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In Reply to: RE: Mystery has an end, in this case, enough is enough posted by GSH on November 16, 2014 at 21:26:35
Interesting. This is an old one for sure. Probably I built it in the middle '90's.
I took this picture many years ago-- I recognize my old carpet (underneath it).
I didn't give these pictures out, but I took two of them along to Room 2020, my old demo room at Denver's RMAF show.
I think someone must have swiped this one! I had them there so I could show a visitor an underchassis, should he ask, without having to remove the bottom cover of one of the show amps that were playing (which were several years newer than this old picture).
I therefore could teach or lecture from the picture, and could comment on what had improved in the newer Models that was not in the old picture.
I don't know who you are, GSH and I certainly made you no promises, so I think you owe this forum your full name right here and now: I think you should do that... so that I may understand.
New models of this amp are different, but the currents, voltages and tube types are the same. Layout, parts and wiring have changed much over the years in the search for better performance.
Something like this post had to happen someday, it's kind of like a nice, plump peach hanging there on its tree, all ripe and ready to be picked by someone.
Since I don't know your name, only "GSH", and you don't know me at all-- you could have called me, and I would have let you post this honestly, as it's very old and not current.. After all, someone did steal my picture!
(Heck!-- I wonder who that was)!
No matter. Have at it guys. Make as many comments/ideas as you want. You may also ask me questions-- feel free to do so.
I will come on the forum occasionally and have a look at what you say and ask, and see if I have an answer for you. I won't do that every day, but I'll follow-up when I can.
This is open to every one on this forum, but I do require that it be done with respect, honesty and courtesy to everyone concerned.
---Dennis---
Follow Ups:
"Something like this post had to happen someday, it's kind of like a nice, plump peach hanging there on its tree, all ripe and ready to be picked by someone."
I'm glad you see the justification in this.
"I don't know who you are, GSH and I certainly made you no promises, so I think you owe this forum your full name right here and now"
I don't owe anybody anything, yet I will have to point out the obvious (again). JM addresses me by name in almost every response to a post I make, including right here in this thread. How this escapes your attention, I don't know. This kind of apparent senility also appears in the long thread/debate below where numerous misunderstandings are formed.
My moniker is just my initials, my first name is already staring you in the face, my given middle name is Stuart, and my family name is Handley.
Feel better now ? Has this changed anything? Do you remember receiving my call(s) during the process of my building the amp that now has the underside photo posted in this same thread? Do you see why now after such pontificating about superior untouchable build quality, that this must be finally addressed? For the benefit of all, including you?
From what I understand, the, your, amp in the photo is about 6-7 years old, which is when I made a horribly failed attempt to build something similar, which JM refers to all the time. So no folks, this is NOT from the 90's, it's from about 2007.
I find it bazaar, that a "manufacturer" of an expensive "high end" product
which intentionally and consistently surrounds itself with mystery, and inferences that this can't be duplicated by mere mortals, would even bother to tease the DIY crowd, on a public forum, with countless declarations that most of which, are opinions or subjective assessments with explanations that mock physics. To each his own, fine. But to be surprised at all about what this may cause in response, is blind.
And no, it's not offense, it's defense. Just review your remarks in the long thread below, especially the one I responded to, (and that you then DID NOT respond to) and ask yourself if you asked for this or not. You were given a chance right then and there, to lay some cards on the table.
"but I do require that it be done with respect, honesty and courtesy"
You got it, and ignored it.
So now, since the social etiquette issues have been addressed, hopefully to your satisfaction, may we discuss the quality and reasons for the product in the photo, with whatever improvements you've made and why?
You have now stated a willingness to do so, are you ready?
JM has stated he has "moved on" and improved upon the 0.035H/50uf/0.035H/50uf power supply we see in BOTH photos in this thread. Have you?
If yes, then what? And why? Did you use a PSUD sim to "perfect it" ?
We can all see the multiple bypass caps, tell us, what's changed and why?
