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Colin Wonfor
21-04-2018, 06:51
Hi All,

I have just had another bad few weeks of ill health and thus Elsdon Wonfor will be no more I am going to stop the R&D work and relax go back to uni and study.

So thank you all for all your support and help .

PS I will still upgrade Inca Tech and Magnum kit but in a more relax life.

walpurgis
21-04-2018, 07:38
Sorry to hear that Colin. Take it easy and I hope you feel better soon. Enjoy your retirement.

mikeyb
21-04-2018, 07:42
Sad news indeed, wish you all the best Colin, I know this won't have been an easy decision to make.

Lang may yer lum reek [emoji6]

wee tee cee
21-04-2018, 07:47
Colin,
You have brought tremendous musical pleasure to many, myself included.

Enjoy your retirement.

Cyrus
21-04-2018, 07:50
Take it easy Colin - written as I look across the room at my Oberon.

Marra
21-04-2018, 08:06
Enjoy your retirement Col.

I am still very much enjoying listening to music through my One4 SECA amp for which I thank you.

hifi_dave
21-04-2018, 08:43
Wishing you all the best.

brian2957
21-04-2018, 09:31
Hope you have a long , healthy , and happy retirement Colin :)

Marco
21-04-2018, 09:36
+1, mate. Life's too short to spend it always working! Enjoy your retirement, chill out, and make some nice memories with your loved ones. *That* is what's most important!

Take care and look after yourself, and so here's to your better health in future! :cool:

Marco.

Gazjam
21-04-2018, 10:58
Best of luck Colin,
you gave a lot back to the hifi community and despite other folks’ mistreatment you kept your head up and kept going forward.
Bad healths a bugger, and can come to us all, so enjoy the quiet life and don’t worry about us lot, we’ll be ok. :)

Keep active, keep tinkering but most importantly....relax.
Relax, enjoy the quiet life and recharge your batteries.

Be happy Col and thanks for everything you’ve done for us audiophile nuts.
You can look back and be proud mate.

Primalsea
21-04-2018, 10:58
Sorry to hear about the ill health. Hope the retirement offers you the chance to relax and prioritise you enjoying yourself without any stresses to concern yourself over.

Ali Tait
21-04-2018, 12:28
All the best Colin, give me a shout if you’re up this way again.

Yomanze
21-04-2018, 15:00
Hi Colin, a shame, get well soon. Should boredom get the better of you and you want to start producing again, don’t worry about a company, a website, staff, anything. Just set up a shop on eBay and plop them on when you feel like building them.

hifi_dave
21-04-2018, 16:20
Will the cables still be in production ?

Barry
21-04-2018, 17:00
Sorry to learn of your poor health Colin, hope you recover soon and enjoy your hard earned retirement.

Despite professional mistreatment by your colleagues, you can retire assured in the knowledge that your designs have brought pleasure to many audio lovers. I remember hearing those 6' high TOCA amps at an audio show in London in the early '90s(?) and being very, very impressed with their performance.

Sadly I never go around to trying out your SECA design, which I think would have worked well with Quad 57 electrostatics, and whilst you have kindly published the circuit (along with other designs of yours), I would have wanted to build the kit, or at least have bought the PCBs.

But I digress - enjoy your retirement and keep in touch.

Best Wishes
Barry

Colin Wonfor
22-04-2018, 16:59
Will the cables still be in production ?

Hi Dave I do hope so I have asked a trusted friend to take it over, watch this space.

Colin Wonfor
22-04-2018, 17:01
Sorry to learn of your poor health Colin, hope you recover soon and enjoy your hard earned retirement.

Despite professional mistreatment by your colleagues, you can retire assured in the knowledge that your designs have brought pleasure to many audio lovers. I remember hearing those 6' high TOCA amps at an audio show in London in the early '90s(?) and being very, very impressed with their performance.

Sadly I never go around to trying out your SECA design, which I think would have worked well with Quad 57 electrostatics, and whilst you have kindly published the circuit (along with other designs of yours), I would have wanted to build the kit, or at least have bought the PCBs.

But I digress - enjoy your retirement and keep in touch.

Best Wishes
Barry

Hi Barry I have some made up PCB working 15-25W and 50W SECA see work by James Sovereign ( I miss him he was a good mate.)

