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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2015 11:31:03 GMT
Hello I thought I would start a thread to show all the units and mods I have made over the years, using this single ended class A headphone amplifier. people may know me as jamesfeline and I have posted before on this forum so just as a reminder I will add a couple of pics More to follow as I work through various builds etc just for info I have a couple of boards on Ebay currently, a small part kit .. but does come with new OPA627 metal can op amps (original purchased from RS) Link just incase you are interested below www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251957664194?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649regards
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jun 8, 2015 12:53:12 GMT
Just bought that James I have built about 6 Chiara amps over the years and am really looking forward to building another one. Do you happen to sell those enclosures?, the original Chiara enclosures were like corned beef tins, damned awful things! I "think" I've got the original instructions / parts list out in the workshop but, if not, I'm sure you will be able to help me out. All the best, Mike.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jun 8, 2015 12:54:43 GMT
Ooooooh! I'm thinking that the JLH ripple eaters may come in handy for this amp..... I've got a pile of them somewhere, must look them out too!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2015 12:56:33 GMT
Hi Mike
well done .. give me a few days to put the package together for you, I will more then happy to help with the build etc, i will let you know when posted .. should be mid week or end of the week. I will try and start collecting the parts as promised in the ebay sale regards Nick
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jun 8, 2015 19:25:13 GMT
Hi Mike well done .. give me a few days to put the package together for you, I will more then happy to help with the build etc, i will let you know when posted .. should be mid week or end of the week. I will try and start collecting the parts as promised in the ebay sale regards Nick Hi Nick, Great, many thanks, I look forward to receiving the bits and bobs and getting started on the build. Your one (in the above pic) seems to have a lot of bells and whistles added, it will be interesting to find out what they are. That's a very professional job and I like the look of the enclosure. The enclosures that Williams supplied were very basic, they came as bare steel and you had to spray paint them if you wanted a "finish" on them: I put those together about 12 years ago. There will be hundreds of photos on here somewhere as I built quite a few and most of them housed in Galaxy (Italian) enclosures: Excuse the quality of the photos, digital cameras 12 years ago were not what they are today and you had to keep the upload size small thanks to "dial up" speeds I've had a look in the archives and I have all my original Chiara / Andante notes so it will be a breeze putting it together with a few updated tweaks..... a lot of water has gone under the bridge in twelve years and a lot has been learnt so really looking forward to building a Chiara 2015. All the best, Mike.
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jc
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Post by jc on Jun 8, 2015 20:08:43 GMT
I see there used to be a penchant for using mains wire for the signal cables. I used to use speaker wires. Have we all disappeared up our own black hole now and only la-de-da, directional, cry-ing from price-o, super wotsit will do . Well, maybe not that bad but still... 'twer simpler back then it seems...
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2015 20:35:56 GMT
I see there used to be a penchant for using mains wire for the signal cables. I used to use speaker wires. Have we all disappeared up our own black hole now and only la-de-da, directional, cry-ing from price-o, super wotsit will do . Well, maybe not that bad but still... 'twer simpler back then it seems... Hi For me .. copper is copper, I use which I have at hand .. normally I have loads of 0.75mm2 mains cable so just use that .
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jun 8, 2015 20:41:12 GMT
I see there used to be a penchant for using mains wire for the signal cables. I used to use speaker wires. Have we all disappeared up our own black hole now and only la-de-da, directional, cry-ing from price-o, super wotsit will do . Well, maybe not that bad but still... 'twer simpler back then it seems... Copper is copper, a pea is a pea..... a bit of scrap "twin and earth" is as good in an amp as it is in a landfill site...... why chuck it when you can re-use it? Nothing wrong with mains cable Chris..... I don't use it these days (apart from wiring my house with it / it's a lot safer than "audio grade" cable) as I can afford to waste money on cable that looks good Talking about super wotsits...... I picked up a huge packet of "Wotsits" yesterday for a quid..... I'm going to do the entire packet tonight. You want some?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2015 21:35:54 GMT
Hi Pinkfloyd
I have packaged your kit together, I found I had a few resistors missing so I have supplemented them with some capacitors which I did have (more expensive 100pf polystyrene types etc) so I have included what I did have in my stock of parts .. so a little more then originally advertised extra free.
regards
Nick
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jc
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Post by jc on Jun 8, 2015 21:40:13 GMT
Bleedin' right I do, called Cheetos here. PM me some
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2015 15:12:47 GMT
Hi
Just out of interest what value pot did you use for the volume ?
