jackpollard

LOL, Must be where the word "Debug" came from !!!!

Garyrc; Interesting information, yes I measured with the Radio Shack meter basically touching the cover of the speaker. I will do a "seating" test, but I'm going to guess it won't even pick it up. When you move about 2-3' away its barely audible. But its such a low hum that you can tell when the amp is off. I'm beginning to think that the hum is somewhat normal for a SET amp. and I think I can live with it, as long as its not a sign of some major issues just waiting to drop. Jack

] Those are balance pots for the directly heated triode (300b). I have them on my Welborne Labs Moondog 2A3 amps. I have a little low level hum, but havestarted to adjust each time I power them up, after they have been on a few minutes. To be honest, once the music starts, I don't hear it at all... Bruce Bruce; Exactly what I have, low level hum and when the music plays I don't hear it. Thanks for explaining the hum pots. If you turn off the music after listening for awhile, do you still hear the hum? I'm OK with it, wish it was dead silent of course, but can live with it as long as it will not ruin the amp. Thanks again!!!

Thanks for asking the questions; I think I ruled out the speakers. When I change the amp end speaker cables, the hum moved with the cable. So I switched the right speaker cable at the amp end to the left and left to right. The hum moved to the left speaker. The hum goes away when the amp is off. I checked all electrical and all sockets seem ok. Thanks again!!!

Again thanks for all suggestions and thoughts. I swapped each tube with its opposite, changed left 300b with right, no change. I changed electric sockets and no change. I ruled out the speakers based on changing the IC's at the amp end only. It follows the right RCA plug, not speaker. I have a Radio Shack sound level meter that I pulled out. I sat down next to the speaker and used it. It is definitely emanating from the woofer. Now on the Hogan, there are 'hum' knobs. When I slowly turn them, I actually hit a sweet spot where the hum is lowest I put the meter on 60 and can get it to register 0, but that does not mean its noiseless. I'm not 100% sure what the 60 or numbers relate but I will look that up. The hum knobs are around 11:00, anything more or less brings more hum. What exactly do the hum knobs do? When I play music I don't seem to hear it. But when its quiet I do. I can live with it, but I sure want to know what it could be. Thanks!!!

I thought I had done that when I swapped the right and left inputs and nothing changed. But, that would not of shown right and left x-ovrs. So, I'm going to switch speakers when I get home. That should be pretty telling. If no sound, speaker, if hummmmm well amp. And, let me be clearer, it was more a hummmmm then a buzz really. A very deep low level hum. I'm hoping its not a tube. I will re-seat them all also. Thanks!!

Funny thing. I sold all my other audio equipment because I found audio nirvana. I will switch speakers. I have a pair of VR3s that were just too big to ship. I sure hope its not my amp. Thanks for suggestion.

Hello All; I changed out my caps about 3 weeks ago with the Crites kit in my Cornwalls. Did not have any issues. Today I notice a buzz in my right speaker. Swapped all cables, changed inputs, changed power cords, ect. The hum is in the right speaker regardless of source. So, could a cap cause a buzz? I will check them all tomorrow. Maybe my solder job was crappy. Jack

Hello All; When a vendor is so outstanding and is related to our speakers, I just had to write it here and share. As I have written here, I recently found audio nirvana with my SET amp and Cornwalls. But, of course I always have to tinker, so I contacted Bob Crites and got the details of what I need to do a rebuild. Oh, hold on, I sent Bob a message on a Sunday, figuring he would respond hopefully Monday. I had a rookie question regarding what type of x-over I had, B2 btw. He responded within an hour, on a Sunday. I figured then and there he was something special in the day of "whats a customer". I thanked him and sent the $$ for my rebuild. Rebuild came and I allocated Sunday for my big rebuild. I pop open the back, take out the x-overs and hummm, I though caps need a positive and negative? I can't seem to figure this out. I send an email to Bob and again, I'm prepared to wait until Monday. Nope, again within an hour he answers, sends a site that shows me exactly what I need to do and within 2 hours I'm done. Wow is all I can say. Bob obviously cares deeply about audio and his customers. I thank him for being a truly decent person and vendor. BTW; sound is fantastic!!! Could not be happier!!! Jack

LOL. aahhh the abuse was not too bad. I'm glad others have temp make shift structures (Audio Android). Thanks for the kind words, I have never been happier with the sound, but you know, even with all that said, I still look at 'upgrades'. I'm looking at 300b's and thinking, hummm I wonder what that would sound like. I'm looking at speaker cable and thinking , I don't really like the way I have them speaker ends attached. Those dang speaker blocks are kind of narrow. I had 2 pair of Zen Satori cables. One was banana, the other spades. When I got the cornwalls, the spades did not fit. So, I cut off the ends, kind of stripped the wires for contact and put that on the speaker side. But, I think that's kind of klugey. I was gonna try some Clear Day cables, heard good reviews and the guy is pretty nice who runs it. and they are cheap. Before you all yell at me about my addiction, I am mainly buying music, for sure. But, I do think I have an audio addiction, I just enjoy tweaking. You all in my boat also? Not that I keep my purchases a secret from my wife, but I kind of slide off the actual $$ facts. She does not ask, I don't tell! I listened to Mark Knopfler/EmmyLou Harris "All the Roadrunning" and its just stunning how beautiful the sound is. I just can't get over the realism of the sound. The harmony is just so pure and sweet, its stunning to me.

