Anyone using silver secondary (or PSSS) output tx

[wicked1]

I'm getting some new output tx's for my 300b. I think Ive decided to go w/ electraprint.
Has anyone used the PSSS? I'm just wondering how much difference it makes. Is it as big a difference as switching to a amorphous core, or something? The few comments I've found make it sound quite subtle. (so probably not worth it for a somewhat budget conscious person)

thanks for any advice

[dvb-projekt]

Hi,

if i should give a recommendation?!
Go to ae-europe.nl and send your question to them. They developed many special transformer with Triode Dick, THE Netherland Tube Guru.

They have also extreme good prices. But you must have some time to get those individual transformer

I for myself had intergrate an OTX with silver-windings on the secondary in my 300B Mono-Block Project. If you are interested to see some pictutures, go to my gallery.

Best regards,
Oliver

[wicked1]

Originally Posted by dvb-projekt

If you are interested to see some pictutures, go to my gallery.

A picture might be worth 1000 words, but it doesn't help me to know what it sounds like .

If anyones heard similar transformers, one being silver, or just has any general info about the benefits, could you let me know?
Plenty of conflicting info out there on various core materials, but I see very little said about silver.
The one comment I did read said the difference was like "when you take the speaker grills off the front of the speaker and run them bare" which to my poor ears makes exactly 0% difference.

DVB those tx's do look nice, but I think I'm going to stick to ordering some made closer to home.. (Ive been debating between US and Japan made for over a month.. I don't want to start the whole which brand process again.. just want to decide on material and get this over with!)

[Ty_Bower]

Originally Posted by wicked1

I'm getting some new output tx's for my 300b. I think Ive decided to go w/ electraprint.

I wish I could offer some personal experience, but I don't have Electra-Prints with partial silver secondaries. I am somewhat curious to hear others' results. Jack does offer some simple, straightforward comments about the topic. In my conversings with him, he seems honest and sincere. Have you read what he has to say on the subject?

Electra-Print.com Tech Blog

WIRE

Copper wire is used to wind transformers due to it being one of the lowest Direct Current Resistance (DCR) of all the metals used to create a magnetic field. Copper is also used to receive the flux variations in the secondary windings. If silver wire is used for the primary, it will create the same field due to the same amount of turns is needed as the copper. The only difference is a lower DCR than the equivalent copper primary, a costly decision for no performance increase.

Silver wire used for the secondary it will be about 200% more sensitive than copper. If the primary has very low level flux motion from higher harmonic content sounds, silver wire will reproduce it. This is the only increase in performance offered by silver wire when used as a secondary.

[wicked1]

Yes and it sounds (reads) good...
But that's about all I can find on it!
I was initially going to get some expensive Japanese iron, so these EP's w/ PSSS are in the same price range. But, saving money is always good too...

[Ty_Bower]

I figure I only buy one (or maybe two) sets of transformers a year. I suppose the entertainment budget has to draw the line somewhere. You can also try to convince yourself that you can always "upgrade" the transformers later - but you never will.

How many sets of "economy" transformers have you bought in the past? Is it time to try something slightly more exotic? I can read, and read, and read, but I never appreciate until I experience it myself first hand. Of course, failure to do the necessary research beforehand is negligence.

I'm not try to sway you one way or another... Let us know how it works out.

edit: Try digging up some info on the Magnequest QS-025, maybe?

[kmaier]

I've also talked to Jack a few times and have bought some custom iron from him. He's open, honest and fair... and offers a very good product for the cost. I would certainly buy from him again. I've bench-tested the iron and it meets all of the specs... I just haven't had time to finish up the amps yet.

I agree with Ty... how many sets of budget iron does one need? Buy some really good iron and you'll enjoy and appreciate it much longer. I've also bought budget iron... Hammond, Allied (aka Hammond seonds) and the newer (aka cheaper) Triad stuff. It's okay, but it's not that great... but Hammond chokes are actually good. I had one power transformer that had one end of the 5V rectifier filament winding pinched between the core and endbell... quality control?

For myself, I decided on all Hashimoto iron for my custom 300B amps. It's certainly not cheap stuff, but I've not really found too many other companies that offer a full line of transformers that match across the board, i.e., fit, finish, quality, performance. I can run these units 24/7 and never worry about heat or failure. They are also dead quiet.

Regards, KM

[wicked1]

Hashimoto is the Japanese brand I was most likely going to go with.
Such a tough decision. Someone else mentioned how ridiculous it is that most of us have to pick the most expensive part of our amps without any sort of 'test drive'.. It's just blind faith in the manufacturers and others opinions.

I don't want this to be another budget set of tx's, as that's what I've got now. I'm ready for my LAST tx purchase (yah right.. but at least several years)
I can't quite tell in writing if you're implying the EP's are good, but I should go better if I want out of the budget range. Or, if you're saying the EP's are already great, so might as well put silver icing on the cake...

I found more complaint type posts about the hashimoto's than I did electra-prints, but that probably has a lot to do w/ the difference in cost. (I'd be more critical if I spent 2x the money!)

[kmaier]

Originally Posted by wicked1

Hashimoto is the Japanese brand I was most likely going to go with.
Such a tough decision. Someone else mentioned how ridiculous it is that most of us have to pick the most expensive part of our amps without any sort of 'test drive'.. It's just blind faith in the manufacturers and others opinions.

I don't want this to be another budget set of tx's, as that's what I've got now. I'm ready for my LAST tx purchase (yah right.. but at least several years)
I can't quite tell in writing if you're implying the EP's are good, but I should go better if I want out of the budget range. Or, if you're saying the EP's are already great, so might as well put silver icing on the cake...

I found more complaint type posts about the hashimoto's than I did electra-prints, but that probably has a lot to do w/ the difference in cost. (I'd be more critical if I spent 2x the money!)

That's odd... not aware of any complaints on the Hashimoto iron... sans one thread on the A105 interstage which wasn't meeting someone's needs/expectations. I have quite a bit of the stuff too... more than any sane person needs. I finished a pair 45 SET monoblocks about 2 years ago. They have been flawless and are within 1dB from 25Hz to 50KHz. I'll be completing the 2A3 monoblocks this month. Both use their smaller 7-watt SE iron. I've also prototyped with their 20-watt SE iron and it's excellent. I opted for the 30-watt SE iron for the 300B in a 5K primary. I'm hoping to get a prototype running sometime in January.

Regards, KM

[wicked1]

Specifically someone said the 20watt 300b was lacking in bass, and a couple of people didn't like the mids in comparison to some other more expensive japanese iron. There's always someone out there to complain, though, regardless of the product..
If I could afford the 30watt 300b from hashimoto, I would have definitely gone that way, but its a bit out of my price range. The 20watt seem a little light. (compared to american iron, at least)

Oh, also I decided I want a 4-5k primary because I run some other tubes in this amp as well. That takes a few of the standards out of the lineup.