Havent had time for the volumepot, I installed it in this way but didn't workSo everything is working now, with no distortion, and the volume pot is working too?
If so, then it is celebration time!
Need much more information if you want help.
How did it not work? Also pictures of the pot and wiring to boards.
So no sound? Did you rotate the pot shaft, and no sound at all?
It's like telling the doctor you are sick but then no other information given, and then expect a diagnosis. 🙂
How did it not work? Also pictures of the pot and wiring to boards.
So no sound? Did you rotate the pot shaft, and no sound at all?
It's like telling the doctor you are sick but then no other information given, and then expect a diagnosis. 🙂
I got it working 😀 I´m so happy! The first sound impression (on headphones): just super beautiful and rich, especially the bass is very detailed. 🎶 On the video you can see the test setup. Sorry for the shaky cam. Thanks all so much 👍
Bert - Once you have a proper power supply ready (+V,GND,-V), I would just focus on one channel at a time. For setup on a pre or power amp, I short all W You will connect a voltmeter between OUT and GND to watch the DC voltage there. The trimmers P1 (and P2 on other channel) should be adjusted for the lowest output DC voltage (a few mV wiggling around is ok).
William, I've adjusted the output voltage with the trim pots, both are at 0,10 mV, they were actually quite too high (750 mV) At one point the poweramp (an Optonica SM-5100) went into protection mode (I was uncarefully connecting something) Thankgod it protected itself 🙏 📿
I'm totally mesmorized by the audio quality.
Glad you got it working Bert. We definitely always verify proper operation and null out the DC offset first before connecting to anything. Not just for BA2018, but any of these projects without a DC blocking cap. One last friendly reminder and I won't be bringing it up again... you should connect -IN to GND at those input connectors as mentioned @post #4,213 if you aren't giving this a balanced input. Just a short, U shaped piece of small wire will do.
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Remote control volume works fine 🙂 and I also managed to eliminate a slight hum with an improvised star point. All still in test setup, waiting for the case.
Prototypes in cardboxes always look funny, but good it works!
I‘m wondering a little about your input wiring though—is there a reason you did not just plug a tiny wire between GND and IN (the IN connector seems to be empty?)
I‘m wondering a little about your input wiring though—is there a reason you did not just plug a tiny wire between GND and IN (the IN connector seems to be empty?)
He has been told to do so several times. Perhaps he has a reason not to… or didn’t read those messages properly?
Was I? 😏 I'm kind of really forgetful actually, due to certain medication. But I will look into it once this mess will be properly locked up in a nice case!
Have been using Wayne's SS preamp for years now and have tried several configurations that might be of interest to this thread. So here are 2 posts showing my approaches and sonic results.
First post: have developed a composite preamp that is a 3 way design: either passive, tube or SS preamplification. This design is 5 in and 5 out to accommodate 5 amp types that I run and switch to easily in order to heighten the media chosen (1.e., tube for vinyl, Class A for TV, etc.). The interior, front panel, and 3 way PSU are shown in the attachments below.
Have been using this for 2 years now in two different stereo systems and have made subtle adjustments such as the Goldpoint attenuators to improve overall response. The biggest improvement was the decision to go with dual preamps for the SS option and this PSU is also shown below (3 way PSU). The middle PSU is for the tube option and the outer two feed each channel separately of the SS option.
The preamp is noiseless in the passive and SS states and has a modest amount of light hiss in the tube choice.
Along with a passive switch box for the routing of amps to speaker (I use Tekton's Double Impact speakers that are highly efficient and work with any amp output) you can switch from one preamp/amp pairing to another amp in under five seconds. Of course, it takes some time for some of the amps to warm up.
This last winter I decided that since I mostly use the SS option, it would be possible to fine tune the preamp further and, perhaps, make some sonic improvements.
Time for Post 2...
First post: have developed a composite preamp that is a 3 way design: either passive, tube or SS preamplification. This design is 5 in and 5 out to accommodate 5 amp types that I run and switch to easily in order to heighten the media chosen (1.e., tube for vinyl, Class A for TV, etc.). The interior, front panel, and 3 way PSU are shown in the attachments below.
Have been using this for 2 years now in two different stereo systems and have made subtle adjustments such as the Goldpoint attenuators to improve overall response. The biggest improvement was the decision to go with dual preamps for the SS option and this PSU is also shown below (3 way PSU). The middle PSU is for the tube option and the outer two feed each channel separately of the SS option.
The preamp is noiseless in the passive and SS states and has a modest amount of light hiss in the tube choice.
Along with a passive switch box for the routing of amps to speaker (I use Tekton's Double Impact speakers that are highly efficient and work with any amp output) you can switch from one preamp/amp pairing to another amp in under five seconds. Of course, it takes some time for some of the amps to warm up.
This last winter I decided that since I mostly use the SS option, it would be possible to fine tune the preamp further and, perhaps, make some sonic improvements.
Time for Post 2...
Attachments
Second Post: Thought it might be possible to improve performance by three changes: keeping the grounds discrete between each media source and feeding them independently to the L/R channels, upgrading to 4 deck Grayhill media selectors, and simplifying the internal wiring to avoid the switches required for the 3 way approach described just above.
So here is that preamp shown in the attachments WA2018 Preamp Straight and the Dual PSU used to power it.
Have now spent 3 weeks listening carefully to this new preamp design and can attest to the fact that it sounds exactly like the 3 Way Option above (when SS is chosen). Was hoping for a positive improvement but cannot report that. Both, however, sound splendid and control the Vinyl, Tape, and DAC sources attached to them with excellence.
BTW, checked out the ground on the SS board when constructing the straight version and it is, apparently, common. So even if you feed discrete L/R grounds to the board, they will be comingled with each other and the incoming PSU ground. Perhaps this is why there was not the improvement I was expecting in preserving the ground signals from each media source.
So no loss or gain to this latest design.
But it is always necessary to remember that it takes time and skill for Wayne to design these PCBs and I thank him here for his knowledge, willingness to share, and to promote various design options on the Pass threads. A special person for sure...
So here is that preamp shown in the attachments WA2018 Preamp Straight and the Dual PSU used to power it.
Have now spent 3 weeks listening carefully to this new preamp design and can attest to the fact that it sounds exactly like the 3 Way Option above (when SS is chosen). Was hoping for a positive improvement but cannot report that. Both, however, sound splendid and control the Vinyl, Tape, and DAC sources attached to them with excellence.
BTW, checked out the ground on the SS board when constructing the straight version and it is, apparently, common. So even if you feed discrete L/R grounds to the board, they will be comingled with each other and the incoming PSU ground. Perhaps this is why there was not the improvement I was expecting in preserving the ground signals from each media source.
So no loss or gain to this latest design.
But it is always necessary to remember that it takes time and skill for Wayne to design these PCBs and I thank him here for his knowledge, willingness to share, and to promote various design options on the Pass threads. A special person for sure...
