Posted by Vincin (A) on October 04, 2006 at 08:14:37

In Reply to: Black Gate, again posted by beto1 on October 1, 2006 at 09:52:35:

In case you havent read this Peter Q's post from the SET forum. The nonpolar blackgates upgrade would be one of the last things you do.

Quote:

The recipe for recommended upgrades follows a very clear and preset pattern throughout both our kits and finished products, so if you start with say the standard Kit One which uses Beyschlag resistors, aluminium foil signal caps, standard electrolytics, copper wiring and Group B I-E core copper wired output transformers, from there we go to,

1/2 & 1 watt AN tantalum resistors
Copper foil capacitors
Standard Black Gates and a Cerafine filter cap, if you can find one!
Silver wiring where ever possible
Group C HiB C-core copper wired output transformers

The voicing of this combination is perfectly balanced as each part compliments the abilities and characteristics of the other.

A further level up is then available from,

1 & 2 watt AN tantalum resistors
Silver foil capacitors
FK and WKz type Black Gates
AN-Vx silver wire on input and stranded silver wiring elsewhere
Group C 50% nickel copper/silver wired C-core output transformers

Next and final level would be,

2 watt AN tants
Silver foil caps
N type Black Gates
Sogon interconnect and stranded silver wire
Fully silver wired 55% nickel output transformers

Each level is voiced to clear improve on the level below and in a system which has the ability to demonstrate the increased subtlety, refinement and beauty offers a fair value for the investment as you move up the ladder.

Unquote.

• Re: Black Gate, again - beto1 11:37:53 10/04/06 (7)
  In Reply to: Re: Black Gate, again posted by Vincin on October 4, 2006 at 08:14:37:

  Hi Vincin,
  thanks for including PQ adivises.
  Here I have another, aswering about this same question and others on the Tube/DIY forum.
  Regards,
  Beto
  P.S. I will put a 220uF/6.3v cap instead of the 220uF/16v, on the 5687 cathode bypass position in order to put all bypasses with nonpolar N series. Any comments?

  
  

  • http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/tubediy/messages/109723.html   (Open in New Window)

  
  

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  • Re: Black Gate, again - Vincin 20:42:02 10/04/06 (6)
    In Reply to: Re: Black Gate, again posted by beto1 on October 4, 2006 at 11:37:53:

    I believe the voltage across the 5687 cathode resistor is 8 - 9v, thus the cap need to have 16v rating.

    
    
    

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    • Re: Black Gate, again - beto1 21:12:00 10/04/06 (5)
      In Reply to: Re: Black Gate, again posted by Vincin on October 4, 2006 at 20:42:02:

      Hi Vincin,
      do you have measure the actual voltage on the cap? maybe 8.4, as marked on the schematic are nominal. Do you know if this 6.3 are DC or AC voltages?
      regards,
      Beto
      
      

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      • Re: Black Gate, again - beto1 15:53:24 10/07/06 (4)
        In Reply to: Re: Black Gate, again posted by beto1 on October 4, 2006 at 21:12:00:

        Hi Vincin,
        i have checked with Brian, and it seems that there is no trouble using NH 220uF/6.3v BG, becuase maybe they has overtolerance. Well, this way, I will have all cathode with nonpolar BG.
        Regards,
        Beto
        P.S. also I wabt to change the bridge rectifiers and put 2 X 4 Schottky diodes in bridge configuration (zero recovery).
        
        

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        • Re: Black Gate, again - Vincin 22:21:43 10/07/06 (3)
          In Reply to: Re: Black Gate, again posted by beto1 on October 7, 2006 at 15:53:24:

          Hi, I had the N blackgates in my amp for a while, but recently switch back to the FK, except for the 300b cathode by-pass.

          On my system the FK sound richer, the N is a bit too analytical.
          
          

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          • Re: Black Gate, again - beto1 06:53:09 10/08/06 (2)
            In Reply to: Re: Black Gate, again posted by Vincin on October 7, 2006 at 22:21:43:

            Hi Vincin,
            (was NX, not NH, 222uF/6.3v, sorry).
            How much time you run the break in period for the "N" type non-polar BG? I guess (and all people advise me) this will take a very long time before the bird sings properly.
            Regards,
            Beto
            
            
            

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            • Re: Black Gate, again - Vincin 07:22:54 10/08/06 (1)
              In Reply to: Re: Black Gate, again posted by beto1 on October 8, 2006 at 06:53:09:

              I had N caps in my amp for like 3 - 4 months. They are very transparent, almost make the amp sound a bit thin and bright when I have the stock metal films resistors. The sound get better when I upgrade the resistors to a combination of AN tantalums and Riken carbon films. But overall I still prefer the FK better in my amp.

              I guess its more of a synergy thing, one should experiment to find the right combination. I think the PQ post gives a very sensible and cost effective road map for upgrading the amp.

              Have fun.

              
              
              

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              • Re: Black Gate, again - beto1 07:31:13 10/08/06 (0)
                In Reply to: Re: Black Gate, again posted by Vincin on October 8, 2006 at 07:22:54:

                Hi,
                yeah, I'm agree is a synergistic matter, of course and one must experiment. The only but is that applying all the upgrade group is a bit expensive. So I must go step by step to get the desire sound. Sincerely, I like very much the actual kit 1 sound, with just the standard stuff; just like to try if the better can be better, hahaha!
                Ciao
                
                

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