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In Reply to: RE: Too lazy/busy for DIY posted by PakProtector on June 07, 2009 at 08:43:13
Your points are well taken. Here's what I'm doing now, and I like it:(1) Sources: all output 2-4 volts. Both phono preamp and all digital and tape sources.
(2) Interconnects: all are chosen for high transfer efficiency across the whole musical bandwidth. Fractions or multiples of 57 1/8 inches is optimum as far as lengths go.
(3) Attenuator: This has always been problemmatical because every passive we ever bought had SEVERE internal losses. We had to build them, there was simply no other choice. Internal wiring is all Siltech or Kimber multistrand silver. All lead lengths are exactly the same, including all grounds. The result is spectacular dynamics, neutrality and stunning bandwidth. My fave is an "L" Pad arrangement.
(4) Attenuator link to amps: These are interconnects which are chosen for the same characteristics as the ones that feed into the attenuator.
(5) Amps: are simple 2-stage, direct coupled, zero feedback single-enders. The input tube must have a high amp-factor, and also be able to fully drive the output tube. Input tube grid-leak to ground is kept at the highest possible resistance to keep signal losses at a minimum. I want that load in the attenuator, NOT in the amplifier.
(6) Link to speaker systems: These are commercially available speaker cables, or bulk multistrand silver wire. Each leg has 3 13ga. multistrand wires in parallel. Lengths are critical, and are the same for every wire type or brand. Fractions or multiples of 57 1/8 inches.
(7) Music posts on amplifiers and speaker cabinets: I feel that these should be of the same brand and be identical. Spade lugs used on speaker cabling are therefore, the same at each end of the cable, and must be chosen to work with the metallurgy of the music posts used. Also, these spade lugs must work metallurgically with the wire in the cable, not against it. Is this overkill? I just remember it from my mining engineering days in Butte, and apply it here. Signal break-in direction is marked on each cable, so no one will try to reverse the cable, once it's broken-in.
---Dennis---
Edits: 06/07/09Follow Ups:
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