Bigbottle Phonostage - MK3 Design, Pictures and More!

I have read that the long plate versions sound very good.
The JJ is cheap enough to try.

Thought I'd finished my Bigbottle only to end up with a pair of Matched Jfets to fit and a brand new transformer to go in.

Decided I'd use connectors on it.

Love a bit of bling do I lol

Mine is great....no buzzing, silent and does the business. Adds quite a bit of heft to the case too.

Looks like you cleaned the terminals off nicely Oli from all that strategically placed varnish... 

I bought a load of those same tags a few days back in error (pressed the wrong button!) so suppose I'd better buy the correct crimper for them which is a must really.  I have a few crimpers here but mostly for the insulated barrel crimps.  I guess you've got the matching insulation jackets for them?

Yes, Paul is very impressed with his and i have no reason to doubt that mine will be equally as impressive.

I'll take a bit of time over the wiring layout, rather than just "making it work" lol.

Got some really nice connectors and ill do some tidy looms.

Cant Wait!

I usually get my transformers from France, which is slower than a slow boat lol.

Have to say, it's nice that the traffo is homegrown, just like the design, build and origin of the phonostage.

Having picture issues. Will try again later

Wont let me add more than 3...

It's a pain

Like the look of that Oli, whats it sound like?

Thanks you simon.

It's a must have, IMO

It's very hard to attribute any change in the sound solely to the change of transformer, Jim.

I changed the Jfets to a matched pair at the same time. The jfets are as exact as my meter would allow, which is to 4 digits but they were exactly the same.

When the 2SK170V were in, they were matched and I felt it made an audible difference, so took note of how the sound of the phonostage compared with those matching 2SK170V, and how it differed from the random fets I had in before them.

Upon listening today, I think I can pretty much say with confidence that the BF861C gets are far better in this circuit and that it has kept the positive attributes from the experience of the matched 2sk170v

I hope that bit makes sense.

Matching the Fets has expanded the channel separation, made a cleaner soundstage and has made a more layered presentation, exactly what I felt with the 2SK170V

However, there is a hologram like effect that was not there. A few times today, whilst listening to Pink Floyd's DSOTM, I have been startled by something in random areas in my field of senses. For instance, there is a spoken part in one of the tracks and as soon as it started I looked at the door on my left, believing someone was standing there saying something to me.

I put that down to not paying attention. But it kept happening. The more stuff i played, the more I felt I was hearing them differently, very much like a sensory experience.

Now, I am not saying it's down to the transformer, but that didnt happen with the 2SK170V, nor the random BF861C

Personally, if I could get the E&I transformer in small quantities, I'd buy a few and insist on them being used.

There is a caveat, when I turn the wick up, I do have some traffo originated hum. It minuscule, but I know it's there.

I'll build a copper shield as Paul did and hope it solves it.

I know you are right about that, Simon.

I wasnt able to match anything until very recently when I invested in some half decent (vs the Chinese cack I had) equipment, but I know there is better out there.

Thing is, everything have ever built has been PCB based and pretty much as simple as humanly possible.

The SOT23 tester is the first thing I have built from a diagram, and I think it has 4 bits on the vero board lol.

I'm still very much in the infancy here so Ive been learning on the job.

Your Paradise inspired the latest efforts to squeeze even more out of the Bigbottle and I think I have, by adopting the level of attention to build you exhibit.

I'm building mine with an offboard transformer so hopefully no issue with noise from it but can you confirm exactly what I need to ask for please? Will, ask Tiger and HFC for a quote once I know what to ask for. Don't get me wrong I've seen it mentioned here and there but just want to check. ....

Great, many thanks