I just have to say that i finally got the AD815 into my main system, very brief since the missus starts work at 6.30 tomorrow and had to crank it down pretty sonn. Even so WOW thats pretty serious, i have nevr heard a hi-end preamp so i have no comparison but yep on the first listen that knocks the living sh@t out of the NAD C350 i had gone back to using as a pre-amp. Stuck a live CD of Damien Rice on and thats was just amazing, I have always really liked my heavily modded Arcam Alpha 5+ CDp but had no idea it could do that. Gobb smacked, really am, god alone knows what it will sound like when it beds in a bit.
Just like to say a huge thank you to Rudi and Carlos cos there is no way i would be listening to something even half as good as this if it were a comercial setup.
Thanks guys,
Next task that remote volume thingy
Just like to say a huge thank you to Rudi and Carlos cos there is no way i would be listening to something even half as good as this if it were a comercial setup.
Thanks guys,
Next task that remote volume thingy
I have a question about the output resistor as well.
I have built an ad815 headphone/preamp based on carlos circuit but with 2.2k/1k feedback resistors (a bit more gain and resistors i had at hand)
when used as a preamp it is for my powered monitors (event 20/20 modified with 3886/3875 GC amplifiers) it is to replace a horrible digital mixer (tascam tmd 1000) which is now between the source (EMU 0404 modified) and the monitors.
right now i am just using it with headphones to test it (wow!) but i was wondering if i should
a: leave out the resistor when using with phones (senheiser HD25)
b: modify the input of the amplifiers to a lower impedance or put a resistor in the interconnects at the amp end.
it does go plenty loud with the resistor in the circuit but the phones are 70 ohm anyways it should might not be neccesary
affects damping more than the benifit of less distortion with higher output impedance?
another thing, sort of off topic but this pot has a balance control with 2 opposing 2k pots. it seems very low to use without an additional buffer. i dont really need it but could it be somehow used?
btw something funny happened when i was looking for 33 ohm resistors. i remembered i had a dead STK amp board from a gutted amplifier with some power resistors on it. the first 2 I measured were 33 ohms! what are the chances of that 😎
I have built an ad815 headphone/preamp based on carlos circuit but with 2.2k/1k feedback resistors (a bit more gain and resistors i had at hand)
when used as a preamp it is for my powered monitors (event 20/20 modified with 3886/3875 GC amplifiers) it is to replace a horrible digital mixer (tascam tmd 1000) which is now between the source (EMU 0404 modified) and the monitors.
right now i am just using it with headphones to test it (wow!) but i was wondering if i should
a: leave out the resistor when using with phones (senheiser HD25)
b: modify the input of the amplifiers to a lower impedance or put a resistor in the interconnects at the amp end.
it does go plenty loud with the resistor in the circuit but the phones are 70 ohm anyways it should might not be neccesary
affects damping more than the benifit of less distortion with higher output impedance?
another thing, sort of off topic but this pot has a balance control with 2 opposing 2k pots. it seems very low to use without an additional buffer. i dont really need it but could it be somehow used?
btw something funny happened when i was looking for 33 ohm resistors. i remembered i had a dead STK amp board from a gutted amplifier with some power resistors on it. the first 2 I measured were 33 ohms! what are the chances of that 😎
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Re: Re: 33 ohms on this one
I doubt that you can hear any difference, when using the AD815 as a line pre.
But if you are driving headphones yes, you will hear the difference.
jaudio said:
I doubt that you can hear any difference, when using the AD815 as a line pre.
But if you are driving headphones yes, you will hear the difference.
Neutron,
The output resistors are fine for a line preamp.
You can use anything between 10R~50R.
But for driving headphones is a different story, if you must use a resistor (I would) then use a small value, like 1R.
The output resistors are fine for a line preamp.
You can use anything between 10R~50R.
But for driving headphones is a different story, if you must use a resistor (I would) then use a small value, like 1R.
I tried Andy's (ALW) super-reg's....
...and was blown away by the further improvement in high's and bass.
