Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jun 9, 2021 16:56:22 GMT
Vinyl is back! Again, again. I'm so sick of having to go without. Anyway, Horrible Job of trying to tin the enamelled wires on the Audyns, but it's all up and running I've bought a solder pot which I am hoping will make things easier. I'll have a go at the caps again then. Must admit, I think I have pushed this individual PCB to its limit in terms of soldering and desoldering so I may flog it when it's finished and rebuild again because I need to be able to try things out without worrying that the board may die. New MultiFET boards too, as once again the HiFi god's have decided to make the ones we use obsolete. Same company and spec, just different IDSS range. Thankfully there is no change to the sound quality, so I am well happy. Looks a bit rough and ready, but I'll get it finished off soon.
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optical
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Post by optical on Jun 10, 2021 8:18:19 GMT
I'm enjoying the short signal paths in that stage Oli.
Just wondering are the tubes a tad microphonic hence the dampers? It's just whenever I've used dampers I find it can remove some dynamics and punch. Possible placebo effect but I think it's there. Experienced it in phono stages and pre-amps.
Probably splitting hairs here and may well make sod all difference but have you and Alan considered making a point to point version of a BB stage at all or indeed adding tube rectification?
Sorry just thinking out loud there and you've probably considered all those avenues and more regarding the stage but I'm a curious bugger . . . lol
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jun 10, 2021 9:47:44 GMT
I'm enjoying the short signal paths in that stage Oli. Just wondering are the tubes a tad microphonic hence the dampers? It's just whenever I've used dampers I find it can remove some dynamics and punch. Possible placebo effect but I think it's there. Experienced it in phono stages and pre-amps. Probably splitting hairs here and may well make sod all difference but have you and Alan considered making a point to point version of a BB stage at all or indeed adding tube rectification? Sorry just thinking out loud there and you've probably considered all those avenues and more regarding the stage but I'm a curious bugger . . . lol Yeah, super short signal wiring, no wires crossing each other either. Makes a non-conforming layout on the back where input is on top and out put below, but it works really well. Valves are absoultely dead silent. I was checking them with a pencil, just tapping them casually with the volume on full. Not a peep. The Dampers havent had any effect as far as i can tell. I would imagine that if you are hearing a difference with them, then they are working and the valves are microphonic, even if it's tiny amounts. That dynamism and punch is in good supply here. "Probably splitting hairs here and may well make sod all difference but have you and Alan considered making a point to point version of a BB stage at all or indeed adding tube rectification?
Sorry just thinking out loud there and you've probably considered all those avenues and more regarding the stage but I'm a curious bugger . . . lol"Ha! You would not believe how often people ask me that. P2P: Inconsistent builds - Everything P2P has inconsistancy, whether it be one resister having longer legs on one channel than the other, or even between entire units having slightly different layouts etc. It's not easy to manually make things identical. P2P also *usually* leads to longer signal paths, which you dont want in a phonostage. PCB: High quality PCB's will not be detrimental to performance at all. Regardless of what you read, or are told. It's marketing bollocks, basically. The BB3 uses really high quality PCBs. Every single one is identical in terms of track length, impedance per channel/per unit and signal path. Keeping the components on the PCB (tightly soldered in place) reduces vibration, reduces airborne interference and noise. For me, it was a no contest. Valve regulation: Not for the BB3, but the BBU (Ultimate) has valve regulation, as well as some madness thrown in to. Thats still awaiting the PCB layout to be finalised but should be able to show photos of a working prototype by the end of the year.
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Post by firebottle on Jun 10, 2021 10:21:31 GMT
Chris was asking about valve rectification not valve regulation. Valve regulation gives no benefit to the BB3 circuitry, it is semi regulated already.
The closest point to point with any family relevance to the BB3 is the Vivant phono stage that I used to make. However that doesn't have the magic circuitry of the BB3.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jun 10, 2021 10:50:34 GMT
Chris was asking about valve rectification not valve regulation. Valve regulation gives no benefit to the BB3 circuitry, it is semi regulated already. The closest point to point with any family relevance to the BB3 is the Vivant phono stage that I used to make. However that doesn't have the magic circuitry of the BB3. Good point lol Must read more carefully!
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jun 20, 2021 14:25:14 GMT
I hope you've all cleaned your reading glasses, as I am working on a rather long-winded write up from Angus's visit to mine today. I'll give you a clue......it involves Townshend bars 😉
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Post by stevew on Jun 20, 2021 16:03:45 GMT
Haha... excellent! My bars arrived this week. Still slightly gobsmacked at the difference they make even on stand mounts.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jun 20, 2021 16:11:04 GMT
Haha... excellent! My bars arrived this week. Still slightly gobsmacked at the difference they make even on stand mounts. Well i will tell you all about my own gobsmacking revelatory experience, that i am still enjoying now! I just have to do the writeup lol
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Post by robbiegong on Jun 20, 2021 19:08:41 GMT
Haha... excellent! My bars arrived this week. Still slightly gobsmacked at the difference they make even on stand mounts. Well i will tell you all about my own gobsmacking revelatory experience, that i am still enjoying now! I just have to do the writeup lol Get that write-up done lad, we are all ears/eyes
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jun 20, 2021 19:09:19 GMT
Well i will tell you all about my own gobsmacking revelatory experience, that i am still enjoying now! I just have to do the writeup lol Get that write up done lad, we are all ears/eyes I'll get on it shortly. So much to process from today mate.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jun 21, 2021 11:26:35 GMT
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Post by macca on Jun 21, 2021 11:57:50 GMT
Where's Mister Shifter? Is he on his tea break?
