Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,088
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Post by Bigman80 on Nov 19, 2021 15:21:51 GMT
Been a mixed bag of excitement and despair today. On the upside, the Tesla valves have arrived and the casework turned up too. With the decision to use an 4 x independent secondary O-Core transformer, I have inadvertently made the gap between the boards absolutely critical. I have now had to push the PCBs as far towards the sides as possible to allow the transformer to sit between them with a bit of breathing room That means that the vents on top of the casework are now not exactly centred with the line of the valves underneath. Hardly a deal breaker on this unit, but a shame none the less. The downside being that I still don't have the transformer......so I cant move forward any further than I am. I also need to get a badge made for the rear as a cover for the IEC inlet. That will be moved to the centre of the back panel at the machine shop. I don't cut out IEC inlets anymore lol Excited and frustrated in equal measure.
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Post by rexton on Nov 19, 2021 16:20:23 GMT
Is this your unit or the loaner unit?
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,088
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Post by Bigman80 on Nov 19, 2021 17:02:41 GMT
Is this your unit or the loaner unit? This will be the unit I send out to the select few who proffer genuine interest. That will only include people who have a strong history here, such as yourself. The build cost is stupid, and so is the effort that's has gone into making it, so I feel quite protective and terrified of it getting lost in the post, or broken.
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Post by gninnam on Nov 19, 2021 20:12:48 GMT
Looking good !! Silly question and I think I know the answer but I will ask anyway Why don't you mirror the PCB's as it will look better under the hood and simplify the cabling etc?
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,088
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Post by Bigman80 on Nov 19, 2021 20:28:05 GMT
Looking good !! Silly question and I think I know the answer but I will ask anyway Why don't you mirror the PCB's as it will look better under the hood and simplify the cabling etc? Yeah, I hear you, but it won't have any impact other than soothing the OCD.
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Post by rexton on Nov 19, 2021 20:49:15 GMT
could be an early/late Xmas pressie this one depending upon release.
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,088
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Post by Bigman80 on Nov 19, 2021 21:15:17 GMT
could be an early/late Xmas pressie this one depending upon release. All I need to do is make sure the transformer isn't causing any issues and that everything works as it should. We've had Alans prototype running with bench power supplies and it's been absolutely rock solid. I am hoping that I can get a good run with it. Christmas may be a bit ambitious as I am still 8 deep on the BB3 waiting list.
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Post by rexton on Nov 19, 2021 21:44:41 GMT
Well they say that the best things are worth waiting for !
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Post by gninnam on Nov 19, 2021 22:45:48 GMT
Looking good !! Silly question and I think I know the answer but I will ask anyway Why don't you mirror the PCB's as it will look better under the hood and simplify the cabling etc? Yeah, I hear you, but it won't have any impact other than soothing the OCD. Well - I won't be buying one then - customer is always right
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2021 7:59:23 GMT
Not a small investment In glassware there.
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,088
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Post by Bigman80 on Nov 20, 2021 8:27:43 GMT
Not a small investment In glassware there. No, certainly not.
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Post by firebottle on Nov 20, 2021 9:30:08 GMT
Why don't you mirror the PCB's as it will look better under the hood and simplify the cabling etc? The cabling has been optimised anyway, having mirror pcb's wouldn't make any difference. It's all been thought out.
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Post by gninnam on Nov 20, 2021 12:23:12 GMT
Why don't you mirror the PCB's as it will look better under the hood and simplify the cabling etc? The cabling has been optimised anyway, having mirror pcb's wouldn't make any difference. It's all been thought out. Fair comment - I know you guys are the experts and trust what you are doing
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Post by rich04 on Nov 23, 2021 10:45:45 GMT
That looks interesting.I would be interested when its ready.
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,088
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Post by Bigman80 on Nov 23, 2021 11:00:54 GMT
That looks interesting.I would be interested when its ready. No problem.
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Post by jazzcat on Nov 24, 2021 10:50:26 GMT
How is the noise floor of the new BBu compared to BB3?
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,088
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Post by Bigman80 on Nov 24, 2021 11:27:30 GMT
How is the noise floor of the new BBu compared to BB3? Very very low. We were mega impressed by that yesterday, but not surprised. The "Triple stack" circuitry we used in the BB3 has been ramped up for the BBu, and it really showed. The Avalon phonostage I am using is deathly silent....there is no noise audible untill you hit the last two steps on the attenuator. At that point my driver's would be in the front garden and the cabinets on my speakers would be split at the seams. The BBu was not far behind it, which considering the Avalon is a PROPERLY designed Solid state phonostage, is quite the achievement. We haven't done any conclusive measurement on either phonostage, but it was audibly far better than the BB3. When we do get some proper measurements, I'll publish them.