The most noticeable difference vs the dual 317/337 is a lower noise floor, noticeably lower. Highs maintain the brilliant sense of timing that the dual regulator provide, but now sound more natural and gentle. Not that they were hard or anything to start off with, but they had a more forward sound with the dual regs.
Bass is also cleaned up even further, with some of the warmth that was present before being replaced by further detail and resolution.
I'll report more as the reg breaks-in, but I am sure it will remain highly recommended!
...and was blown away by the further improvement in high's and bass.
The most noticeable difference vs the dual 317/337 is a lower noise floor, noticeably lower. Highs maintain the brilliant sense of timing that the dual regulator provide, but now sound more natural and gentle. Not that they were hard or anything to start off with, but they had a more forward sound with the dual regs.
Bass is also cleaned up even further, with some of the warmth that was present before being replaced by further detail and resolution.
I'll report more as the reg breaks-in, but I am sure it will remain highly recommended!
Re: I tried Andy's (ALW) super-reg's....
Nothing new to me. I stopped using integrated regulators about 20 years ago 🙂 Initially used open loop discretes and more recently started using variations of Jung/ALW with premium parts and excellent results. It's quite amusing that in practice an opamp with 60db psrr seems as sensitive to ps as a tube stage with 15db psrr. Even with a super reg and regenerated ac i can still clearly hear the power cord.
Dr.H said:
Nothing new to me. I stopped using integrated regulators about 20 years ago 🙂 Initially used open loop discretes and more recently started using variations of Jung/ALW with premium parts and excellent results. It's quite amusing that in practice an opamp with 60db psrr seems as sensitive to ps as a tube stage with 15db psrr. Even with a super reg and regenerated ac i can still clearly hear the power cord.
Re: Re: I tried Andy's (ALW) super-reg's....
Ryan made up some power cords and had great results with them. you might want to contact him and try one.
analog_sa said:
Ryan made up some power cords and had great results with them. you might want to contact him and try one.
Re: I tried Andy's (ALW) super-reg's....
🙂 Sounds about the same improvement I got.
Lower noise floor is definately noticeable
I'm going to try a pair of Nuuks SMPS next, these sounded really good powering the chip amps and T-amps
Dr.H said:
🙂 Sounds about the same improvement I got.
Lower noise floor is definately noticeable
I'm going to try a pair of Nuuks SMPS next, these sounded really good powering the chip amps and T-amps
Hi t., I sent you a mail just minutes ago explaining the slight delay for the chips. Will have them out tomorrow. Apologies.
Hi Rudi, I am going to send you a mail on the file you sent me. Questions, questions and questions. 😀 Rudi, what power cords did Ryan make? Must try them if they are good, but many say cables are snake oil. 😀
Hi Rudi, I am going to send you a mail on the file you sent me. Questions, questions and questions. 😀 Rudi, what power cords did Ryan make? Must try them if they are good, but many say cables are snake oil. 😀
Hi Shehzad.
power cables is something that i did not believe in till I tried the cables that Ryan made up. they were alot quieter and enhaced the bass. well i suppose atomic bomb detonation wire could also work 😉 , seriously the stuff works but Ryan has a very special mix of chemicals that surrounds the cables that kills the RF. but that is his secret a simple solution is to use a 20A cable with proper termination with a ferrite ring clamp at the poles. this also works well but still not the same as the enhanced product.
you will also hear the biggest differences with CD's DAC's and pre-amp's. i could not hear the difference on amp
power cables is something that i did not believe in till I tried the cables that Ryan made up. they were alot quieter and enhaced the bass. well i suppose atomic bomb detonation wire could also work 😉 , seriously the stuff works but Ryan has a very special mix of chemicals that surrounds the cables that kills the RF. but that is his secret a simple solution is to use a 20A cable with proper termination with a ferrite ring clamp at the poles. this also works well but still not the same as the enhanced product.
you will also hear the biggest differences with CD's DAC's and pre-amp's. i could not hear the difference on amp
Hi Rudi, I am not saying that I don't believe in cables per se, but I am one who could never afford expensive cables or bring myself to buy them. I have lots of ferrite ring clamps lying around that I used to use for my car audio. I have clamped them on the power cables on my preamp, and cd player but have seem to found some loss of high frequencies or details and have removed them. Maybe it's just a figment of my imagination. 😀 No harm to give it a try again and see if I feel the same about it again. 😀
How's the new design pre going? Sounding even better?
