This topic is just the gift that keeps on giving. I first introduced the 4S preamp with the volume control on the output almost 12 years ago. And yet there still seems to be a tremendous number of misconceptions about the concept and performance ramifications of volume controls on the output instead of the input. This time the misunderstandings surround an output buffer cathode follower.
Continue readingWilliam Shakespeare famously wrote in the play Romeo and Juliet,
What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.
So this is my quandary today. What should I “officially” name my latest project?
Continue readingI’ve been catching up on all my spring chores and managed to steal a couple of hours in the shop this morning. The Source Selector Unit chassis is now all sanded. I also took the time to cut and fit the aluminum for the top and bottom plates. Now my attention will turn to getting all the holes laid out and drilled on the aluminum.
Continue readingSo I had another productive day working on the Source Selector Unit / Preamp chassis. The chassis has all the major woodworking complete and is ready for glue up.
Continue readingI got some time today to make grain decisions and cut some basic joinery. It finally feels like I’m making progress.
Continue readingSince I picked the wood for the Source Selector Unit/Preamp project yesterday, I decided to spent some time in the shop today getting the chassis pieces milled to thickness and cut to size.
Continue readingAfter a difficult and focused three months or so, I am finally getting back to my normal routines. And that means I’m returning to work on my Source Selector Unit/Preamp project. Thank you to everyone who has had patience with my absence from the website.
Continue readingThis 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 readingI just posted the project page for the 12AU7 “Color” Preamp which I completed a couple of months ago. Why don’t you go check it out.
This is a topic that rears its head periodically on vacuum tube forums and discussions. Just a couple of days ago I was reading a forum thread on preamps and someone threw out the suggestion of using a triode strapped 6V6 as a preamp tube. Now this is nothing new. I’ve been hearing this suggestion, on and off, for at least ten years. But using a triode strapped 6v6 (or any beam power tube) as a voltage amplifier is a poor idea which simply doesn’t hold up to technical scrutiny.
Continue readingNow that the color preamp is done (knock wood), I’ve been trying it out on different amplifier and speaker combinations. But there is a little issue. Unknown to most people is that your brain can really only hold onto an unadulterated memory for a minute or so at the very longest. Most of the time you’ve got less than about 30 seconds. After this interval your brain starts throwing out what it considers to be extraneous information leaving only impressions. And this is a big issue when attempting to make subjective comparisons.
Continue readingThere are a variety of sayings, axioms, proverbs, or quips which could apply to me this afternoon. A few which come to mind include:
“How wayward the decrees of fate are” – Vanitas Vanitatum – William Makepeace Thackeray
or this one:
“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall” – Proverbs 16:18
or just the simple axiom:
“It ain’t over till it’s over” – Yogi Berra
In any event, it would seem that “Final Chapter” or no, I have one more post concerning the Color Preamp.
Continue reading