mwhouston Posted January 12, 2024 Posted January 12, 2024 I’ve been asked to build an EL3N amp for a member who has one other of my amps he also requested. I’m down to my last two bases. Different timber in this one. If someone could identify the timber I’d like to know. I wasn’t sure I could build the amp on a smaller base but it appears so. Tube rec again with NOS NIB German made EL3Ns. The EL3N bases are CNCed from a solid block of teflon with phosphor bronze retainers inside from Japan. Not cheap but beautifully made. 2 3
mwhouston Posted January 14, 2024 Posted January 14, 2024 When you see speakers like these you realise why very high powered amps are required. Nothing less would drive them.
Gee Emm Posted January 16, 2024 Posted January 16, 2024 On 12/01/2024 at 1:11 AM, mwhouston said: I’ve been asked to build an EL3N amp for a member who has one other of my amps he also requested. I’m down to my last two bases. Different timber in this one. If someone could identify the timber I’d like to know. I wasn’t sure I could build the amp on a smaller base but it appears so. Tube rec again with NOS NIB German made EL3Ns. The EL3N bases are CNCed from a solid block of teflon with phosphor bronze retainers inside from Japan. Not cheap but beautifully made. Expand Based on your photos, it looks like Vitex (Pacific Teak) heavy hardwood 1
playdough Posted January 18, 2024 Posted January 18, 2024 (edited) Progress on the amp array from under the bed, they have disappeared beside some speakers. There is still a full sized cd player to mount on a shelf , secured to the amp rack yet to be made, in my mind. I kind of like the LED striplight SMPS drivers, light, quiet, cheap and heaps of power, have active output protection. Cable management was easy, all neat as. The amp array has a remote on sw, but not an ac power switch which would be nice improvement. The amp array has it's own switched outlet acting as an ac isolator for now.. The metalwork is securely earthed at the junction box. Haven't really had any funny buzzy or hummy earth loops. There is a slight pop, source selecting and muting so worthwhile trying a ground wire to the DSP has a ground post, well behaved unbalanced system. hope I don't jinx it. Go the 8 channel. Has been a lot of fun to put together and sounds as good as it looks in it's custom treated acoustic control area, all DIY Edited January 19, 2024 by playdough 2 1
mwhouston Posted January 18, 2024 Posted January 18, 2024 I made a post recently about Class AB amps being most common SS amps for reviews in stereophile mag. And integrated amps on the comeback. Im not going to make a post every time a Class AB amp appears for review but in the latest mag a JMF Audio monoblock is up for review. These are French made and very high power and quite expensive. Yet to read the article in full. Class AB has been around for a longtime and not about to go away, if ever. What I think is good is the technology involved in design and construction of ABs is very advanced and where we felt we needed Class A years ago for a very low distortion amp ABs now are meeting those low distortion specs with a fraction of the heat and weight and a lot more power. Long live AB. 3
playdough Posted January 18, 2024 Posted January 18, 2024 On 18/01/2024 at 11:46 PM, mwhouston said: I made a post recently about Class AB amps being most common SS amps for reviews in stereophile mag. And integrated amps on the comeback. Im not going to make a post every time a Class AB amp appears for review but in the latest mag a JMF Audio monoblock is up for review. These are French made and very high power and quite expensive. Yet to read the article in full. Class AB has been around for a longtime and not about to go away, if ever. What I think is good is the technology involved in design and construction of ABs is very advanced and where we felt we needed Class A years ago for a very low distortion amp ABs now are meeting those low distortion specs with a fraction of the heat and weight and a lot more power. Long live AB. Expand Hi Mark, what is your preference for power supply, SMPS or linear for the AB Class ? 1
mwhouston Posted January 19, 2024 Posted January 19, 2024 On 18/01/2024 at 11:50 PM, playdough said: Hi Mark, what is your preference for power supply, SMPS or linear for the AB Class ? Expand Definitely linear PSs and big caps and power trannies. In the devices I have used SMPSs they have worked well a little to my amazement. But where possible or practical linear, I think, is best. 1
playdough Posted January 19, 2024 Posted January 19, 2024 On 19/01/2024 at 1:09 AM, mwhouston said: have worked well a little to my amazement Expand Yea, that's where I am ATM. All fun and learning. 1
mwhouston Posted January 20, 2024 Posted January 20, 2024 Assembled not wired - EL3N amp. NOS NIB Silvania 5U4GB rectube, new Svetlana 6N1P and NOS NIB German EL3Ns. Since this image Ive rubbed the base back with uktrafine steel wool and have now re-varnished it. 2
mwhouston Posted January 20, 2024 Posted January 20, 2024 Has the world gone crazy. https://amt-sales.com/other/tubes/12ax7ws-le/
mwhouston Posted January 20, 2024 Posted January 20, 2024 I read where the latest Luxman Z series (Class AB amp) uses an EI power tranni. Unusual in a SS amp found more in tube amps. As a wise friend pointed out once there is not much metal in toroid trannies and they let more mains noise through than EI types with more iron involved. Is this why Luxman chose an EI, to better clean-up mains noise?
