Many thanks to everyone who made this project possible! I received my kit a few weeks ago, looks great! ... I felt I should publicly thank you all for your generosity, for your work, time and shared genius ZM 
. I've been following the forum for a few years now but I've never dared to go ahead with a project. I don't know anything about electronics, and my English is very basic.
I've been following the thread with great enthusiasm as I look to buy the missing components. It's not easy, the prices are crazy and I can't find the usual "audiophile" candidates. Probably any reputed brand will have the same results.
. I've been following the forum for a few years now but I've never dared to go ahead with a project. I don't know anything about electronics, and my English is very basic.I've been following the thread with great enthusiasm as I look to buy the missing components. It's not easy, the prices are crazy and I can't find the usual "audiophile" candidates. Probably any reputed brand will have the same results.
^ Wonderful news that you received your kit! Your English is excellent.
Now is perhaps a good time to tell you and everyone...
We will be having a parts kit available 'soon'. Some of you may have received a note from Jason.
A few questions I anticipate...
Now is perhaps a good time to tell you and everyone...
We will be having a parts kit available 'soon'. Some of you may have received a note from Jason.
A few questions I anticipate...
- What does soon mean? Maybe a month ... maybe more.
- What's in it? Most everything you'll need / want for your Iron Pre except... power transformer(s), volume control solutions, wire, chassis and I/O... I think. I may have forgotten something. There will be a full list, don't worry. 🙂
- How much? Don't know yet. As with everything, it should be a great value.
- How many? Not many at first. So, if you know you would like to have all (most) of your parts selected for you and in one very nice package, grab one when they're released. We'll do more based on interest.
- How will they be sold? Will it be an ordered list like the first batches of the Iron Pre? Don't know. We want people that ordered their kits in the first batch to have an opportunity, but we're discussing options.
Many thanks to everyone who made this project possible! I received my kit a few weeks ago, looks great! ... I felt I should publicly thank you all for your generosity, for your work, time and shared genius ZM
I've been following the thread with great enthusiasm as I look to buy the missing components. It's not easy, the prices are crazy and I can't find the usual "audiophile" candidates. Probably any reputed brand will have the same results.
From my tender age, I always leaned to be inspired, instead of being impressed
Same with my concoctions, I'm happy to see someone inspired
Now, regarding parts - there is already more than enough info starting from post #1 ...... if in doubt, just ask
Nope. I requested both SE and Bal kits but declined Bal to allow Greedy Boyz a shot.
I hope I'm still on that initial list.
Putting myself shamelessly on the list of interest...
Again.
In that case, it might be a good idea to wait for the build guide. Not sure if and when it will be available, because I haven't seen any mention of it in quite a while.
Zen Mod and ItsAllInMyHead have helped much in making sure kits are built with no problems. Especially Zen. A build guide is probabley not required at this point as all major questions have been answered here.
well, allow for possibility that someone just arrived in Legoland
just imagine Mighty Moi trying to cook something .........
just imagine Mighty Moi trying to cook something .........
I appreciate that and I fully agree. My own IronPre is singing nice songs, but a build guide would help folk with little or no knowledge of electronics.
Only for Viking Stock!Knowledge is or weaklingzezzez, ego is king
Thank you all! I am more and more inspired, to calmly assemble the Iron Pré. I've read and reread the entire thread and I think I have the information I need to make it sing. Have a great weekend
Hello MiguelPT,
you will be not dissapointed to build this wonderful preamp! 🙂
The Iron Pre offers very good detail in the music reproduction. Bass is really good and controlled. You should build this preamp!
I was testing / hearing mine for the last few weeks in very different combinations. Most often I use it to drive my 6-24 active crossovers and then
to different poweramps (BA-3 / M2X / F5 / F5T / Ixys_Monoblocks / 50W SE-Schade amp). All combinations sound really great with this preamp.
You get slightly different 'sound' ,but all on a very high level.
Nelson Pass Frontend 2022, Wayne Colburns BAF2018 and the ACP+ are tough contenders. All this pres are really, really good!
Build it slowly and with accuracy! You will enjoy some nice music!
Cheers
Dirk 😉
you will be not dissapointed to build this wonderful preamp! 🙂
The Iron Pre offers very good detail in the music reproduction. Bass is really good and controlled. You should build this preamp!
I was testing / hearing mine for the last few weeks in very different combinations. Most often I use it to drive my 6-24 active crossovers and then
to different poweramps (BA-3 / M2X / F5 / F5T / Ixys_Monoblocks / 50W SE-Schade amp). All combinations sound really great with this preamp.
You get slightly different 'sound' ,but all on a very high level.
Nelson Pass Frontend 2022, Wayne Colburns BAF2018 and the ACP+ are tough contenders. All this pres are really, really good!
Build it slowly and with accuracy! You will enjoy some nice music!
Cheers
Dirk 😉
I am still very happy with my Iron-Pre (which substituted the B1-Korg which also was very nice).
After some listening experience the most obvious different is a more "open" and "crisp" top-end. The S-sounds from voices a bit harder but not too hard.
Maybe a bit more detailed sounding. 3D imaging very good.
After some listening experience the most obvious different is a more "open" and "crisp" top-end. The S-sounds from voices a bit harder but not too hard.
Maybe a bit more detailed sounding. 3D imaging very good.
MEPER, I've noticed more sibilance as well with the Iron Pre. In my system, the sibilance seemed to decrease a bit over time.
What I like most about the Iron Pre though is that both my "good" amps sound great, yet different, when driven by it.
What I like most about the Iron Pre though is that both my "good" amps sound great, yet different, when driven by it.
if there is sibilance, try loading output of preamp itself - resistor shunting output hot to GND (physically - either on pcb output pads, or on RCA/XLR outputs)
in cases where Rin of power amp is highish, some taming of autoformer can be good thing to apply
say (resistor) 100K and down - leave value which you like most
in cases where Rin of power amp is highish, some taming of autoformer can be good thing to apply
say (resistor) 100K and down - leave value which you like most
In the case of SissySIT, I believe the autoformer sees a load of ~20K there. I have not noted any sibilance in my own setup.
Nominally, by my quick & dirty calc, my Aleph 20 clone has a Zin of ~51k.
Papa's P-channel Sony VFET has a Zin of 330k.
I'm playing my VFET these days & do notice sibilance with the Iron Pre. That said, I'm convinced that some amount of sibilance is a natural and intended consequence of some of the old vinyl recordings I favor. Whether that's from the microphones they used, or iron in the signal path, or the mastering, or the limits of the medium, or all of the above, idk, but I like it & it's charming & a certain amount is right & proper & not a bother to me. Just sayin'!
Papa's P-channel Sony VFET has a Zin of 330k.
I'm playing my VFET these days & do notice sibilance with the Iron Pre. That said, I'm convinced that some amount of sibilance is a natural and intended consequence of some of the old vinyl recordings I favor. Whether that's from the microphones they used, or iron in the signal path, or the mastering, or the limits of the medium, or all of the above, idk, but I like it & it's charming & a certain amount is right & proper & not a bother to me. Just sayin'!
of course, it always pays off if one is really knowing own source material, besides having extended mileage in (critical) listening
I have no Golden Ear (meaning Fast & Furious), but I have both mileage and time to invest
I mean - I can always say pronto if something is sounding bad/not good enough, but when something is good - I need at least a week to fathom how really good it is and all ways in it is good and (if possible) can I make it better
I have no Golden Ear (meaning Fast & Furious), but I have both mileage and time to invest
I mean - I can always say pronto if something is sounding bad/not good enough, but when something is good - I need at least a week to fathom how really good it is and all ways in it is good and (if possible) can I make it better