RE: Going to Buy a Metal Pop Filter at Home Depot

[Marik]

Shoot, I cannot figure out how to put a few pics in one post.

My open baffle speakers with Heil air motion transformers, Audax midrange, and Dayton Titanic subwoofer. All woodwork I did myself and used natural cherry veneer. It was a cost no object project for my customer. Triamped with four my tube monoblocks for top and mid, and SS for bass. Passive LC fourth order crossover, transformer output coupled tube DAC etc. This system I designed myself and it sounds amazing. The power tube amps are 6550 output cathode followers with interstage transformer driven by 6B4 (2A3 with 6.3 filaments). I used Dynaco Mark III trannies and chassis. Cannot find the picture of the amp right now, but here is the speaker:

 

[Marik]

<I'm an Electronics Tech, do you have schematics of your designs, and did you have good quality? I could totally build one, if I had the prints. If you don't have them avail. do you have resources? I'm more interested in the pre's than anything. >

Guitarfreak,

The problem is that I am quite disorganized in this respect and never bothered to draw schematics of my designes. Also, a lot of things I do just for fun and hate to repeat the same design--it is boring. Very often I build pres for particular mic, or particular instrument I am recording, so I change a lot of things. I have separate pres for my ribbons, SDs, LDs and very often I change them even for different types of music. I like very much my choke loaded fully balanced tube pre on 6SN7 tubes. If you want I can draw schematics (but only if you really want ) Last year I was talking to Kevin Carter of K&K Audio and he told me to try his phono stage design adapted for mic pre use. It was a very interesting and innovative one, so for the first time in many years I decided to do something, which is not mine. I think for the all rounder it would be the best choice I could recommend. It doesn't sound like a tube, but not like a SS, either. Very smooth, clear, but since it is a zero global feedback, it has very special dynamics and sonics in it. It is a truly musical performer. Here is the schematics. You should throw away all stuff for phono EQ, add phantom, if you wish, and voila!

http://hometown.aol.com/kevinc927/images/sephonopre.pdf

Feel free to ask any questions, or even better--give Kevin a call--he is a great guy, and you can talk about it to him:

www.kandkaudio.com

 

[guitarfreak12]

so how would I add like a -10db pad to this?

 

[Marik]

<so how would I add like a -10db pad to this?>

Trust me, the pad is the least of worries here. It is 5 resistors and one switch. I will draw you a schema if you need. With this pre I don't actually think you will need one. Instead of R14 put in series 25 Ohm resistor and 250 ohm pot. You will change the bias and gain with that, without any sonic penalties. It will work something like a 'trim' in mixers. Of course, you still will need a nice 100K gain pot before the second stage.
I could not find anything to overload this pre.

 

[guitarfreak12]

ok, cool, so another one; what about resistor and cap etc. values, I see that they are numbered, but no values. Plus what voltage power supply should I hook up.

 

[crazydoc]

ok, cool, so another one; what about resistor and cap etc. values, I see that they are numbered, but no values. Plus what voltage power supply should I hook up.

It basically needs a parts list. He sells a kit in the $600 range, plus the input transformers are not cheap at $112. Of course, this is for two channels. Since he sells it as a kit, the parts list may not be forthcoming. The power supply is also $125, without the power transformer. There's a little more info here:
http://hometown.aol.com/kevinc927

 

[Marik]

You won't probably need a full kit, as it includes parts for EQ section, and Kimber Kaps he uses are not exactly cheap.
I bought from Kevin PCBs, which you can use with minimum modification, JFETs and transformers. He also sent me a CD with parts list. I had the rest of parts and used a different PSU (210V B+). Give him a call.

Yep, it is not a cheap project (mainly because of input and output trannies, which alone will run at ~$300 for the full set), but hey, this pre will blow socks of anything and everything on the market. Some think that this is the best pre ever designed.
On the other hand, if you want something cheaper, you have to think about transformerless design (and probably SS).

 

[guitarfreak12]

yo moderator, it looks like we're going to need a DIY forum section soon!!

 

[dejacky]

Marik,
how do you think this preamp compares to the Hamptone ones?

 

[darnold]

I have never done an A/B test of the nylon screen on and off to see how it effects highs. But i really dont understand how material that thin could really do much to really audible frequencies anyway. Maybe there is but to frequencies that probably arnt that important when you have it all in the mix anyway.

Oh well.

Im not going to concern myself with it.

 

[Marik]

<Marik, how do you think this preamp compares to the Hamptone ones?>

Dejacky,

I did not have chance to listen to Hamptone, but from a quick look at the schematics of a tube one (it was awhile ago), I remember I had some problems with it. First, personally I don't like sound of SRPP, second, if I remember correctly, he uses 12AX7 and 12AU7 tubes, which would not be my first choice for audio. Also, I don't remember which trafos he uses. Could you tell me where can I find schematics to have a look--once again, I saw it long time ago and don't remember all the details.
Don't take me wrong. I am sure this is a very nice pre (as also Gyraf G9, I believe). I just felt that for my applications Kevin's pre would be better choice for many reasons.

BTW, please check your PM box.