aussievintage Posted January 20, 2024 Posted January 20, 2024 On 20/01/2024 at 11:33 PM, mwhouston said: I read where the latest Luxman Z series (Class AB amp) uses an EI power tranni. Unusual in a SS amp found more in tube amps. As a wise friend pointed out once there is not much metal in toroid trannies and they let more mains noise through than EI types with more iron involved. Is this why Luxman chose an EI, to better clean-up mains noise? Expand Worrying about mains noise through a power transformer not necessary. By the time you design a normal decent power supply, mains noise is filtered out anyway. Mains noise getting inside a case and getting into the circuitry by other means, going around the transformer, is a different issue, usually solved by shielding the more sensitive circuitry inside the case, if you can't prevent it. 2
Allan Posted January 23, 2024 Posted January 23, 2024 (edited) On 20/01/2024 at 3:46 AM, mwhouston said: Has the world gone crazy. https://amt-sales.com/other/tubes/12ax7ws-le/ Expand yes it has gone crazy but SS tubes aint nothing new. The DIY B1 preamp Nelson Pass designed uses a SS DHT Triode Korg Nutube 6P1 Dual Triode — diyAudio Store From all accounts it gets great reviews! Edited January 23, 2024 by Allan 1
aussievintage Posted January 23, 2024 Posted January 23, 2024 On 23/01/2024 at 9:47 AM, Allan said: yes it has gone crazy but SS tubes aint nothing new. The DIY B1 preamp Nelson Pass designed uses a SS DHT Triode Korg Nutube 6P1 Dual Triode — diyAudio Store From all accounts it gets great reviews! Expand The Nutube is not SS. It is a vacuum tube. 1
mwhouston Posted January 23, 2024 Posted January 23, 2024 On 23/01/2024 at 11:02 AM, aussievintage said: The Nutube is not SS. It is a vacuum tube. Expand I’m with this guy.
Allan Posted January 23, 2024 Posted January 23, 2024 I stand corrected then, I read somewhere its a hybrid
mwhouston Posted January 23, 2024 Posted January 23, 2024 (edited) Ive assembled the Pass B1 preamp with the tube but have done nothing with it. Big parts on the back so the tube pokes through. Edited January 23, 2024 by mwhouston
Allan Posted January 23, 2024 Posted January 23, 2024 On 23/01/2024 at 11:50 AM, mwhouston said: Ive assembled the Pass B1 preamp with the tube but have done nothing with it. Big parts on the back so the tube pokes through. Expand You want to sell it? 1
mwhouston Posted January 23, 2024 Posted January 23, 2024 On 23/01/2024 at 12:28 PM, Allan said: You want to sell it? Expand Yes alright. I see you are in Vic.
mwhouston Posted January 23, 2024 Posted January 23, 2024 On 23/01/2024 at 12:28 PM, Allan said: You want to sell it? Expand PM me for further chats. Ill work out what it owes me. Then postage.
Allan Posted January 23, 2024 Posted January 23, 2024 Yep, if u pm me what it comes with and asking price I'll have a think 1
mwhouston Posted January 27, 2024 Posted January 27, 2024 Finished and now playing an EL3N (German tubes NOS NIB) amp for another. This one in Class A triode mode. The one I built for myself was Class A SE UL. Sylvania 5U4GB rec tube (NOS NIB) and new Svetlana 6N1P. 1 1
Bisguittin Posted January 27, 2024 Posted January 27, 2024 On 27/01/2024 at 3:53 AM, mwhouston said: Finished and now playing an EL3N (German tubes NOS NIB) amp for another. This one in Class A triode mode. The one I built for myself was Class A SE UL. Sylvania 5U4GB rec tube (NOS NIB) and new Svetlana 6N1P. Expand How does it sound Mark?
mwhouston Posted January 27, 2024 Posted January 27, 2024 Excellent front to back depth, clarity, warmth and deep bass. Feels quite powerful, guttsy and in control. 1
playdough Posted January 28, 2024 Posted January 28, 2024 (edited) So had a crack at finishing the gear rack and now no thing sitting on the speakers, it's all on wheels. Monitor is a little higher, but that's ok. I'll remake, tune up the upper section of the rack and give it a coat of Duratex to match. The shelf the OPPO BVD player can be not so wide. Nearly done. Hardest thing to manage in an 8 channel active is all the cables, in this case all neatly loomed tucked away and the entire set up is supplied via a single power outlet and network cable. Nice and reliable, not chasing any problems other than a replacement compression driver. 1 x 4 channel amp 2 x 2 channel amps 3 x 350w power supplies to run amps 1 x miniDSP Flex 8 1 x 50" monitor 1 x OPPO BVD 103D, 1 x MiniITX PC plus the cables and speakers. Quite a gear count. occupies a 1m x 4m space on the floor Edited January 30, 2024 by playdough
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