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Post by macca on Jul 17, 2020 11:37:35 GMT
I can't keep up with all these projects. I looked for 'AWM preamplifier' and found nothing. What's it all about? it's not another of these bloody valve thing is it?  |
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Post by jimbo on Jul 17, 2020 11:54:00 GMT
 Hi is always quietly working away on something Martin.
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Post by brian2957 on Jul 17, 2020 13:18:49 GMT
You have PM Oli .
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Post by electronumpty on Jul 17, 2020 14:25:07 GMT
Up to summink again!
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jul 17, 2020 16:45:46 GMT
I can't keep up with all these projects. I looked for 'AWM preamplifier' and found nothing. What's it all about? it's not another of these bloody valve thing is it? Its a preamp... Or a straight buffer. Depends how you use it. Its the newest Bigbottle product in collaboration with Phonomac......hence the 'AWM' moniker. His circuit, my nagging....perfection. |
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Post by firebottle on Jul 17, 2020 17:35:07 GMT
Bigman nagging..  nag.. nag.. nag.. nag..  Seems familiar.  PS I presume you mean Phonomac. |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jul 17, 2020 17:47:30 GMT
Bigman nagging.. nag.. nag.. nag.. nag.. Seems familiar. PS I presume you mean Phonomac. Hahahaha, yes, but look where we're at for all the nagging and grafting! Yes, Phonomac.....bloody phone |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jul 23, 2020 22:32:05 GMT
Today has been a loooooooong day. A 8.00 set off to Angus's House and got home at 21:00, to get the Neurochrome 686 upgraded!!!! I have to say, Angus is an absolute legend .. a proper craftsman, and it was an education to see him work. HUGE thanks to him for his help today. So, on to the details. SMPS taken out....Humongous Toroidal transformer from Toroidy.pl installed, 4x Bridge rectifiers a x 4 Mundorf Caps. Obviously the initial plan was to use Nichicons but it quickly became apparent that they were not going to fit in the case and leave enough space for everything else. This also meant that the vintage cap clamps i bought would no longer be usable. Anyway, here are a few pics of how it turned out. Ill write more tomorrow but as you can imagine....im knackered lol          |
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Post by jimbo on Jul 24, 2020 11:21:34 GMT
Now that Toroid does look a beast. I expect your going to get a vice like grip on those 880s!
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jul 24, 2020 11:55:52 GMT
Now that Toroid does look a beast. I expect your going to get a vice like grip on those 880s! I've been listening since 0900 and its ridiculous how much difference this has made. I am seriously starting to wonder WTF people are thinking deliberately powering HiFi with SMPS And XLRS for that matter....fucking shite is what they are. |
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Post by jimbo on Jul 24, 2020 12:57:17 GMT
SMPS only used by manufacturers because they are a cheap way of cost cutting and take up less space?
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jul 24, 2020 13:09:12 GMT
SMPS only used by manufacturers because they are a cheap way of cost cutting and take up less space? I think its because they are universal too, usually operating from 100v to 250v, so can send them worldwide off a standard SMPS. But, they are shite. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2020 14:02:38 GMT
The bottom line is about two reasons for SMPS, size to power ratio and cost. The way a SMPS works is on higher frequencies so in the UK we have 50Hz to play with hence why Toroidal's to obtain respectable power outputs are MUCH larger, a switcher moving at 30Khz or above needs much smaller TX's and caps to produce the same power as say a basic 500va tx for a pre amp with a couple of secondaries. Our company makes all forms of power supplies for many industries, and the smps to delivery the sort of basic current you are using with the small to medium tx and associated bridges and caps and soft start for about 1/3 of the size. performance not withstanding of coarse I notice they are four secondaries on the tx Oli are both modules in a dual differential configuration? Not wishing to take anything way for the neat job the gent did for you, what was difficult about fitting six components to an alloy plate and some basic wiring Oli, you seem to be quite capable from the other items I have seen in your blogs. Some time, forging a template and a pillar drill plus some patience would be required to fabricate that fit, just curious that's all. That said glad you are starting to bring your amplifier up to speed, will take a while to settle down though, you have the caps, bridges and wiring to bed in as well. |
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Post by sq225917 on Jul 24, 2020 14:23:11 GMT
Hindsight is always 20/20, just imagine if you'd had 4 blind holes in the back of the face plate to sink those rectifiers, you could have fitted monster caps.
It has to be bloody tight in there now, proper knuckle scraper...
