What does everybody really NEED???

[poobah]

Hello Everyone and my best regards,

My interest in audio, especially tube audio, has reared its head once again. I am a former manager of R & D for Mega-Corp. I have since been working happily as a consultant for a few years now. With a little more time, and seemingly money on my hands these days, I have been ressurecting my old Hammond Organ, Leslies, and Guitar amps.

I have found this forum to be a great place to learn...

I am also looking for a new monetary pursuit... not looking to get filthy rich... just filthy.

Over twenty years or so, I have built transformers, caps, amplifiers of all types, precision analog, and more digital than I will confess to.

MY questions is this: If a new manufacturer/service provider was to come on to the scene, and their purpose was to support this crowd; what would that manufacturer provide?

It seems like some fairly priced coupling caps would be a good thing.

How about some online (not downloadable) transformer design software?

How about custom tranny winding at fair prices?

Please give me your ideas!

My thanks in advance and look forward to "meeting all of you!

The Poobah

[Giaime]

Hello!!!

- A complete tube amp design on-line software would be great. Something that (COMPLETELY FREELY - you only pay if you want to download the software) can draw load lines on signal and power stages, calculations, trannies design etc etc...

- A transformer winder in the USA... sorry, useless to me I'm in Italy, but I think that would be great. In the USA there are many used old equipment from which you can borrow dirt cheap OTs and PTs, here in Italy we need a cheap source of cheap trannies. I mean we have good OTs and PTs, but nothing cheap to experiment with. Something not hi-fi...

But I'd like that this community stays without profit!

[Giaime]

And sorry, but you asked What does everybody really need.

My answer is: more music, more tubes, more diy, more beer (not too much) and more girls

(not to offend the women, I also say more boys for the girls! And not intended to offend gays...)

[andyjevans]

It seems like some fairly priced coupling caps would be a good thing.>

Not when Russian Teflon caps are so cheap. Even their ex-military PIOs are good.

How about some online (not downloadable) transformer design software?>

Most of us buy transformers

How about custom tranny winding at fair prices?>

Already exists - many transformer outfits will wind stuff pretty cheap. Maybe chokes at good prices would be interesting. Plus it's always a hassle getting 2.5v trannies for 2a3s and the like. Iron costs a lot to ship, though.

I don't know of any real gap in the market. If it were me I'd sell kits - less hassle getting approval from the authorities. Have a website selling PCBs for various things - power supplies, constant current sinks, preamps, amps etc. Of course this already exists, but then everything else already exists. The new area is digital amps, but they're so technical it's another story.

[rdf]

Speaking for myself only I'ld say iron - OPT, chokes, interstage - either as finished product or as a well documented self-wind kit. It's far and away the bulk of any amp's cost I've built and driving the prices of old organ and jukebox amps higher every day (just bought a Rowe on E-bay myself.) Market choices vary between the big e$tabli$hed names, low price but high shipping East Asian iron of generally unknown quailty, or 'OK' product such as Hammond. After getting stung on the flawed 1628SE and being singularly unimpressed with the power units I bought, especially compared to the old stock Hammond stuff I see at work every day, the latter are a choice made more of availability than desire.
Re: transformer kits, there are some very good sites and software packages but it's still a tall learning curve and effort. There might be a market opening for truly DIY iron.

And andyjevans beat me to it re: caps, agree completely.

[agent.5]

a good (and I mean really good - with mosfet gyrator and non-existing ripples) very high voltage SMPS constant current power supply

[Jim Karr]

How about some affordable, easy to modify chassis/cabinet/cases that we can assemble our projects in? I've done a pretty good job recycling old amp chassis and cases, but some of us may not be really good with a sheet metal bending brake or a dremel.

Both aluminum and steel.

[poobah]

Thanks guys,

Where do I find these Russian Teflons?

I don't see DIY tranny "kits" working... per se... machines wind better coils. Could DIY mean "DESIGN It Yourself".

1. Get on the website and design your own transformer... strictly by parameter.
2. Get a computer generated and human reviewed appraisal of said design.
3. Pay a modest sum for a complete build spec... turns, layering, lams and all that.
4. OR... order a transformer built to that spec.

It does seem as though people are designing around available Iron instead of the tube curves.

Also, trannies that roll off at 20 kHz don't allow for quality feedback loops... hance the bad rap that NFB is always getting.

I value your thoughts,

[poobah]

Hello agent.5,

Interesting, I get it... but tell me why?

1. Power sups are a nagging pain in the rear?
2. People would rather play in the signal path?
3. Save weight?
4. Save dollars?
5. Conserve energy?

Would the most extreme let mosfets and ferrites in their house?

Thanks for your input,

[agent.5]

Originally posted by poobah
Hello agent.5,

Interesting, I get it... but tell me why?

1. Power sups are a nagging pain in the rear?
2. People would rather play in the signal path?
3. Save weight?
4. Save dollars?
5. Conserve energy?

Would the most extreme let mosfets and ferrites in their house?

Thanks for your input,

all of the above and then some more. Take a look at the active loaded thread. The idea is to replace all the transformers, chokes, capacitors, and CCS with one tested product. This way, people can play with the big bottles that use upward of 2000VDC without worrying about getting killed.

Moreover, if it is any good, there is opportunity for OEM sourcing.