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On the bench tonight is the prototype SnubWay filter in SMT stacked PCBA’s. MELF carbon film pulse resistors and all X2 rated safety capacitors. Built in MOV/GDI for lightning suppression.
I plugged it into the wall and it uses 0.5W quiescent current (mostly the leakage through large cap heats up the resistor in series to 30 C.
We are looking at different ways to mechanically clamp everything together. Currently looking at two long threaded rods.
I plugged it into the wall and it uses 0.5W quiescent current (mostly the leakage through large cap heats up the resistor in series to 30 C.
We are looking at different ways to mechanically clamp everything together. Currently looking at two long threaded rods.
On the bench last night was Jhofland’s interpretation of Wayne Colburn’s Pearl 3 phono preamp. This is purely a DIY project Jhofland built for me for my curiosity and musical listening enjoyment and not for sale. Of course, being Jhofland, it’s all done mostly in state of the art SMT parts. He uses a pair of 2SK2145 JFETs for the front end instead of quad 2SK170 unobtainum’s. The opamps are state of the art OPA1655 and the RIAA stage uses hand-matched MKP capacitors for essentially perfect channel balance matching. Output stages uses push pull SOT-223 BJTs. The separate PSU is a basic linear trafo with CRC and LM317 / LM337 regulators. This is connected with an umbilical to the main phono stage in a separate box with what looks like an S video DIN connector cable. In the main phono preamp box are TPS7A39 LDO regulators good for about 20uV rms noise.
Here is measured response for both channels showing essentially perfect matching:
PSU:
Here is a video clip of how it sounds in my main system with LSA HyperDrive-2 preamp, Warp-1 power amp, and my 10F/RS225 TL’s. Playing Dave Brubeck’s Take Five (1959 recording).
I think the sound is lovely and buttery smooth. Very low noise. Nice stereo imaging and soundstage. A big thanks to Jhofland for making this project and building it for me!
Here is measured response for both channels showing essentially perfect matching:
PSU:
Here is a video clip of how it sounds in my main system with LSA HyperDrive-2 preamp, Warp-1 power amp, and my 10F/RS225 TL’s. Playing Dave Brubeck’s Take Five (1959 recording).
I think the sound is lovely and buttery smooth. Very low noise. Nice stereo imaging and soundstage. A big thanks to Jhofland for making this project and building it for me!
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On the bench tonight is a new powered subwoofer product under the Vera-Fi brand called the Vanguard Caldera 10. The production sample arrived. There are some labeling typo issues that we still have to fix but it sounds great. Very articulate bass with some more texture than a polycone sub.
It’s got a nice paper cone woofer, slot vent, and linear toroidal trafo PSU with discrete Class AB amp. Low and high level inputs.
Doing some near field (exit plane measurements now):
It’s got a nice paper cone woofer, slot vent, and linear toroidal trafo PSU with discrete Class AB amp. Low and high level inputs.
Doing some near field (exit plane measurements now):
On the bench is my new 3D Wankel rotor inspired case for the SnubWay mains power line filter.
From doodles in SolidWorks:
To reality in a day:
Total height is 100mm not including prongs.
I’m using a basic Leviton brass terminal base for now. For production we will use a premium Viborg acrylic base with copper terminals. Case will be CNC’d aluminum with satin black or champagne finish. It will have some nice texture and heft. The rounded triangle fits nicely in the hand.
From doodles in SolidWorks:
To reality in a day:
Total height is 100mm not including prongs.
I’m using a basic Leviton brass terminal base for now. For production we will use a premium Viborg acrylic base with copper terminals. Case will be CNC’d aluminum with satin black or champagne finish. It will have some nice texture and heft. The rounded triangle fits nicely in the hand.
Tantalum is great in the audio signal path. About 33 years ago, short before stopping my diy activities for the next 33 years, I used tantalum only in the signal path and the general opinion was that they are superior to the normal electrolytic capacitor. They were also expensive and difficult to get.