My toys

[i_should_coco]

Here are some photos of my favourite bits...

SP10 in slate plinth with SME 312S and Audio Note IO Ltd.

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n15/i_should_coco/DSC_0493.jpg

DIY 801A SET using a circuit by the late Nobu Shishido.

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n15/i_should_coco/801A_amp.jpg

I won't post the CD player as that's likely to be revised fairly shortly with a new design based on PC transport with a discrete DAC (i.e. not chip-based)

Speakers are Lowther Acoustas as my horn project had to go on hold as I was too busy (and don't have the space!). The horns will be resurrected some day, for sure.

I'm also building an LCR phono amp using Silk 10k RIAA modules, which should be ready in the not so distant future.

[Beechwoods]

I'd love to hear your turntable. Did you do the plinth yourself? Your amp is also very nicely done. Very classy design in a homemade machine. You must be very pleased with it. Wish I was as handy :)

[i_should_coco]

Thanks! I just assembled the thing to be honest. The plinth was ordered from Berwyn Slate as a friend had recommended them after getting some speaker stands made. As it turns out, I believe they outsourced the cutting to Slatedeck who did a fabulous job.

The armboard and feet (made with car valve springs :) )were made by thrunobulax, who again did a fab job.

This is one of my early amps. :)

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n15/i_should_coco/Picture027.jpg

[Beechwoods]

:) I bet it worked though! At least croc-clips allow you to tweak more easily than messing about soldering and unsoldering!

[Dave Cawley]

A lovely deck, I'm working on my SP-10 in a new wood plinth and SME V. Maybe finished in 'another' week?

Regards

Dave

[Filterlab]

:) I bet it worked though! At least croc-clips allow you to tweak more easily than messing about soldering and unsoldering!

When I visited Pete a while back he had a couple of sets of horns covering various frequency ranges, he was making alterations as the music was playing, all through the power of crocodile clips. :)

[Marco]

Superb deck, Pete! Those copper mats seem to be doing the rounds now ;)

Dave,

You should borrow one of those mats from Guy to try on your SP10 - I think you'd like the effect :)

Marco.

[Dave Cawley]

Hi Marco

Copper? not convinced about a vinyl/copper interface, what is the functionality here?

But still waiting for Guy to call round, the coffee is on (freshly ground beans 2 minutes ago) and the pile of chocolate digestives is getting smaller by the second.......

Dave

[Marco]

I think Guy's going to join in our shenanigans on the 24th and bring his SP10, so no doubt that will make things even more interesting ;)

Yes the mat is SOLID copper - weighs a bloody ton! It does sound rather good...

Marco.

[Dave Cawley]

Would still like to understand the reasoning for a vinyl/copper interface?

24th? tell me more?

Dave

[Marco]

You'll need to ask Guy about the reasoning. The 24th of this month when I'm coming down to your 'domain' - Guy's going to join us :)

Marco.

[Dave Cawley]

Ah!!! got it! Two packets of chocolate digestives then??

Dave

[i_should_coco]

Certainly the copper was an improvement on the stock mat. I got hold of it because I heard a friend's Mk3, which has a gunmetal platter. He played me some records both with the mat, and directly on the platter. The sound when placed directly on the platter was astounding - especially the piano tone. The only downside was the loss of some edge to the brass instruments. The mat's actually a Micro-Seiki CU-180 which is what Guy's are based on.

[Dave Cawley]

Fascinating!! How thick is it? Don't understand the 'impedance match' though, I would have thought it is was way too low?

Dave

[i_should_coco]

It's about 5mm thick (it's pretty much a perfect fit for the recess on the SP10 platter). Not sure about the impedance match, I'm not a mechanical engineer, but it definitely sounds better than the stock mat. I don't feel the urge to fiddle at the moment, but I'd certainly like to try other types of mat at some point.

[i_should_coco]

:) I bet it worked though! At least croc-clips allow you to tweak more easily than messing about soldering and unsoldering!

Yeah, clip leads are great! That amp actually taught me a huge amount about cause and effect. :)

[RotaryConnection]

If my missus came home to that, it would certainly cause and effect something alright.

:steam:

[Marco]

Yeah, clip leads are great! That amp actually taught me a huge amount about cause and effect. :)

Indeed, and I bet it also taught you something about electrical shocks a few times, too!

Do you have curly hair now? :lolsign:

Marco.

[Marco]

Ah!!! got it! Two packets of chocolate digestives then??

Dave

I'm more of a cup-cake man, myself. I think Guy likes Fairy Cakes :eyebrows:

;)

Marco.

[Filterlab]

I think Guy likes Fairy Cakes :eyebrows:

Do you think Guy would like the picture of me in my shorts? ;)

[Marco]

Only if his wife would approve ;)

:lol:

Marco.

[i_should_coco]

Indeed, and I bet it also taught you something about electrical shocks a few times, too!

Do you have curly hair now? :lolsign:

Marco.

Just grey from the frustration! :scratch:

[i_should_coco]

The Lowthers are now, sadly, gone. :(

I have high hopes for these though!

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n15/i_should_coco/DSC_1017a.jpg

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n15/i_should_coco/DSC_1016a.jpg

[John]

Wow The deck is lovelly it must sound great

[i_should_coco]

Thanks John! Yes, I'm very happy with the way it turned out. I can't see myself changing too much with it in the near future. The CD player needs to be allowed to catch up!

[John]

Not sure if you ever get the CD player to catch up to such a good T/T Its nice when you get to that point of satisfaction

[SPS]

Nice speakers,
I used lowther accousta's about 10 years ago..
they where too coloured for me, but what lowthers are capable of in the mids and the top end showed through.. hence i'm still using them
i dont think those big tanoys have the speed of the lowthers,, but they do make a very,very nice full sound..
I see your using the 801a, i have a few of them i've been going to try..
one day... i have heard an 801a amp, it sounded very nice
i thought the breadboard looked very good, and neat.

steve

[i_should_coco]

Yeah, the Tannoys are much more full bodied and better balanced, but they don't even come close to the speed of the Lowthers in the mids. I did find that the Lowthers limited the choice of music too much, though.

The 801A's a great tube, best in A2, IMHO, a la the Shishido circuit which gives 6W rather than the usual 3W or so. I was incredibly lucky to score a complete set of iron for it on eBay. The 801A is run at 90mA +24V on the grid and has cathode feedback.

[Ali Tait]

Is there some damage to that cone?

[i_should_coco]

It's just a mark...