Member
Joined 2009
Paid Member
Jan, look at the photos on their website, a mains lead passing through a hole in the rear chassis without a protective grommet. Basic safety. See the power resistors laying all over in direct contact with the electrolytic caps when normally you want to keep them away from heat sources. That kind of layout is not well thought out. Looks like a national embarrassment.
Attachments
Last edited:
I'll pile on making fun of this audio device, but the safety problems really are bad.
Also, this point-to-point wiring is from the True Beginnings of the HiFi Industry, before printed circuit boards ruined everything.
At least the early guitar amps had passive components mounted neatly - this is a nice build:
Wiring – DIY Amplifier: AC30
You have to like the extra holes in the back (possibly meant for analog VGA video connectors?) for cooling ... apparently this chassis was made for some other device and was repurposed for this. That in itself wouldn't be so bad, but these big holes easily allow a wire to be stuck in to hit the high voltage on the tubes or the uninsulated solder connections on the fuse. I do like how the other side of the line code just inside (the side not going to the fuse) actually has shrink wrap on the connection, but then the wire goes to a open solder connection at the transformer ..
Probably we all agree that electrical safety is so basic that we ASSUME good practices are being followed for a product being sold to the public. From looking at the second (internals) and third (back panel) pics, that's clearly not done here. I second others' safety concerns.
A REAL tube preamp would use spruce for mounting the tubes, for the excellent tonewood quality of spruce.
Also, this point-to-point wiring is from the True Beginnings of the HiFi Industry, before printed circuit boards ruined everything.
At least the early guitar amps had passive components mounted neatly - this is a nice build:
Wiring – DIY Amplifier: AC30
That must be why he used the MDF to mount the tubes. An actual cut-down piece of a real pine 2x4 would double the price of this thing!
You have to like the extra holes in the back (possibly meant for analog VGA video connectors?) for cooling ... apparently this chassis was made for some other device and was repurposed for this. That in itself wouldn't be so bad, but these big holes easily allow a wire to be stuck in to hit the high voltage on the tubes or the uninsulated solder connections on the fuse. I do like how the other side of the line code just inside (the side not going to the fuse) actually has shrink wrap on the connection, but then the wire goes to a open solder connection at the transformer ..
Did you bother looking at the pictures before posting this? I wouldn't buy ANY electrical appliance made to this "standard." It really is that bad!
Probably we all agree that electrical safety is so basic that we ASSUME good practices are being followed for a product being sold to the public. From looking at the second (internals) and third (back panel) pics, that's clearly not done here. I second others' safety concerns.
The wiring/layout does have some similarities to another well discussed pre-amp on this site😀
What makes me wonder is the fact that they show these innards on their advertisement. A first glance on this pile of crap shows that safety requirements are grossly violated: It is prohibited to bring such stuff to the market. Period.
@Jan: MDF is hygroscopic😱
@Jan: MDF is hygroscopic😱
From the product description:
"left and right channels are controlled separately in mono design."
One volume pot per channel. That's.... creative.
"left and right channels are controlled separately in mono design."
One volume pot per channel. That's.... creative.
That has been done in many preamps ever since the mono days, but less recently.
The stereo volume control is often where some of the high frequency channel separation is lost.
The stereo volume control is often where some of the high frequency channel separation is lost.
Last edited:
Member
Joined 2009
Paid Member
Well, one thing I could say is it'll NEVER survive shipping. By the time it reaches the customer, I imagine several sections will have come loose and be bouncing around inside the enclosure.
Yeah, the grommet-less AC pass-through a steel chassis is an eventuality. HV circuitry on the loose inside would be an immediate concern. I can hear the ebay message now; "Uh, I turned it on and all I got was the Magic Smoke". At least there's a fuse...
Yeah, the grommet-less AC pass-through a steel chassis is an eventuality. HV circuitry on the loose inside would be an immediate concern. I can hear the ebay message now; "Uh, I turned it on and all I got was the Magic Smoke". At least there's a fuse...
Last edited:
Fiber board (MDF) disintegrates over time, particularly in damp conditions.
And for 1000 quid, I do expect a new build, not a box that is salvage from a garbage pile.
As for the insides, except for the tubes, it is max 100 pounds.
Be shocked, literally, when using it...
Wonder how many have been actually sold.
And for 1000 quid, I do expect a new build, not a box that is salvage from a garbage pile.
As for the insides, except for the tubes, it is max 100 pounds.
Be shocked, literally, when using it...
Wonder how many have been actually sold.
Last edited:
Definitely a video chassis, there's two Scart holes at the back. What concerns me most is the unclamped/loose white mains lead. I'll make an offer of $50AUD and fix it all up myself & a electrical safety test. Thinking again, the delivery/taxes is too much.
Yeah likely a 15A fuse.
That mess looks like a product of an 11 year old crippled half blind child with nothing better to do.
LOL. Jan I think your humor and irony are lost on this group. At least I got a good chuckle. Thanks mate. 😀
Same guy puts an aliexpress DAC board in a box, throws in a bunch of junk and a bucket of hot melt, and sells it for 750.
Attachments
Damn that's ugly!
He's got a webpage: Professionally Hand Made Audio Products, Passive Preamplifiers, Silver RCA Cables, Silver Mains Cables, Audiophle DACs
These works of art are made in the UK. I would have guessed a far less developed country.
He's got a webpage: Professionally Hand Made Audio Products, Passive Preamplifiers, Silver RCA Cables, Silver Mains Cables, Audiophle DACs
These works of art are made in the UK. I would have guessed a far less developed country.
Last edited: