Leaderboard

Thanks! I've got to bump this thread to page one with some real stuff 😀. The GGPT (Grounded-Grid Pentode/Tetrode) now gets a proper PCB laid out: I made a few deviations to the common choice of parts: 1) I found some 2SK332, could be Sanyo's answer to the low noise dual N-JFET market back in the day. They cost me about 60 cents a pop, so I ditched the LSK389. The footprint is also usable for a pair of 2SK170s. SOT-23 footprints are added for the 2SK209, and a few others that share the same pinout. 2) Through-holes on the SMD pad for the SOT223s are a big no-no for machine assembly due to solder wicking, but works okay for hand soldering. It allows the use of A970/C2240s. I found some from a Chinese manufacturer Foshan Blue Rocket Electronics, pretty decent build quality, good low-current linearity, and cheap (14 cents a pair). 3) All through-hole RCs. I know the world has moved to SMD but I have quite some through-hole resistors accumulated over the years, and personally prefer leaded components on tube PCBs due to the thermal and mechanical stress they have to endure. The FU50 tube sockets are so big and everything else have to dance around them. I chose not to use slotted pads at the exact socket pin locations, instead having soldering pads on the side allows flexible or semi-rigid connections from PCB to the tube socket contacts, which can absorb the strains. The scheme is similar to what Stax had on the original T2 PCB. A couple more mounting holes are added to allow other types of tube sockets to be used. The board mounting holes have the same distance compared to the Carbon board. This board can overlay on top of the Carbon board in the chassis where I have enough Z space left. They can share the heat sink and the power supplies. The goal is to be able to switch between them with a flip of a switch. The GG Pentode with GU-50s and the GG Tetrode with 807s, side by side: The 807s have slightly better measured performance, at the voltage level that I probably never going to drive my phones at (when I'm wearing them).

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass was back live for the first time since 2019. It was good to be there and so far I don't think I have covid. Saturday: Ismay (granddaughter of HSB founder Warren Hellman) Meklit (unrelated) Waxahatchee and Jay Som, not pictured Elvis Costello Jerry Harrison and Adrian Belew performing Remain In Light (highlight!) Sunday: Alison Brown Quartet (not pictured) Charlie Hunter and DaShawn Hickman (not pictured) Brothers Comatose Lucius, with Marcus Mumford as guest for a song (another highlight!) Bela Fleck (not pictured) The Whitmore Sisters Emmylou Harris, while we made our way out of the festival (not pictured)

Got both of them here..how about a Head-Case demo tour?

♥️♥️♥️

Something else. This is a cube made for no particular reason - just thinking through an idea. This was a more hand tool intensive project, facilitated by the use of cypress which is very east to work.

Having owned a DCA Aeon Noire for a while the DCA Stealth got me interested. I like what Dan is trying to achieve, with the introduction of the Expanse I couldn’t resist the urge to buy another flagship. So I have an Expanse incoming, will be pairing it with a CFA2. I do not like the dicky naming of the products, minor gripe hopefully I’m happy with what the Expanse brings to the table being that I love what the Noire achieves at its price point. Will be updating with impressions when I’m ready, has anybody heard or owned a DCA Stealth or Expanse?

Some photos.

Wouldn't say no!

I own the Stealth, John. It is a very nice headphone. If there was a trade-in option I'd have been tempted to trade out for the Expanse as it seems to fix the one major issue I have with it, namely a lack of perceived bass. While I don't mind it as a closed headphone, I also generally prefer open. That all being said, it is a much better listen than the HD800S, my other flagship. I enjoy it very much, it just isn't perfect. Looking forward to seeing what you think of Expanse.

I suppose the greatness of any documentary is related to knowledge the viewer has or hasn’t going in, but HBO’s Hostages, about the Iranian Hostage Crisis, hits something I have far too many gaps in. If you’re anything like me it’s highly recommended. Plus strange to watch in the contemporary shadows of all the UK monarchy turnover and the January 6th mess.

Will there be any Charlie Chaplin/Edward G. Robinson Jrs. there?

You might try Corian remnants for these. https://www.solidsurface.com/

Thinking about attending this year in New York? Any takers?

Next build – remove R1 ( don’t understand why I put it there – maybe because I’m an amateur) and R2 value is far too low, unless you want 40 mA through LED, so I switched to 1K. Small board 19mm x 15mm with the 555, a small PNP , three resistors and of course the bi color LED. Works perfect.

😁

I would make that into a turntable stand for Colossus, big time!

^^ from the image - that must be the low resolution edition? 😁 (sorry) Me: Silver Age (Extended Edition) Daniil Trifonov 2020 https://album.link/i/1551363684 Example: 2.5 hours is a little bit much for a one time sitting of this extended release. But I really enjoyed these works. The Scriabin I thought was particularly well done.

Here's a step by step of a project that I finally completed ...

New Haelos track (nice return to form): https://tidal.com/browse/track/247388928 New Snarky Puppy! https://tidal.com/browse/album/228999248 New Keith Jarrett! https://tidal.com/browse/album/250019473 And this track still slays me -- both guitar solos and the build on both the song and her vocals...just... I can't even... https://tidal.com/browse/track/69200944

I have to admit I was a little mixed on season one of Reservation Dogs, though its genius more than occasionally showed through. Absolutely no doubt on season two's greatness. Loved every episode so far. FX/Hulu.

Took Dr. Woods advice and made a Frankenstein’s Monster out of 3/4 aromatic cedar. Cannot decide I keep it inside and not seal it for the nice smell or seal it for the patio.

R.I.P. Loretta Lynn at 90...