Pars Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 You could also get some alligator or mini-grabber adapter clips such as these and take a crappy RCA plug, strip it, and clip onto the shell of it. Many test lead sets come with an assortment of attachments. I use a set from Mueller that works pretty well and wasn't very expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elephas Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 Heh, there's a tool for adjusting trimmer pots. Now I know they're called trimmer pots. I hate these tiny things. Now I'm absolutely sure that the BHSE and Aristaeus were designed by a young person, probably around 25 or less. Hey, I can recall how I used to have keen eyesight and good coordination too. Pars, I'm afraid you don't yet realize the extent of the ignorance and incompetence that you're dealing with. "Clip onto the shell of a crappy RCA plug?" I don't have a spare RCA plug lying around. "Test lead sets?" How about an "audiophile-grade" holder for one of the multimeter probes, to act as ground? Maybe something shiny, chrome-plated, with a weighted base and perfectly shaped to cradle that probe and ensure excellent contact? Currently playing: Boccherini - La Musica Notturna delle strade di Madrid from Tacet SACD "Die Rohre - The Tube." Wow, the smoothness! The excellent passacalle movement is played at the end of the movie Master and Commander. I admit to enjoying some violins and other stringed instruments once in a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nikongod Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 Heh, there's a tool for adjusting trimmer pots. Now I know they're called trimmer pots. I hate these tiny things. Now I'm absolutely sure that the BHSE and Aristaeus were designed by a young person, probably around 25 or less. Hey, I can recall how I used to have keen eyesight and good coordination too. Single turn trimmers are about the same size and impossible to actually set well once you get used to these they will be easy. How about an "audiophile-grade" holder for one of the multimeter probes, to act as ground? Maybe something shiny, chrome-plated, with a weighted base and perfectly shaped to cradle that probe and ensure excellent contact? If your meter has removable probes just get someone to make one that goes to ground on an RCA jack. If it dosnt have removable probes RCA ground to an alligator clip. Nice and simple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les_Garten Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 You, sir, are the only nice human around here. You may have dibs on the ES-1. I got a multimeter some time ago, after I got an SRM-T1W and Spritzer explained how to bias the tubes. Apparently it's the same way with the BHSE, which also involves sticking the probes into the Stax output jack. I'm not a complete idiot. An incomplete one, sure, probably, especially when it comes to tube amps and I barely know how to use the multimeter. But I was already accustomed to removing the top cover of the Aristaeus to bias its tubes, and the SP ES-1 has convenient receptacles on each side to put the probes into and knobs to adjust. I expected something similar. I looked at the top cover of the BHSE amp section and didn't see the four tiny small gold screws inside the holes next to the tube sockets. I did see the twelve allen hex screws and figured that they're not meant to be unscrewed on a regular basis, unlike the Aristaeus' four simple philips-head screws. So, if the top cover stays put, and I don't see any knobs to turn to adjust bias, I thought there isn't anything I could do. Out of sight, out of mind. And nobody said anything! Anyway, that's my explanation. It took me an hour to think up, so I hope it's convincing. Currently playing: Madonna - Like A Prayer (12" Extended Remix) Oldie but goodie! Don't tell me everyone listens to sophisticated intelligentsia music! Classical and jazz, barf! I'll attend one of your meets secretly as an anonymous newbie and don't let me catch you with Britney, Beyonce, Leona Lewis, Rihanna, or other Top 40 on your playlists! Very nice write up, except for one thing. You forgot Fergie! . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dreadhead Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 Very nice write up, except for one thing. You forgot Fergie! . She's got humps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les_Garten Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 She's got humps She's Fergilicious! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin gilmore Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 Now I'm absolutely sure that the BHSE and Aristaeus were designed by a young person, probably around 25 or less. Hey, I can recall how I used to have keen eyesight and good coordination too. Yep once you turn 40 you are toast. They used to make tv alignment tools which had a recessed blade inside a plastic tube. Put it over the pot and it stays in place. various politically incorrect name for those tools. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvdunhill Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 Yep once you turn 40 you are toast. They used to make tv alignment tools which had a recessed blade inside a plastic tube. Put it over the pot and it stays in place. various politically incorrect name for those tools. Bourns still makes one: Beezar.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n_maher Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 Yep once you turn 40 you are toast. They used to make tv alignment tools which had a recessed blade inside a plastic tube. Put it over the pot and it stays in place. various politically incorrect name for those tools. edit marc beat me to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvdunhill Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 There are a number of these for sale at Mouser (for example, there are ones for the sealed trimmers, that require a different tool), here's one: H-90 Bourns Potentiometer Tools & Hardware Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justin Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 Heh, there's a tool for adjusting trimmer pots. Now I know they're called trimmer pots. I hate these tiny things. I included one in the box Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Voltron Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 I included one in the box Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n_maher Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Voltron Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 That is damn funny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hopstretch Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 That is damn funny. Needs to be wrangling an elephant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swt61 Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 My favorite post of the month for sure! