My_Ref Fremen Edition - Build thread and tutorial

[bcmbob]

Your timing is perfect 🙂 In this moment I'm doing the following:

In an attempt to make the tests folder more useful I modified the security settings to allow anyone with the shared link to access the files. That required renaming/refreshing the links.

Members should still create their own FREE account on Box.

The new links for the classical files posted earlier are listed here. Look in the title bar for the "Download" button to get the files on your system/computer.

FE Audio Tests

1812 Music

Dialogue

Please try again and post if you have a successful download.

Hunting Wabbits in the jazz section is the only other file in the larger tests folder. It is another example of a wide range of instrument voices and dynamics. One of my favorite fun files. Very clean and accurate recording.

 

[pinnocchio]

So here's the message

"The item you are trying to access has either been deleted or is unavailable to you."

 

[bcmbob]

Looks like we are playing post tag. 🙂 You're it !!!

 

[lehmanhill]

Bob,

I tried too. Signed into box OK, but your files unavailable.

Jac

 

[bcmbob]

Are you using the links in post # 801?

 

[ClaveFremen]

Well the good news is that another My Ref FE is alive and well and sounding really good.🙂

Yes, a very good news indeed 🙂

Whilst waiting for parts to arrive I had a read through all of the My Ref C threads which was interesting. I really enjoyed seeing the design develop and gained a respect for how much work has been put in over the years by Dario and others.

Absolutely, reading the My_Ref threads is a great source of info and insights.

To My ears the most obvious sonic quality is the Midrange which is just so open and makes for a really deep and wide soundstage. (...) Top and bottom do a great job of underpinning the music with bass deep and tight but not overblown.

Wow! A really intriguing review 😉

I’ve used them in the past and my opinion is broadly in line with Dario’s.
Great detail but a little tonally ‘’grey’’ which is how they arrived in my parts bin.

Grey? I would not say so...

Compared to DC coupling the Supremes sound fuller and more direct, IMHO, I would call grey the sound of K71s instead but probably is our different interpretation of colors.... 😉

Anyone tried Cree diodes? I’ve had some good results with those in the past.

Sorry, never tried them.

So thanks to

Mauro Penasa for a great design. It’s a great shame that you feel unable to join us here but if you are reading this. Come back and be amongst friends.
Dario for all of the years of hard work experimenting and also the great boards you produced. The wonderful build guide you produced made life so much easier.
Everyone who contributed to this and all of the other threads. Those posts have helped to understand this amp.

You're welcome 🙂

I suspect that those Black gates will need a little time to break in but even as is its sounding great.

Yes, expect them to change a lot in the first 100 hours (some days gorgeous, some days horrible) and finally settle around 500 hours. 😱

You can have a (much) shorter burn-in using the IsoTek full system enahancer CD.

 

[ClaveFremen]

I tried too. Signed into box OK, but your files unavailable.

After login just click:

You'll get viewer status and read acces to files.

 

[bcmbob]

Thanks Mr. D, If other still have trouble please post or PM me. Could be a lot of fun. I'll work on eliminating that extra step.

 

[shoom]

Hi Dario

''Grey? I would not say so...''

Compared to DC coupling the Supremes sound fuller and more direct, IMHO, I would call grey the sound of K71s instead but probably is our different interpretation of colors....

I've not tried any other C13 caps or DC coupling the IP but I have some K71 on order just out of interest.


Grey

Well yes grey compared to the AN coppers that I usually end up replacing the Mundorfs with.🙂

Those Jantzen silvers look interesting but I’ve not tried those yet.

‘’You can have a (much) shorter burn-in using the IsoTek full system enahancer CD.’’

Interesting

Unfortunately I use a PC Jriver front end but I wonder if it would work as a rip.
Worth trying maybe or I’ll need to dig deep to find my CD player.

All sounding really good and improving over time.😎😎

Thanks for the tip.

 

[ClaveFremen]

Unfortunately I use a PC Jriver front end but I wonder if it would work as a rip.
Worth trying maybe or I’ll need to dig deep to find my CD player.

Simply rip the tracks and play them via PC.

 

[shoom]

Hi Dario

Thanks for the info which is good news as I now have the ISO CD on order.
I also have a Densen CD which was mostly aimed at de-magnetizing duties which works well so the ISO may be even better.
I’ll keep you posted

 

[bcmbob]

Still working on making the FE Tests folder accessible to all. Would someone who does not have an account at BOX please test this link and post or PM me the results. Thanks

1812 Test Track

Hunting Wabbits

 

[bcmbob]

Just got a confirmation from Daniele, so access should be clear. For those who have some test examples, please upload to the relevant category and post ONLY a notification here (with Dario's approval?) and use the comment tool at the folder for descriptions of what the file shows and any related responses.

Please report any problems to me so uploads and downloads can flow unencumbered.

 

[linuxguru]

Bob, thanks for the test track uploads. I've downloaded the two flacs and two mp3s, and tried out the mp3s with rhythmbox to audition USB DACs driving a Rev C. I'll give my audible impressions later, after a few days careful listening, in the DAC forum.

 

[Kreisky]

Thank you Bob I'm downloading Classical, Vocal and Jazz but... what ?! 😱 you listen to mp3 ?! oh nooo

😀

 

[bcmbob]

... what ?! 😱 you listen to mp3 ?! oh nooo
😀

I know, ain't it a shame. 😱 Sadly some of my sources don't offer HD tracks. If I rip from CD I use flac to try to get it all. If the download source is a top quality format I try to match it.

Nonetheless, users of the FE test folder are most welcomed to upload any format they have. Free and professional translators are readily available.

Siva, Thanks - looking forward to your analysis.

 

[bcmbob]

Here's one that's been in the folder for a long time. It demonstrates the purity, range and speed of the FE. See comment line for details.

T Test #1

 

[bcmbob]

Ok, OK - I'll stop for a while after this one. Just had to add my top vocal test track. I've used this one for many years with speaker building due to the purity and range.

Vocal Test #1

 

[bcmbob]

A high quality vocal example from Dario from months ago.

Fast Car

 

[shoom]

Hi All
It’s been a few days now since I completed my build in which time I’ve managed to clock up about 24hours of burn in. Isotek cd is on the way which I expect to receive tomorrow.
So a quick progress report.
Well all sounding pretty good this end with the soundstage depth growing quite noticeably. I’ve been really impressed with the pin sharp imaging which makes it so easy to identify the location of instruments and vocals etc. the top and bottom seem to be filling out very nicely with bass noticeably fuller without losing definition and tunefulness.
PRAT is also first rate and the amp stays musical even when pushed hard. It also unsurprisingly runs cool on those big heat sinks. This amp seems to be a really good match for my PMC transmission lines and the combination makes for a clean dynamic sound.
So I’ve gone from being impressed to gobsmacked.🙂
I built this amp based on what I’ve read which made me a little curious.
Time to try one I thought.
One case where curiosity definitely gave the cat the cream.
I’ve learned something from this build.
Fewer preconceptions and more ears😀
Thanks again Dario.