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[Stixx]

Looks like walnut.

walnut it ain't......Although Frank is one helluva smart guy he doesn't know everything.

The wood actually is some root veneer (wurzelholz in german) over cherrywood.

Thanks eeka chu!

[noisenyc]

Originally posted by Stixx
This is my first ever tube project, actually my first ever electronic project ....

A headphone amp based on a design I found on the german site "Jogi's Roehrenbude", which definitely might sound unpronouncable for some...

It uses a tube made for the german post in the 60's (?) and that was used in audio repeater amplifiers for long distance.

The only changes to the original schematic are using a tube rectifier and way more chokes....It worked instantly not frying any parts and I only had some minor grounding issues.

Sound is promising and relaxed, although still a little "boomy", like some emphasis on the middle bass registers. Anyone got suggestions how to improve that?

rgds,
Oliver

hi oliver

you can try removing the 1000mf rubycon. this will reduce gain and change the tonal balance.

[noisenyc]

i meant reduce not remove...reduce value to change low end rolloff point...

[cominup]

Stixx,

your schema so real simple and we know that simplest is the best in audio.

Second, you have too much choke, my preamp's using 12AX7 just use one 5H, it's still OK. So, I think you can check again your caps! You might think about some caps have better quality like Blackgate or some germany mark Telsa or ...(I don't remember).

What does your choke 10H and 102R mean? usually we mark it 10H 50mA. And your caps do not show polar or non-polar. Could you tell us more detail about them, or just take a photo bottom of your amp, OK?

But most of all, you're real good skill man, I've never done some things clean and perfect like yours.

Cominup

[fdegrove]

Hi,

You might think about some caps have better quality like Blackgate or some germany mark Telsa or ...(I don't remember).

You probably mean the ones made by the former Tesla crew now trading under the JJ/Tesla brandname.
Very good caps...
Considering the BG prices have hit the roof once again and rumour persists that we're not going to see a successor any day soon, I'd recommend them wholeheartedly even though their current range won't be a one on one replacement.

Cheers,

[cominup]

Yep,

I'm feeling that you have had some complaination about BG, dude! OK! Both of us knew that BC is the most un-reasonable expensive.

I command stixx about this cap only one cause, his schema is very good, so I just think about his spare parts' quality. And the first one crashed my mind is BG cap. I don't know much about stixx's county, like me, I can borrow from some friend some BG caps to check it out before my decision.

Second, stixx's amp is so good, but he still be , means he's a real audiophile and recommends so high sound quality more than me. To fullfill this, BG is the best in my knowledge, OK!

Kindly,

Cominup

[Stixx]

Cominup, Blackie,

thanks for the words of encouragement, means a lot to me!

I think my amp just needs more mileage, those tubes must have been resting in their boxes for decades....

Attached you'll find a pic of the underside. Parts quality actually isn't too bad, most caps used are BHC Aerovox, the first C in the psu is an Arcotronics mkp, and the coupling caps are Siemens mkv 10uF!
You can find pretty much everything here in Germany, you just have to be willing to pay for it. And a 100uF BG cap for the psu goes for around 80 Euro which is roughly 105$.......

What does your choke 10H and 102R mean?

That denotes the dc resistance, total voltage draw of the amp is around 34mA.

Thanks again,
Oliver

[eeka chu]

You have some BHC Aerovox's in there it seems. Are you able to compare them with anything you've used so far?

I have a couple of BHC's and I'm thinking of using them for the PSU on my amp, but I'd need to buy a higher voltage.

They're made here in the UK, so a lot of store carry them... RS and Farnell both do.

[Stixx]

You have some BHC Aerovox's in there it seems. Are you able to compare them with anything you've used so far?

eeka chu,
yes, those are BHC Aerovoxes 100uF 385V. I havn't had the chance to compare them to anything since this is my first amp. I just bought them because of their good reputation.

And btw, I bought 'em at RS Germany! Good place for shopping.

I also found out that the slightly boomy sound I described in my first post has to do with hum on the right channel....left channel is quiet as a tomb! So I have to look for that and probably change my wiring a bit.

PS I once had a pair of Onix OA901 mono's that were also british made. They had a pair of HUGE BHC caps in them. Great amps, now replaced with british vintage iron....Leak.

rgds,
Oliver

[gmilitano]

I have finally completed my S-5 Electronics K-12M Tube Amp.

Here is a picture of the front