PM me

Colin Wonfor
22-04-2018, 17:01
Thanks guys I will pop in a lot but as a civilian only.

guyhayton
22-04-2018, 18:36
Colin - enjoy your retirement and look after yourself.
My best wishes

Colin Wonfor
31-05-2018, 07:24
Well there was I hoping to take it easy, but you seem to want M50,s and M100, so I will be building to order only.
If you want one please allow 2 week build and test time, and for me to enjoy the music mmmm nice.
Thank you all my best Col

mikeyb
31-05-2018, 08:48
Can't keep a good man down [emoji6]

Yomanze
31-05-2018, 12:37
Well there was I hoping to take it easy, but you seem to want M50,s and M100, so I will be building to order only.
If you want one please allow 2 week build and test time, and for me to enjoy the music mmmm nice.
Thank you all my best Col

Just remember to do it for fun, just let the demand dictate it. :)

hifi_dave
31-05-2018, 16:52
But what about the cables ???

Colin Wonfor
01-06-2018, 19:50
Yes, now to find funds to make a new batch. Can anybody lend me £50K ?

wee tee cee
02-06-2018, 16:03
Might sound daft....but what about crowd funding?

Glad to hear you are still building the amps-proper end game amps IMHO.

The dac/hpa in my two tq claymores are by far and away the best ive used-maybe scope for a stand alone dac/hpa!!!!

If you are happy taking your foot off the gas and just enjoying your passion innovating new stuff then the cans community could really benefit!

Just a thought!

Colin Wonfor
03-06-2018, 07:30
Crowd funding would be great, but never done that so not sure how.
I have already done the PCB for a cheap but good stand alone DAC with a better SECA HP amp 5W out the same as the M50 Pro Pre a bit better than the TQ one.
Just need to find pennies to build it.

Colin Wonfor
24-08-2018, 20:27
OK got bored just finished a "Twin SECA Headphone Amp"
It has two Headphones out 5W max each
Two DAC inputs and two line in inputs.
HP 1 can see inputs DAC 1 and Line 1
HP 2 can see inputs DAC 2 and Line 2

Ideal for couples who hate each others music.

Pic soon:peace:

alphaGT
24-08-2018, 22:07
Crowd funding only requires a sales pitch. Go to “Fundme.com” and open a page, with nice attractive photos and some technobabble for the masses, and promise them something for contributing.

I remember reading up on a 3D Printer on there, they showed their design, how it worked, Model’s they made with it, and what they hoped to sell for once produced. And if you donated $3,000, you’d get the very first ones off the assembly line! Smaller donations would give you a discount on your purchase, and preferential treatment on getting your order filled. They had a running scale showing how close they were to their goal, which was over a million! And they were close.

The old way is to form a company and sell stock to raise the cash, investors with real percentage of ownership in your company. But Crowd Funding is much better! You don’t have to pay them back, they don’t own any of your company. Other than helping to bring a product they wish to buy to market, there’s not that much in it for the investor. But, it works! Over and over, I saw a man wanted to collect a retirement for his poor grandfather who pushed an ice cream cart, posted a video of the old guy, and people gave him $400,000! Just gave it. So, to have a successful Fund Me Page, you need a good pitch.

Russell

Colin Wonfor
27-08-2018, 12:15
Done all that and was shafted many time , not any more.

Colin Wonfor
01-09-2018, 08:37
Well I can,t stop thinking of designs.
So I am now keeping my retired old brain busy, the first is a SECA Twin Headphone Amp with two DAC,s
Then I will go back to my favourite non audio love, yes you guessed it chocolate, NO PSU designs working on a ultra low noise low impedance range. 3.3V,5V and + & -12V.
And a mains conditioner using a pure sine wave and a large analogue amp about 1KW. You can adjust the frequency 40-400Hz and the output voltage from 80VAC to 260VAC using the meters on the front. Plus a fixed 10ppm 50HZ switch.
Then on to special carbon fibre metal plating techniques, plating with Copper, Nickel and Gold.

All looking good so far and no magic smoke, nice.

mikeyb
01-09-2018, 09:17
The devil and idle hands eh [emoji23]

Colin Wonfor
27-03-2020, 07:45
Well now forced to stay indoors and my pit I can do some R&D work so first project is a volume control using optics.
It will allow us to have any value and multi channel pots at any pre-fixed value i.e. 10R-1000MR and either Log/Anti Log or Linear well any curve you want basically.
The track sliding noise will go away and matching can be between 20% to 0.01%.
It can also be driven with a voltage reference or a R2 Ladder. The ref/control voltage will be set to 1.00V to 5.00V but with a simple attenuation network this could also be changed.
Pre-set lower and upper limit can also be set i.e. 158R Min to 1099R Max
The pot will have upper and lower BW limits 1Hz - 400KHz but special can be made.

PCB for this unit will be available from me or ABCaudio.
The unit can also be master slave configuration. For mixer and motor control references.

