My VTA ST 120 arrived!

I don't why this happens with my Pics...., posted on August 9, 2016 at 11:57:56
Cougar Audiophile Posts: 4574 Location: SoCal Joined: June 25, 2001	I did the preview and it was in the upright position. Then Posted it and now it's upside down!

I'm surprised the box says Dynaco on it becaise the , posted on August 9, 2016 at 12:44:26
Michael Samra Dealer Posts: 36118 Location: saginaw michigan Joined: January 30, 2005	Latino/VTA amps are so different and of much better quality than the Dynaco's ever were that it's kind of comical to see that..The VTA70 is built on a Dynaco ST70 chassis but that's where the similarity ends.At least they aren't called Dynacos. "For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong" H. L. Mencken

The same happens with many of my pictures., posted on August 9, 2016 at 12:45:58
Michael Samra Dealer Posts: 36118 Location: saginaw michigan Joined: January 30, 2005	I told Rod about it but now I just hold the I-phone longways when I snap photos. "For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong" H. L. Mencken

This just drives me crazy cause....., posted on August 9, 2016 at 13:02:03
Cougar Audiophile Posts: 4574 Location: SoCal Joined: June 25, 2001	other times it post correct. It has something to do with how the site loads up the pics. Too bad there was a way on the forum to go back and rotate it. Oh well.

Yes, I was tripping out on that too!, posted on August 9, 2016 at 13:06:06
Cougar Audiophile Posts: 4574 Location: SoCal Joined: June 25, 2001	Since they are so different. I did finally get the Russian K40 caps you had been telling me about but I just didn't the sizes in any of my gear to order some from you. Hope they sound awesome like I have been hearing! :)

Michael, I just sent you a PM. nt., posted on August 9, 2016 at 13:30:02
Cougar Audiophile Posts: 4574 Location: SoCal Joined: June 25, 2001	nt.

RE: My VTA ST 120 arrived!, posted on August 9, 2016 at 13:57:57
vinnie2 Audiophile Posts: 4481 Location: North Carolina Joined: September 28, 2013	To be honest Cougar, I think it might be a bit more exciting after you unpack it. : )

LOL! I did unpack it before I wrote the post., posted on August 9, 2016 at 14:03:15
Cougar Audiophile Posts: 4574 Location: SoCal Joined: June 25, 2001	so that's why I stated that but I need to finish a buddy's preamp before I can start on my VTA 120. I was checking to make sure all things were there and seeing what I may change. :) This will be a fun project/kit to build.

Pic update, so weird., posted on August 9, 2016 at 14:57:26
Cougar Audiophile Posts: 4574 Location: SoCal Joined: June 25, 2001	When I was on my Ipad and reviewed this post, the picture was right side up. Then I go to my laptop go onto AA and it's upside down! Just so weird. LOL!

RE: Pic update, so weird., posted on August 9, 2016 at 17:00:09
bcowen Audiophile Posts: 1076 Location: North Carolina Joined: December 19, 2015	You were obviously holding your iPad upside down. :)

LOL! yeah, I wish that was it! nt., posted on August 9, 2016 at 17:15:30
Cougar Audiophile Posts: 4574 Location: SoCal Joined: June 25, 2001	nt.

RE: Michael, I just sent you a PM. nt., posted on August 10, 2016 at 18:07:01
Michael Samra Dealer Posts: 36118 Location: saginaw michigan Joined: January 30, 2005	Got it. "For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong" H. L. Mencken

Pic of the driver board., posted on August 12, 2016 at 14:13:38
Cougar Audiophile Posts: 4574 Location: SoCal Joined: June 25, 2001	I'm just waiting for the Jensen copper film caps to come in to finish it up. Just need to put the Jensen's in and then the Russian K40's.

My Gold Lion KT88's came in today., posted on August 12, 2016 at 15:57:13
Cougar Audiophile Posts: 4574 Location: SoCal Joined: June 25, 2001	So now I have all my tubes for my VTA 120. I will start to work on the chassis tomorrow since I have to wait for the Jensen cap to come in before I can finish the driver board.

RE: My Gold Lion KT88's came in today., posted on August 12, 2016 at 16:56:14
vinnie2 Audiophile Posts: 4481 Location: North Carolina Joined: September 28, 2013	How come you never unwrap things before you take a picture to show us? I mean the boxes are nice and all, but I for one would like to see the TUBES! : )

For you vinnie!, posted on August 12, 2016 at 18:14:39
Cougar Audiophile Posts: 4574 Location: SoCal Joined: June 25, 2001	Hope you like it! : )

RE: For you vinnie!, posted on August 12, 2016 at 18:18:56
vinnie2 Audiophile Posts: 4481 Location: North Carolina Joined: September 28, 2013	Awwwwh, ain't that pretty! Thanks Cougar!

