Newbie question: Is it convenient to have the power supply on the same board? Wouldn't it be better to have the feeding on one board and the preamp on other?
Yes, it surely would be better to have another pcb with supply on it. Perhaps with different voltage rails. One for the Board, the other for the OPA.
The pcb's i have designed have an experimentel character. We have collected mods and we will see what is possible to get a better clone.
In the moment i dont like its sounding. The people with more knowledge as mine are making a break in the moment, perhaps other things to do....
Greets
Peter
The pcb's i have designed have an experimentel character. We have collected mods and we will see what is possible to get a better clone.
In the moment i dont like its sounding. The people with more knowledge as mine are making a break in the moment, perhaps other things to do....
Greets
Peter
Thank you Vunce...
Why to write the unthruth ? I have built abut 150 Amps and a few preamps. When i write "built", it means to buy a board and put wirings on it. A few were bad.
Bad design and a bad sound. I throw them away...and never would say good...(in the past...)
But now i have discovered KiCad for my use and i can built Amps with own PCB. I have done with the Blame ST of Destroyer X and others will follow as the Blame ST MK II Supercharged designed by Carlos ( I think he was a nice Guy, RIP). I only need a correct schematic.
Such a C 3850 thread helps me to understand a little bit more, not all, but i have to learn.
It not so important for me to get a master of electronic...but i appreciate the knowledge of others.
Greets
Peter
Why to write the unthruth ? I have built abut 150 Amps and a few preamps. When i write "built", it means to buy a board and put wirings on it. A few were bad.
Bad design and a bad sound. I throw them away...and never would say good...(in the past...)
But now i have discovered KiCad for my use and i can built Amps with own PCB. I have done with the Blame ST of Destroyer X and others will follow as the Blame ST MK II Supercharged designed by Carlos ( I think he was a nice Guy, RIP). I only need a correct schematic.
Such a C 3850 thread helps me to understand a little bit more, not all, but i have to learn.
It not so important for me to get a master of electronic...but i appreciate the knowledge of others.
Greets
Peter
Peter, do you put this clon in the category "bad"? or is something related to the "kind of sound" that you dont like it?
Let me say it is a miracle to me...
If i use headphones the sound is very good.
I alwas do so...if had built a preamp or an Amp....first i use a headphone with 600 ohm to hear if everything is fine....then i take an headphone with lower impedance, about 60 ohm, afterwards i connect to an amp if i built a preamp.
In this case i found everything ok and connected an Amp....the good sound was gone. To much bass and less sound in higher frequences.
I dont know the reason. Perhaps other users have not the same problem.
I can only write as it is ....in my case
I have compared with other preamps. JC2 Clone, P30 ZF and one preamp called Preampi. They sound much better in the moment....
I can give no purchase recommendation.
Greets
Peter
If i use headphones the sound is very good.
I alwas do so...if had built a preamp or an Amp....first i use a headphone with 600 ohm to hear if everything is fine....then i take an headphone with lower impedance, about 60 ohm, afterwards i connect to an amp if i built a preamp.
In this case i found everything ok and connected an Amp....the good sound was gone. To much bass and less sound in higher frequences.
I dont know the reason. Perhaps other users have not the same problem.
I can only write as it is ....in my case
I have compared with other preamps. JC2 Clone, P30 ZF and one preamp called Preampi. They sound much better in the moment....
I can give no purchase recommendation.
Greets
Peter
Hi Peter
please wait until the other op amps are arriving for testing.
my experience with OPA2134 is always the same. in the first impression it "feel" very clear...but for me is the sound hard, annoying and not well balanced over the frequency spectrum. i always have the feeling that a kind of loudness is doing something.
i tried this op amp 2017 at class D amps as input buffer. 4 weeks ago i tested it in a lampucera DAC.
NE5532, LM49720 or burson V5i were much better. LM4562 was a bit too punchy.
chris
please wait until the other op amps are arriving for testing.
my experience with OPA2134 is always the same. in the first impression it "feel" very clear...but for me is the sound hard, annoying and not well balanced over the frequency spectrum. i always have the feeling that a kind of loudness is doing something.
i tried this op amp 2017 at class D amps as input buffer. 4 weeks ago i tested it in a lampucera DAC.
NE5532, LM49720 or burson V5i were much better. LM4562 was a bit too punchy.
chris
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Thank you Peter. Yes the PCb is now full. 👍
i am not the expert to know how to make the best of the LM317 to make a low noise version. actually i am too busy to read that:
Denoiser LM317
Hi Chris,
i think the LM317/337 are better as the old 7x regulators. The best way is to built a supply PCB. For experimentel use my pcb is ok...but not for regular use. To much crossings of tracks, does not like this way.
I will try to solder the BD types in on the original pcb.I think only the base, pin 3, need a very short wire to fit the pad...
I can test LM4562 and LME49720. I often read that there is no difference. I have both in stock. LM4562 i had tested already. Very similar to NE5532.
I have built a Elektor Supra 2 Phono pre, a few years ago.
