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Post by rexton on Jan 23, 2022 21:00:30 GMT
Oh dear. I lost the right channel in my system today. So, I've spent all day going through what it could be. Needless to say I'm spinning vinyl again in STEREO! Turns out the power amp RCA was buggered. This has now been repaired but it has set me off thinking about how I can improve my valve setup or maybe even start something new.
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Post by antonio on Jan 24, 2022 4:05:59 GMT
Well done in sorting the problem, you've been reading this forum too much, do you really want to make work for yourself?  |
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,358
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Post by Bigman80 on Jan 24, 2022 7:34:50 GMT
Oh dear. I lost the right channel in my system today. So, I've spent all day going through what it could be. Needless to say I'm spinning vinyl again in STEREO! Turns out the power amp RCA was buggered. This has now been repaired but it has set me off thinking about how I can improve my valve setup or maybe even start something new. Are we talking new valve setup, or just a total change of direction? |
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Post by rexton on Jan 24, 2022 17:53:32 GMT
New valve setup. I've had a hankering to try 300b's for some time, altough quite costly, I did buy a pair of cheapy monoblocks last year but they hummed like a bugger. I also have a EL34 based power amp that I'd like to do some tube rolling. I've done the KT88, 6SL7, ECC83 tubes and all the various variants. So, something new maybe....
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Post by antonio on Jan 24, 2022 23:25:21 GMT
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,358
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Post by Bigman80 on Jan 25, 2022 0:12:53 GMT
There's one for sale on the Wam using 300b
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Post by antonio on Jan 25, 2022 10:55:15 GMT
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Post by antonio on Jan 25, 2022 11:13:13 GMT
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Post by rexton on Jan 25, 2022 19:59:46 GMT
Thanks Antonio for all the links, certainly a lot of food for thought.
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Post by rexton on Jan 25, 2022 20:11:09 GMT
Last nights bit of open heart surgery on the Sondex power amp and Croft Pre-amp. Lots of messing about trying to find out which bit had broken.
I forgot I'd had quite a bit of work done to the amp several years ago, I noticed some Z-foils installed and a few other choice Foo bits which actually make the amp sound very nice indeed.
And this was the little bugger that had broken. Leading to no RCA output to the left channel!
As an aside. I'm restoring a Goldring G88. Here's a few pictures of another bearing refurbishment. Dirty, horrid thing...
Stripped down. Thrust plate, knackered and the bearing was scraping. I reversed this and another 40+ years of service with a little luck. Bearing body recieved a full polish. Bearing spindle was cleaned with pure alcohol and then given a polish.
Final bits. The bearing shaft was completely cleaned out and recieved a new oil change (my brew)! I installed a new bearing and then assembled. Platter new spins like a good'un.
Until next time!
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,358
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Post by Bigman80 on Jan 25, 2022 21:51:10 GMT
Silver. It's a pig for that.
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Post by rexton on Jan 25, 2022 21:56:59 GMT
Yep I've had the experience before. Mind you, I ain't moving that bloody amp again 32kg, lots of iron to the back end of the amp.
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,358
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Post by Bigman80 on Jan 25, 2022 23:15:58 GMT
Yep I've had the experience before. Mind you, I ain't moving that bloody amp again 32kg, lots of iron to the back end of the amp. Haha, rather you than me matey. |
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optical
Moderator
BIG STAR
Be Excellent To Eachother
Posts: 1,616 
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Post by optical on Jan 26, 2022 11:59:32 GMT
Last nights bit of open heart surgery on the Sondex power amp and Croft Pre-amp. Lots of messing about trying to find out which bit had broken.
Looks like my listening room most nights . . . . good job it's only me who goes in there these days . . . . Good job finding the issue by the way, I've had similar chases lasting long into the night and beyond . . . Maybe a few more Silver Z Caps in there would yield benefit?!?!  |
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Post by antonio on Jan 26, 2022 12:55:35 GMT
Thanks Antonio for all the links, certainly a lot of food for thought. Yes, sorry for that, just the way it worked out, and links make it easy for you to either keep for later or dismiss there and then. |
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Post by rexton on Jan 28, 2022 21:19:35 GMT
New year, and I'm beginning to do all those things that I've been going to do and never did. So, after much farting around I have decided to start and take my MONO system seriously and I have bought one of these from the states.
It should be fun. Yes I could have bought a simple RCA Y adapter and ran this through one channel of my Paradise but I've a lot of records that don't have the Paradise RIAA correction. I've selected a solid wood Walnut case for that retro aesthetic. Should be here next few weeks. This little gadget should open up a whole new world of recordings which whilst they sound great through my current valve setup should sound even better. I'll keep you all updated.
