@Zen Mod
Here ya go... Not fully cleaned yet... bit of a lousy picture too...
A ditty to sing along...
2,000 little legs to solder... 2,000 little legs... get one done; it's lots of fun... 1,999 little legs to solder... 🙂
Here ya go... Not fully cleaned yet... bit of a lousy picture too...
A ditty to sing along...
2,000 little legs to solder... 2,000 little legs... get one done; it's lots of fun... 1,999 little legs to solder... 🙂
little Birdie sent me a pic from Santa's
He's thinking of Greedy Boyz even in this year ..........
He's thinking of Greedy Boyz even in this year ..........
FAQs - re: the new / upcoming Super Mega Deluxe Version.
We've hinted at it / directly said it's on the way. I can provide a few more details for those that are interested and/or have asked separately. I've rephrased a few of the questions and added a few.
1) When!? - Hopefully before mid-year.
2) Why does it take so long? - That's a bit more tricky. Even though the vast majority of the circuit is exactly the same as the previous version, from a "manufacturing" and sourcing standpoint, it had to be treated as a brand-new project, and it's a good thing we did.
3) Why not just send the JFETs like you did for the previous kits? Why not send separate SMD parts like Wayne's linestage? That was discussed. However, below are a few insights:
5) What's going on? How's it going? Any progress?
I'm steady plugging away. All the initial validation is complete, and we're into "production". It sounds amazing, IMO. It measures extremely well (previously shared). As of this morning...
Well... here is a recent picture (an hour or so ago) of 150 balanced boards (6000 solder joints) ready for their bubble bath... Yes, I use no-clean flux, but... I like shiny boards, and I get dish-pan hands.
Plus, I needed one more really loud and annoying thing in the house for my wife to inquire... "What the #$@! is THAT, and why is it on my kitchen table. Take it to the basement!"
If there's any more questions, just ask.
Cheers!
We've hinted at it / directly said it's on the way. I can provide a few more details for those that are interested and/or have asked separately. I've rephrased a few of the questions and added a few.
1) When!? - Hopefully before mid-year.
2) Why does it take so long? - That's a bit more tricky. Even though the vast majority of the circuit is exactly the same as the previous version, from a "manufacturing" and sourcing standpoint, it had to be treated as a brand-new project, and it's a good thing we did.
- New parts needed to be sourced
- New parts needed to be batch tested to roughly determine yield
- A reliable / statistically repeatable JFET matching process needed to be built up and a validation process created.
- New boards needed to be designed
- New boards needed to be tested
- Revised boards needed to be created
- Revised boards needed to be tested
- Long lead times on a critical part
- A testing process for the installed JFETs needed to be solidified / documented.
3) Why not just send the JFETs like you did for the previous kits? Why not send separate SMD parts like Wayne's linestage? That was discussed. However, below are a few insights:
- The JFETs need to be matched. As a side note, it takes about twice as much time per unit to measure them as the through hole-JFETs;
- It takes twice as many per board as the TH JFETs;
- The JFETs are (relatively) tiny with 5 legs vs. 3 like 209s, and therefore they are more challenging to solder properly;
- An unintentional short between the drains and source (the 3 legs together) renders the circuit pretty useless, but it might not be clearly noticed by all users;
- AND last, but not least, if a bad joint isn't noticed until after other components are added to the boards or worse yet after power is added, it can be a nightmare for someone without all the proper tools to fix it. Nevertheless, they'd likely need more parts... which is its own set of logistic issues;
So yes, we could perhaps get them done more more quickly if we just packaged up the JFETs separately. However, that would almost certainly create a higher failure rate on the builders' side. Also, we all want this project to be more accessible to more builders. If everyone needed to properly attach 40 little bitty legs per board, it would almost certainly exclude an entire group of builders that either can't (perhaps yet) or just don't want to work with these itty-bitty parts.
5) What's going on? How's it going? Any progress?
I'm steady plugging away. All the initial validation is complete, and we're into "production". It sounds amazing, IMO. It measures extremely well (previously shared). As of this morning...
Well... here is a recent picture (an hour or so ago) of 150 balanced boards (6000 solder joints) ready for their bubble bath... Yes, I use no-clean flux, but... I like shiny boards, and I get dish-pan hands.
Plus, I needed one more really loud and annoying thing in the house for my wife to inquire... "What the #$@! is THAT, and why is it on my kitchen table. Take it to the basement!"If there's any more questions, just ask.
Cheers!
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where tf are SE boards??
In my neck of the woods we'd likely reply... If they were up your $#$ you'd know it.
I'm not sure if it's a universal saying... and of course this is meant in as light-hearted a fashion as possible... just in case those with a higher sensitivity than I are wandering through the thread.
A few have been sent to some very nice people and are in transit for evaluation by someone other than moi. Also, I tend to put blinders on when building. So, these folks are also vital to providing feedback for the build guides and ... to make sure I didn't ook up the parts in the kits.... or the packing lists.... or ... or .... or....
The rest that haven't gone out to testers will be under a hot iron / heat gun soon enough.
🙂
Edited to add - SE is for sissies!
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Will there be a parts "completion kit" for those who made initial board/kit purchases?
Thank you.
Thank you.
@marconi118 - All one sex... All 2145. 🙂
@UncleMud - 100% They've been received by the distribution company and should be on the site very quickly.
Edited to add - There's also an additional parts kit for the new SMD version. It will be in the store at the same time as the new kits, so people can buy them together if they'd like.
@UncleMud - 100% They've been received by the distribution company and should be on the site very quickly.
Edited to add - There's also an additional parts kit for the new SMD version. It will be in the store at the same time as the new kits, so people can buy them together if they'd like.
same as I'm glad for Greedy Boyz (steady kits in store) I'm also glad there is no further begging to Pa for JFets
I'm Omnibeggar, no doubt I have no difficulties nor shame, but this time strictly thinking of his interest
having 2+2 of 2SK2145BL in each buffer cell, half-way between initial Iron Pre and its Big Cousin
So... is it a completely new preamp? 
So cool
But if so, it shouldn't run under "Iron Pre"🤔 or "Mk. II" 👍
So cool
But if so, it shouldn't run under "Iron Pre"🤔 or "Mk. II" 👍