Wayne's BA 2018 linestage

Made really good progress with my build yesterday. Casework is basically done. Using a 1U 230x230 Galaxy with aluminum covers and 10mm faceplate from the store. Using an Antek AN-0215 25Va, 15V dual secondaries and a mini-CapMx board from a Mark Johnson/Prasi colaboration (thanks guys!). The CapMx gives a pretty steady and clean 18V +/- supply. I'm also using some stripped down CAT5 cable for my signal connections and an ebay, el cheapo, DACT stepped attenuator.

A note about my construction, I smoked a BD139 on one rail of my CapMx. I tracked it back to the purple boards and the standoffs I am using to try and secure the board to the chassis. I found that the standoffs scraped through the solder mask and shorted the V+ rail to the chassis. So don't rush things like I did and skip the plastic corner board mounts for the purple boards. OR, make sure you have a way to mount them that avoids potential shorts. I quickly made some plastic "washers" from the Burger King fountain drink top I had for lunch! Did the trick. No more shorts!

I haven't had a lot of time to listen yet but so far this linestage sounds very nice indeed. I'm switching from a WHAMMY on my ALPHA 20W amp. Compared to the WHAMMY, Wayne's Linestage sounds more detailed but maybe a touch thinner on bass. Will try to get more listening in tonight.

Thanks for a great design Wayne! And thanks for the kit, Jim!
 

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A couple months after seeing Wayne's presentation at Burning Amp 2018, I placed an order for 300 pieces of the NPN and 300 of the PNP "Big Boy" output transistors in TO-126 medium power packages. The NPNs arrived quickly but the PNPs are on backorder. Here is the latest information from Mouser.com (screen capture image below); they won't ship until September at the earliest. Cowabunga!

_
 

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Very interesting BJTs. And TOSHIBAs.
I didn't know them. Thanks for this tip! ;)

Greets
Dirk

Just search at Mouser for Toshiba, and take time to read datasheets.
There are many interesting (new) devices not under the usual 2SA 2SC names.
Don't get scared by SMD, especially for small signal.
I almost don't use anything else, apart from Sanken for TO220 and above.

Some Zetex has lower noise, but also lower hfe and higher capacitances.
And not very constant hfe vs Ic.


Patrick
 
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I was able to successfully power up and test the preamp. Now I need to put them in the enclosure and was wondering if there are any suggestions on how to mount the boards?
Thanks

Yes, earlier in the thread 6l6 posted some parts for that. Mine are currently floating in air, held up by wiring with a sheet of thick cardboard underneath.

My idea is to either get the parts 6l6 shows, or mount two standoffs to chassis floor, and pinch the boards between a third on opposite side. Be careful to place them where screws don't interfere, and I will use nylon non conductive stand offs to prevent shorting anything to chassis.

Russellc