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Post by antonio on Jan 29, 2022 5:10:13 GMT
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Post by rexton on Jan 30, 2022 18:41:05 GMT
Here is another restoration I'm doing. I thought I'd share a video. This one will be stored in my personal collection.
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Post by brian2957 on Jan 30, 2022 19:09:26 GMT
Nice work again Andrew. Looks similar to the GL75. Is it ?
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Post by rexton on Jan 30, 2022 19:36:09 GMT
It's an updated version of the 75. It was Lenco/Goldring's attempt at taking business from the Garrard 301. The G88 had a further update to the G99 of which I have a sample in my collection. Great decks, much simpler than the L75 and it's earlier versions. Much of the 88 is shared with the 75, the bearing, idler arm, speed selector, motor and spring isolation. The idler wheel is of much debate and we don't know if it's Lenco's attempt at improving the L75 idler wheel or making a cheaper version. Everyone has their own opinion and debate rages on which is the best idler wheel. I'm mounting an Audiosilente on this one.
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Post by brian2957 on Jan 30, 2022 20:10:58 GMT
Thanks for the info Andy. The Audiosilente idler wheels are expensive, but excellent. Very stable and quiet. This looks like a very nice example |
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Post by rexton on Jan 30, 2022 20:24:38 GMT
I think the motor is dead 8-< that's not such a major problem I'll be on the look out for a new one. It's only a side project, I'm not selling this one so time is no object. I found this one for sale over on PinkFishMedia, pity the seller didn't highlight the knackered motor.
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Post by rexton on Feb 5, 2022 16:29:14 GMT
My Reko-Cut III equaliser is now in New Jersey. This is excellent news, I can start enjoying MONO records is new wayds and also brings about an experiment with equalisation. I'll post more about this tonight. Stay tuned.....
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Post by rexton on Feb 5, 2022 19:53:31 GMT
Right I have a little time to add a post. I've been hankering after a MONO setup for quite some time and now I'm finally getting off my arse and doing something about it. The Rek-o-Cut III should be a hoot with my MONO stuff. I've about 50 MONO records now and when played properly they can sound astonishing. So now I'll be getting my fix of experimentation for several weeks whilst I go through all my records. I have several phonostages and a couple fo MONO specific carts to play with, so happy days. Now a little rant. I've tried several times to buy records from electricrecordingco.com/ they typically cost £350 each, yes £350 EACH. You might think I'm mad but I see it like this. Every time I play the record will be like an event, a special 44 minutes of immense pleasure now tally up how much does a night out cost and I'll get my investment back very quickly and I'll probably get back near to retail value if I'm ever skint. But, electricrecordingco.com/ are always sold out, I got a little pissed off with this to the powers that be at the end of the phone, only to be told that they didn't want to upset old customers that have bought several records. Well, what about NEW customers that never get the chance to purchase one of these wonderous pieces of vinyl? Us, new customers will just walk away from electricrecordingco.com/ and stick the old finger up to favouristism. |
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Post by rexton on Feb 6, 2022 21:44:57 GMT
This is my 301 in all it's glory. I thought I'd already posted this?!? Anyway. 301 is pretty stock, I completely rebuilt this thing, very single nut, bolt, linkage stipped, cleaned, dismantled.
SME 3012 is nearly standard, I modded it to take a 5 pin plug, tonearm cable is top of the range Yannis Tome. SPU is Silver Meister II, Speed controller is battery powered Pheonix Engineering PSU + Tachometer. Plinth is baltic bitch ply, tonearm mount is Panzerholz. The whole things sits on Bamboo isolation board,.
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RexBlog
Feb 6, 2022 23:26:56 GMT
via mobile
Post by sq225917 on Feb 6, 2022 23:26:56 GMT
Is that the Starker Mercury?
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Post by southall1998 on Feb 7, 2022 9:15:44 GMT
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Post by rexton on Feb 7, 2022 20:14:38 GMT
Is that the Starker Mercury? Si, it's this one.
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Post by rexton on Feb 7, 2022 20:15:06 GMT
Hello shane, yep I'll pop by sometime. |
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RexBlog
Feb 7, 2022 21:37:11 GMT
via mobile
Post by sq225917 on Feb 7, 2022 21:37:11 GMT
I ask cos it seems a hair fast.
Must be the conversion from phone video to YouTube timecode as I know your deck is spot on.
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