You're Welcome!, posted on August 12, 2016 at 18:23:11
Cougar Audiophile Posts: 4574 Location: SoCal Joined: June 25, 2001	It would be more pretty when it's fired up with all the other tubes at night when I finally finish. Just going back and forth between that preamp and this VTA 120.

A few suggestions here., posted on August 13, 2016 at 00:29:26

Michael Samra
Dealer

Posts: 36118
Location: saginaw michigan
Joined: January 30, 2005

Steve
Those larger resistors are metal oxides and those have to go.Get yourself some Koa Speer SPR2 which are carbon film..There is way too much metal film on that board to give you that smooth elegant sound.Not to be a kill joy,the Jensen coppers sound great when they work but have been known to have trouble.The Russian K40y or KBG caps with different leads are wonderful caps..The Jensens are fine but definitely lose those metal oxides and metal films.I still have to put the silver mica bypasses in and the film cap supply.
"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong" H. L. Mencken

RE: A few suggestions here., posted on August 13, 2016 at 01:24:59

Cougar
Audiophile

Posts: 4574
Location: SoCal
Joined: June 25, 2001

I have some Takman Carbon film resistors coming in for the input resistors and the ones going to the KT88's that will replace those metal oxides.

The Jensen's have worked fine for me and haven't had any issues with them. They always sound great. Way better than what came with the kit.

I will try the driver board with the resistors it came with before putting in the Takman's to see how it sounds to my ears. Then I will start making changes to my taste. I do agree with the metal oxides though.

Michael, Thank you for the tips! I always appreciate them.

I have a few suggestions also., posted on August 14, 2016 at 12:31:09

Cougar
Audiophile

Posts: 4574
Location: SoCal
Joined: June 25, 2001

Michael, is that picture of that board you posted actually in one of your amps? If so, I have some suggestions as well. Those solder joints need to be redone. Quite a few have cold solder joints and looking at the top of the board hardly any soldered flowed to the top side of the board/component. Looks like the solder iron was not hot enough. Solder flux paste would have done wonders. The solder should be flow nicely and wet on both sides. Should be nice and shinny. Look at the board I did and you will see.

Those joints will degrade the sound and may even cause noise if in the signal path, the others will become opens or intermittent in time.

Just trying to share some info. :)

Pic of the Jensen's copper foils installed today., posted on August 19, 2016 at 16:08:56
Cougar Audiophile Posts: 4574 Location: SoCal Joined: June 25, 2001	Here is a pic of them installed. I still need to install the Russian K40's. Then I need to clean off the flux on the bottom side of the pcb.

Completed vta120 pcb with the Russian..., posted on August 20, 2016 at 13:19:12
Cougar Audiophile Posts: 4574 Location: SoCal Joined: June 25, 2001	K40 caps. Now I can get started on mounting the transformers and sockets on the chassis.

Another pic of my VTA -120 build., posted on August 24, 2016 at 21:41:06
Cougar Audiophile Posts: 4574 Location: SoCal Joined: June 25, 2001	I put in the sockets, switch, fuse holder, and the Cardas solid copper bullet Rhodium plated speaker binding post. More pics to come.

More pics, posted on August 25, 2016 at 14:36:28

Cougar
Audiophile

Posts: 4574
Location: SoCal
Joined: June 25, 2001

Here's some more pics.

RE: More pics, posted on August 25, 2016 at 14:42:19
Cougar Audiophile Posts: 4574 Location: SoCal Joined: June 25, 2001	Nt.

RE: More pics, posted on August 25, 2016 at 14:43:15
Cougar Audiophile Posts: 4574 Location: SoCal Joined: June 25, 2001	Nt.

RE: Completed vta120 pcb with the Russian..., posted on August 27, 2016 at 10:51:16
markeby Audiophile Posts: 4 Location: Texas Joined: August 27, 2016	I built this amp this year myself. Tried Jensen caps (one channel to compare with the other) and found the results indistinguishable. In my separate SP-9 preamp though, better caps (used Mundorf Supreme) there was a huge improvement in the clearity and highs.

RE: More pics, posted on August 27, 2016 at 11:02:19
markeby Audiophile Posts: 4 Location: Texas Joined: August 27, 2016	I also replaced the mono switch with a genuine Alps Blue Velvet for gain control, and painted the transformers as recommended in the instructions to minimize rust and keep up the appearance.

How long were Jensen caps in before....., posted on August 27, 2016 at 15:42:16
Cougar Audiophile Posts: 4574 Location: SoCal Joined: June 25, 2001	you compared them to the other channel. I too had this same result when I first put the Jensen's in my BAT, but after 100 hour they started to open up and come alive. One of the better caps I have ever used. I tried Mundorf caps and they were not even close to the Jensen's. The Mundorf's are overrated.

Tube DIY Asylum

My VTA ST 120 arrived!

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