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Post by jazzcat on Nov 24, 2021 12:07:38 GMT
How is the noise floor of the new BBu compared to BB3? Very very low. We were mega impressed by that yesterday, but not surprised. The "Triple stack" circuitry we used in the BB3 has been ramped up for the BBu, and it really showed. The Avalon phonostage I am using is deathly silent....there is no noise audible untill you hit the last two steps on the attenuator. At that point my driver's would be in the front garden and the cabinets on my speakers would be split at the seams. The BBu was not far behind it, which considering the Avalon is a PROPERLY designed Solid state phonostage, is quite the achievement. We haven't done any conclusive measurement on either phonostage, but it was audibly far better than the BB3. When we do get some proper measurements, I'll publish them. That’s awesome news. That’s one thing I really look forward to with the new BBu. I know combination valve phono stage and high sensitivity speakers will output noise but any advancements there is appreciated. If you can at some point try the new BBu with some 95db + speakers and report back the findings
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,088
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Post by Bigman80 on Nov 24, 2021 12:10:04 GMT
Very very low. We were mega impressed by that yesterday, but not surprised. The "Triple stack" circuitry we used in the BB3 has been ramped up for the BBu, and it really showed. The Avalon phonostage I am using is deathly silent....there is no noise audible untill you hit the last two steps on the attenuator. At that point my driver's would be in the front garden and the cabinets on my speakers would be split at the seams. The BBu was not far behind it, which considering the Avalon is a PROPERLY designed Solid state phonostage, is quite the achievement. We haven't done any conclusive measurement on either phonostage, but it was audibly far better than the BB3. When we do get some proper measurements, I'll publish them. That’s awesome news. That’s one thing I really look forward to with the new BBu. I know combination valve phono stage and high sensitivity speakers will output noise but any advancements there is appreciated. If you can at some point try it with some 95db + speakers and I would be very keen to hear the results. I will let you try it yourself, Damir. That's the only way to know!
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,088
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Post by Bigman80 on Nov 24, 2021 12:12:41 GMT
As a signal of my intent for this BBu....I've just snapped these up for V3. A minor resistor value tweak and they are good to just drop in. Also, it means the first three people to order will get a pair of these in their BBu 😉
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Post by firebottle on Nov 24, 2021 16:04:35 GMT
The first complete BBu is up and running and it's EPIC. My transformers arrived at lunch time and it's playing in the system now.
I know it's a cliche but I am hearing more detail in oft played records plus the lower registers are so solid and tight. You wouldn't know this is a valve based stage it is so natural.
30,000 days by Yello has a click type of sound in the backing rhythm and it has gained so much texture, I don't know what is making the sound but wow.
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Post by karma67 on Nov 24, 2021 18:03:51 GMT
The first complete BBu is up and running and it's EPIC. My transformers arrived at lunch time and it's playing in the system now. I know it's a cliche but I am hearing more detail in oft played records plus the lower registers are so solid and tight. You wouldn't know this is a valve based stage it is so natural. 30,000 days by Yello has a click type of sound in the backing rhythm and it has gained so much texture, I don't know what is making the sound but wow. exciting times!
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,088
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Post by Bigman80 on Nov 24, 2021 23:56:36 GMT
The first complete BBu is up and running and it's EPIC. My transformers arrived at lunch time and it's playing in the system now. I know it's a cliche but I am hearing more detail in oft played records plus the lower registers are so solid and tight. You wouldn't know this is a valve based stage it is so natural. 30,000 days by Yello has a click type of sound in the backing rhythm and it has gained so much texture, I don't know what is making the sound but wow. exciting times! They are exciting indeed! Early reports from Alan suggest that the two torroids are working very well, but that we still have some fine tuning to do.
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,088
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Post by Bigman80 on Dec 3, 2021 10:46:20 GMT
Sexy
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Post by antonio on Dec 3, 2021 11:50:10 GMT
Sexy indeed
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Post by electronumpty on Dec 3, 2021 13:08:14 GMT
Sounds like a premier condom brand
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,088
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Post by Bigman80 on Dec 3, 2021 13:16:48 GMT
Sounds like a premier condom brand Only those with "extraordinary" measurements would think that way 🤣
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Post by robbiegong on Dec 3, 2021 13:35:34 GMT
Ultime Reference Statement - Whatever you call it, that does look high end/sexy
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Post by firebottle on Dec 3, 2021 14:17:30 GMT
The first trialee of the BBu stayed up until 4 in the morning listening, I think that's a bit of a statement.
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Post by sq225917 on Dec 3, 2021 20:27:08 GMT
That's a handsome front panel
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