How's the new design pre going? Sounding even better?
i have completed the design of the board but i still have to build them, once i have done that i will atempt to design a board with integrated ALW super regulators. i believe that this is a awesome combo. but i will have to make it a double sided board.
BTW. if you use RG58 for your audio signal cable you will get very good results. it is a very cheap and gives you very a good return on investment. i have a mix of audioquest and van der hul in my system. sometimes you got to try various combinations to get the best results.
BTW. if you use RG58 for your audio signal cable you will get very good results. it is a very cheap and gives you very a good return on investment. i have a mix of audioquest and van der hul in my system. sometimes you got to try various combinations to get the best results.
Hi Rudi,
Just to recap you are currently designing a dual reg board and after that a Super Reg version? My god this thread has really come alive of late. I have just finished my setup and 2 more versions come out in a few days.....sobs in corner.
Anyway let us know how you get on, maybe i will end up pulling my new amp apart if the latest designs are much of an improvemnet, the super reg one sounds very interesting.
Regards,
Phil
Just to recap you are currently designing a dual reg board and after that a Super Reg version? My god this thread has really come alive of late. I have just finished my setup and 2 more versions come out in a few days.....sobs in corner.
Anyway let us know how you get on, maybe i will end up pulling my new amp apart if the latest designs are much of an improvemnet, the super reg one sounds very interesting.
Regards,
Phil
HI Phil
don't expect the super reg one for at least 3 months
What i might do is to create a version that would integrate with the ALW super reg boards. so that the ALWSR become daughter boards. (more layering for you. 😀 ....pick your pitch)imagine doing these like you did you current one 
but maybe you should try and get some ALWSR for yourself. to be honest. I am a bit tired of doing PCB. i have whipped out a few now over the last few weeks
here is a preview of the new board
don't expect the super reg one for at least 3 months
What i might do is to create a version that would integrate with the ALW super reg boards. so that the ALWSR become daughter boards. (more layering for you. 😀 ....pick your pitch)imagine doing these like you did you current one but maybe you should try and get some ALWSR for yourself. to be honest. I am a bit tired of doing PCB. i have whipped out a few now over the last few weeks
here is a preview of the new board
and the preamp that fits on top of the main board
NB : None of these have been checked for correctness
NB : None of these have been checked for correctness
Thanks a lot, and you are probably right i could just get some super reg and stick them into my exhisting setup
Where are super reg available from i have been to Andys site and to be honest i am confused. Does anyone actually sell kits for these things?
Phil
Where are super reg available from i have been to Andys site and to be honest i am confused. Does anyone actually sell kits for these things?
Phil
rudi said:HI Phil
don't expect the super reg one for at least 3 months
but maybe you should try and get some ALWSR for yourself. to be honest. I am a bit tired of doing PCB. i have whipped out a few now over the last few weeks
here is a preview of the new board
That sounds the best idea Rudi, the layout of the SR's is critical, you'd have to spend a lot of time laying out the board, being able to add the super reg boards as an option is the best bet🙂
BTW I've tried just about everything with the dual regs and they don't have that ultimate performance IMHO, the LM329 made a small noticeable difference but it may not be worth going to the trouble of changing your layout to fit them.
Adding the LM329 is easy but its the cap change that may be fiddly
Don't be put off by the standard regs guys, the pre-amp still sounds excellent with these and takes some beating.
I'm now going to try out the SMPS and see how these sound
Anyway, I think Rudi has already done us a great service with the current layout😎 and thanks to Carlos for sharing his design
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