Hopefully, the Belden 8402 interconnects described here:
Get Better Sound - quarternotesv5i2
I've replaced all my expensive Teflon-insulated Silver wire interconnects with these cables. You can either have Best Tronics make them or make them yourself with the Switchcraft RCA connectors. These are very musical and reasonably priced, especially if you roll your own.
Unfortunately, the Western Electric AIW 16GA wire is unobtainium. I bought some genuine WE wire (watch out for counterfeits) before it disappeared, and this makes great speaker cables with the TPA 31xx Class D amps.
I agree with wushuliu that the PBTL Wiener amps sound better than the stereo, but not by much. It just seems to have a livelier, more natural presentation. Theoretically, there should not be a difference, but I do hear it. In my case, I am not sure if it's the difference in input transformers or output filter inductors or everything together. Eventually, I will separate the amps into two separate monoblocks with short runs to the speakers.
If the run between amp and speaker is short enough, you could also try bypassing the output filter entirely. The best case scenario is for the output filter to not change the sound at all; seems to me zero components have the best chance of realizing this goal. This is on my "to try" list, though that's a very long list. 🙂
I have also tried the 8402, and noticed sound improvement using this cable. After reading the article from Jeff's Place I was able to score some 8402 NOS at a great price. Did you follow the recipe from the article of connecting the shield at both ends as opposed to one end only?
8412 not the 8402. Ran out of the 8402. The 8412 is the same but with a different jacket and is cheaper and available anywhere by the foot.
IIRC ferrite beads are needed if skipping output filter. But yeah maybe down the road.
Yes. The shielding braid is connected to ground at both ends. A friend of mine who also has a Wiener stereo amp tried connecting the shielding to ground at one end only and heard different results with switching cable directions. After his experiments, he concluded the recipe with the shielding connected to both ends was best. I think the Switchcraft 3502AAU RCA connectors are great and they maintain a tight grip for solid connections.
Pro all wired up and sounds delicious!
I am getting a tiny tiny hiss at idle due to my input source (Chromecast audio) which disappears if I unplugged it from the RCA plugs. Is there any way I can adjust the idle threshold to eliminate my idle hiss?
I am getting a tiny tiny hiss at idle due to my input source (Chromecast audio) which disappears if I unplugged it from the RCA plugs. Is there any way I can adjust the idle threshold to eliminate my idle hiss?
Oops! Input negatives and grounds all connected and the tiny idle hiss is all gone.
Attachments
Hi gmarsh,
Just an enquiry, I'm just wondering how far through the group buy build you've managed to get so far Gary? I ordered my weiner amp at the end of the group buy in May, so imagine mine will be one of the last to be built. I see some have gone out now so I'm really looking forward to the day i'll be wiring up and firing up my weiner amp when it's ready. Thanks
Dave.
Just an enquiry, I'm just wondering how far through the group buy build you've managed to get so far Gary? I ordered my weiner amp at the end of the group buy in May, so imagine mine will be one of the last to be built. I see some have gone out now so I'm really looking forward to the day i'll be wiring up and firing up my weiner amp when it's ready. Thanks
Dave.
Hi gmarsh.
Just to confirm safe receipt of my parcel - thanks! Not tried them yet, by the time I got everything wired up, the wife had gone to bed (so not a good time for testing!)
I'll PayPal the postage excess to you, I assume it is just the difference between what I paid and the postage marked on the parcel - let me know if it is any more.
Thanks again
BBUK
Just to confirm safe receipt of my parcel - thanks! Not tried them yet, by the time I got everything wired up, the wife had gone to bed (so not a good time for testing!)
I'll PayPal the postage excess to you, I assume it is just the difference between what I paid and the postage marked on the parcel - let me know if it is any more.
Thanks again
BBUK
Hi Gmarsh,
From your post, I suppose my amps have been completed for a while. Just want to confirm if they are sent or not as I haven't received them yet. Thanks!
Williamau
From your post, I suppose my amps have been completed for a while. Just want to confirm if they are sent or not as I haven't received them yet. Thanks!
Williamau
Hey, your amp was shipped out Nov.21. The delivery standard is 10 business days but the postal service is a bit slow with Christmas season upon us. Hopefully you'll get it soon.
Still working on ChuckT's big order. I'll keep everyone posted.
Apologies for this being a several month process. I way overestimated my available time when I took this order... I've been getting an hour every few days to do things, got SMT done on a bunch of stereo cards over the last few weeks but still have to do the through hole and testing.
I have tomorrow free, I'll spend all day at it.
Thanks for your reply Gary. It really was a huge group buy, it's not surprising that it would take time. Your efforts are greatly appreciated.
Dave
Dave
Hi gmarsh,
Can the PRO handle ~9V common mode DC on the balanced inputs? I updated my DAC to the current Twisted Pear Legato 3.1 I/V stage. Offset is properly nulled to <1mV across hot and cold. The common mode DC is characteristic of this particular circuit.
BK
Can the PRO handle ~9V common mode DC on the balanced inputs? I updated my DAC to the current Twisted Pear Legato 3.1 I/V stage. Offset is properly nulled to <1mV across hot and cold. The common mode DC is characteristic of this particular circuit.
BK
Maybe, it'll be tight. The LME49723s on the inputs run from +-12V, and are only specified to handle voltage 2V less than the rails, so +-10v is the theoretical input range. 9V common mode with audio on top of it will be pretty much there.
I doubt you'll blow it up.