Nice build Chromenuts! I probably missed it, but can you describe a bit your speakers?
Cheers,
Dennis
Cheers,
Dennis
Hi wg45
Thanks for the kind words.
I feel like the fabrication and design is the one thing I can contribute to in these projects.
I like to look at something pretty that I can be proud of while I listen to beautiful music.
I obviously can’t take credit for the Babel logo…and for that matter, the Enso is a stock pic I found on the net.
The layout just kind of came together for me as I was struggling through this project.
I wanted to turn the “J2” on its head like ZM did…but the aesthetics didn’t click for me.
I originally wanted to do something like the etched Lexan ZM had on the front of the SissySIT build on his blog.
The hassle of finding a service or taking on the learning curve of a desktop CNC or laser etcher pushed me in a decidedly low tech direction.
Patience and “Zen” became a unavoidable theme.
It made me think of the Enso…and ZM’s overwhelming patience and generosity in giving us these projects and then helping us with them.
Anyway, somehow I thought it would be cool to try and mimic a Japanese lantern on the front of the amp instead of going with the usual blue LED theme.
I actually had a roll of Kinwashi paper from another project I did years ago.
When I started experimenting with printing on it I liked how it helped to minimize the graininess of the low res images.
I still think the LEDs aren’t quite right…they seem too bright.
I had originally sandwiched the paper between two pieces of 1/16” Lexan and lowered the current limiting to jack up the output on the LEDs.
Unfortunately, once the light defracts through the Lexan it illuminates every tiny abrasion you have…which seemed impossible to avoid no matter how carefully I handled the Lexan.
In the end I put the paper on top and illuminated it from behind.
The one benefit to using this method is that I can easily change the logo if I decide to try one of his other amp designs in these cases 😁
Thanks for the kind words.
I feel like the fabrication and design is the one thing I can contribute to in these projects.
I like to look at something pretty that I can be proud of while I listen to beautiful music.
I obviously can’t take credit for the Babel logo…and for that matter, the Enso is a stock pic I found on the net.
The layout just kind of came together for me as I was struggling through this project.
I wanted to turn the “J2” on its head like ZM did…but the aesthetics didn’t click for me.
I originally wanted to do something like the etched Lexan ZM had on the front of the SissySIT build on his blog.
The hassle of finding a service or taking on the learning curve of a desktop CNC or laser etcher pushed me in a decidedly low tech direction.
Patience and “Zen” became a unavoidable theme.
It made me think of the Enso…and ZM’s overwhelming patience and generosity in giving us these projects and then helping us with them.
Anyway, somehow I thought it would be cool to try and mimic a Japanese lantern on the front of the amp instead of going with the usual blue LED theme.
I actually had a roll of Kinwashi paper from another project I did years ago.
When I started experimenting with printing on it I liked how it helped to minimize the graininess of the low res images.
I still think the LEDs aren’t quite right…they seem too bright.
I had originally sandwiched the paper between two pieces of 1/16” Lexan and lowered the current limiting to jack up the output on the LEDs.
Unfortunately, once the light defracts through the Lexan it illuminates every tiny abrasion you have…which seemed impossible to avoid no matter how carefully I handled the Lexan.
In the end I put the paper on top and illuminated it from behind.
The one benefit to using this method is that I can easily change the logo if I decide to try one of his other amp designs in these cases 😁
@zm
LOL!…No…to be honest I was kind of sulking that you hadn’t…you made my day!
Hi Dennis and IAIMH
Thanks…I feel like a proud new father…LOL
The speakers are something I continue to play with.
Fullrange drivers have held my interest for various reasons for a while. I’ve been through several variations with OB and front horns.
This is my “experimenting” system that I was able to move into the sunroom that I recently finished renovating this past year.
This version uses a pair of Lii Audio Crystal 10 drivers up top I found used at a very good price.
The bottom end is a pair of Acoustic Elegance Dipole 15s I also found used.
I power the AEs with a pair of Hypex FA502 that sit on the floor behind the speakers.
The Hypex are essentially set fullrange with a high pass on the bottom end to prevent any damage to the drivers at very low frequencies (went through that already with another driver in OB).
I manage the signal with a First Watt B5.
The front end is based on a Salas Hypnotize DCB1 which I modified with ZMs help in the KISS thread to have 6dB of gain via some Jensen transformers on the outputs.
