justinsweber
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Posts posted by justinsweber
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Now that the holiday season has left, I found myself with some extra funds. Ive parted with my Sumiko Blue point2 and in process of building my step-up transformers and then a Denon 103R for my Classic 1 table. Today the really treat showed up.
my Dayton D250P-8 1" Polyimide drivers came in. Dave Harris was pretty insistent that the Dayton D250P-8 1" Polyimide would be a step up... He actually said the B&C DE10 or Dayton D250P-8 1" Polyimide would be an improvement over my D220ti drivers.
I thought Id be getting to bed early tonight, but upgrade fever took over. Im not sure there is a significant improvement of not, but I was able to turn down the attenuation on my ES network. The Selenuim was being run at -9... (No adjustment left). The Dayton D250P-8 1" Polyimide is comfortable at -7. I may even back it out to the -9 position tomorrow to see it I prefer even a bit more relaxed.
Thought Id share... :0)
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Dave did a lot of design work with the 12CX... I bought the eminence tweeter too... Its a lovely combo. It would be a near drop in for you.
Think 50hz-20Khz super coherent sound... thinking smooth :-).
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La Scala's truly a wise choice.
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Super kind words. I would never have started ampsandsound if not for Dave's gentle prodding. Speaking of kind wives. My wife has been incredibly tolerant of me. She was watching our little one tonight while I demo'd some gear for some local audio buffs. Ultimately I think its good gear and great music thats transcendent; as it brings us all a bit of joy to our complex lives.
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Mike,
Id never call my self an engineer. I have great partners who aid with that... Im just good at putting it all together.
I full agree about the bigger is not always better adage, though I don't do poorly made or performing outputs.
Ived used some iron that was massive... 12lbs each. They sounded nice in the circuit, but when the same circuit and parts were used with the Iron I use regularly it was a night and day difference. Big looks great but requires additional bracing and is no guarantee for performance. Sometimes you just have to build it to test.
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I wasn't referring to the circuit. I tend to believe the limiting factor of a circuit is the implementation not the circuit as much. Small power supplies of output transformers that are not idea are limiting. Larger/better output transformer would allow the SE84 to go deep (frq response) without distortion but there is no room :-). I generally use bigger iron for that reason but opted for a more balanced approach this time. The SE84 is meant as a great all around solution/ office amp.
So general rules for me... Output iron with largest cores possible (less prone to saturation, etc.) and largest power supply possible... Ive seen difference robust power supplies make. The SE-84 limitation was not price but size. As it is... it required me to use tools to hold thing in place during the final assembly as my hands were getting cut.
If I were not trying to build based on repeatable results/ ability to scale up if needed. The RH84 circuit is wonderful. There is a gentleman here who built an example with truly awesome attention to detail using turrets.
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Let me be more specific... Im not here to advertise my equipment and make others who build or sell or klipsch in general angry. (I like that others dig what Ive done). I was tryign to be coy about specs. I know full well what each amp does and share specifics via phone. I believe publishing specs lends its self to bench racing which is not my aim. My site doesnt include that info on purpose. That said.The SE-84 is not nearly as linear as my larger amps... biger iron and biger caps will do that, but it does many things really well.
After each build, the amp is placed on the bench and measured using 2 volt meters, my ociloscope and a signal generator. Its not fancy but tell alot of what the amp is capible of doing. Listening is done on my 2 way cornscalas. When thats done they are ready to ship.
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Little ben I believe rolls off around 6db after 20hz and prob about the same on the top. The Amp is pretty darn flat 20-20khz. Its a fine line between how flat you want a response curve and how much feedback you're willing to use. The nice thing is the better the output, every ofter, the less feed back which is needed.
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Ive given some thought to it... might be an option. Its a better offline discussion. I don't want to get my self in any hot water. Im pretty liberal on the return policy, but tying up capital is hard as Im starting out in this endeavor.
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Yup I do.
thank you for the kindness.
I actually just finished Brads amp simply wonderful results from the bench... Did a bit of tweaking on my parts list.
The P-P EL84 is getting 18watts 20-20khz and peaks of 40.5 watts when I was testing in the mid band. Ill do a separate post tomorrow... long story short... was super happy with the test bench results... I took the extra time out and went into the NOS bins and tested what Im shipping... I think he will approve.
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Will do!. Thanks for the input.
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Dean,
Super kind words... thank you!.
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Im glad you're enjoying. Hope your get the crossover working the way you want.
