After done the recapping of my recently acquired Pass Lab Aleph 3, I am looking forward to build a Pass Lab preamp for it. It seems that Aleph P is the most recommended. And there is a Pumpkin preamp. I would appreciate some suggestion on which one to build based on the sound, availability of PCB boards, and helps that I might get from this forum.
Thanks a lot!!
Thanks a lot!!
well , I'm biased 
I'm finding
somewhat better than venerable P , even if
is also sort of already venerable ;
but - my pcbs offering is paused for now , because I'm tired of constant inventing new ways to have Paypal account , while living in country which isn't covered by Paypal . They said it will be operative soon ..... so I'm just waiting for thing to happen

I'm finding


but - my pcbs offering is paused for now , because I'm tired of constant inventing new ways to have Paypal account , while living in country which isn't covered by Paypal . They said it will be operative soon ..... so I'm just waiting for thing to happen
That is too bad. I was interested in Pumpkin amp but there seems to be some issue of getting the pcb. Thanks for the explanation.
So is there any other means to get the pcb of either Pumpkin or Aleph P? Is there group buy recently?
Thanks!!
So is there any other means to get the pcb of either Pumpkin or Aleph P? Is there group buy recently?
Thanks!!
That is new to me (and bear with my ignorance on speaker amp) and I'll look into it.
Thanks for the hint.
But, is its pcb easier to get? Thanks!
Thanks for the hint.
But, is its pcb easier to get? Thanks!
I tried ZenMods Pumpkins and am having problems with them. I'm going to try the Aleph P1.7, the circuit schematic is available from KK-PCB but I'm using my own.
My Power Amp is the Aleph 4.
Watch this space I might be selling two Pumpkins and two Shuntkys. They are complete and do work but not quite as expected.
My Power Amp is the Aleph 4.
Watch this space I might be selling two Pumpkins and two Shuntkys. They are complete and do work but not quite as expected.
diyAudio store have PCB for B1.
kk-pcb have PCB for aleph p.
I wasn't aware of the diyAudio store. Definitely will check it out.
I read some comments on KK-pcb but will look into it if there is no other options.
I've never bought from KK-PCB but ZenMod had some very derogatory comments about the quality of their boards.
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Dukja nice to see a fellow Headfi-er (and HE-6 owner here)
B1 thread
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/pass-labs/124889-b1-buffer-preamp.html
B1 thread
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/pass-labs/124889-b1-buffer-preamp.html
I've never bought from KK-PCB but ZenMod had some very derogatory comments about the quality of their boards.
I can say the traces are fairly small, even on places most people would make them broader....
most important point..... holes are small 😡 ,only small wires have place... I could not place some components, better caps etc.
but they work. 😉
-> Dukja
In case you will have a chance to get mached pairs 2sk170/2sj74BL strongly recomend
JFET-DISPRE II , designed by Pavel Macura ( PMA);
much better then Aleph P ,
I haven't found any competitor in range 1000-1500 USD comercial preamps
( Cambridge Audio 840E , Quad, Vincent ,Xindac)
But you have to take care about transistor matching and use very good pot ( Noble from Percy - as minium )
In case you will have a chance to get mached pairs 2sk170/2sj74BL strongly recomend
JFET-DISPRE II , designed by Pavel Macura ( PMA);
much better then Aleph P ,
I haven't found any competitor in range 1000-1500 USD comercial preamps
( Cambridge Audio 840E , Quad, Vincent ,Xindac)
But you have to take care about transistor matching and use very good pot ( Noble from Percy - as minium )
I can say the traces are fairly small, even on places most people would make them broader....
most important point..... holes are small 😡 ,only small wires have place... I could not place some components, better caps etc.
but they work. 😉
all holes on kk-pcb boards are smal. that is so you can drill them to your wanted sice. i think it says so in his documents too.
trace design is compromised - made that parts are pretty-to-eye laid on top of pcb , not for optimized electrical layout .
all holes on kk-pcb boards are smal. that is so you can drill them to your wanted sice. i think it says so in his documents too.
I thought about doing it but I decided not to drill larger holes in these small traces and "eyes" ..... 🙂
Is the B1 any good for you ?
I went through a similar quest for a suitable preamp for my aleph3 as well as the F5. If you don't have efficient speakers B1->Aleph 3 will be found wanting. You need a few db of gain at least in your pre stage for speakers that are 89-90 db or lower in efficiency.
I finally settled on this tube preamp and I have found a great combination. DIY ECC802S (12AU7 / ECC82) Vacuum Tube SRPP Preamplifier
uv.
I thought about doing it but I decided not to drill larger holes in these small traces and "eyes" ..... 🙂
okei. i drilled up for power cables and speaker cable, and had no problem.
and for the NTC on aleph P PSU.
My Pumpkins seem Ok but the Shuntkys are playing up. I'm just trying basic regulators at +/- 36V to see if I can improve matters.
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