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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2018 11:00:46 GMT
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Oct 18, 2018 11:29:47 GMT
Taking shape nicely, Oliver. I saw YNWaN mention soldering both sides of the PCB. Did he ever elaborate as to why? Was it just an extra measure to ensure no dry joints, or was there more to it?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2018 13:20:36 GMT
Taking shape nicely, Oliver. I saw YNWaN mention soldering both sides of the PCB. Did he ever elaborate as to why? Was it just an extra measure to ensure no dry joints, or was there more to it? He hasn't said why as yet, I did it anyway, although I think I got a bit carried away. |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Oct 18, 2018 13:25:19 GMT
He’s a meticulous kind of guy, but he usually talks sense. It does look better too.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2018 7:12:47 GMT
Didn't get much time yesterday so no soldering. I did stuff the board to see how everything is looking. Noticed the big green caps were a bit too wide for the space they need to go. Fortunately, I have a couple of spacers that should lift them off the board a little. Just enough to clear the resistors it's sitting on. Making a list of minor revisions to the board as I get to anything I'd like to change. It's mainly spacing on the board. A couple of pics of where I'm at.   |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Oct 20, 2018 7:32:10 GMT
I’m just wondering how you plan to power this? Is it going to be a 2 box Jonnie?
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Post by karma67 on Oct 20, 2018 7:46:24 GMT
Taking shape nicely, Oliver. I saw YNWaN mention soldering both sides of the PCB. Did he ever elaborate as to why? Was it just an extra measure to ensure no dry joints, or was there more to it? i thought you only soldered on the back of the board? all the boards ive seen have it done this way. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2018 9:17:47 GMT
I’m just wondering how you plan to power this? Is it going to be a 2 box Jonnie? The PSU circuit is incorporated in the PCB so all that's required is a transformer. I tried a separate box for the transformer previously and it made no difference to being in the same box *as long as* the transformer is sufficiently mounted and shielded from the PCB. This is easy to achieve, especially with our Chinese friends offering plenty of cheap items. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2018 9:20:19 GMT
Taking shape nicely, Oliver. I saw YNWaN mention soldering both sides of the PCB. Did he ever elaborate as to why? Was it just an extra measure to ensure no dry joints, or was there more to it? i thought you only soldered on the back of the board? all the boards ive seen have it done this way. Me too mate. I've always done it that way but YNWan's work is pretty high quality (of what I've seen) so happy to give it a try. Needs a bit more heat flow apparently. I'll do that later. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2018 21:06:30 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2018 6:09:08 GMT
Hi Oliver,
Got all my bits.
I can mow start stuffing my board, still unsure if I'll put it in a separate case or squeeze it in the dcb1 turbo case.
Nice work on yours and great pics!!
S
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Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2018 6:41:42 GMT
Hi Oliver, Got all my bits. I can mow start stuffing my board, still unsure if I'll put it in a separate case or squeeze it in the dcb1 turbo case. Nice work on yours and great pics!! S Hi Steve, Good to see you here. I'm not sure youre gonna fit it In to the DCB1 casework! I think it'll be too tall. I was considering buying a bigger Chassis for the DCB1 which would allow both boards to be in there and have plenty of room for the transformers. I'll try and find the link. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2018 6:52:11 GMT
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Oct 21, 2018 7:16:11 GMT
It amazes me how polished these cases look today. I remember when your only choice was an enclosure from Maplins. Naff didn’t begin to describe them.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2018 9:53:56 GMT
It amazes me how polished these cases look today. I remember when your only choice was an enclosure from Maplins. Naff didn’t begin to describe them. This guy/company makes really nice cases. The finish is above the average Chinese level I usual see. Had absolutely no interference issues at all. I like them. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2019 0:20:56 GMT
Been a while since this was updated.
This phonostage is now in the homes of 20 people!!!
By that I mean Two group buys have taken place for the PCB. The buyer populates the board, adds a transformer and then puts it in a case.
Voila, simple.
20 boards now sold and as far as I know, are being built. Early days and no reports of any finished projects but I did sell my original phonostage to a very well known forum person, who is very pleased with it.
I have asked him for some feedback but as hes only had it since Friday, I'll give him a chance lol.
I amp part way through building my third unit, in a smaller chassis. The new board has been tweaked to remove all the spare resistor spaces as they are no longer required.
I'll put some pics up of the progress and of the new boards.
