DIY audio: what are you building?

[sleach]

1 hour ago, mwhouston said:

Look pro

Thank you, a few imperfections up close but I'm pretty happy with the result. 

[mwhouston]

These are the original F5 brds in this amp. But I had heat and noise issues. The sticky silpads didn’t conduct heat well at all. Now with skinny pads much better. This amp has had two different F5 brds and has been a LJM 60W SS amp but the heat sinks were a waist so now back to F5.

 

Just letting it cook for a few hours. So far all good. 

Edited November 7, 2023 by mwhouston

[aussievintage]

2 hours ago, mwhouston said:

The sticky silpads didn’t conduct heat well at all.

 

I never liked them.  Good ol' thermal paste for me...

[mwhouston]

2 hours ago, aussievintage said:

 

I never liked them.  Good ol' thermal paste for me...

Thin sillipads are good. 

[muon*]

56 minutes ago, mwhouston said:

Thin sillipads are good. 

Do you mean mica spacers?

 

Edited November 7, 2023 by muon*

[mwhouston]

2 minutes ago, muon* said:

Do you mean mica spacers?

 

No Silicon insulation. Silicon rubber soft insulators. No need for past.

[muon*]

Just now, mwhouston said:

No Silicon insulation. Silicon rubber soft insulators. No need for past.

Ah OK.

 

I prefer mica and paste.

[mwhouston]

5 minutes ago, muon* said:

Do you mean mica spacers?

 

https://www.jaycar.com.au/to-220-silicone-rubber-insulating-kit-pack-of-4/p/HP1176?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsJGa2bWxggMVSnx9Ch3KpwqCEAQYBCABEgJsEPD_BwE
 

[andyr]

1 minute ago, muon* said:

Ah OK.

 

I prefer mica and paste.

 

Yeah, I agree, Ian.  I tried the thin silicone 'washers' ... and I don't think they transfer heat as well as mica + paste.

 

However, I prefer the white Al silicate? pads + paste.

 

[mwhouston]

Just now, muon* said:

Ah OK.

 

I prefer mica and paste.

Absolutely agree and a lot do. Yep, a super thin smear of silicon paste ensures good thermal conductivity. But I find the sillipads easy to work with and work well. 

[muon*]

19 minutes ago, mwhouston said:

https://www.jaycar.com.au/to-220-silicone-rubber-insulating-kit-pack-of-4/p/HP1176?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsJGa2bWxggMVSnx9Ch3KpwqCEAQYBCABEgJsEPD_BwE
 

I used some of those from Jaycar, didn't like them.

[andyr]

7 minutes ago, muon* said:

I used some of those from Jaycar, didn't like them.

 

Mebbe don't buy stuff from Jaycar?

 

[mwhouston]

1 hour ago, andyr said:

 

Mebbe don't buy stuff from Jaycar?

 

The funny thing is the companies who supply Jaycar also supply many up-market companies and brands. Same product different sticker. Speaker drivers are a good example. But looking at it from another angle, its not what you have its how you use it.

 

I can’t buy high end inter-stage caps or audio grade PS caps from Jaycar or high wattage big trannies, so I don’t. But what works very well and I can source from Jaycar and use where I know it will deliver, I do. Then, each to their own. 

[andyr]

As you say, Mark:

 

1 minute ago, mwhouston said:

Then, each to their own. 

 

I regard Element14 / RS / others of a similar ilk as having a more rigorous sourcing process than Jaycar (or Altronics).

 

So I prefer to buy from them.  I buy my power trannies from the Aussie mfrs - not Jaycar/Altronics.  But then ... they cost more.

 

[mwhouston]

1 minute ago, andyr said:

As you say, Mark:

 

 

I regard Element14 / RS / others of a similar ilk as having a more rigorous sourcing process than Jaycar (or Altronics).

 

So I prefer to buy from them.  I buy my power trannies from the Aussie mfrs - not Jaycar/Altronics.  But then ... they cost more.

 

Ive been lucky but one friend got two big trannies from RS which had mechanical hum. I have used 500VAC potted which have been excellent. Never had a noisy Altronics or (going back some years) bug Jaycar trannie toroidal or EI. But you can be unlucky. 

[Cope]

More a case of what am I rebuilding - very slowly trying to resurrect the most stuffed pair of NS690s in existence.

 

Crossover corrosion was so bad most of the lugs are useless and I'm going to have to use the installation eyelets as through holes. That said, slowly getting somewhere. Installing film caps instead of electrolytics made somewhat easier by the surfeit of through holes per trace. Clearly a multipurpose board (I did clean off that old glue before installing the new caps fwiw).

 

 

[sleach]

Built new legs, going for a Fern Roby vibe. Also a shot of what is going on on the back..

[mwhouston]

2 minutes ago, sleach said:

Built new legs, going for a Fern Roby vibe. Also a shot of what is going on on the back..

Nice. 

[mwhouston]

A project started over twenty years ago never got finished. Meant to be a compact Haraga with external PS. Now to be revamped for a compact 60W LJM Class AB amp. 

 

External PS is mostly complete but needs serious cap upgrades. I’ve ordered new plates for the amp and while waiting to be cut I’ll attack the PS. 

[mwhouston]

Had a request for SS power amp and preamp. Most of my preamps are tube but I remembered I have two SS preamps built some time back. A Pass BoZ (single FET based) and a bipolar based low profile preamp with HP driver built in. 
 

Inside of BoZ it is interesting, 30,000uf of double Pi storage with bypass polies, all silver plated fine copper hookup wire with ferrite beads and Alps Blue Velvet pot. The Hammond extruded anodised Al enclosure was quite expensive in its day dampened with bituminised Al.
 

I removed the input caps not required in my system but now I’ve put them back in. 

[mwhouston]

After a couple of hours out in the sunny back yard with the drill press, things are starting to come together.

Edited November 19, 2023 by mwhouston

[playdough]

Had a crack at a DIY job, renovate/paint  the tweeter flares and make some stands. Haven't played them yet ! 

 

Edited November 19, 2023 by playdough

[mwhouston]

6 minutes ago, playdough said:

Had a crack at a DIY job, renovate/paint  the tweeter flares and make some stands. Haven't played them yet ! 

 

Good work. I see you are in Vic. Wouldn't wind some stands for my Failtal Pro Tratrix. I have compression drivers for them. If interested in a paid job PM me. I can drop off the horns.  My wood work skills are only slightly better than my cake making skills. 
 

https://faitalpro.com/en/products/HF_Horns/product_details/index.php?id=903010110

 

Edited November 19, 2023 by mwhouston

[playdough]

4 minutes ago, mwhouston said:

I have compression drivers for them.

I'll think about it @mwhouston I've never any time . 

Send the specs of the CD I'll have a look. Might be easy.

[wasabijim]

19 hours ago, playdough said:

Had a crack at a DIY job, renovate/paint  the tweeter flares and make some stands. Haven't played them yet ! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

is that someone's DJ rig on the right there with fat slicks? 

 

nice stands too