😜
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jul 24, 2020 14:23:32 GMT
The bottom line is about two reasons for SMPS, size to power ratio and cost. The way a SMPS works is on higher frequencies so in the UK we have 50Hz to play with hence why Toroidal's to obtain respectable power outputs are MUCH larger, a switcher moving at 30Khz or above needs much smaller TX's and caps to produce the same power as say a basic 500va tx for a pre amp with a couple of secondaries. Our company makes all forms of power supplies for many industries, and the smps to delivery the sort of basic current you are using with the small to medium tx and associated bridges and caps and soft start for about 1/3 of the size. performance not withstanding of coarse I notice they are four secondaries on the tx Oli are both modules in a dual differential configuration? Not wishing to take anything way for the neat job the gent did for you, what was difficult about fitting six components to an alloy plate and some basic wiring Oli, you seem to be quite capable from the other items I have seen in your blogs. Some time, forging a template and a pillar drill plus some patience would be required to fabricate that fit, just curious that's all. That said glad you are starting to bring your amplifier up to speed, will take a while to settle down though, you have the caps, bridges and wiring to bed in as well. Well, 2 things stopped me doing this myself: 1) Angus is a bona-fide Engineer, at God level, so in the realms of what this is working at in terms of voltage and Amps, i really wanted an expert to help 2) Angus is also a Sansui Guru, genuinly. This Neurochrome uses a chip, but the circuit design is eerily simar to the High End Sansuis. Its what he has spent decades researching, working on, improving and fettling to extract High End performance out of often under appreciated mid range amplifiers. The fact he offered his time and expertise to me, and his time, meant it was an absolutely essential i accepted his offer to help. What I am left with is a power supply which is tailor made for peak performance, devised on a level of understanding of how this circuit works best, possibly equalled only be the designer. Yes, i could have done a PSU, bit it wouldn't have been like this one. Totally worth the 13hr day. |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jul 24, 2020 14:25:40 GMT
Hindsight is always 20/20, just imagine if you'd had 4 blind holes in the back of the face plate to sink those rectifiers, you could have fitted monster caps. It has to be bloody tight in there now, proper knuckle scraper... 😜 Absolutely, on all accounts... Its bloody heavy too lol |
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Post by sq225917 on Jul 24, 2020 14:26:23 GMT
four diodes, four scondaries, full wave for a dual-mono bipolar psu.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2020 15:25:54 GMT
Thank you for the explanation Oli, God like status love the love |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2020 16:37:53 GMT
Bigman nagging.. nag.. nag.. nag.. nag.. Seems familiar. PS I presume you mean Phonomac. Hahahaha, yes, but look where we're at for all the nagging and grafting! Yes, Phonomac.....bloody phone Oi! Less talkin' an' more naggin'.....cummon man, pull yer ruddy socks up!!!  |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jul 26, 2020 12:00:38 GMT
More shenanigans here today. I have mounted my PecanPi, Samsung SSD AND RPI onto a decent lump of aluminium. I have also put a piece of unequal aluminium on top to make a decent bracket for the RCA sockets to be anchored too. Its not pretty and the aluminium is so soft that its pretty hard to be absolutely accurate with the drilling, so its a good job it won't be on show lol However, 100% functionality is all I wanted, and its doing the job perfectly. Marvellous        |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jul 26, 2020 12:05:13 GMT
In action   |
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Post by electronumpty on Jul 26, 2020 12:39:15 GMT
Love the exposed look of the bits and pieces! Don't drink any coffee near the rack!
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Post by stevew on Jul 26, 2020 13:35:04 GMT
Excellent.
Wondered how you did the RCA’s.
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orchardaudio
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How do you like them apples?
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Post by orchardaudio on Jul 26, 2020 13:49:39 GMT
Great work.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jul 26, 2020 13:50:10 GMT
Excellent. Wondered how you did the RCA’s. Solder the + & - on the underside of the PCB where the XLR pins are. As Leo advised me... Works great |
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Post by firebottle on Jul 26, 2020 18:10:10 GMT
Not the + and zero volt (common)?
+ and - off the XLR would result in the common (zero volt - signal earth) being driven, that could upset following equipment.
Just trying to be accurate for others to follow.
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orchardaudio
Regular
How do you like them apples?
Posts: 146
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Post by orchardaudio on Jul 26, 2020 18:15:42 GMT
Not the + and zero volt (common)? + and - off the XLR would result in the common (zero volt - signal earth) being driven, that could upset following equipment. Just trying to be accurate for others to follow. Yes, the + (pin 2) and ground (pin 1). |
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Post by stevew on Jul 26, 2020 18:59:34 GMT
Not the + and zero volt (common)? + and - off the XLR would result in the common (zero volt - signal earth) being driven, that could upset following equipment. Just trying to be accurate for others to follow. Not going near my new Pecan with a soldering iron. I have history. |
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Post by sq225917 on Jul 26, 2020 21:27:43 GMT
Looks good
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jul 26, 2020 22:20:20 GMT
Its doing a great job...i am very happy with it. |
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Hi is always quietly working away on something Martin.
nag.. 