Thank you Mustang Guy!!! It was tough enough to post the pics. I'm on a Mac and the right/left bars were invisible, so I was just happy to post. Thanks for fixing them!!

And the amp that puts the music in the speakers, no comments on the "amp stand" please. My wife already asked me if I was getting a giant spool for a coffee table.

And...

LOL, thanks for reminding me! I keep trying to add a picture, but have not figured it out as of yet. When I go to add a file, it will not. As soon as I figure it out i will post.

Hello all again; I thought I would share an update with everyone, I finally found my audio nirvana and its actually thanks to 2 members here. I shared that I picked up the Cornwalls from a member here, thanks Mike M. Well, I actually picked up the Cornwalls to match with an AES Superamp I picked up. It's a great amp, serial num 8, upgraded parts, etc. But, for me, something was missing. I think because it was setup in Ultraliner mode as opposed to Triode. But, whatever it was, I knew I had to keep looking. When I saw a comment regarding a Hogan amp, well I had to ask about it. I knew the reputation and legendary sound. Long story short, thanks to another Great Mike, I just hooked up my Hogan 6sn7/76/300B amp and was blown away by the sound. For me personally, its the sound I have been searching for. Music sounds like it should, period. I'm sure there is better, maybe I will end up upgrading the x-overs, caps, etc., but I think its like adding a touch of salt to a great meal. Thanks to everyone who added comments and all those fantastic old posts. Jack

Thank you all for the fantastic feedback, you do know how to make someone welcome! I wish I knew like some of you did, what I was looking for when I was young. I could of really saved a boatload of cash. But, then again, I did enjoy the ride. I will definitely wait before I do any mods, well ahem, I say that right now. But, as some of you have said, that upgrade bug goes deep. But, I plan on taking the backs off and investigating whats in them. I will also take some pics tomorrow and post them, I have to straighten up a bit. Mike, speakerfritz, was an excellent seller. Heck, I had to convince him to take gas money! When I said stained, I did mean completely and nicely stained, it looks very nice, no issues with that. I did notice there are small, maybe 1/2 wood 'frames' on the bottom. I'm not sure this was common, but I will take a picture. Thanks for the technical points also; I will check out what mine are and ask some advice and of course search and read. So, please accept me humble thanks for your welcome, I hope to contribute and enjoy! Jack

Hello all; This is going to be a longish thread, so please relax and hopefully enjoy. Just to set the mood; Garcia/Grisman 'So What' os current;y spinning on my new to me 83 ##Y#### Cornwalls in birch, but they were stained and are still beautiful. A few weeks ago I put an WTB and long story short meet speakerfritz (Mike) at exit 3 on the NJT. What was I thinking? I had a perfectly good pair of VS VR3's in beautiful condition. Driving them are a pair of Pass Aleph 3's, plenty of Class A power. I've been looking for a 'sound' for most of my adult life. Never had a ton of cash, we raised 8 kids and still have a 13yo home, that pretty much sucks the bills out of you. But, I've been through my maggie years 1.6's, loved the mids, but... Then lately Totem Hawks, again liquid mids, but... So as not to go through years of equipment, I found a nice pair of VR3's along with the amps, nice sound, but... I saw a great deal on a AES (Cary) tube super amp, so like a mental tape worm I can never get enough, I think I will try it! The guy starts talking about his Cornwalls and it snaps in my head, oh yeah! My uncle had a McIntosh/K-horn setup back in the 60's and it hit me like a ton of bricks - Thats the sound I'm looking for. So, WTB, Mike, NJT. I did not get the amp as of yet, but tomorrow! I get home on Fri. after meeting Mike, drag the ton speakers out of my car and proceed to wrench my back so bad I can't move. What is this a joke! But, I did mange to hook them up, damn the pain. Anyway, 1st impression, very simple; sounds like the way music should sound! In my mind, thats the sound I was looking for. There is a certain depth and presence that I hear, that makes me just enjoy the sound. That simple. So, I have $1400 worth of bi-wire speaker cable, what should I do with it? I used, gasp, puke, cheap speaker wire wire. It's a pretty thick gage, but puke, how can THAT work? What very expensive speaker cable should I lust for? Anyway, I finally understand why I've read reviews of these 30 year old speakers that raved about them. I guess what I don't get is why ''audiophiles'' frown on them? I think that played a role in why I did not look at these for such a long time. So, I have not opened up the backs, but couple of questions, I have to make this a bit of a q&a or I'm afraid I would get booted out of this forum. How do you take the grills off? These are the cane grills and I would not mind cleaning them. Also, I was going to take the backs off to see whats in them. I understand that I should really think of changing the caps and crites is the man. Any major difference between the caps, oil, etc? As for the x-overs, I think I may just a bit, I'm enjoying the sound right now and will be tube rolling on the AES shortly, but, I have to say, these may be the 'One'. Last question, position? I have a decent sized room, however I don't really have a corner. They are about 2.5 feet out from the back wall and my amps are in back of them. I have them toed slightly, but always enjoy suggestions. Yes, I have been reading everything on here, but do like feedback. So, thanks for reading this bit of a ramble, thanks to a great guy (Mike) and look forward to being a member of your club! The 'Wow I love my speaker club' that is. Jack