took a look inside?
Do you post some of the findings?
What about the schematics/wiring of the Humpty (is it a bridge or two fullwave rectifiers etc.)

Klaus

[corbato]

When I first switched on my quick'n'dirty GainClone it sounded just that. And cheap too. Having put it away, I retreated to the familiar surrounding of the tubes. However, a few months ago I took it out, and after a feeble Peter Daniel treatment, did note that it takes around 20 days to break-in and few hours to warm-up. Thereafter, its just marvellous.

Originally posted by Ropie
Carlsberg will give you the best sound. Probably.

Ahh…nothing like pure audiophile grade Kingfisher lager for me.

[Alex S]

Originally posted by KT
I'm considering a battery supply with the clone I'm working on, but I wonder how this phenomenom would effect the sound, since the amp would have to be shut off to conserve battery life.

KT,
just leave it connected to the batteries all the time. I do that and the batteries (I use 2x 12V 7.2Ah SLAs paralled per rail, eight pieces altogether for the whole amp) still lasts for weeks (stays above 12V), although I make it a point to recharge every Sat night so as not to unduly stress my chargers.

Or you can leave the charger(s) on all the time, switching them off only when listening. In fact, this is the recommended scheme for SLAs which like to be floated at a constant voltage (of around 13.6V, this value depending on ambient temp). In this scenerio, do keep the charger(s) physically away from the batteries as the heat from the charger(s) could shorten batteries life over the long haul.