Gaincard pictures revisited

[Mick_F]

Now that the new Gaincard pictures have appeared in the recent 6moons review, I felt that the old pictures frequently shown in the web (and disapproved by the US importer of 47 systems) showed the real thing.
Therefore I had a closer look at them and tried to figure out the schematic and parts used. I came to a consistent conclusion, shown below, but there is still at least one thing I dont understand.

You may feel that this topic has been discussed too many times. In this case just disregard this thread. The information may nevertheless be interesting to some people here.







The values of the resistors are: Rg: 22k, Rf: 22k, Ri: 680.

What I dont understand is the use of R0. What is it needed for?

More pictures, more words and the sizes of the caps (probably it is possible to identify their make according to the size) are shown on my website DogBreath.de

Mick

[Mick_F]

And anonther thing I do not really understand: Why is the resistor of the Zobel hidden in an isolator tube?

[peranders]

There are many questions and right now I feel that it's rather uninteresting now when I know how Sakura Systems design their stuff all pictures are confirmed to be true. Totally uninteresting besides a big WHY.

I don't understand either why the american importer is so ashamed that he can't confirm how his product looks inside. Most high-end people are really proud of the inside and don't mind showing the world.

The review if you have missed it.
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/4...aincard_2.html
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/4.../gaincard.html

[Stabist]

R0 - simpl - since they use simple 12 step switch - by adding that resistor you get another step - but then you have to use mute switch to achieve total silence ...

[Mick_F]

Thanks, Stabist, for the solution. Indeed, that should work!

Mick

[Mick_F]

Originally posted by peranders

The review if you have missed it.
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/4...aincard_2.html
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/4.../gaincard.html

I am referring to that review in my text. It is exactly this review and the "official" pictures therein that convinced me that the old pictures show the real thing. I am not impressed by the repeated denial of Yoshi quoted in the text.

I also dont understand why the importer plays this game. Most probably, he wants to unsettle those who want to copy the Gaincard. The practice of sealing the screws on the Giancard case fits also in that view.

Mick

[Mick_F]

Ok, one more question: The Gaincard is offered in two versions - a 2 x 25 W and a 2 x 50 W version. Are different amp chips used in these?

Mick

[wintermute]

If I sold a product that cost thousands and it looked like something that I would have posted in the ugliest prototype thread, I don't know that I would want people to see it either

one problem with consumers is that the expect to get something for their cash, and obviously if they knew the actual cost of the components and saw the insides with what would appear to most as extremely poor quality workmanship, they would be very unhappy indeed.

Something like Peter Daniel's Patek whilst still minimal in component count is a work of art, the picture you just posted most certainly isn't, and I don't think the people forking out big money for one (no matter how good it sounds) would be very impressed if they saw what it looked like inside!!

Tony.

[I_Forgot]

Originally posted by peranders
There are many questions and right now I feel that it's rather uninteresting now when I know how Sakura Systems design their stuff all pictures are confirmed to be true. Totally uninteresting besides a big WHY.

I don't understand either why the american importer is so ashamed that he can't confirm how his product looks inside. Most high-end people are really proud of the inside and don't mind showing the world.

Originally posted by Mick_F
I also dont understand why the importer plays this game. Most probably, he wants to unsettle those who want to copy the Gaincard. The practice of sealing the screws on the Giancard case fits also in that view.

Sometimes the obvious answer is the correct answer. How do they "design" their stuff? Some guy sits down with a data sheet, a soldering iron, and a piece of perf board and haywires an amp. Then he makes the simplest possible PCB so he can make a bunch of identical units. Then some marketing hack from the wine industry pushes them as something special and adds a special price tag to match the specialness of the amp. Then the audio suckers line up and plunk down big bux and rave about them, then forums like this are born.

Sealing the screws prevents people who have paid big bux from opening the amp and seeing how badly they were ripped-off. Sealing screws isn't going to stop anyone intent on copying the amp. Even ICs get opened and copied all the time. A few little screws mean nothing.

90% of the chip amps made by "amateurs" in these forums are better built and more atractively packaged that that POS in the photos.

Does that mean any of them are worth the price of a "genuine" gain card? Only if you have a hole in your head the size of the hole that will be left in your wallet.

I_F

[peranders]

Originally posted by Mick_F
I also dont understand why the importer plays this game. Most probably, he wants to unsettle those who want to copy the Gaincard. The practice of sealing the screws on the Giancard case fits also in that view.

I understand

You don't want people to take a peek and maybe get them disapointed of paying so much for so little, not even looking good! A good product starts from inside, good looking inside, good looking outside. At least I think a customer may require a professional look inside, meaning assembly above the ugliest chinese stuff you ever seen (sorry all you Chinese people, but some stuff China isn't a beautiful sight)