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elephas Posted August 26, 2009 Report Share Posted August 26, 2009 (edited) Hey, no being mean to fellow four-legged mammals! I included one in the box Yay! Yes, I have it! So that's what it was. I thought it was some piece of junk that got accidentally left there. I should've known better, given HeadAmp's excellent reputation for attention to detail. But it's beige-colored and says Vishay Spectrol on it. I want a black or silver one that says HeadAmp on it. Or maybe printed "Kevin Gilmore Loves You." Given Justin's probable obsessiveness, and the fact that the stock tube boxes are individually labeled for the tube's position, I assume that the original biasing settings were set for the stock tubes. When I put in the stock tubes they were already correctly biased, and I thought they weren't bad! So all the other tubes are actually better than I thought! Edited August 26, 2009 by Elephas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elephas Posted August 26, 2009 Report Share Posted August 26, 2009 You are welcome to think what you will. Go ahead and make more rolleyes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n_maher Posted August 26, 2009 Report Share Posted August 26, 2009 Given Justin's probable obsessiveness, and the fact that the stock tube boxes are individually labeled for the tube's position, I assume that the original biasing settings were set for the stock tubes. When I put in the stock tubes they were already correctly biased, and I thought they weren't bad! Yes, the stock tubes are labeled by position and the bias is set correctly for them in those positions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
recstar24 Posted August 26, 2009 Report Share Posted August 26, 2009 You are welcome to think what you will. Go ahead and make more rolleyes. Sorry Elephas, one more story that might make you feel better... So the Zana Deux has those damper diodes in the back that take care of rectification. Well those damper diodes have plate caps, little pieces of wire that go from the top of the tube into little sockets in the chassis which is part of their normal operation. Craig tells me about this guy who complained to him that the amp was running with the tubes showing their lighted filaments, but there was no sound. Also, the guy complained that when he touched the top of the tubes, he got a little shock. Craig realized that he didn't even have the plate caps on top, but also figured out that the owner threw away those "little pieces" as he didn't think they were important. har har. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tkam Posted August 26, 2009 Report Share Posted August 26, 2009 Awesome I see death by tubes in that guys future Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asr Posted August 26, 2009 Report Share Posted August 26, 2009 Yes, the stock tubes are labeled by position and the bias is set correctly for them in those positions. I just now noticed this after reading your post. And given the few times that I've already removed & inserted the tubes, I have to assume I have them placed out of position by now. So does it matter much if the tubes aren't in their original positions now? I have access to a multimeter but no idea how to check the bias of the tubes even after reading the previous page. If someone could provide steps of how a newbie can do it, I'd be most grateful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audiosceptic Posted August 26, 2009 Report Share Posted August 26, 2009 I just now noticed this after reading your post. And given the few times that I've already removed & inserted the tubes, I have to assume I have them placed out of position by now. So does it matter much if the tubes aren't in their original positions now? I did the same thing. In my haste to listen to the BHSE I just put the stock Mullard tubes in anywhere. It wasn't until I tried tube rolling that I noticed the tube boxes were labeled by position. New owners take note.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spritzer Posted August 26, 2009 Report Share Posted August 26, 2009 I just now noticed this after reading your post. And given the few times that I've already removed & inserted the tubes, I have to assume I have them placed out of position by now. So does it matter much if the tubes aren't in their original positions now? I have access to a multimeter but no idea how to check the bias of the tubes even after reading the previous page. If someone could provide steps of how a newbie can do it, I'd be most grateful. I'm sure Justin will chime in later but here is a short guide: 1: let the amp warm up for at least two hours (maybe more since I'm not sure when it is running at full temp) 2: place the probes of the multimeter between the + and - output for that channel (in the Stax socket seen here, red in the + output, black in the -) and adjust the back pot for 0VDC. 3: Now remove the black probe and connect it to the shell of a RCA socket on the back (aka ground) and adjust the front pot for 0VDC. 4: Repeat for the other channel. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boomana Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 Lordy. If I messed mine up, they're going to stay messed up. I have no idea what you're talking about. So, I've now spent some good time with this amp, and with both the APL Phillips I got from tkam and the Exemplar Denon. Right now I'm preferring the Phillips with the O2s, with the Exemplar having a ever so slightly softer tone, which makes the headphones seem a bit too polite for much of what I'm listening to right now. I'm pretty excited with what I'm hearing, and I get totally immersed in just listening. The only problem I'm now having is with the O2s. I might have to replace the headband. It really is too loose for my head, and I'm holding the cups to my ears to get the best sound, and that's no fun. I'd mangled the headband into a shape that kinda fit before, but after taking them to CanJam, the big noggin people stretched it out again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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