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Usually nothing wrong with Chinese product, unless you pay top dollar. The actual FOB price will be rather low - which is why most of everything now comes from China. Top UK brand toaster and kettle here are both China made. Goes on and on....

Before Psychedelia, There Was SPACE AGE Music

Both the power supply and amplifier chassis are approximately 290 mm × 400 mm × 90 mm, so it's actually fairly compact considering it's a full-size T2. The power supply uses five GRHV regulators and features plug-in bias daughter boards, making it easy to switch between different bias voltages. Right now it supports both Normal Bias and Pro Bias outputs. The PSU also includes about a 50sec high volt soft start. In addition, there's an AC inrush limiter on the mains input. After roughly one second, a relay bypasses the current-limiting resistor, reducing the inrush current seen by both the filter capacitors and the tube heaters during startup. On the amplifier side, most of the passive components are SMD, which helped reduce the overall PCB and chassis size. The amplifier topology stays very close to Kevin's original T2 schematic, but I added support for several different implementation options to make the design more flexible. It supports three different CCS configurations:10M90, 10M90S + DN2540, and the original T2 complex CCS. The active battery section is also configurable. It supports: LED string reference, LT1021 reference. For the 2SK216 and 2SJ79 positions, I added an extra pin so they can be replaced directly with TTC and TTA devices without modifying the PCB. The overall goal wasn't to redesign the T2, but rather to preserve the original circuit while making it easier to build, maintain, and adapt as some of the original parts become increasingly difficult to source. The chassis is CNC machined by a local machine shop. One detail I paid particular attention to was the top cover of the amplifier chassis. I designed it so that the EL34 tube sockets sit perfectly flush with the top panel, which I think gives the amplifier a much cleaner appearance. Additional ventilation slots were added in the center section for airflow. The side heatsinks are sandwiched between the top and bottom panels. This not only gives the chassis a cleaner look and prevents the sharp heatsink fins from being exposed, but also makes it much less likely that you'll scratch your hands when moving the amplifier. To make sure the heatsinks can still dissipate heat efficiently, I also added ventilation openings in the top and bottom panels wherever they cover the heatsinks. I've also been thinking about turning this project into a group buy, although I'm not sure how much interest in the T2 still exists today. The main motivation would be to reduce the chassis cost, since having a single custom CNC chassis made is quite expensive. If enough people were interested, the machining cost could come down significantly.

AnTek transformers are made in China. I purchased the AS‑4T400 (400VA, 400V) transformer and the AS‑3T350 (300VA, 350V) tube transformer to build the Blue Hawaii and Carbon amps. The cardboard packaging had “Made in China” labels, and some of them were partially peeled off. If I had known they were made in China, I might have bought them directly from Taobao.

So Saturday we smoked spare ribs and a brisket in our new smoker This was early in the smoking before the ribs were sauced and wrapped in aluminum foil and before the brisket was swaddled in butcher paper.

More WING breakdown.

I still like the album, but not as much as I liked all the clips and live tunes I heard. Granted none of those had the singing. They are not singers, and I don't think they are really trying to be. I am a music first person when I listen, I still don't know what most Yes songs are about. So for Who Asked?, I just treat it as another instrument. The drumming is actually a style I like, others out there are copying it now as well. I also recently found out that JD Beck was a grad of School of Rock, which I thought was funny. And I agree don't "Try to Like" it. Hard pass is always the option.

A $5,000 camera taught me to forgive every product I own. A Pixii Max review/autopsy/rethink.

Trying to like? I’m not even trying, there’s something in the drumming of JD that enervates me.

Stunning piece of art! We need to know more about... well everything. It's looking quite small?

Also my vibe. I have Catholic vibes.

Wasn't today, but my nephew returned from the ISS last week....! Long read, but pretty cool.... NASA Astronaut Chris Williams Closes Out Space Station Mission - NASA

A full of song album written without live in mind, live without singing (and with e-drums and equipment breaking). I'm still trying to like this release. DOMi & JD BECK @ Lodge Room Who Asked? Bonus:

Big metric congrat! 👏🏻

That’s an achievement!! Congratulations, Adam.

I am fond of the new Shearwater album. Even has a Laurie Anderson cameo. This is not that: This is:

Congrats, Adam!

Congrat, Adam!

^This. You've come a long way, Adam!

Well done!

Marin Metric Century done and dusted! That was so much fun. Cool to ride with thousands of people. The stretch along Tomales Bay is A++ riding. Those of you who have been out to Marshall for Oysters know what I am talking about. I am soooo glad I trained for the climbing and held some back for the final hill. Next year we do the 100 miler!

Ha, I just came out here to post this ... ^^ funny that they use Pat as the screen cap (second song) - but better than Trevor Horn I guess. :} We all get old together.

Happy Birthday!

Making a bad amplifier is not a problem making a good one is hard...

Rialto - Neon & Ghost Signs