Just ordered my SV-EQ1616D from Victor. Opted for one without tubes since I have more than enough of the right type to fully outfit the amplification and rectifier stages.
Can't wait to hear what the Sunvalley will do in my system. I've been rebuilding my DIY Teres turntable to replace the clear acrylic plinth and armboard with a 2" thick panzerholz plinth and two armboards. That will give me the flexibility to have my mono Helikon mounted on one arm and my choice of several other cartridges on the other arm, without having to touch the Grado Aeon3 currently on my HW-40 turntable.
First up on the second arm of the rebuilt Teres will be a recently refurbished Dynavector XV1-S.
Nice that the SV-EQ1616D will accommodate two cartridges simultaneously and is switchable from stereo to mono.
Can't wait to hear what the Sunvalley will do in my system. I've been rebuilding my DIY Teres turntable to replace the clear acrylic plinth and armboard with a 2" thick panzerholz plinth and two armboards. That will give me the flexibility to have my mono Helikon mounted on one arm and my choice of several other cartridges on the other arm, without having to touch the Grado Aeon3 currently on my HW-40 turntable.
First up on the second arm of the rebuilt Teres will be a recently refurbished Dynavector XV1-S.
Nice that the SV-EQ1616D will accommodate two cartridges simultaneously and is switchable from stereo to mono.
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I'm writing this after having a magical evening of music listening. The Sunvalley has enough time on it that it is sounding really nice. I outfitted it with a pair of Telefunken 12AX7/ECC83 in V1 and V2, a Telefunken 12AT7WA in V3 and a good Mullard copper-plate 5AR4 handling rectification
Victor wasn't kidding when he said that the SV-EQ1616D moving coil amplification is more of a courtesy and is not the best way to hear what the Sunvalley is capable of. A friend kindly lent me his Ned Clayton Cinemag 1254 step up transformer (SUT) and I could scarcely it was the same Sunvalley that I was feeling a little meh about a few days ago.
The sound became dimensional, enveloping, rich, agile and oh so natural to life, it was truly a peak experience. I couldn't be happier and I understand now why Herb Reichert raved about his SV-EQ1616D and Stereophile has it listed in Class A phono amplifiers. A quality SUT into the MM input(s) is really transformational.
I would have to say without hesitation this is some of the best phono playback I've had in my home and I've had some much pricier phono amplifiers in the past. It rivals my late model Herron Audio VTPH-2A with a carefully curated tube set, though I haven't done a head to head comparison of the two yet. And the Herron phono has been the reigning champion around these parts -- maybe I should say, until now?
The Sunvalley phono is most definitely a keeper!
Steve Z
Victor wasn't kidding when he said that the SV-EQ1616D moving coil amplification is more of a courtesy and is not the best way to hear what the Sunvalley is capable of. A friend kindly lent me his Ned Clayton Cinemag 1254 step up transformer (SUT) and I could scarcely it was the same Sunvalley that I was feeling a little meh about a few days ago.
The sound became dimensional, enveloping, rich, agile and oh so natural to life, it was truly a peak experience. I couldn't be happier and I understand now why Herb Reichert raved about his SV-EQ1616D and Stereophile has it listed in Class A phono amplifiers. A quality SUT into the MM input(s) is really transformational.
I would have to say without hesitation this is some of the best phono playback I've had in my home and I've had some much pricier phono amplifiers in the past. It rivals my late model Herron Audio VTPH-2A with a carefully curated tube set, though I haven't done a head to head comparison of the two yet. And the Herron phono has been the reigning champion around these parts -- maybe I should say, until now?
The Sunvalley phono is most definitely a keeper!
Steve Z
Victor, can the input impedance of the MM stage be changed simply by replacing R6 with another value, just like the MC input impedance can be changed?
Any limitation to the value? 100K, 300K? My tube amplifier design knowledge isn't enough to know if R6 has an interaction with the 1st half of the MM 12AX7 operating characteristics if it gets too far away from 47K ohms. I wouldn't think so, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.
Thanks!
Steve Z
Any limitation to the value? 100K, 300K? My tube amplifier design knowledge isn't enough to know if R6 has an interaction with the 1st half of the MM 12AX7 operating characteristics if it gets too far away from 47K ohms. I wouldn't think so, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.
Thanks!
Steve Z
Even if another options are available for a particular cartridge, the input impedance of the MM cartridge should be fixed at 47 kΩ.
I understand, Victor. 47K ohms is the standard for MM cartridges. However, I doubt I will ever use a MM cartridge. I'll be using MC cartridges and at least one MI cartridge. So my thought is to raise the MM input impedance to reflect a higher impedance through a SUT back to the cartridge and then if needed, adjust the cartridge loading on the primary side of the SUT with the appropriate resistance.
