John Curl's Blowtorch preamplifier part II

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#95,261
john curl said:
Max, we were looking for a change in noise from jfets, bipolars or resistors. We could not measure any with the Quantech Noise Analyzer.
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Ok.
I observe subjective changes when applied to semis, especially mixed signal like DAC chips etc, also when applied to oscillator crystals.
I also observe FFT ULF changes when using pink noise as source signal over long averaging time using ARTA.
Jitter test also shows changes in close in phase noise.
Regardless of how it works, the subjective changes are always agreeable with distinct improvement in highs and lows extension, depth imaging, image LR placement, narrowing and stability of centre image, but above all pleasantness and groove factor with removal of 'nasties' at all PB levels.
You didn't say what Jack has cooked up lately ?.

Dan.
 
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#95,262
I got a metcal about 5 years ago after looking for ages for one at a good price. They were a revelation when I first used one at work. Still doesn't make me good at soldering and the space qual'd guys used to work wonders with a standard weller, but I wouldn't be without it now as it allows a hamfist to do a half decent job.
 
#95,270
Charles explained why the Metcal is different, by working principle.
It uses RF energy to heatup a special alloy which makes up the tip.
So the heat is generate at the tip, not at a heating element upstream.

This is what he said,

"The coating is a special alloy that has a controlled Curie point. When the alloy reaches the proper temperature, it becomes non-magnetic and won't absorb the RF energy. When it cools down, it again absorbs the energy and heats back up. The result is extremely accurate temperature control.

One of the best things about this iron is that you can put an ultra-fine tip on for SMT work (eg, QFP's) and it will still deliver the full 50 watts to that teeny tip if it needs to. There is nothing like it on the market."

Everyone in our team has bought one.


Patrick
 
#95,271
EUVL said:
Charles explained why the Metcal is different, by working principle.
It uses RF energy to heatup a special alloy which makes up the tip.
So the heat is generate at the tip, not at a heating element upstream.

This is what he said,

"The coating is a special alloy that has a controlled Curie point. When the alloy reaches the proper temperature, it becomes non-magnetic and won't absorb the RF energy. When it cools down, it again absorbs the energy and heats back up. The result is extremely accurate temperature control.

One of the best things about this iron is that you can put an ultra-fine tip on for SMT work (eg, QFP's) and it will still deliver the full 50 watts to that teeny tip if it needs to. There is nothing like it on the market."

Everyone in our team has bought one.


Patrick
Click to expand...

Nice! I read that the patents have expired and others are now offering this technology like Thermaltronics here in Germany. Need to check them out.

Thermaltronics 9000 soldeersysteem

Jan
 
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#95,273
jan.didden said:
I am interested in getting a new iron. I am using Weller for ages. I can't imagine what another brand could bring, I mean, as long as the tip is heated adequately, what else is there? The tips are critical, I accept that, but the iron?

Jan
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I have never been able to not solder anything nicely, tth, smd, connectors, what have you, with this one:

AOYUE 2703A+ SMD/SMT 70W/500W Soldering Station

Wide availability of tips and its unrestrained Chinese post-eclectic styling will enliven any work desk.
 
#95,276
Oh there is plenty of 'substance' to Bybee's devices and claims. That is why they drove up here to try to find a MEASUREMENT that we could use to show the skeptics. Jack, me and a number of other associates know that his devices work, because they work with our, (and many others) audio system. They don't always improve, because sometimes they change the sound for the worse. What would affect our minds so that this could be so? Should they not always improve or at least not be a change when using them? Worse I have heard, both on my system and other quality sound systems. But generally they improve the sound in some good way. We don't fully understand the mechanism, either.
 
#95,280
Max, I haven't followed everything that you have inputted here on Bybee devices, but apparently you have tried them too.
I was also skeptical at first, (20+years ago)but I trusted my ears and then went to find the source of the devices and I certainly showed to myself how a typical physics education barely predicts what is possible.
Of course Jack's 'devices' have changed over the decades. These days he is most interesting in a new material that when put in proximity with active devices, seems to improve the sound through them. I first tried a version of this material with my OPPO 105. NOW, it is more listenable over a longer period of time, without any other mods. Jack just bought an OPPO 205 and he has improved it with his new stuff as well. We have a third colleague equally involved who has more degrees in both physics and electronic engineering as Scott and me combined, and he is just as enthusiastic. He was the one who thought that the Quan-Tech could measure something definitive, but alas, it did not. However, he and Jack drove an hour to try it on my Quan-Tech just to see for sure. In reality, we still do not know EXACTLY how these new devices (or process) work, we just know that it does.
 
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