Salas hotrodded blue DCB1 build

[dimkasta]

I was planning to route a hole in wood big enough to contain the transformer with some air, cover the hole edges with copper and ground it and then completely flood the hole with wax with the transformer in it.

 

[mantha3]

What are folks in the North America using for power supply transformers? I see ANTEK is re-stocking after their factory fire, so that is an affordable option. Has anyone used Plitron or Primrose? Any r-core ideas (with suitable VA)?

Thanks,
Ryan

I purchased one of these (Model: R80-53)

100W R-Core Transformer 115V//230V ,Pre amplifier / DAC

I wanted to try an RCORE. I saw some others had used this one 100VA and then also the 50VA one whcih is a bit cheaper. The shipping is kind of harsh.

go back about 20 - 30 pages and some talk on this RCORE I speak of.

 

[pinnocchio]

I can't remember if I did or not share with you my DCB1 balanced build so here it is!


My two modules fully assembled

Here's the heatsinking! Lots of it... I'm currently running it with 3R3 resistor but I planned for 1R so hence all the heatsinking. Base plate holding the heatsinks is 0.25" thick

Here the base plate is mounted in a Par-Metal chassis. Only one transfo for now for testing.

I've added a Goldpoint balanced stepped attenuator and a Goldpoint source selector.

Here's an ensemble view showing everything plus the back panel. I'm also using AMB switch driver for power on the beast! 😀

Here's the finished product!

This was a great fun building but an even greater one listening to the music!

Thanks Salas and Tea-Bag for this great project!

Do

 

[Salas]

One expensive and very well crafted example! Congratulations!

 

[pinnocchio]

One expensive and very well crafted example! Congratulations!

Thanks!

I must admit I truly love the DCB1. Never had a soundstage that wide and deep before! Really good!!!

Ciao!
Do

 

[mantha3]

@pinnocchil

Impressive and well built. I'm sure you will get many many years of service out of that!

What is the silver spool to the left? Did you wire with .999 pure silver?

 

[pinnocchio]

@pinnocchil

Impressive and well built. I'm sure you will get many many years of service out of that!

What is the silver spool to the left? Did you wire with .999 pure silver?

Hi Mantha3,

Thanks for the comment! I do hope to get many years of listening with it. I'm planning to change the resistors from 3R3 to 1R in the coming weeks to test the sound difference if any.

The spool that you see is tin, copper, silver then I have a spool of 37/63, a spool of Johnson's IA-423 (ternary eutectic) and a little bit of Mundorf Silver/Gold solder.

I don't use much of the spool you see on the picture anymore since it is harder to melt, need almost 400 degrees...

Thanks
Do

 

[Audio Zen]

I have not been able to find an answer yet to my question so here goes : If I were to use either the Mezmerize or Hypnotize pcb as a preamp and not dedicated power, could I add a 3 pole terminal block where its marked V+, G, V- and tap off that to power other kit? From other posts and my findings it should be between 9v and 10V.

Thx

 

[AndrewT]

yes.
The DC supply in the Mez & Hyp has a lot of spare capacity to supply other low current circuits.
There is also spare capacity in the unregulated DC after the smoothing that can be used in other circuits. The 3pin regulator and relays are an example of using some of this spare capacity (on one polarity).

 

[Audio Zen]

yes.
The DC supply in the Mez & Hyp has a lot of spare capacity to supply other low current circuits.
There is also spare capacity in the unregulated DC after the smoothing that can be used in other circuits. The 3pin regulator and relays are an example of using some of this spare capacity (on one polarity).

Will it have any negative impact on parts downstream or sound quality? In my case I would use regulated but could you be so kind as to pin point where on the pcb or parts I could tap off if I did want unregulated?

Thx

 

[nbivol]

Hi everybody. Today I received all missing parts (takman resistors for buffer, mundorf caps and transformer) and put together DCB-1. everything went well and when I started all LEDs are lit and measurements have shown these
Voltages are -10.12 & 9.95
Offsets -1.7 & -2.1
Is it ok that both offsets are negative?

 

[Salas]

Its fine. If talking in mV offsets. 1837s from Umut?

 

[nbivol]

thank you Salas. no,not from Umut,he do not ship anymore to Turkey.
I tied the buffer to my power amp and have to say that it sounding very-very good,fast ,clean , balanced .
Thank you Salas ,Tea-bag and all people contributing to this great project.
all the best
Nicu

 

[Salas]

Very nice, enjoy.

 

[Corpius]

@nbivol
Which pot are you using? I tried to find a good 20k motorized alps pot, but no luck. I ordered a 20k "blue velvet" pot from alps, but in the end I want to use my controller to control volume and inputs, so a motorized pot or a digital controlled volume control IC is very much desired.

 

[nbivol]

@Corpius it's TKD 25K

 

[mantha3]

I think I'm going to buy some PCB standoffs for my DBC1. I see online M2,M4... I think size. anyone know what I should get?

 

[Marra]

These work well.Should be available from US sources.

R30-3001002 - HARWIN - SPACER, M-F, 10MM, PK25 | Farnell United Kingdom

 

[mantha3]

@Marra

Are these the spacers you are running on yours? These are M3 size from the URL you posted... I'll look for similar M3 from a USA source.

 

[mantha3]

I may just get this... Nice to have some extras for other similar projects

PCB Standoff Assortment M3 Brass Standoffs Nut and Screws Assortment Kit | eBay