Being a relatively experienced builder I have to say, if you've already built the circuits up and have only to install them to hear the results , why would you waste the opportunity. DC circuits for indirect heaters are not essential. If there's hum from the heaters you can always tack in a couple of resistors and a cap to bias the heaters up.
And his statement about the biasing in "D" is that there the possibility of issues, not the certainty of them. And if you don't want that experiment all you need to do is remove the pot and put in the 1 Meg resistor to get the "E" version you posted.
As for the chassis, it's done. Why waste your efforts and lose the opportunity to learn something new? Personally, the whole business about the location of the input jacks is way over-rated. (B.S. actually) There are lots of things you can do to mitigate any disadvantages to the way it appears to be done.
If you need to do an entirely new build anyway, why not hear what you can from this one first.
You might even find you don't personally like the sound of this particular circuit. Then what? You'll have done two builds of a circuit you didn't want.
And if you do like it but think it could be better, you can put the improvements in the next build (or kluge them into this one.)
I know there are builders out there who feel compelled to make a perfect monument right from the get-go. Fine if they want to fret a lot and not really learn much, just get some amazing audio statue chosen on the basis of a bunch of opinions they've read , but if your interest is how to create something with the sound you really want and also learn that that preference changes as you compare the results of builds and hear more deeply into what is actually happening, then don't waste the opportunity you've already created. Build the sucker, have a little fun!
And if you're worried about blowing a fuse, read a little Tubelab, that 'll set you straight. : )
Just my opinion though. : )
If you do decide to go with what you've got, just make sure you have everything well documented, so that if you do happen to blow a fuse, you know where what is.
Also keep in mind the safety recommendations when you get to testing. Not hard, just important. (Left hand in pocket, ungrounded feet - or other point of contact - are the two biggest in my view.)
And his statement about the biasing in "D" is that there the possibility of issues, not the certainty of them. And if you don't want that experiment all you need to do is remove the pot and put in the 1 Meg resistor to get the "E" version you posted.
As for the chassis, it's done. Why waste your efforts and lose the opportunity to learn something new? Personally, the whole business about the location of the input jacks is way over-rated. (B.S. actually) There are lots of things you can do to mitigate any disadvantages to the way it appears to be done.
If you need to do an entirely new build anyway, why not hear what you can from this one first.
You might even find you don't personally like the sound of this particular circuit. Then what? You'll have done two builds of a circuit you didn't want.
And if you do like it but think it could be better, you can put the improvements in the next build (or kluge them into this one.)
I know there are builders out there who feel compelled to make a perfect monument right from the get-go. Fine if they want to fret a lot and not really learn much, just get some amazing audio statue chosen on the basis of a bunch of opinions they've read , but if your interest is how to create something with the sound you really want and also learn that that preference changes as you compare the results of builds and hear more deeply into what is actually happening, then don't waste the opportunity you've already created. Build the sucker, have a little fun!
And if you're worried about blowing a fuse, read a little Tubelab, that 'll set you straight. : )
Just my opinion though. : )
If you do decide to go with what you've got, just make sure you have everything well documented, so that if you do happen to blow a fuse, you know where what is.
Also keep in mind the safety recommendations when you get to testing. Not hard, just important. (Left hand in pocket, ungrounded feet - or other point of contact - are the two biggest in my view.)
Thank you for your insights, that really helps to make a decision. About the pot though, there's also a biasing pot in the E version so it's just rerouting some wires. Since my choice of layout wasn't the luckiest I think going with DC is a safer option. I have all the parts.
I'm not too sure about choosing an amp by listening to it, I've played very loud music for 40 years and there's not much frequency left in my hearing (if you don't count the tinnitus). I know I used to love the sound of tube amps but my main joy is in building things.
This may sound very weird to you but if it sounds halfway decent I'm happy.
I'm not too sure about choosing an amp by listening to it, I've played very loud music for 40 years and there's not much frequency left in my hearing (if you don't count the tinnitus). I know I used to love the sound of tube amps but my main joy is in building things.
This may sound very weird to you but if it sounds halfway decent I'm happy.
Not weird at all. My hearing craps out pretty early these days too. You might not hear above 7K , yet if you were to cut out everything above 7K you would hear the difference it makes them not being there.
I'd still argue for AC heaters first. A poor DC supply can sound worse than AC by a long shot. . . . . . . and , If you can fit a good DC supply in there without a new chassis then you have nothing to lose by trying it with AC first.
Sorry, I'm a johnny one note on this but I just put a lot of value on taking the opportunity if it's sitting right there in front of you.
Frankly, I don't think your choice of layout was bad , yet ! : ). Looking at it again, It actually looks pretty standard. Input jacks to almost all if not all commercial and most diy builds is on the back panel. Nothing new or difficult there. And your position at the sides , away from the AC power entry, power transformer and output connectors is right on.
If you run into trouble, there'll be lots of help here. So don't worry about it.
I'd still argue for AC heaters first. A poor DC supply can sound worse than AC by a long shot. . . . . . . and , If you can fit a good DC supply in there without a new chassis then you have nothing to lose by trying it with AC first.
Sorry, I'm a johnny one note on this but I just put a lot of value on taking the opportunity if it's sitting right there in front of you.
Frankly, I don't think your choice of layout was bad , yet ! : ). Looking at it again, It actually looks pretty standard. Input jacks to almost all if not all commercial and most diy builds is on the back panel. Nothing new or difficult there. And your position at the sides , away from the AC power entry, power transformer and output connectors is right on.
If you run into trouble, there'll be lots of help here. So don't worry about it.
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