I would say this system is what I prefer to listen to when I’m mostly in the mood for small ensembles…chamber music, solo classical performances (like piano or guitar) a good amount of Jazz and Blues performances as well as a lot of Downtempo style electronic music.
LOL!…No…to be honest I was kind of sulking that you hadn’t…you made my day!
Hi Dennis and IAIMH
Thanks…I feel like a proud new father…LOL
The speakers are something I continue to play with.
Fullrange drivers have held my interest for various reasons for a while. I’ve been through several variations with OB and front horns.
This is my “experimenting” system that I was able to move into the sunroom that I recently finished renovating this past year.
This version uses a pair of Lii Audio Crystal 10 drivers up top I found used at a very good price.
The bottom end is a pair of Acoustic Elegance Dipole 15s I also found used.
I power the AEs with a pair of Hypex FA502 that sit on the floor behind the speakers.
The Hypex are essentially set fullrange with a high pass on the bottom end to prevent any damage to the drivers at very low frequencies (went through that already with another driver in OB).
I manage the signal with a First Watt B5.
The front end is based on a Salas Hypnotize DCB1 which I modified with ZMs help in the KISS thread to have 6dB of gain via some Jensen transformers on the outputs.
I would say this system is what I prefer to listen to when I’m mostly in the mood for small ensembles…chamber music, solo classical performances (like piano or guitar) a good amount of Jazz and Blues performances as well as a lot of Downtempo style electronic music.
No time yet to get her impression since it’s really just singing since last night…plus, she’s busy during the week late earning the “big bucks” so I can have more fun in my hobbies!
She’s mostly happy if I’m happy…and paying a lot of attention to her and the fact that she is beautiful and brilliant!
We like to sit together on the weekend sometimes and listen in the sunroom. I’ll have to pick out one of her favorite Flamenco recordings and see what her reaction is then.
She’s mostly happy if I’m happy…and paying a lot of attention to her and the fact that she is beautiful and brilliant!
We like to sit together on the weekend sometimes and listen in the sunroom. I’ll have to pick out one of her favorite Flamenco recordings and see what her reaction is then.
I expect nothing less than complete sound bliss in combination with your loudspeakers.
Great job done!
With my 10" beyma coaxials, this is the best amp I have ever heard.
After 2 years it still gives me such performance and pleasure that I don't feel the need to change it, just to do sanity check from time to time 😀
Great job done!
With my 10" beyma coaxials, this is the best amp I have ever heard.
After 2 years it still gives me such performance and pleasure that I don't feel the need to change it, just to do sanity check from time to time 😀
Hi BRN and chakija
Thankyou for the nice words.
I am getting a cramp in my cheeks from smiling too much.
I could not resist an ultra-weakling analog session in the living room with the Tannoys 😁😁😁
The old AI tube pre gives some hiss through the Tannoys…its not disagreeable…just not as quiet as my DCB1.
They actually make lovely sounds together.
I can now sit back and enjoy for a little while…and decide what is most important to build next.
Second J2 to compare with Semisouth down and play with biamping?
Iron Pumpkin/Turtle Pre?
MLTL for Tannoys?
I also want to build another Phono amp.
I have too many projects hoarded. I have to decide what is the weakest link.
Thankyou for the nice words.
I am getting a cramp in my cheeks from smiling too much.
I could not resist an ultra-weakling analog session in the living room with the Tannoys 😁😁😁
The old AI tube pre gives some hiss through the Tannoys…its not disagreeable…just not as quiet as my DCB1.
They actually make lovely sounds together.
I can now sit back and enjoy for a little while…and decide what is most important to build next.
Second J2 to compare with Semisouth down and play with biamping?
Iron Pumpkin/Turtle Pre?
MLTL for Tannoys?
I also want to build another Phono amp.
I have too many projects hoarded. I have to decide what is the weakest link.
Attachments
LOL…I knew you’d say that.
I’ve been holding off for warm weather to get involved in any cabinet making since working in the garage isn’t realistic with all the dust the table saw makes.
We got a tease of Spring a week or so ago here…but then winter came back 😒
I figure I have a couple if weeks to kill listening to music and tinkering here and there.
I do have a second case built along with a good portion of the power supply.
We’ll see how inspired I get…right now my butts glued to my chair listening to Smokin’ At The Half Note with Wes and Wynton and my toes are tappin’!!!
