catman Posted February 23, 2016 Posted February 23, 2016 G'day all, just a general enquiry, how many use a DIY phono stage, either for MM or MC cartridges (or both). Regards, Felix.
awty Posted February 23, 2016 Posted February 23, 2016 What you mean you can buy them premade? ? Well I never. Haven't seen any in Aldie. Started with IC circuits now use a well designed tube circuit. Its bloody great. Used one of my chip stages recently cause I didn't have the MM stage completed on the tube pre. Wasn't doing it for me so got the tube MM going . .....what a difference. Not all circuits are created equal.
tesla13BMW Posted February 23, 2016 Posted February 23, 2016 I do on the second system .... 2 box bugle made by @@Batty. There is a thread on SNA somewhere. Also just finished a Vacuum Tube Audio PH16 which once I get some cooling slots into the enclosure will go onto the main system as I think it is better than the Graham Slee Reflex M that I currently use.
A J Posted February 23, 2016 Posted February 23, 2016 This is a cracking phono - OM2 black cart Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 5
Batty Posted February 23, 2016 Posted February 23, 2016 (edited) @@tesla13BMW how it that performing for you? I have the Bugle2 and Akitika, using the Akitika MM with BHL pre pre in the main system atm. Akitika with Jaycar PSU and case from china. BHL Pre Pre before it went into its temp home. Edited February 23, 2016 by Batty
tesla13BMW Posted February 23, 2016 Posted February 23, 2016 @@Batty It is excellent. Really well matched to the CJ Walker, Rega RB301 Tonearm and Empire 2000 cartridge. This is the PH16. Probably went overboard with shielding and fusing but it resulted in being very quiet. Problem is the Audio Research Style rack mount enclosure has no venting, so it is running open topped. 2
Guest Muon Posted February 23, 2016 Posted February 23, 2016 (edited) Yeah, but made by a guy in Germany, I just made some little changes and part swaps. TL modified EAR circuit. Not pretty, but that is secondary for me, 1950's transformer and 1950's tubes. Edited March 11, 2016 by Muon
tesla13BMW Posted February 23, 2016 Posted February 23, 2016 @AJ what phono stage is it out of interest?
zenikoy Posted February 23, 2016 Posted February 23, 2016 Hagerman Bugle2, but that is more "self assembled" than DIY.
Happy Posted February 23, 2016 Posted February 23, 2016 Yeah, but made by a guy in Germany, I just made some little changes and part swaps. TL modified EAR circuit. Not pretty, but that is secondary for me, 1950's transformer and 1950's tubes. 20160223_141328.jpg No cover on top? Man that's true to Felix-style
Happy Posted February 23, 2016 Posted February 23, 2016 I once had a DIY phono stage from you Felix. The one with 62k ohm for the M97xE. I passed it to another SNAer here.
tesla13BMW Posted February 23, 2016 Posted February 23, 2016 @@enikoy self assembled is DIY in my book! Unless you pay someone else to assemble it! Mine was a kit of the two PCB's and parts (no tubes, transformers or enclosures etc), but, there was still plenty of opportunity to do something to either make it sound bad, have a hummmmmm, let the smoke out or get a shock etc. I know some will say "it aint DIY if you didn't design it, etch the boards, etc ......" but we can't all be experts!