regards
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jun 9, 2015 19:32:43 GMT
Hi Just out of interest what value pot did you use for the volume ? regards Hi Nick, It would have been an ALPS RK27 (blue velvet) 50k log. I've managed to find the instructions for the PSU but the instructions for the amp appear to have vanished into thin air, bloody typical! The instructions weren't too good to begin with but were better than none at all, do you have them Nick? Maybe you can e-mail them to me. Thanks for throwing the extra bits and bobs in, it's much appreciated, I should have most of the parts in stock apart from the PCB mount fuse holders, I presume these are the correct ones? : www.rapidonline.com/electrical-power/camdenboss-pcb-fuseholder-vertical-64592I've got about ten 30VA / 18-0-18V toroidal transformers with input output / leads so may as well use one of them rather than source a PCB mount transformer (if there is such an animal available for the Andante PCB). Just a thought, I've got a few stepped attenuators kicking about in the workshop so could use one of them instead of an RK27..... so many components sitting idle gathering dust, I'd be as well using them. It's all starting to come back to me now Nick, just how bloomin' daft the PCB design was...... all those zero ohm links and funky track routes..... I suppose that made it quirky (and of its time) but I can't build one from memory and will need to see the schematic (at least)......... Mike.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jun 9, 2015 20:43:36 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2015 20:46:22 GMT
Hi .. Yes I have the instructions, I like the pcb's .. its a retro thing plus they accommodate a wide range of component sizes, no surface mount stuff. Plus I think the kit is the sum of the parts including the PCB and layout etc. The ones you are getting are the original new old stock ones. I have now made some original new ones with new Gerber files (at great expense) using 2 ounce copper tracks .. so nice and thick using fr4 boards. At least I can get them made now .. I will try and convert the manual to a PDF format for you .. or scan
hopefully going to post end of this week for you, I just chucked in what I found that I have for you .. plus yes those fuse holders are the correct ones.
When I used the 50k pot I found it to sensitive, but a 10k pot seemed to work better with a better range etc, or a 22k pot seems a good compromise
regards
Nick
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jun 10, 2015 10:10:06 GMT
Hi Nick,
Can you post it by Royal Mail? They are the best for up here in the Highlands.
Mike.
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Post by freddypipsqueek on Jun 10, 2015 14:11:01 GMT
I definately have PDF copies of the build manuals for both amp and PSU. I expect they will be the same as James will send you but PM me your email if you want them.
A couple of years ago I was intending to build another one but since then I have not had the time. My original one still works dispite alsorts added to it.
I have used a 20K and 50k (TKD) pot - there are three resisters (per channel)_ which can be changed to adjust for each - solderdude told me which ones and values and I can look up the email if required.
I've also changed alot of the resisters and caps etc and its just got better each time.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jun 10, 2015 20:35:06 GMT
I definately have PDF copies of the build manuals for both amp and PSU. I expect they will be the same as James will send you but PM me your email if you want them. A couple of years ago I was intending to build another one but since then I have not had the time. My original one still works dispite alsorts added to it. I have used a 20K and 50k (TKD) pot - there are three resisters (per channel)_ which can be changed to adjust for each - solderdude told me which ones and values and I can look up the email if required. I've also changed alot of the resisters and caps etc and its just got better each time. Hi Pippy. I'll take you up on your offer of the "manuals" (for want of a better word)..... that's really good of you Adrian. I'm going non inductive with the resistors and will be running a stepped attenuator (20K log)....... I have some new ideas of my own and will get round to them as soon as I have the boards to hand..... the rock grotto ripple eater is a deffo addition and I feel like doing a step by step "pictorial" now the good weather "appears" to be here A damned good old school amp (no frills) let's see what we can do with it
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2015 21:20:54 GMT
Great .. new activity and excitement for this great classic design ... on original boards, also with metal can opa627, plus I have some secret mods coming soon on my next build !!
Oh yes and my avatar is Kaspa my lilac Siamese cat.. who is a big cat now
don't worry .. secret mods that I will share ....
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jun 10, 2015 21:52:07 GMT
Great .. new activity and excitement for this great classic design ... on original boards, also with metal can opa627, plus I have some secret mods coming soon on my next build !! Oh yes and my avatar is Kaspa my lilac Siamese cat.. who is a big cat now don't worry .. secret mods that I will share .... Let's get this retro party started [begin Mick Jagger strut] I can't get no Black Gate action [/end Mick Jagger strut] Nick, I bet you a pork pie that my mods will be better than yours..... nah nah nah nah nah nah Pinkie.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jun 10, 2015 22:01:39 GMT
Don't worry...... I'll show you my parts (like a true Gentleman) before employing them and trust you will do likewise This is going to be fun! Mike.
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jc
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Post by jc on Jun 10, 2015 22:08:33 GMT
Aha! This will be dead cool. Two different approaches to the mods for readers pick from, this could spark off all kinds of ideas. It will be very interesting to see some tasty builds coming up.
Soldering irons at dawn.....ow-we-ow-we-owwwww, wah wah, wahhhh....
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2015 16:20:38 GMT
excellent ... just planning my build strategy
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Post by freddypipsqueek on Jun 11, 2015 16:22:56 GMT
Mike - Manuals emailed.
Anyone else PM me your email address.
James - I sent a PM about a set of boards.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2015 16:45:05 GMT
Mike - Manuals emailed. Anyone else PM me your email address. James - I sent a PM about a set of boards. Pm Sent
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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2015 11:29:24 GMT
Pippy
I am going to the post office this afternoon (Friday) did you want the 2 PCB's ?? if so just need a address Many thanks
Nick
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