First i had changed the NE5534 to LT1028. Better sound, not much, but better. 3 days ago i changed the LT1028 to OPA134. Very much better sound....I had to smile....LT 1028 are for 3 times as expensive...
But i think there is a difference between a phono preamp and a normal preamp because of the different gain.
The OPA2134 is the dual OPA134...why not try, i thought.
I will not give up🙂
Peter
i think the LM317/337 are better as the old 7x regulators. The best way is to built a supply PCB. For experimentel use my pcb is ok...but not for regular use. To much crossings of tracks, does not like this way.
I will try to solder the BD types in on the original pcb.I think only the base, pin 3, need a very short wire to fit the pad...
I can test LM4562 and LME49720. I often read that there is no difference. I have both in stock. LM4562 i had tested already. Very similar to NE5532.
I have built a Elektor Supra 2 Phono pre, a few years ago.
First i had changed the NE5534 to LT1028. Better sound, not much, but better. 3 days ago i changed the LT1028 to OPA134. Very much better sound....I had to smile....LT 1028 are for 3 times as expensive...
But i think there is a difference between a phono preamp and a normal preamp because of the different gain.
The OPA2134 is the dual OPA134...why not try, i thought.
I will not give up🙂
Peter
Hi Tommy
These should be fine. Try to measure as close as possible to gt a good pair.
Vbe and hfe should be as closed as possible
priority:
1 Vbe
2 hfe
DCA75pro if you have is very helpful.
chris
These should be fine. Try to measure as close as possible to gt a good pair.
Vbe and hfe should be as closed as possible
priority:
1 Vbe
2 hfe
DCA75pro if you have is very helpful.
chris
If you have - like me just- 6k8 then use this and solder parallel a 20k under the board. ---> 5k1
Hi MrHifitunes
the improvement is for all stages (IPS, VAS, OPS) more current and therefore more level of Class A modus. this is normaly less THD and give a pleasant sound.
As you can read above Peter (Kleinhorn) is not so happy with this sound of the clone C3850 -he has better pre amps.
chris
the improvement is for all stages (IPS, VAS, OPS) more current and therefore more level of Class A modus. this is normaly less THD and give a pleasant sound.
As you can read above Peter (Kleinhorn) is not so happy with this sound of the clone C3850 -he has better pre amps.
chris
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What to expect from a board which is really cheap ? With the mods i hoped it would sound better...
Unfortunately I don't know what to do else.....
I will try other OPA's and have soldered BD139/140 in yesterday. I will report to you...
If someone has no desire to change anything, try an other Board. A board with no need of changes. It's a game of chance if you buy boards on Ebay or Aliexpress.
One Board sounds very good wihout changes. It's the yellow JC2 Clone board, not black, not green... i tested them all. I think the yellow board will reach 90-95 % if it is used.
Greets
Peter
Unfortunately I don't know what to do else.....
I will try other OPA's and have soldered BD139/140 in yesterday. I will report to you...
If someone has no desire to change anything, try an other Board. A board with no need of changes. It's a game of chance if you buy boards on Ebay or Aliexpress.
One Board sounds very good wihout changes. It's the yellow JC2 Clone board, not black, not green... i tested them all. I think the yellow board will reach 90-95 % if it is used.
Greets
Peter
@Kleinhorn but did the change of the resistors already improve the sound?
What is lacking in sound compared to the JC2?
It looks like the design is wide bandwidth and low distortion.
H2?
I also have some bd139/140 leftover so curious what it will bring.
@chalky did you make some adjustments/test/further improvements
What is lacking in sound compared to the JC2?
It looks like the design is wide bandwidth and low distortion.
H2?
I also have some bd139/140 leftover so curious what it will bring.
@chalky did you make some adjustments/test/further improvements
Isn't that a great news? It is fine without any intervention and that's exactly how any product should be.
If you are looking for a chance to be creative just take the board as is, put it into a fine chasis and investigate how to integrate it into your audio system. Example: I have put together a great DAC board into a chasis together with MBL6010D preamp clone based on AD797 opamps. In addition to that I have used regulated power supples, even for 5V digital part. The beast beats any commercial DAC. You just have to dare do it...
Hi Berlusconi,
i had bought the MBL Clone already, years ago. But its sound doesnt satisfy me. Too flat to my ears and other ears. Perhaps the AD797 will make much better. I had not tested. I used LME49710 , better than the NE5534. I have sold the board....mistake ?
My favorite preamp in the Moment is the Apex P30 ZF. This Preamp seems to make everything right.
It is only subjective, reference are my ears...🙂
Greets
Peter
i had bought the MBL Clone already, years ago. But its sound doesnt satisfy me. Too flat to my ears and other ears. Perhaps the AD797 will make much better. I had not tested. I used LME49710 , better than the NE5534. I have sold the board....mistake ?
My favorite preamp in the Moment is the Apex P30 ZF. This Preamp seems to make everything right.
It is only subjective, reference are my ears...🙂
Greets
Peter