My_Ref Fremen Edition - Build thread and tutorial

Hmm, not so happy anymore: nothing happened at first startup this morning. fuses keep blowing. Without anything connected everything is fine. With transformers connected it won't work. Any ideas?

Wiring is really basic now and straight to screwterminal, no on/off switch

I was experiencing this also. I initially used .25 amps, then .5A . Even with nothing connected to the single 200VA toroidal, I was still blowing fuse. I'm now using 2A fuses. I can't find any slow blow fuses.
 
I was experiencing this also. I initially used .25 amps, then .5A . Even with nothing connected to the single 200VA toroidal, I was still blowing fuse. I'm now using 2A fuses. I can't find any slow blow fuses.

Ah, thanks. Maybe that's the problem. Somebody said it shouldn't be a problem. But even with 1.6 it still blew. Will go to the shop today and buy a few fuses. Hopefully they have slow blow
 
Oleg, Inrush current could be the problem, what do you use? Is 2A enough for the MyRef, or should I go up?

It's enough for 2 boards (total of 4*10,000uf) plus one JC-2 clone
 

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New fuses, gone headache. Measured DC ofsett directly from the board, almost none: one channel 0.001 volt, the other 0.006.

Hopefully a first listening session in the evening!

One question: the label on the board at the input tab say HOT and in. IN meaning the audio signal and hot ground?

Edit: hot is signal, had a photo of the back of the board...
 
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It's enough for 2 boards (total of 4*10,000uf) plus one JC-2 clone
Hi rough512,

I like what you did with the heatsinks. The spring clip is an interesting idea too. If you have it running, do you see a temperature difference between the fin that the LM3886 is attached to and the other fins? If so, does it seem like a big or small difference?

I know that MyRefs generally don't need a very big heatsink, so maybe it doesn't matter. I was curious for a different project that does reject some heat.

Jac
 
Hi Jac:

At an ambient temp of 30c, I get 38c on the edge of every fin with temp probe clipped as seen in the picture. That includes the fin where the chip is clamped onto. On that fin, the temp is at steady 38 while on the others the reading changes from 37/38 continuosly.
 

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I thought I had a very good amp. And I did, it was way better than the one before that (rotel RA07)

But this one. Another league. Better control of the bass and more detail.

My wife and I were listening to Arcason the other night(from Candido - the Master). Control of the bass and detail in the bass is better than my tube amp. Somebody said he liked the 'thereness' of the musicians, I completely agree! Razor sharp imaging, not too big, just right. As if they are in the room. Not warm, surely not analytical. You feel the enthousiasm of the musicians, at a certain point someone on the left is really enjoying the moment, and starts laughing/humming. You just 'see' him playing, laughing, enjoying. We both smiled. Listened to that song a few times, that never happened...

And that's most important, at least for me. Not the lowest THD+N or some other statistic/measurement. So a big thanks to Dario for this great sounding amp! I love that I can have a sound quality at home I can't​ afford if I should have to buy it from the store! You and all the FremenEdition pioneers made that possible.

About measurements: couldn't believe my eyes: DC offset is 4mv on the left channel and 6 on the right. Seems like real good values.

My transformers are buzzing quite a bit, is that normal? I also experience a buzz from the speakers, any tips besides turning the transformers? My speakers are 95db, so a little buzz will stay, I think.
 
About measurements: couldn't believe my eyes: DC offset is 4mv on the left channel and 6 on the right. Seems like real good values.

I'm happy you're enjoying the amp :)

Yes, those are good values.

My transformers are buzzing quite a bit, is that normal?
Toroidal transformers, if not defective, usually buzz if there's DC on mains, eventually try to measure it.

If it's so there are circuits that can fix the problem.

I also experience a buzz from the speakers, any tips besides turning the transformers? My speakers are 95db, so a little buzz will stay, I think.

First of all try rotating transformers until you reach the minimum amount of noise, after that with such sensitive speakers heatsinks' grounding is critical, try ground them to safety ground point you have on chassis.

Finally, only if nothing of this will work try connect PGND on boards to safety ground (there will be a small performance cost), better via a ground breaker circuit.

It that
 
toroidal transformers with one output

I need your help. Do you know if there is any negative impact in the following scenario.
By accident i bought 2 toroidal transformers with a mono instead of a double output ( 2x24v). The trafos are 200 VA each.
I plan to split the output to create the 2x24v input that the board needs.
Will there be any negative effects from that configuration?
 
...too clumsy and unlucky in this period...

I fried another board...The very last version, just finished!

I accidentally shorted the loudspeaker terminals with a screwdriver, and the left channel has gone with a beautiful spark...

...and now my amp is on the desk again...

I checked the voltages written on the board. I had to change T201 and now they are ok but the led doesn't turn on...

Any suggestion?

Thank You very much for your help...
 
Pekodot: I think You can do it, no problems. I had used a similar config for a period. You have two secondaries, like if it were from one transformer.

Soulfuel: The usual culprit is R11, the 1ohm ground-separator resistance. It likes to die, sometimes with an output short. (it opens)
But You could be a bit more unlucky and that means both active parts, unfortunately.

Ciao, George