Jump to content

insanity

Returning Member
  • Posts

    317
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Posts posted by insanity

  1. Today I tried to listen to some music for the first time. One channel is perfectly fine. The other one only transmits low frequencies with distortion and no high frequencies. Without a signal it is dead silent. I changed the tubes, no effect. Where would you start to look for the problem? I guess it must be some device in the 1st or 2nd stage maybe?

  2. My KGST is up and running. Got the transformer yesterday from toroidy. As expected it is dead silent. Everything seems to work fine, no explosions. Balance and offset can be zeroed. Haven't had a chance to connect a source and headphones yet. I'll probably do this on the weekend. Uncased pictures will follow on the weekend. 

  3. As usual with these DIY electrostatic amp projects, soldering is one thing. But you have to be aware of the high voltages involved and it is also useful to have a bit of an understanding of electronics. I mean you don't have to fully understand how the amp works, but electronics basics are essential. Otherwise you will end up blowing the whole thing up or killing yourself. Furthermore if you commit on doing this project, I suggest carefully reading other threads in the forum, such as the KGSSHV thread. 

  4. Has anyone already made up their mind on what case to use for a KGST? Total height of the board to the tubes end is 75mm. With 10mm studs we end up at 85mm which is too much for 2U. 

    Either I have to go for 3U or find a case which has around 90mm internal height. 

     

    I don't think that using studs shorter than 5mm is a good idea.

  5. Hey guys, as you can see I ordered and soldered in the tube socket recommended in this thread. http://www.ebay.com/itm/10-9pin-Ceramic-Tube-Socket-PCB-B9A-6DJ8-12AX7-ECC83-ECC82-12AU7-6922-6N11-Valve-/140891822701?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item20cdce9a6d

    Since I have no experience with tubes, I am unsure how hard I need the push to get the tubes into the sockets. To me it seems almost impossible to get one in. I'm scared of breaking it. 

     

    Help?

  6. Hello Guys

     

    I have noticed some changes, on the silkscreen of the v0.41 (boards from the current group buy) compared to earlier versions. The BOM in this thread seems to have missed some changes.

     

    1. on the amp board, there is a 1k and a 2k trimpot. current BOM says 2x 2k

    2. On the PSU board the zeners are now 24V, BOM says 12V.

    3. Can someone confirm which leds to use? I suppose its the same ones as in the KGSSHV (i.e. 859-LTL-307ELC) 1.7V, 2mA

    4. Of course if you want to run at the recommended 350V instead of 400V you need to adjust the zenerstring to 2x100V and 1x150V

     

    Happy building

  7. Yes its from that ebay seller. At the moment I have no way of testing them. I just thought I'd buy some, if I ever wanted to build another KGSSHV. 

    Is it through that ebay seller something like 6gbp for like 12 pcs? Let me know if they are real as I purchased 4 lots same as you and would not be a happy Jan if they turn out to be fakes.

  8. I saw that one, but it's not in stock at the moment. 

    Antek has a very nice transformer at 275V (i.e. close enough) and then you just need a 30VCT transformer for the +/-15V supply

  9. Thank you for your reply. 

     

    If I go for 350V rail voltage, what are the transformer specs I need? 

     

    0-6.3V 1.4A (2x)

    -18-0-18V  ??A

    300v? ??A

     

    I think the Zenerstring would need to be 150 100 100V, right?

    Anything else that needs to be adapted? What about the bias voltage?

    That socket should fit but these are the most common ones and what I used/designed for:

     

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/10-9pin-Ceramic-Tube-Socket-PCB-B9A-6DJ8-12AX7-ECC83-ECC82-12AU7-6922-6N11-Valve-/131242710847?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item1e8eacd73f

     

    Available from pretty much everywhere.  The board also takes the teflon sockets such as this one:

     

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEXUS-MUSIC-Premium-9-PIN-9P-Gold-Plated-Teflon-Tube-Socket-12AU7-ECC83-2PCS-/181469359862?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item2a406aaef6

     

    For tubes its the 6S4A that works and nothing else.  There are really no tubes like it though some are similar but with incompatible pinouts.  I got some 6973's on Friday which are a beam pentode and in current production which might work on a modified ST board triode strapped.  As soon as I get my new board then I'll try it. 

     

    As for matching, you need matched pairs for each channel but a matched quad doesn't hurt.  Matched build is also what I'd go for so all of them RCA or GE, the actual branding doesn't matter. 

     

    A note about the voltage though.  After running my tiny 400V for some time now I would advice people stick to +/350V rail voltages as 400V runs too hot for comfort.  It's the first amp I've ever had to use a fully vented cover for... 

  10. Since this will me my first amp built with tubes, I have two questions.

     

    1. Which tube sockets should I get?  Are these the right ones and ok? http://www.ebay.com/itm/4pcs-GOLD-9pin-PCB-Ceramic-vacuum-tube-sockets-valve-base-12AX7-12AU7-ECC83-6N11-/231285734941?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item35d9b43e1d

     

    2. Which 6s4a tubes should I get. Can I use other types of tubes? If I understand correctly I need at least matched pairs, better matched quads. Which tubes are a good choice for the KGST?

     

    Help is really appreciated, thanks!

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.