I've also been thinking about removing the MC stage completely and maybe repurposing the DPDT MM/MC switch. I'm sketching out a simple circuit that would allow me to use the switch to put a higher value resistor in (or out) of series with the R6 MM input shunt resistor. That would allow me to have a standard MM stage input impedance of 47K ohms for MM cartridges or SUTs designed for a 47K ohm resistance on the secondary, yet be able to have a higher secondary load on an SUT for cartridges like my Grado Aeon3 moving iron cartridge that like a much higher resistance load.
As it stands, 47K ohm secondary load is reflected back by a 10:1 SUT as 470 ohms, which is a little low for the Grado, and as the turns ratio and hence gain of an SUT is increased the load reflected back to the cartridge decreases even further.
Steve Z
I've also been thinking about removing the MC stage completely and maybe repurposing the DPDT MM/MC switch. I'm sketching out a simple circuit that would allow me to use the switch to put a higher value resistor in (or out) of series with the R6 MM input shunt resistor. That would allow me to have a standard MM stage input impedance of 47K ohms for MM cartridges or SUTs designed for a 47K ohm resistance on the secondary, yet be able to have a higher secondary load on an SUT for cartridges like my Grado Aeon3 moving iron cartridge that like a much higher resistance load.
As it stands, 47K ohm secondary load is reflected back by a 10:1 SUT as 470 ohms, which is a little low for the Grado, and as the turns ratio and hence gain of an SUT is increased the load reflected back to the cartridge decreases even further.
Steve Z
I highly recomend to use the SUT to adjust the gain and impedance/loader to feed EQ1616D instead of modifying EQ1616D.
If you use LL1931/1941, you can adjust pick 18 or 24 db, Also you can insert the right loader via a simple calcu;lation.
If you use LL1931/1941, you can adjust pick 18 or 24 db, Also you can insert the right loader via a simple calcu;lation.
I've been loving my Sunvalley SV-EQ1616D phono amplifier and decided to do a little something to make it more mine. A quick trip to the powder-coating shop with the transformer cover and some anodized tube shield from Antique Electronic Supply have added a little zing.
Now, if I could figure out how to get the control knobs off, I have some nice green anodized knobs to add the finishing touch. I've removed the set screws but the knobs are so tight on their shafts I've pried as hard as I dare without getting them to budge.
Any ideas?
Steve Z
Now, if I could figure out how to get the control knobs off, I have some nice green anodized knobs to add the finishing touch. I've removed the set screws but the knobs are so tight on their shafts I've pried as hard as I dare without getting them to budge.
Any ideas?
Steve Z
Well, that was easy. I didn't realize that each knob has not one but two set screws, about 90 degrees apart. So, with each set screw backed out, the control knobs slid off easily.
Here's the (almost) finished facelift:
Here's the (almost) finished facelift:
If 36dB is not enough for your MM cartridge, would the only solution to increase gain be by using a line preamp with additional gain?
Kit $985
VCAP ODAM 2.2x2 210
Assembled in Japan with 2x VCAP ODAM 2.2 $1645
Tube set Gold Lion ecc83/b759 x2 + ECC82/b749x 1 $195
Rectifier tube COSSOR/linlsi WE274B $260
I can chat with you
VCAP ODAM 2.2x2 210
Assembled in Japan with 2x VCAP ODAM 2.2 $1645
Tube set Gold Lion ecc83/b759 x2 + ECC82/b749x 1 $195
Rectifier tube COSSOR/linlsi WE274B $260
I can chat with you
Thank you Mr. Ohashi sent me a Blue Dragon - Seiryu Cartridge few month ago
Finally I installed this new toy in my T/T few minutes ago. It is good. to work with LL1931ag and EQ1616D
Components
Cartridge : Coreless straight-flux cartridge Seiryu (Blue Dragon)
Tone Arm : SAEC WE-4700
SUT : Lundahl LL1931Ag
Phono : EQ1616D
Amp : Sun Valley SV1645
Speaker : AER Excentre
Finally I installed this new toy in my T/T few minutes ago. It is good. to work with LL1931ag and EQ1616D
Components
Cartridge : Coreless straight-flux cartridge Seiryu (Blue Dragon)
Tone Arm : SAEC WE-4700
SUT : Lundahl LL1931Ag
Phono : EQ1616D
Amp : Sun Valley SV1645
Speaker : AER Excentre
You can see the magic of Eq1616 and Lundahl LL1931ag SUT from Herb's recent review
https://www.stereophile.com/content...ed-edition-ls35a-loudspeaker-lyra-delos-phono
https://www.stereophile.com/content...ed-edition-ls35a-loudspeaker-lyra-delos-phono