Updating my amps....and "hello" :-)

[Innov8]

Just really wanting to introduce the newest newbie....me....and tell you what I'm up to with my project.

I'm little versed in electronics, but know a man who can, and he advises me on sensible courses of action, along with the great man himself: Lampizator!

My current setup is simple......far too simple presently.....

Squeezebox Duet
fed by the shortes possible home made interconnects to
Audio Innovations S1000 mk3 monoblocs (heavily modded)
with some cable I got off eBay to
Kef 104/2 (that I have also had apart on more than one occasion)

In addition, I am currently buying the parts to build a valve pre-stage and also a TDA1541a based tube NOS DAC

Recent amp mods include replacing all the odd valves with Electro-Harmonix and updated the EL34 to 6CA7 Fat Bottles. Originally my amps had between them 6xPrecision EL34 and 2xSovtek EL34. 4xOriginal ECC83 AIs and 4 x CVC ECC82. The amps had previously blown 4 of the 8 cathode resistors as is the way of these beasts, but they'd been repaired and I believe I have found the reason behind these amps blowing which I am intending to deal with later. Coupling caps have been replaced with Obbligato's and the result is very good and improving as the burn in goes on. 10 hours so far, I'm aiming for another 40 before modifying further.

Kef 104/2 were bought six months ago from a guy on the Isle Of Man, and despite the horrendous journey, turned up sounding sublime. I've since replaces all the donuts on the woofers but will be taking them apart once more to work on the cases, seal the woofers chambers and measure the caps on the crossovers to see if I can locate the occasional cutting out on one channel at high volumes.

When all that is done I intend to start on my tube DAC based on a design by Lampizator. This will be based on the excellent TDA1541a chip and feature NOS. I've heard one already, and I like!

Then it will be time to build the Pre-Amp as the only real issue with the Squeezebox is that it feeds the power amps directly and introduces hiss. as a source, I'd be hard pushed to change back to a CD player and I couldn't use vinyl even if I wanted to, which I don't.

So there we go.

That's me, and hopefully if the mods let this post go on, I will continue to update you on my DIY HIFI that is built on a budget and is already the envy of some of my friends. Is less really more?

[Bigun]

Sounds good - and welcome - will look forward to seeing more of your projects.

[Innov8]

Thanks for the welcome.

If I had more time, I would build my own speakers too. I used to work in car audio when I was younger and so was that industry, but I've grown up now.

I've had this idea for a speaker cabinet for 20 years, and one day I will build it to see if the logic works. I'd like to base the cabinet around a pair of 12" Tannoy Golds or Reds, but that involves cash I don't currently have.

Anyone got a spare £2k for a poor man dying to make the best ever speakers?

I thought probably not

[kevinkr]

Originally Posted by Innov8

Thanks for the welcome.

If I had more time, I would build my own speakers too. I used to work in car audio when I was younger and so was that industry, but I've grown up now.

I've had this idea for a speaker cabinet for 20 years, and one day I will build it to see if the logic works. I'd like to base the cabinet around a pair of 12" Tannoy Golds or Reds, but that involves cash I don't currently have.

Anyone got a spare £2k for a poor man dying to make the best ever speakers?

I thought probably not

Perhaps you should check out the Tannoy 3859 pro drivers, you might find a pair of these for something a bit more reasonable.