I’ve been holding off for warm weather to get involved in any cabinet making since working in the garage isn’t realistic with all the dust the table saw makes.
We got a tease of Spring a week or so ago here…but then winter came back 😒
I figure I have a couple if weeks to kill listening to music and tinkering here and there.
I do have a second case built along with a good portion of the power supply.
We’ll see how inspired I get…right now my butts glued to my chair listening to Smokin’ At The Half Note with Wes and Wynton and my toes are tappin’!!!
Listening Update:
I was listening to some Miles in the background tonight while cooking dinner
I happen to be using my Shigaclone CD transport and a TDA1541 dual parallel DAC that I built
My wife wraps up work for the day and comes down to sit on the couch while I’m finishing cooking
I go in and throw Rodrigo Y Gabriella’s 9 Alive in the transport
Halfway into the first track I hear a noise…when I look into the living room my wife is actually clapping her hands and tapping her feet to the music
How’s that for an endorsement?
I had to sit down and listen a little.
I gotta say, it’s not what I think of as a high quality recording, but it sounded fantastic!
P.S. I’ve noticed that even after 1.5 hours of play time the amp is running much cooler than it did at idle on the bench when I was making adjustments to offset. I can keep my hands on the middle top of the heatsinks for an indefinite amount of time.
I was listening to some Miles in the background tonight while cooking dinner
I happen to be using my Shigaclone CD transport and a TDA1541 dual parallel DAC that I built
My wife wraps up work for the day and comes down to sit on the couch while I’m finishing cooking
I go in and throw Rodrigo Y Gabriella’s 9 Alive in the transport
Halfway into the first track I hear a noise…when I look into the living room my wife is actually clapping her hands and tapping her feet to the music
How’s that for an endorsement?
I had to sit down and listen a little.
I gotta say, it’s not what I think of as a high quality recording, but it sounded fantastic!
P.S. I’ve noticed that even after 1.5 hours of play time the amp is running much cooler than it did at idle on the bench when I was making adjustments to offset. I can keep my hands on the middle top of the heatsinks for an indefinite amount of time.
re P.S. - that means that your taking away some significant juice from amp itself to speakers ...... in layman terms (we Paesanos enjoy those) stealing dissipation from amp and re-routing it in speakers
So the question that arises is: Can I increase the bias setting…or do I want to?
The system plays plenty loud for my taste with that particular preamp…and only set to the middle of its level range.
Is there anything to gain regarding sound quality if I increase the bias but don’t need the extra power?
BTW…this was with no IV stage on my DAC only IV resistors…which I have sort of accepted, but had been considering a few IV stages to add gain.
Of course recording levels and results have varied.
These are not the warmest conditions the amp will encounter.
I will have to monitor the amp’s temperature in both systems over some time I think.
If I remember correctly, it did get hot when it was in the sunroom system with the open baffle system.
I’m assuming this is because it was only driving the fullrange driver from about 150Hz up with the active crossover.
With the Tannoys it has to drive the 15” and compression driver through the passive crossover
The system plays plenty loud for my taste with that particular preamp…and only set to the middle of its level range.
Is there anything to gain regarding sound quality if I increase the bias but don’t need the extra power?
BTW…this was with no IV stage on my DAC only IV resistors…which I have sort of accepted, but had been considering a few IV stages to add gain.
Of course recording levels and results have varied.
These are not the warmest conditions the amp will encounter.
I will have to monitor the amp’s temperature in both systems over some time I think.
If I remember correctly, it did get hot when it was in the sunroom system with the open baffle system.
I’m assuming this is because it was only driving the fullrange driver from about 150Hz up with the active crossover.
With the Tannoys it has to drive the 15” and compression driver through the passive crossover
heat - what you meet first - allowed dissipation per device or allowed temp on heatsinks
say no more than 45W per mosfet (decent thermal arrangement is a must) and sinks at 55C in Summertime
of course, there are differences with more Iq, I like them in most cases, but how much and will you like them - your taste
say no more than 45W per mosfet (decent thermal arrangement is a must) and sinks at 55C in Summertime
of course, there are differences with more Iq, I like them in most cases, but how much and will you like them - your taste
That's a good question. Take a look at figure 3 taken from the article "Leaving Class A" from Mr. Pass. You tell me.... What does increasing the bias current do??? (pro tip... we run our stuff with as much bias as the hardware will take, but not so high that devices fail. Goal is fantastic sound....forever....)
