F5X -- the EUVL Approach

[EUVL]

I am informed that the regulator MOSFETs are on their way to Andrew for matching.


Patrick

[EUVL]

My apologies for not posting an update earlier.


F5X Case :

The reason for the delay is partly that I have been waiting for response from the Forum (Variac and Jason) on how to handle the purchase of the case. Since we have an agreement not to post any pictures before that is sorted, my hands are a bit tied. My last email to them was about 2 weeks ago, and I sent the same again last weekend. Both emails have not been read, so I am still waiting for a response.

I can perhaps mention a few things about the case. A much respected member of the forum and a DIYer of over 30 years had seen the picture of the case, and his remark was :

"It is impressive! It radiates an air of power and competence, a minimalistic design. I love it!"

There were no design errors, but we have sent a few parts back for changes to further refine the design. The PCBs will be in Mark's hands in the next few days, and the transformers have also arrived. So Mark will have a busy Easter to put everything together for further photos, so that you get to see the entire layout inside the case as well.

Because Mark's business has been extremely busy, and organising this case is a lot of work, we can only support one batch of 25 cases this year. How we allocate them so that each continent will have a fair proportion (so that no one is disadvantaged in subscribing because of their time zone) is one of the details we have yet to work out. Whether we have time and energy to support further batches in 2012 and beyond remains to be seen.


PCBs :

I have not been able to contact ashaw since he had a computer problem. Alexis, if you are still there, please get in touch. In the worst, worst case, Alexis's work on the Control & Protection PCB can be covered by my own effort as posted in post 59, so that you will still be able to build as proposed.

The main amplifier PCB, regulators and cap boards are all finished, again waiting for the forum (Variac) to review and prototype. The latter two are only useable if you follow my layout 100%. I was told that fitzfish would be working on a more generalised Rectifier-CRC PCB for those who do not want to follow my layout.


2SK3497/2SJ618 GB :

The MOSFETs arrived in the UK on 25 March, but Andrew was not home to receive them. Since then there is apparently some problem getting it re-delivered. I'd rather let Andrew explain before I say something wrong. Both Andrew and ZhouFang are tracking from the sending and the receiving end, and the packet is insured. So I think it will be a matter of delay. Just one of these things.


MPC74 Fukushima resistors :

I have received a very generous offer to organise some MPC74 0R22 in JP and bring them to the US for later Group Buys. As you are aware, the company is in Fukushima, where they have more desperate things to to worry about than audio resistors right now. So we thought we should secure supply now, just in case. It would help if we can estimate the extent of interests. Please try to help me by organising a new thread to indicate interests for potential GB.

I think I have more or less covered everything, for now. Hopefully we shall have some response from the forum before too long, so that we can move forward.


Wishing you all a nice weekend,
Patrick

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[johnwmclean]

Thanks for the update Patrick.

In regards to the smaller than initially though batch of 25 cases, I do want this to be spread fair as well as anyone.

I would just like to state as I’m sure you’re aware, a number of us were very excited from the very beginning about a proposed case. With that in mind I know of few of us have already started to purchase components with an EUVL case being firmly in mind.

After this Post #140 from the original thread there are several firm supporters...

Originally Posted by EUVL

Let's do a poll perhaps ......

How many of you would like a gorgeous looking enclosure (more comparable to PL than to FW in terms of design sophistication) ?
And how much are you prepared to pay ?
(Do bear in mind that 50 other guys would have the same design as you ....)

To give an example, the Origen H6 HTPC Enclosure which has 8mm AL front plate and rest thin sheet metal is selling for something like 250 to 300 Euros.
Looks gorgeous, but does not weigh 15kg. And sheet metal stamping rather than CNC machining.


Patrick

.

Patrick, I just wanted to bring this into light with with the intention that all fairness is firmly upheld. I may be completely out of line, I don’t know...

[EUVL]

John,

From the response I had so far, I do not believe that we shall have subscription for all 50 as initially suggested. So 25 is a good number and I think manageable for us. Also we could not have predicted business conditions in 6 months' time. And I am aware who are the ones giving me support right from the start and consistently throughout.

If the response is really so great, then we shall try to stretch as much as you can to accommodate all. The PCBs are not limited at all, only the case. In any case, we have to wait for the forum's response.


Patrick

[johnwmclean]

Thanks for the reassurance Patrick,

Potential group buy interest thread for MPC74 Fukushima resistors is now open:

Potential MPC74 Fukushima resistors GB for EUVL's FX5

[EUVL]

Thanks John for starting the GB thread.


Patrick

[pchw]

I created a GB thread to help tracking the case interests Potential EUVL F5X designed case user distribution check.

[qusp]

any idea on a price for the case yet? i know there was a vague estimate, but if there was anything more specific i missed it.

[EUVL]

> I created a GB thread to help tracking the case interests

You guys are really very impatient. You haven't even seem a photo yet.

> any idea on a price for the case yet?

The price is to be set by the seller, which will be the forum in this case.
But yes, we know the costs. Unfortunately, till everything is agreed, we promised not to disclose anything.

The "vague estimate" is not far off. It will not be HiFi 2000 prices. But then it is not a collection of punched sheet metal parts either.


Patrick

[pchw]

Originally Posted by EUVL

> I created a GB thread to help tracking the case interests

You guys are really very impatient. You haven't even seem a photo yet.

Patrick

Not impatient, just confident :-)