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6l6GCs are regarded for the mid range. KT88s are know for the control of the bottom end and solid mid range performance... more output too. Some find EL34s magic... Im not one of them. I do love the sound of a 6CA7 which is not really an EL34s. Little ben is optimized for 6l6s in my mind, though when I did listening parties for feedback and used EH 6CA7s they were adored as well. I didn't ship with an NOS US front end 6SL7 but I tend to believe that NOS front end tubes and new power is a great compromise when most can't afford NOS power tubes. My general rule is getting know what you got and more forward from there. (So, if asked, I really love 6L6s of any shape... EH, Solvtek and new Tungsol being my gotos or the EH 6CA7s. Id run any interchangeable and then so find a GE 6SL7 and melt into my listening chair for a good soak.
(Hope you're a bit surprised how far a real 5 watts will take you).
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Brad,
Im glad it got there safely! Like my packing :-).
I choose 6L6s as they are my favs, but feel free to use KT88s or EL34s if you have access. Each will influence the amps presentation.
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Here was what I spent the better part of the afternoon building. I refuse to take my nicer gear out for a walk in the park.
I was considering building a PA Rig and left with some spare wood and free time this wis what became of it... what better way to make use of the spare parts bin. The idea is that I have a park right next to where I live and would like to build PA rig to help with moves at the park.
In addition, this work kick but as a DJ rig. Only 2 downsides to split cabs are their size and need for extra binding posts... time for a parts express run.
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Hey everyone... ampsandsound is a hobby/ startup for me. I work a full time job and a part time job.
That said, there is very little exotic about what I build with. I use to punch my chassis, but I was prone to small mistakes. Additionally punching and drilling is labor intensive, and produces a great sounding amp that looks like it might have been built in a garage… My amps are built in my garage, but are made with parts leveraged but other people’s strengths. CNC top-plates are pretty, repeatable and allow for optimized placement. The circuit is well proven. My passive parts come from mouser for a few reasons, repeatable/ dependable purchasing, high tolerance parts and nothing super exotic. The wonderful thing is that 1% and 2% resister are super common, and significant capacitance is can be sourced. I believe in big caps, tight tolerances on resistors and big iron… None of this breaks the bank, but is also not free. When you add parts cost plus build time my prices are reasonable. I don’t build the very best you can own… I can’t afford to, but I build quite tube amps that of modest power that are very very reliable. Modern manufacturing makes this possible. If someone purchases an amp from ampsandsound and is not happy within 1st 2 weeks we will accept it back. I rather a happy customer than a sale… I do believe most vender no matter what they produce feel the same.
As an aside, I don’t comment on other companies’ products. I’ve owned and been proud of amps I’ve had from various sources. Ive owned home built kits and custom p2p units, and more than a few McIntosh units bought new. My McIntosh amps (MA2275 was $7500 and my MC275 was $4200, had I not used my tax refund to buy them and planed years in advance it wouldn’t have happened. I remember listening to my brand new MC275 on my Magnepans and then my La Scala’s and comparing it to my home built Dynaco MKIII I built from a kit and did a WTF… Now that was a learning experience. The MC275 provide the better more stable amp, but for a $3200 premium? The MKIII were dam close.
That said, most companies price their products with significantly higher profit margin then we do. We chose parts first, not profit.
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Dave shoehorned the Eliptrac and B&C DE85 into a stock cornwall I owned.. had 3/4-1" of clearance.
With the eliptrac you wil need to add a brace to inside... will help stiffed the cab... super easy 3 pieces of wood.
Mid horns to be considered woud be: the Faital 1.4" (Most 1.4" drivers are more expensive then 2") (eliptical design, better imaging and sweet spot)
the JBL M2380 clone... (2" driver, fits inside a cornwall, CD horn great sound all over but less imaging)
the Eliptrac 400. (2" driver, Most dense horn... extremly inert, the proven choice for many)
Dave's new HF horn will allow a simple upgrade without any can mods to make it happen... a real possitive!
The Eminence Kappa 15C 4ohm massive magnet... monster bass...
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If it were my money or that of a customers....
Here would be my upgrade path. This is one I’ve personally used and 1 have recommended.
Daves Fastlane Audio Hobby Site Eliptrac 400 exposed finish - $625 Per pair
From ALK Eliptrac HF horn with B&C DE10 driver ....... $158.00
The "CornScala-Wall" Universal Crossover (Finished) ... $320.00
B&C DE85TN-8 2" Titanium Horn Driver 8 Ohm 4-Bolt $250 each ($500 pair)
The total is $1605.00 The rational is this… The eliptrac is well known and accepted for its incredible results. The B&C DE85 is what ALK and Dave suggest… there are cheaper and more expensive units. I have heard JBL 2446H 2" vs the B&C DE85 and could tell them apart. ALK will pair Daves newest horn with the drive and test it prior to you receiving… seems a steal then. Lastly… the Cornscala wall does not just attenuate the mids but the HF freq too. These tweeters are hot… I have to choke my D220Ti tweeters all the way back. The ability to adjust the attenuation makes these crossovers a real game changer in my book.
