MC Riaa preamp help/opinions please

duderduderini · 4th March 2007, 11:15 AM

Hi Guys.
I know there are reasons why this design might not work but can you please give me a hand in sorting it out. The first stage uses 1/2 a 12ax7 as shown in diagram. I want to use octals but am happy to use the ax7.
I built it and obviously I am getting the necessary gain but the volume fluctuates..
I could do with some help here.
The riaa is done by bob in his original design but again it is beyond me to fully grasp what i might need to do.
I can read I can listen but being a newbie its a mighty steep hill i climb
I know I could do 2 things.. being using step up trannys or mm cartridge but I just dont want to (have been reading for months now)
Thanks for your help in advance
Nick

Geek · 4th March 2007, 12:02 PM

Hi,

Where's your grid leak resistors on V2a and b? That can cause major grief right there.

EC8010 · 4th March 2007, 01:13 PM

As Geek says, the lack of grid-leak resistors is your problem. Add 1M to ground from the grids of the second and third valves.

duderduderini · 5th March 2007, 09:00 AM

To Geek and EC..
I had kind of forgotten them on the diagram.. I had placed them in circuit but one wasnt soldered effectively...thats been fixed...
I am experiencing distorted sound (but adequate gain) (distortion may be loading) but the the music stops for a 1/10th of a second with a bass thud then resumes.. for about 3 seconds
Thanks to both of you but i suppose i will have to keep looking/ scratching my head.
I love your DAC EC.. thats very exceptional work.. Pity the Australia dollar buys 1/3 of a Euro..
Nevermind
If anyone has any ideas please feel free to share them
Thanks
Nick

Geek · 5th March 2007, 09:28 AM

Sounds to me like it's overloading or a leaky cap or something.

Change the 1uF from the input tube to the next stage to .1uF poly. It doesn't need to be so big. If that doesn't work, lose the electro's on the cathodes one at a time and see when it disappears.

Cheers!

duderduderini · 5th March 2007, 10:36 AM

Hi Geek
Thanks for the suggestions
Changed to a .01 cap to no effect, did the thing with electros no joy
Will now mess with the cathode to ground resistor on the input tube(gain)
Thanks a bunch for your interest.. of what i hear it holds great promise.
Hey Geek do you watch "Corner Gas"?
We have only just got it in australia... A patient of mine is Canadian and lent me the entire series one.. What a great show it is
Regards
Nick

Geek · 5th March 2007, 11:13 AM

Hi Nick,

Quote:

Originally posted by duderduderini

Thanks for the suggestions
Changed to a .01 cap to no effect, did the thing with electros no joy
Will now mess with the cathode to ground resistor on the input tube(gain)
Thanks a bunch for your interest.. of what i hear it holds great promise.

Hmmm, before you start changing things, is perhaps one or more of the tubes themselves buggered?

Quote:

Originally posted by duderduderini
Hey Geek do you watch "Corner Gas"?

It is the best show EVER!!!

Given I don't like hockey, I can say I actually watch one thing Canadian besides election results, LOL!

Cheers!

SY · 5th March 2007, 11:31 AM

Or a bad and slow motorboat.

phn · 5th March 2007, 12:09 PM

EL34 Push Pull weirdness

duderduderini · 5th March 2007, 12:12 PM

OK will order more tubes and also check the grounding/motor boating of ps.
Thanks to both of you for your help.
ps Greg... Its the best tv show i have seen since the good ole days of mash, get smart etc.
The show does Canada proud and and far as intellect goes, its a candle that burns brightly in an ever increasingly dim world.
Cheers and thanks again
Nick

4th March 2007, 01:13 PM	#3
EC8010 diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Near London. UK	As Geek says, the lack of grid-leak resistors is your problem. Add 1M to ground from the grids of the second and third valves. __________________ The loudspeaker: The only commercial Hi-Fi item where a disproportionate part of the budget isn't spent on the box. And the one where it would make a difference...

5th March 2007, 09:00 AM	#4
duderduderini diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Albury NSW Australia	Many thanks To Geek and EC.. I had kind of forgotten them on the diagram.. I had placed them in circuit but one wasnt soldered effectively...thats been fixed... I am experiencing distorted sound (but adequate gain) (distortion may be loading) but the the music stops for a 1/10th of a second with a bass thud then resumes.. for about 3 seconds Thanks to both of you but i suppose i will have to keep looking/ scratching my head. I love your DAC EC.. thats very exceptional work.. Pity the Australia dollar buys 1/3 of a Euro.. Nevermind If anyone has any ideas please feel free to share them Thanks Nick __________________ "Better to say nothing and keep them guessing than to speak and remove all doubt."

5th March 2007, 10:36 AM	#6
duderduderini diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Albury NSW Australia	still no joy Hi Geek Thanks for the suggestions Changed to a .01 cap to no effect, did the thing with electros no joy Will now mess with the cathode to ground resistor on the input tube(gain) Thanks a bunch for your interest.. of what i hear it holds great promise. Hey Geek do you watch "Corner Gas"? We have only just got it in australia... A patient of mine is Canadian and lent me the entire series one.. What a great show it is Regards Nick __________________ "Better to say nothing and keep them guessing than to speak and remove all doubt."

5th March 2007, 11:31 AM	#8
SY diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Austin, TX Blog Entries: 1	Or a bad and slow motorboat. __________________ "...we stumble and get up, we are sad, confident, insecure, feel loneliness and joy and love. There is nothing more; but I want nothing more.” - Christopher Hitchens 1949-2011

5th March 2007, 12:12 PM	#10
duderduderini diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Albury NSW Australia	will look into both OK will order more tubes and also check the grounding/motor boating of ps. Thanks to both of you for your help. ps Greg... Its the best tv show i have seen since the good ole days of mash, get smart etc. The show does Canada proud and and far as intellect goes, its a candle that burns brightly in an ever increasingly dim world. Cheers and thanks again Nick __________________ "Better to say nothing and keep them guessing than to speak and remove all doubt."

4th March 2007, 12:02 PM	#2
Geek diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2004	Hi, Where's your grid leak resistors on V2a and b? That can cause major grief right there.

5th March 2007, 09:28 AM	#5
Geek diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2004	Sounds to me like it's overloading or a leaky cap or something. Change the 1uF from the input tube to the next stage to .1uF poly. It doesn't need to be so big. If that doesn't work, lose the electro's on the cathodes one at a time and see when it disappears. Cheers!

5th March 2007, 12:09 PM	#9
phn diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2004	EL34 Push Pull weirdness

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