It's been great fun.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2019 0:24:24 GMT
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jan 2, 2019 6:37:27 GMT
It’s looking really sumptuous already. The build quality suggests something way more expensive. It’s going to be popular, I reckon. |
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Post by antonio on Jan 2, 2019 6:48:13 GMT
Is this the one you are now using Bigman?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2019 7:54:45 GMT
It’s looking really sumptuous already. The build quality suggests something way more expensive. It’s going to be popular, I reckon. The quality of the PCB is as good as it gets for the price. £30 per board. 245x90mm. I am very happy with the quality. The components are all really good quality. Vishay 1% resistors, Vishay 1% pp caps where possible. It's a good build in its standard form. Of course, you could go mad and fit ZFoil everywhere which I am planning on doing in the future. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2019 7:55:28 GMT
Is this the one you are now using Bigman? Yes Dave. It's seen off everything I have managed to try in house. Very happy with the results. |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jan 2, 2019 8:00:40 GMT
Sorry to ask what’s probably obvious, but are you just selling the board to people, or is there a kit? I can see both being popular, as would a finished model.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2019 15:47:43 GMT
Sorry to ask what’s probably obvious, but are you just selling the board to people, or is there a kit? I can see both being popular, as would a finished model. Not daft mate I made the necessary enquiries as to whether people would want a kit but the opinion that came back was that they wanted some flexibility to change the components where they felt they wanted a little bit extra. One of the guys who has the PCB is putting charcroft resistors in, where you can,because of a few values on the board, it's not possible to use z foil all over He has opted to put the best capacitors in as well. Personally I felt the ones picked on the BOM were ones that could be easily sourced and also have a very respectable priced for the quality of component that they would be getting. However, the opinion was that it wasn't something that was required at the time so I abandoned the idea. As for whether it's Just kit form or in DIY form, well I'm not against building these for anybody that would want one! The next one I'm building would be pretty much the finished article if somebody was to buy one. so the chassis, the components, the transformer, the RCA sockets and other peripherals would be pretty much final choices at a very competitive price. Probably around £550 for the finished article delivered to your door! |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2019 17:56:56 GMT
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jan 2, 2019 18:13:21 GMT
Sorry to ask what’s probably obvious, but are you just selling the board to people, or is there a kit? I can see both being popular, as would a finished model. Not daft mate I made the necessary enquiries as to whether people would want a kit but the opinion that came back was that they wanted some flexibility to change the components where they felt they wanted a little bit extra. One of the guys who has the PCB is putting charcroft resistors in, where you can,because of a few values on the board, it's not possible to use z foil all over He has opted to put the best capacitors in as well. Personally I felt the ones picked on the BOM were ones that could be easily sourced and also have a very respectable priced for the quality of component that they would be getting. However, the opinion was that it wasn't something that was required at the time so I abandoned the idea. As for whether it's Just kit form or in DIY form, well I'm not against building these for anybody that would want one! The next one I'm building would be pretty much the finished article if somebody was to buy one. so the chassis, the components, the transformer, the RCA sockets and other peripherals would be pretty much final choices at a very competitive price. Probably around £550 for the finished article delivered to your door! I’ve seen under the hood of all the competitors at that price. Nothing is in the same league. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2019 18:20:39 GMT
Not daft mate I made the necessary enquiries as to whether people would want a kit but the opinion that came back was that they wanted some flexibility to change the components where they felt they wanted a little bit extra. One of the guys who has the PCB is putting charcroft resistors in, where you can,because of a few values on the board, it's not possible to use z foil all over He has opted to put the best capacitors in as well. Personally I felt the ones picked on the BOM were ones that could be easily sourced and also have a very respectable priced for the quality of component that they would be getting. However, the opinion was that it wasn't something that was required at the time so I abandoned the idea. As for whether it's Just kit form or in DIY form, well I'm not against building these for anybody that would want one! The next one I'm building would be pretty much the finished article if somebody was to buy one. so the chassis, the components, the transformer, the RCA sockets and other peripherals would be pretty much final choices at a very competitive price. Probably around £550 for the finished article delivered to your door! I’ve seen under the hood of all the competitors at that price. Nothing is in the same league. Yep, I know! Lol. Just kidding. It is a very well thought out design by Alan (Firebottle) and has a large portion of his Vivant phonostages design in it too. The main differences are the third Valve, as the Vivant only has two and the fact this has Split EQ. The Vivant is £1000+. This is my effort to bring an affordable Valve phonostage into the hands of those like me. Not gifted with much wealth bit determined to get what represents the best value for money. JPS64 and Firebottle are the only way this thing came to be. Without them, I'd still be trying to draw the circuit lol |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2019 20:58:08 GMT
Update,
After weeks of waiting, the Aluminium casework *should* be here tomorrow.
Still no transformer, the French company making them for me only do them once per month 😆 They tell me it should be early February! I can't moan because they have charged half the price of what I'd pay else where for the same spec sheet.
If making phonostages was a career, I just wouldn't be able to use them. The turnaround is far too slow, but for the odd one, they are a superb find.
Managed to source my special hook up wire too. It's getting harder to get now for some reason. I suppose that happens when you deal with obscure outlets. Interestingly,one of the guys building one of these has managed to find an alternative seller. Valab of Asia, makes what I call 'proper' stuff. No extra markup etc. Just good low prices for top quality stuff. Lots of different cables etc. Look him up.
His LCR phonostage is of interest to me. I will be getting a listen soon!
More to follow once I get this cast off and I can get to work. Looks like end of Feb before this will be done.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2019 13:52:59 GMT
Too much fukin about for me.......
Would luv to hear Walpurgis Nachts one though.
DONT BUILD ONE, JUST BUY ONE.
WTF?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2019 17:32:33 GMT
Too much fukin about for me....... Would luv to hear Walpurgis Nachts one though. DONT BUILD ONE, JUST BUY ONE. WTF? If i could find something that does what this one can for £350, i would! |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2019 20:26:21 GMT
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