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Post by macca on Jun 21, 2021 11:59:19 GMT
Seriously though this should be a big upgrade. You could do with something to break up that blank wall though.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jun 21, 2021 12:32:09 GMT
Seriously though this should be a big upgrade. You could do with something to break up that blank wall though. Yeah, totally agree. I'm going to make some artistic acoustic panels to reduce reflections. The 12" I gained in-between the speakers is proving very welcome, but the room is now a little echoey. However, I have proper separation between channels. I'll get to it, just resting my devastated back. I need to pull the speakers away from the wall a wee bit too.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jun 21, 2021 12:40:32 GMT
Here's the current view
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Post by robbiegong on Jun 21, 2021 14:05:02 GMT
Nice speak's Olster, how you finding them ?
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jun 21, 2021 14:45:48 GMT
Nice speak's Olster, how you finding them ? Thanks Rob I absolutely adore them. Massively revealing, transparent and tonally very satisfying without ever getting into the "Warm Territory" I feel very lucky to have them.
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Post by robbiegong on Jun 21, 2021 14:59:32 GMT
Nice speak's Olster, how you finding them ? Thanks Rob I absolutely adore them. Massively revealing, transparent and tonally very satisfying without ever getting into the "Warm Territory" I feel very lucky to have them. Nice one, sounds like me and the D7's you can tell when a speaker has been done properly / well
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Post by rexton on Jun 21, 2021 19:40:24 GMT
Could you replace your hifi rack with something smaller or rehouse it? I'm thinking you mnight get another 3-6" space bewteen the speaker, maybe remove the guitars and replace with your hifi kit?
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Post by electronumpty on Jun 21, 2021 20:00:02 GMT
Knock down some walls!! 🙂
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jun 21, 2021 20:52:10 GMT
Could you replace your hifi rack with something smaller or rehouse it? I'm thinking you mnight get another 3-6" space bewteen the speaker, maybe remove the guitars and replace with your hifi kit? Yes, that would be phase two of my three phase plan. Phase 3 was to get podiums or bars and that jumped two turns lol. Just not sure how I'd relocate the TT. I like the wall shelf and it's benefits have been epic, so to then deliberately hinder it by putting it between the speakers would not sit well with me. I also do not want long interconnects off the back of the TT with the wall shelf still where it is. Not sure what to do about that yet
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dt79
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Post by dt79 on Jun 21, 2021 20:54:21 GMT
Could you replace your hifi rack with something smaller or rehouse it? I'm thinking you mnight get another 3-6" space bewteen the speaker, maybe remove the guitars and replace with your hifi kit? Yes, that would be phase two of my three phase plan. Phase 3 was to get podiums or bars and that jumped two turns lol. Just not sure how I'd relocate the TT. I like the wall shelf and it's benefits have been epic, so to then deliberately hinder it by putting it between the speakers would not sit well with me. I also do not want long interconnects off the back of the TT with the wall shelf still where it is. Not sure what to do about that yet Could you locate your BB3 with the turntable (on a smaller shelf underneath perhaps), and then have longer interconnects going to the rest of your system?
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jun 21, 2021 20:56:34 GMT
Yes, that would be phase two of my three phase plan. Phase 3 was to get podiums or bars and that jumped two turns lol. Just not sure how I'd relocate the TT. I like the wall shelf and it's benefits have been epic, so to then deliberately hinder it by putting it between the speakers would not sit well with me. I also do not want long interconnects off the back of the TT with the wall shelf still where it is. Not sure what to do about that yet Could you locate your BB3 with the turntable (on a smaller shelf underneath perhaps), and then have longer interconnects going to the rest of your system? I could do, but I'd have to look at how the capacitance of the cable would look. May be nothing to worry about, but I need to ask some questions in that regard
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jun 21, 2021 21:04:29 GMT
Knock down some walls!! 🙂 It was mentioned 🤣
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Post by antonio on Jun 22, 2021 1:11:03 GMT
Removing the piano has made everything look more 'right' to me, and if sounding a little echoey your planned 'art' on the wall will surely help: Of course moving the rack would give you more space, but as long as you can still access your equipment I wouldn't worry too much, cable lengths at the moment are pretty much ideal I would have thought
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jun 22, 2021 16:59:33 GMT
Well definitely looks more different now 😬
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Post by macca on Jun 22, 2021 17:15:05 GMT
That's got to be a lot better now then?
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jun 22, 2021 17:16:53 GMT
That's got to be a lot better now then? Unrecognisable in all honesty. I have a layer of depth now which is very welcome. Lost some more bass interaction with the room too. Very different sounding system now...it's quite odd.
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Post by macca on Jun 22, 2021 17:48:59 GMT
will take you a while to acclimatize. I've had that when moving a system to a whole new house (I moved 8 times in 9 years). Even when it was better it took a while for my brain to adjust.
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Post by stevew on Jun 22, 2021 18:10:55 GMT
Excellent… well done
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