This is just a quick post to let everyone know that I haven’t fallen off the face of the Earth. These last few weeks I have been dealing with some emergent health issues which have prevented me from getting out to my shop. But I have at least selected the wood for my Source Selector Unit/Preamp.
Continue readingI’ve been taking it easy the last week and a half in the run up to Christmas. But today Front Panel Express came through with the front plate for the new project. Time to get back to work.
Continue readingThe design of Source Selector Unit/Preamp is coming along and I think I’m going to spring for a professionally made front panel. Today I spent some time with the design software from Front Panel Express and I think the ability to provide custom engravings will be worth it.
Continue readingOver the last several days I’ve made some progress on the layout of the new project. This is about the point where it’s time to start looking at wood.
Continue readingA couple of quick topics today. The first is about meters and the features we (well “I”) seem to over look. The second is a quick bit of news about transformers.
Continue readingAbout a month ago I had an exchange with a reader talking about The Purpleheart Signal Meters and modifying the project to provide multiple inputs and some gain balancing. I’ve been giving this a lot of thought in the last couple of weeks because I have the same needs. So I think this is going to be my next major project.
Continue readingTo all those in the US, Happy Thanksgiving.
It’s a good day to reflect on all we have and spend some time with family and friends. And that’s not a bad thing to do wherever you reside.
The complete project description page for the 6L6 SE-UL amplifier is now live and can be found at the following link: The 6L6 “Spalted Alder” Amp.
I spent some time this afternoon taking technical performance data on the new amp. Unsurprisingly, the technical data is in agreement with my impressions from the excellent listening session yesterday. This amp is a solid performer and just what I wanted from the design.
Continue readingThe voltage checks all came out as expected, so the amplifier was put into use for an extended listening session. The most succinct description I can give is that the amplifier is clean, very fast, neutral in color, and musically powerful.
Continue readingHere’s the salient point about putting your entire amplifier design and build process on the internet for all to see. Invariably, regardless of how well everything is going, things always arise which manage to keep you humble. And today it happened again.
Continue readingThis morning I took a little time to complete the major wiring of the amplifier. Everything is in place except the B+ dropping resistor.
Continue readingI got a chance to do a little work on the amp today. I managed to install the top plate on the spalted alder chassis, install the filter inductors for the power stages, connect the output transformer secondaries to the speaker terminals, and wire in the power transformer primary and indicator light.
Continue readingIn the last few days I’ve managed to get most of the wiring on the 6L6 SE-UL top plate complete. This includes all the preposterously large power supply filter capacitors.
Continue readingI got a little more done on the amp this afternoon. The grid and cathode circuits on both power stages are now wired and tied into the driver.
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