I managed to get rid of the hum finally, but not with the trafos connected as in post #248 If I shared the negative supply winding with another supply anyhow I connected their grounds I got humObviously there's a ground loop that affects the -V supply. Chasing it is the only way to go - try different ground connections between DAC and preamp, dividing signal and power ground. When you find the solution analyze the ground path so that doesn't happen again 🙂
BTW, that heatsink on the shunt reg is really too small...

Anyway, in the meantime I received my toroidal trafo ordered specifically for my application, so the preamp has separate windings and everything is OK now. Super silent, no hum, no noise and it sounds marvelous. I will try with BF862 and J310 in the following weeks.
p.s. It's a bit cumbersome that I need 1.3V from a 36V DC supply so I have do drop a lot of voltage. I use LM317 to pre-regulate to 15V DC then the shunt reg set to 5.5VDC then two LEDs in series to further drop to ~1.3V... life is hard 🙂
Thanks for your help!
...everything is OK now. Super silent, no hum, no noise and it sounds marvelous. ...
Congrats!

could you post both schematics: before & after?I managed to get rid of the hum finally, but not with the trafos connected as in post #248
thanks you
Thanks JUMA and CHCYYONG
I have been using the basic version of the j310 with the cap multipier for the F5 and have thoroughly enjoyed the sound for the past few months.
I read your comments about the salas shunt reg and want to try first before moving on to BF862
regards
kp93300
Thanks JUMA and CHCYYONG
I have been using the basic version of the j310 with the cap multipier for the F5 and have thoroughly enjoyed the sound for the past few months.
I read your comments about the salas shunt reg and want to try first before moving on to BF862
regards
kp93300
F5 is using jfets as input, the input impedance is already very very low, it's not really need a buffer/preamp.
I know that you meant high input impedance , and I agree about buffer , but is preamp needed or not is strictly gain related issue in some systems , not impedance matching
many thanks to all
I completed the power supply as described above for the J310 and the sound quality is very good .The improvement is across the board as expected of a good power supply and never expect a single jfet to sound so good. .
I maintain the cap multiplier before the salas shunt .
Is the voltage output form the shunt determined by the zener D3? i am planning to build another shunt for my dac that requires 18 V dc.
Thanks to JUMA especially.
kp93300
I suppose you are talking about this preamp (disregard the cap. multiplier). If that's so, you should know this too.
Answers:
1) C14 can be anything from 47uF to 470uF and C17 is "the bigger, the better" type.
2) Use good parts from reliable suppliers, but don't waste your money on "Le Boutique Audiophile" nonsense. The value of the coupling cap (C1 in preamp sch.) should be adjusted according to Zin of the following stage - 10uF will cover you down to 10k. Wima MKP 10 or Siemens stacked foil is what I use in that position.
c) yes, 24V AC will do the job. If you go higher than that Q11 will need a bigger heatsink.
I completed the power supply as described above for the J310 and the sound quality is very good .The improvement is across the board as expected of a good power supply and never expect a single jfet to sound so good. .
I maintain the cap multiplier before the salas shunt .
Is the voltage output form the shunt determined by the zener D3? i am planning to build another shunt for my dac that requires 18 V dc.
Thanks to JUMA especially.
kp93300
.... Is the voltage output form the shunt determined by the zener D3? i am planning to build another shunt for my dac that requires 18 V dc. ...
You are welcome kp - I'm glad you like your new preamp

Yes, D3 sets the output voltage. Just take care to provide at least 20V AC before the rectifier.
Cap multiplier for negative rail of the BF 862
Hi JUMA,
I am planning the power supply for the negative rail of the BF862 pre..
I refer to the cap multiplier in this schematic :
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/attachments/pass-labs/180140-jfet-boz-j310-preamp.png
I want to seek clarification -----
I have to change Q1 to BC558 and reverse the polarity of c3, c5 and C2 ?
Is there a great advantage in building the cap multiplier before the salas shunt ?
regards
kp93300
Hi JUMA,
I am planning the power supply for the negative rail of the BF862 pre..
I refer to the cap multiplier in this schematic :
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/attachments/pass-labs/180140-jfet-boz-j310-preamp.png
I want to seek clarification -----
I have to change Q1 to BC558 and reverse the polarity of c3, c5 and C2 ?
Is there a great advantage in building the cap multiplier before the salas shunt ?
regards
kp93300
kp93300,
Q1 in cap. mult. can be any high hfe small signall BJT (i.e. BC558c) - take care about Pd.
Yes, cap polarities should be taken care off.
Not a great advantage, just some voltage to burn if your neg. rail has too many volts.
Good luck !
Q1 in cap. mult. can be any high hfe small signall BJT (i.e. BC558c) - take care about Pd.
Yes, cap polarities should be taken care off.
Not a great advantage, just some voltage to burn if your neg. rail has too many volts.
Good luck !

Is there a great advantage in building the cap multiplier before the salas shunt ?
regards
kp93300
I wondered about this also, a while back, and then I came to the idea that since the salas shunt reg is so good why not put a salas shunt reg (instead of cap multiplier) in front of a salas shunt reg. I never tried it though.
It is probably over kill.
Hi Juma,
npapp initiated a group buy in January, but it looks like he's gone away.
Do you (or anyone else) have any contact to him ?
I would like to set up and organize a new group by for that board, interest, any comments ?
If there is interest, can anyone send me the layout ?
regards Michael
npapp initiated a group buy in January, but it looks like he's gone away.
Do you (or anyone else) have any contact to him ?
I would like to set up and organize a new group by for that board, interest, any comments ?
If there is interest, can anyone send me the layout ?
regards Michael
Thanks Juma for this preamp.. i was inspired to build my own so i made this layout and already sent it to pcb factory.. I expect to get the pcb this week and hopefully finished building it next weekend..
I'll compare it to my B1 preamp using my F5 amp.. thanks again.
I'll compare it to my B1 preamp using my F5 amp.. thanks again.
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
Sorry, but I don't have any contact to npap.Hi Juma,
npapp initiated a group buy in January, but it looks like he's gone away.
Do you (or anyone else) have any contact to him ?...
You'll find the layout posted earlier in this thread. Good luck...If there is interest, can anyone send me the layout ?...

Thanks juma, i'll have a look, but i think it's picture only. No files.
i tried to contact npapp by eMail yesterday. Let him a minute to answer.
Michael
i tried to contact npapp by eMail yesterday. Let him a minute to answer.
Michael
... picture only. No files. ...
No pictures, file only -> post #54
cap values and BC 548, Bc 560
Hi Juma,
I am starting on the negative rail of the power supply for bf862.
I notice that C2, c11, c10,c19, c13and c16 are all 22Uf.
Can i substitute all these for 47 uF ?
Can i substitute BC 548c with BC 548B and BC 560 C with Bc 560 B.?
Thanking you in advance .
kp93300
Hi Juma,
I am starting on the negative rail of the power supply for bf862.
I notice that C2, c11, c10,c19, c13and c16 are all 22Uf.
Can i substitute all these for 47 uF ?
Can i substitute BC 548c with BC 548B and BC 560 C with Bc 560 B.?
Thanking you in advance .
kp93300
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