Guest Muon Posted February 23, 2016 Posted February 23, 2016 (edited) No cover on top? Man that's true to Felix-style No It's as the PCB that hold the tubes was attached sideways, and it was better as far as noise was concerned with it positioned as is now. I could also fit the Jupiter caps this way as well. If I get round to cutting holes for the tube area, the top goes back on, just that I have had plans of doing a rebuild into a more suitable case....one day. Edit: typo Edited February 23, 2016 by ortofun
zenikoy Posted February 23, 2016 Posted February 23, 2016 (edited) @@enikoy self assembled is DIY in my book! Unless you pay someone else to assemble it! Mine was a kit of the two PCB's and parts (no tubes, transformers or enclosures etc), but, there was still plenty of opportunity to do something to either make it sound bad, have a hummmmmm, let the smoke out or get a shock etc. I know some will say "it aint DIY if you didn't design it, etch the boards, etc ......" but we can't all be experts! Forgot about this one, I custom fitted it into an enclosure, so higher level DIY Altronics K5513 • Preamp RIAA Shortform Kit Edited February 23, 2016 by enikoy
A J Posted February 23, 2016 Posted February 23, 2016 @AJ what phono stage is it out of interest? It's a diyaudio project Salas simplistic Folded - have a Google it's a terrific sounding PS Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
catman Posted February 23, 2016 Author Posted February 23, 2016 (edited) G'day all, Enikoy: yes I've built that one, slightly modified with different op amps and a different RIAA network, the same one used in the Bruce Heran excellent single op amp design. I also installed 15 volt regulators giving plus and minus 15 volts in lieu of plus and minus 12 volts as supplied in the kit. Even in stock form it was pretty good. Regards, Felix. Edited February 23, 2016 by catman
mwhouston Posted February 23, 2016 Posted February 23, 2016 Yes both. MM stages in SS and tube and MC stages in SS only. Going to attempt a MC stage in tube. Like how hard can it be? 1
Zaphod Beeblebrox Posted February 23, 2016 Posted February 23, 2016 (edited) Yes both. MM stages in SS and tube and MC stages in SS only. Going to attempt a MC stage in tube. Like how hard can it be? Trevor Lees did it almost 40 years ago. I have one here in my workshop. No idea why though. FETs and BJTs do it better, quieter and with lower distortion. Even OP amps, if you want to be lazy, do the job better than valves. Valves have their uses, but trying to amplify microVolts is not the best way to use them. Edited February 23, 2016 by Zaphod Beeblebrox 3
Guest Posted February 23, 2016 Posted February 23, 2016 Does DIY include my "Mimic and "La Gitana" from @@mwhouston. A discrete dual OPA, or Valves. One powered with 24vDC the other 24vAC, Both are very, very good
Guest Muon Posted February 23, 2016 Posted February 23, 2016 Yes both. MM stages in SS and tube and MC stages in SS only. Going to attempt a MC stage in tube. Like how hard can it be? I hope you are a patient kind of guy, not easily frustrated
awty Posted February 23, 2016 Posted February 23, 2016 No It's as the PCB that hold the tubes was attached sideways, and it was better as far as noise was concerned with it positioned as is now. I could also fit the Jupiter caps this way as well. If I get round to cutting holes for the tube area, the top goes back on, just that I have had plans of doing a rebuild into a more suitable case....one day. Edit: typo So how does it sound? does it run dead quiet? Yes they do look much better when they stick out the top, doesn't hurt to have a red back light. 3
Guest Posted February 23, 2016 Posted February 23, 2016 So how does it sound? does it run dead quiet? Yes they do look much better when they stick out the top, doesn't hurt to have a red back light. finished 15.jpg Still in awe of ^that^ nice job Awty.
Guest Muon Posted February 23, 2016 Posted February 23, 2016 (edited) @@awty There is a slight hum, doesn't change with the volume level, and you need your ear up against the speaker with no music playing to hear it. When i do the rebuild eventually I'll do it all point to point, and I'll get rid of that, as is it isn't an issue, if I had 105db speakers I'd be hunting down the cause maybe It's not from the main amp, It's dead quiet. Love ya' work BTW Edited February 23, 2016 by ortofun
catman Posted February 23, 2016 Author Posted February 23, 2016 (edited) G'day all, frankly I'm very jealous of the fine examples of general construction/metalwork/boxing seen in this thread, as I am perfectly hopeless in that respect. This (unfortunately) explains my tendency to build things 'unboxed'. If only I was better at my metal working skills! Regards, Felix. Edited February 23, 2016 by catman 1
Guest Posted February 23, 2016 Posted February 23, 2016 (edited) Hey Felix hit Ebay with confidence drill some sense into them enclosures. http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR1.TRC0.A0.H0.Xelectronics+enclosures.TRS0&_nkw=electronics+enclosures&_sacat=0 Edited February 23, 2016 by Guest
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