With the remaining $400… new woofers? The Eminence 15C is simply incredible. Then sell all your parts and youll have a speaker which will be hard to beat commercially without throwing money at it.
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Earlier this week on the way to work I received my third speeding ticket this year. Rather than blame the distance or my lack of time management. I'm choosing to lay sole blame on Paul Simon and his Graceland album.
I have an incredibly large music collection but seem to really enjoy driving to 10 or 15 albums that I've ripped onto a jump drive to be played in my car.
All three speeding tickets of occurred in San Diego County and listening to Graceland; obviously a bad combination! Driving home tonight at 12:45 in the morning on rocking out to Graceland, I decided to turn it off. With the silence, I dropped the speed down a bit. Now that I'm back home and fiddling with a gremlin in my 1 of personal systems, Graceland is lulling me to sleep. Oh my Klipsch and holiday brethren, beware of the power Graceland or any other music that gets your moving!
Happy Holidays!
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ER work is funny... can be so bussy you dont eat or so dead that youre left with your rubix... Most of the time I keep audiokarma, klipsch forum and DIYaudio as tabbs in the background.
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Thanks Paul.
To be honest it’s a massive distraction from my work life, which is why my wife allows for it. I work in 2 of the highest acuity settings for mental health and am a front life/line staff provider of mental health services. (The two setting are a prison in California and a large community hospitals emergency department). Over the course of my life, Id drank too much and worked too much and I find the later to be a vastly more healthy behavior.
The company idea is a way of my not continuously loosing money to support my hobby. I really enjoy the learning building and trying. Each time Id build a tube amp, Id generally only change 1 part at a time and Id copy ideas of the best builders I could find. I brought on a business partner to help shoulder some of the workload and to have a comrade in arms.
Transforming a hobby which lost money into a business is difficult. Adding a partner with equal voice, a bit harder. Documenting everything for transparency and figuring out how to make it scalable harder still.
All that said… there is a super big pride of ownership I have. I aspire to have ampsandsound know for some musical reliable amps and speakers. Many of us can only afford 1 system. I’ve been there a few times and Id hope Id be the 1 someone wanted to keep.
I’d like to sell 20 amps next year… 2 a month would be great. Parts for each amp are around $700-1000 before any labor. Hard to believe that 15%-20% of parts cost is shipping. The chassis is about 3 hours of woodwork. The mechanical assembly is 1.5-2 hours. Soldering the PCB about 1-2 hours. Final wiring is 2-3 hours and 1 hour of bench testing. The amps get played for about 10 hours on a set of speakers for good measure. Once a final listen is done, we ready for shipping. Shipping is another unknown that we are working to grasp better. Anyway, long and short is I like building and love the idea of others using.
After some reflecting during my 2+ hour drive to work… I’d like 1 other thing. A small where house600Sq. with enough room for some boxes with amps and speakers and an amazing listening space… 15ft tall ceiling and 20x15 with 2 cigar chairs, 1 a cooler for soda.
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DeanG. The SE84 is built around DIYtubes Budgie... Ive made some personal build choices that give it a house sound.
After you try it... you might want to give Big Ben or Kenzie... Kenzie is like whole milk for sweetness. Big Ben is the very best of SE sound plus deep bass without the price shock. Id be happy to send you either after you give Dave's a turn around the track.
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Michael The Kenzie should too.... Scratch that... you're right! So many details... PM me and Ill share. Ill also take $50 for finding a F up.
With all the amps... I do 100% refund minus shipping if not happy within 2 weeks of delivery. Sometimes we all make bad choices when buying something... not trying to burn people. That said, SE amps are lower power... perfect for Klipsch heritage speakers but probably not well suited for inefficient speakers with crap designs :-).
My New Tube Amp from ampsandsound
in 2-Channel Home Audio
Posted
Hey Everyone,
After some consideration about road showing ampsandsound, I am willing to send my Little Ben SE 5watt amp out for anyone who would like to audition. I had been hesitant to allow demo’s as the return policy is generis. That said, if you’d like to demo Little Ben, send me a PM or email through my site. I will need a deposit of $600 (doesn’t cover cost but is fair I hope.) Shipping both ways will be paid for by the recipient.
As a general rule, anyone who calls and wants to know some of what I’ve learned; I’m happy to share. This includes secret sauce ideas for Cornwalls which was learned from the experts here and my own trial and error.
My love of tube amps and horns was born of the support of communities like this. If you ever want to know something, ask… I’ll probably tell you how I do it and why and help you to succeed trying to do it too.