I’m ready to talk about this. A little bit.
I had just started reading the KISS thread and was somehow lucky enough to be an Iron Pre early builder.
Early in the process, when I was building and testing the power supply, I installed a cap backwards and experienced surprise and shame when it popped. That’s the Max Drama point in this experience.
I’m too lazy to live without remote control for volume, so I purchased an Academy Audio VCX MUSES board. I initially powered the VCX from the Iron Pre board and was gently urged to use a different power supply as maybe it (the VCX) could inject some noise into the equation. That made sense, so I installed another power supply, and away we went.
Initially, the VCX made me nervous. I had to turn it up what felt like a lot (like: to 60 (out of 100)) to get an appropriate level of volume. I worried on this for a while and installed a 50K pot that I had from another project. I didn’t need to turn the pot through 60% of its total travel to achieve acceptable sound pressure. What's up? Lenny (from Academy Audio) patiently explained that 60 on the VCX display equated to 1/100th of the preamp's max output. I spent a few hours studying logarithmic functions and the What is Gain Structure article and came away believing in the VCX (and my ears). Truly: the Iron Pre with the VCX board sounds terrific. As I type this I’m listening to the preamp with my M2x, and I couldn’t be more pleased. I also turned up the volume without leaving my couch. Just now. Did it. Boom.
In summary, the Iron Pre kills. I'm super impressed with what ZM is doing -- creating these incredible designs and unleashing them on the unwashed (like me). I'm grateful for the work IAIMH and KevinHeem and others have put into this project. The end result is that I have a wonderful preamp and significantly greater knowledge and insight into... stuff. I love it. Thank you.
I had just started reading the KISS thread and was somehow lucky enough to be an Iron Pre early builder.
Early in the process, when I was building and testing the power supply, I installed a cap backwards and experienced surprise and shame when it popped. That’s the Max Drama point in this experience.
I’m too lazy to live without remote control for volume, so I purchased an Academy Audio VCX MUSES board. I initially powered the VCX from the Iron Pre board and was gently urged to use a different power supply as maybe it (the VCX) could inject some noise into the equation. That made sense, so I installed another power supply, and away we went.
Initially, the VCX made me nervous. I had to turn it up what felt like a lot (like: to 60 (out of 100)) to get an appropriate level of volume. I worried on this for a while and installed a 50K pot that I had from another project. I didn’t need to turn the pot through 60% of its total travel to achieve acceptable sound pressure. What's up? Lenny (from Academy Audio) patiently explained that 60 on the VCX display equated to 1/100th of the preamp's max output. I spent a few hours studying logarithmic functions and the What is Gain Structure article and came away believing in the VCX (and my ears). Truly: the Iron Pre with the VCX board sounds terrific. As I type this I’m listening to the preamp with my M2x, and I couldn’t be more pleased. I also turned up the volume without leaving my couch. Just now. Did it. Boom.
In summary, the Iron Pre kills. I'm super impressed with what ZM is doing -- creating these incredible designs and unleashing them on the unwashed (like me). I'm grateful for the work IAIMH and KevinHeem and others have put into this project. The end result is that I have a wonderful preamp and significantly greater knowledge and insight into... stuff. I love it. Thank you.
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Do you have a pic showing hookup between muse board and iron pre board? Any other changes using the muse?
Thanks, I have one of Academy's muse and would like to use it on my Iron pre.
Russellc
Here's a picture of the wiring between the board and the VCX. And a bonus picture of the Rosetta Stone that I referenced about one zillion times while swapping out the VCX for a regular potentiometer.
I just wired it in like a pot -- no extra capacitors or whatnot. Is this good? I dunno. Sounds good. I'm not sure I'm comfortable suggesting that anyone do what I did, but that's what I did.
Good luck!
I just wired it in like a pot -- no extra capacitors or whatnot. Is this good? I dunno. Sounds good. I'm not sure I'm comfortable suggesting that anyone do what I did, but that's what I did.
Good luck!
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Nice job. I've done something similar on a few preamps once I realized the sonic benefits of Muses, to say nothing of having a remote control for the family. It's worth the effort in my opinion. This is a tidy supply with it's own donut. Bunch of old Apple remotes kicking around that now have new life—it looks like you can program other remotes with the Academy control.
Just a sidenote, for those with Iron Pre's and Aleph-class amps, try pairing the two. I'm listening to records through my Iron Pre and Aleph "20" clone and I think they complement in neat ways. Think Tom Petty's Full Moon Fever, Lynyrd Skynyrd (self titled), maybe ZZ Top, this is a sound.
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time for speakers with much greater shadow
much more fun
much more fun
Speakers are such a commitment though! I spent like a year hemming and hawing before I bought this kit. Modern stuff like Spendors and Triangles are too fast for my ears, Harbeths too warm & gooey. The only thing I've heard in person that I liked were some legit antique Klipsch Heresies driven by some random old Marantz integrated amp. It's a problem!
well, reading everywhere and asking here, visiting some DiyA Buddy in vicinity...... and having some patience on Craigslist .........
good things doesn't need to be so expensive, if you invest some time in know-how and elbow-grease
say - any Altec Biflex (secondhand) combined with Big AMT (new) .......... fun for life
good things doesn't need to be so expensive, if you invest some time in know-how and elbow-grease
say - any Altec Biflex (secondhand) combined with Big AMT (new) .......... fun for life
Your next project should you chose to accept it (This is a link).
😛
(ZM perpetually wise though... craigslist is a good plan.)
whatever, my man
just make it big and easy to drive
your brain will thank you, for having speakers enjoying that first watt, then rest in same fashion
I mean - I know that my Square Law amps are thriving driving small and bigger Dynaudio, but real goosebumps are in 12" and 15" (as base) territory
OK, I'm even bigger FR aficionado than Pa is, but I'm spoiled with Old school big cones
that's why I'm often mentioning Tannoys ...... which are jut Poor Men's RCA
just make it big and easy to drive
your brain will thank you, for having speakers enjoying that first watt, then rest in same fashion
I mean - I know that my Square Law amps are thriving driving small and bigger Dynaudio, but real goosebumps are in 12" and 15" (as base) territory
OK, I'm even bigger FR aficionado than Pa is, but I'm spoiled with Old school big cones
that's why I'm often mentioning Tannoys ...... which are jut Poor Men's RCA
The last build I posted back up the thread a bit was for a friend who needed a bit of help getting it together. This build is my own one, all went very smoothly putting it together. I'm using my own relay input board as I have standardised on 6 inputs so the input wiring is a little different as a result. As with the on-board relay supply, this relay supply is completely separate to the audio power supply.
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Which value for the primary fuse do you use for the 20 VA toroid in "230 VAC countries".
100 mA T may have troubles with "kick-in" current? 200 mA T ?
(I have been too lazy to do a thread-search on this topic).
100 mA T may have troubles with "kick-in" current? 200 mA T ?
(I have been too lazy to do a thread-search on this topic).