Are you using a small cap across (in parallel) with the choke(s) ?
If yes, is this how you are compensating for the loss of highs no doubt produced by the driver's inadequacies? If no, how then? Or is this addressed in your current design? Or does it even need to be, based on your concept of "high fidelity", which is...?
What about those RF chokes, still using those? Even on the 7B4's AC filaments?
I notice the soldering iron burn on one of the yellow rectifier wires nearly or actually exposing raw HV. Have the soldering skills improved on this $5000 product beyond what we see here?
Thanks in advance for your respectful, honest and courteous response.
Regards,
Grant Stuart Handley
I still have that carpet.
"You may also ask me questions-- feel free to do so."OK.
What is the total capacitance value for the cathode bypass cap for the output tube?
What is the output impedance of the driver stage?
What is the idle current of the driver stage?
What is the inductance of the first choke in the power supply filter?
What is the DCR of the HT secondary winding of the power transformer?
What is the capacitance value of the first cap in the power supply filter?
What is the impedance of the primary winding of the output transformer?
Answer those questions first and then I will have more questions.
Thanks Dennis.
Tre'
Have Fun and Enjoy the Music
"Still Working the Problem"
Edits: 11/17/14
The Stancor 10 ohm 1500V chokes - I think DF wrote that he used 2 identical chokes in the LCLC filter to finals.
Not exactly sure what the values of those chokes are, but I recall that Triad C40-X were a recommended replacement.
The Triad choke is 320mH.
I just wanted to know for sure what the inductance of the Stancore is.
Knowing the DCR of the power transformer secondary, the DCR of the choke and it's inductance and the uf value of the first cap (along with other factors that I already know) will allow me to sim the supply to a high degree of accuracy.
I already know that the results are bad, very bad. But the more accurate the input data the more accurate the sim.
Thanks
Tre'
Have Fun and Enjoy the Music
"Still Working the Problem"
How does it sound?
..after building my best DC2A3 amp earlier that year.
I can say the Serious DC2A3 is totally Serious.... so very well done.
While in Denver I got to hear the DF's amp on two occasions, at the RMAF in Dennis's room, he setup with his amp/speaker setup... That was amazing.
Then I got to go to the home of a friend who had Dennis's Amp/speaker setup.... Even more amazing, this setup sounded just as great maybe even a little better .
JMHO...
Willie
The truth is powerful and can not be denied !!
I was in the room with you that Sunday, 2013 RMAF. Yes, thank you for adding your impressions to the record !! Maybe CoronaDope will add his comments. It was us four listening. WOW.
No one "I" know comes close to what Dennis is doing these days, but it took me many years at various RMAFs, and several venues to get the best, most honest handle on the performance capabilities. The WILD thing is, he's telling me his current stuff is even better, so I'll do a new 2A3 build ...half-baked / semi-mimicking the Maestro.
Jeff Medwin
At an RMAF around 2008 I had the good fortune to listen, alone with Dennis, to the then-current version of this amp playing some of his favorite music. It was this experience that really turned my head towards SET, although it took a lot research before i got up a good head of steam in that direction.
I now own 3 SET amps and have owned two others. I admit to having one that is a 300B type, a tube i love to hear with my LS3/5As.
Observe, before you think. Think before you open your yap. Act on the basis of experience.
Thank you for your answer.
I also have 3 SET amps by Bottlehead, but the point that I was trying to make was...isn't that the only question that matters?
All that matters is what it sounds like....all that matters is what it taste like. Some things YOU would not do if YOU were COOKING food and some things YOU would not do if YOU were BUILDING an amp....
Edits: 11/17/14
It was so long ago that i can't compare the Serious Stereo 2A3 amp to the one i own from memory. But, at the time, it was, as i stated, a revelation of a new sonic world for me.
Observe, before you think. Think before you open your yap. Act on the basis of experience.
.
"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, in the expert's mind there are few." Shunryo Suzuki
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