Mike Dubay

Good luck with the MKIII. I have been using a stock pair with my KG5.5 for a good number of years. Mine have always been quiet, so I can't offer too many suggestions. How long have the 6AN8's been in this amp? It could be a microphonic tube.

Keep a good thread going on this. I almost with with the Marchand kit, but with with an Ashly buildt up unit instead. With the selenium DX-250's, I crossed by Cornscalas at 400 Hz and 4500 Hz. I'm looking a second active crossover and am interested.

I have the APT-200 in my Cornscalas. Enjoy the sound greatly. Only horn tweeter I have listened to extensively, so hard for me to compare. But do like those cheeks!

Great, will drop you a line when my schedule frees. I love doing A/B type testing to look for small tweaks. First half of next weekend I will be doing some fly fishing, but maybe next Saturday or Sunday. Listening to Tom Petty's new CD right now. Maybe a slight improvement in dynamics over my solid state CD players. What tubes are you running on the Shanling now? The bugle boys?

Thanks! There will be some other things I want to do. There is a slight 500 hz hum, I want to try my hand a regulated power supplies for both heater and valve sections. After this works well, then will search for a used CD player with a higher quality A/D converter. There is a used Nakamichi right now in my local used record store, but the price is marked half way to a new Marantz. I posses an older used Sony with Burr Brown A/Ds, that might become the next donor unless the Nakamichi get reduced drastically in price. Will also like to do some 1 on 1 testing against a Shanling, see where this would need improvements and how it measures up to a world class CD player. Might just have to pay Kevin from flint a visit.

Here we are with the cover in place and the front black walnut face. Will add a red lamp on the front face to indicate the unit is on. I do this on my DIY stuff for safety, a bright red lamp indicates that the unit is still on. The subtle red glow of the tubes can be missed, esp after a few beers in the evening. Some more extended listening tomorrow night, have in-laws paying a visit today. I also figured out how to reduce the image size for those who don't have fast high speed.

So did some quick initial listening sessions. Compared to my solid state Sony the hybrid JVC gave superior imaging, a dramatic difference. Instruments are located at a rock solid point in the sound stage. There is an improvement in midrange clarity, less harshness of vocals. Dynamics are about the same. A very satisfying mid summer project. More pics to come when case is complete.

The parts include: 6 and 240 volt triad torroidal power supplies. DC heater supply. Valve is mounted on a blank aluminum switch plate. Stand offs are CPVC pipe with 4 inch long bolts inside. The system is point to point hand wired. The tube used is a 6n2p, readily avalabile, good sound and low price, I paid about $5 with matched sections. The cover and front panel are being fabricated.

First would like to thank Dave Harris for the inspiration for this project. Dave modified a Behringer DCX-2496 by replacing the solid state op amps with a valve output stage. So nothing new here, just my implementation of the idea. I have been looking to upgrade my down stairs CD player, the current Sony unit is nice, but not great. I had some spare parts laying around, so I order a couple of torroidal transformers, and picked up a used CD player from the local record store for $20. Similar to Dave, I isolated the analog output from the A to D chip by some careful cutting of traces. This chip actually had balanced outputs, but I used just one from each channel. The first attempt work well as a prototype, but upon final assembly the delicate solid state electronics had died. The second attempt the valve equiptment was housed in a remote box.

Not one mention of a great artist on Alligator records, Son Seals.

Yes, did have to adjust the head shell and get the Grado parallel to the table before playing. But the image of the cart close up was due to the camera not being even with the turn table. So I have been reading up on Grado cartridges. The desingation of the model is based on the color of the two dots on the stylus assembly? These on this one are silver, so is this a Grado silver? I can't seem to locate an exact image of this cartrage

Need to replace one of the hinges that is cracked. But other than that in perfect working condition. Very pleased with the sound, more bass and more solid bass than my AT cart. Very detailed along with an "effortless" sound. Maden record was "Man with the Horn" by Miles. It has a been a long time since I set up a turn table, any recommended resources with a set up procedures? Just set the geometery, stylus down force, and anti skating, right? I plan on ordering a set up record, any recommendations?

I'm not up on Grado carts either. I have been using Audio Technica since day one. What model is this?

Close up of the tone arm. What arm is this?

Was at my local record store sorting through the $2 stacks. The store does have used equiptment and noticed a turn table stored in a place of honor. Noticed two names that are highly regarded on the forum, "Thorens" and "Grado". I usually mull larger purchases over, do a bunch of internet investigation, but decided to provide the table a new home. After a quick listen at the store, I was pleased, and the deal was struck. An over view picture.

I have building my own cables for some time and find them on par with the higher prices cables. I use the Radio Shack gold plated RCA plugs, and cut some long sub woofer specific wire to the lengths I need. This way I can control the quality and the materials of construction, ( such as use of silver solder and good solder joints).

Well my condolenscences on your loss. I have owned a pair of KG5.5 bought new in the early 90's, I don't let my "kids" mess with them. If your goal is to bring them back to original specs, then replacing the woofers, rebuilding the horn drivers and refreashing the crossovers will get you a 'new' pair of KG's for another 20 years of enjoyment. Bob Crites can rebuild or supply you with the parts to rebuild the horns and crossovers. If you just want to get them back into a functioning state there are several low cost woofer replacements that would sound satisfactory. The Classic 10 inch woofer from Parts Express would be a good choice, and go for only about $25 per woofer. My brother built a DIY pair of speakers using two of the classic 12 inch woofers and is very satisfied with the results. You may have to attenuate the horn to balance with the lower sensitivity woofers. If it was up to me, I guess I would rebuild the KGs with new OEM woofers, and redo the crossovers. I do love the sound of my KGs!

On the lower right hand section of the schematic, just after the power transformer it is capicators C135 and C136. It forms the +28 and -28 voltage section. If you don't have two caps in that position, then it is more likely a dual section capacitor.

Oops, double post..

Very cool Greg, I enjoy seeing some one extend the boundaries. I would agree that in a contemporary/60's retro looking room, this would be a stunning center piece.

I have built a pair of MKIII from Dynakit, and am very pleased. Here is a link to the ST-70 kit. http://dynakitparts.com/store/product.aspx?id=2

Pictures of the cross overs could help. You said new, where they DIY or did you purchase them? Could there be too much low frequency signal going to the squawker? Do you have a multimeter that measures capatance? Check to see if you have a bad cap.

I listened to the pair for the first time tonite, and I am very impressed. The tweeters sound different for sure. I think they have a wider soundstage than before, and I believe they blend in better with the mid also. They don't have as much up and down dispersion as the other horns. If you stand up, you can hear a difference in the tweeter. But then again, I built these to be directed at the listener while seated, and that it does very well. Come on down and have a listen for yourself! I certainly plan on that! Painting my dinning room this weekend, yippee....[^o)]

Great job Kevin! I like the adjustable tilt mechanism. So... Any first impressions of the trictrax tweeter horn? Looks like another drive to Flint in the future for me.

Welcome to the forum CJ. I would say fixing the KG would be the way to go. I have had a pair of KG5.5's bought new around that time and I continue to enjoy them greatly. What are you hearing that is giving you an indication that there is a problem?