So watch out for it.

tankertop
30-03-2020, 11:59
Probably the wrong thread (mods: please move if inappropriate) but just thought I'd ask a quick question of you, Colin. I own a sample of the prototype Class A amp I think you designed (for Arcam?). Just changing out the 4.7uf/63v axials (all, unsurprisingly, out of spec now).

Usual hassle with lifting traces but all done now but for one remaining axial (shown in last pic). Appears it's either in the wrong way around or the PCB is incorrectly marked for positive. Looks original. I know it was a squillion years ago but you wouldn't happen to recall which is the more likely?

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49715552113_2a28c0eaec_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2iKcczB)DSC05999 (https://flic.kr/p/2iKcczB) by Brer Rabbit (https://www.flickr.com/photos/99924685@N04/), on Flick

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49715552133_3e22985646_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2iKcczX)DSC06012 (https://flic.kr/p/2iKcczX) by Brer Rabbit (https://www.flickr.com/photos/99924685@N04/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49716090791_3fefefeb4a_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2iKeXHa)DSC06012 (1) (https://flic.kr/p/2iKeXHa) by Brer Rabbit (https://www.flickr.com/photos/99924685@N04/), on Flickr

Colin Wonfor
31-03-2020, 09:07
Probably the wrong thread (mods: please move if inappropriate) but just thought I'd ask a quick question of you, Colin. I own a sample of the prototype Class A amp I think you designed (for Arcam?). Just changing out the 4.7uf/63v axials (all, unsurprisingly, out of spec now).

Usual hassle with lifting traces but all done now but for one remaining axial (shown in last pic). Appears it's either in the wrong way around or the PCB is incorrectly marked for positive. Looks original. I know it was a squillion years ago but you wouldn't happen to recall which is the more likely?

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49715552113_2a28c0eaec_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2iKcczB)DSC05999 (https://flic.kr/p/2iKcczB) by Brer Rabbit (https://www.flickr.com/photos/99924685@N04/), on Flick

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49715552133_3e22985646_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2iKcczX)DSC06012 (https://flic.kr/p/2iKcczX) by Brer Rabbit (https://www.flickr.com/photos/99924685@N04/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49716090791_3fefefeb4a_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2iKeXHa)DSC06012 (1) (https://flic.kr/p/2iKeXHa) by Brer Rabbit (https://www.flickr.com/photos/99924685@N04/), on Flickr



I am pleased to say this is not my PCB design, sorry.

tankertop
31-03-2020, 09:12
I am pleased to say this is not my PCB design, sorry.

Ah, one of THOSE. All understood...

Firebottle
31-03-2020, 10:01
Measure the voltage across the cap, could be next to nothing, then fit the new one to suit the polarity.

tankertop
31-03-2020, 13:02
Measure the voltage across the cap, could be next to nothing, then fit the new one to suit the polarity.

Will do, thanks.

iansr
18-06-2020, 09:23
Well I can,t stop thinking of designs.
So I am now keeping my retired old brain busy, the first is a SECA Twin Headphone Amp with two DAC,s
Then I will go back to my favourite non audio love, yes you guessed it chocolate, NO PSU designs working on a ultra low noise low impedance range. 3.3V,5V and + & -12V.
And a mains conditioner using a pure sine wave and a large analogue amp about 1KW. You can adjust the frequency 40-400Hz and the output voltage from 80VAC to 260VAC using the meters on the front. Plus a fixed 10ppm 50HZ switch.
Then on to special carbon fibre metal plating techniques, plating with Copper, Nickel and Gold.

All looking good so far and no magic smoke, nice.

There is definitely a market for low noise LPS’ with high output current capabilities for powering audio PCs.

Colin Wonfor
13-09-2020, 07:36
A experiment, NOT TO BE DONE AT HOME BOYS AND GIRLS
I got some of the EWA IC cable which has four conductors and a shield,
Tested the break down voltage at 2500VAC between all.
OK the wire could handle about 3Amps max.
Made a simple cheap and nasty MK plug and Bulgin IEC lead 2 M long.
And tried it on the New Oberon I have, based on the M50 and M50P mixed (only 3 ever made cost to high)
We have one my sons Sam and Scott have one each.
It was fantastic the cheapo Woolworth IEC was crap in conclusion.
Just a fun and dangerous things to do under lockdown.
Still waiting for Solar Panel from space Mike, phew

Keep well all.

Colin Wonfor
07-01-2021, 22:04
Well so far the retirement has gone well, ha ha, not a chance I have been more busy doing more designs than ever before. This include new cable idea and construction, so I decide to retire at 99yrs 364 day, just to keep busy.
I love walking and the last year that was not possible, that is due to my health state and has not been a good idea so into my pit I go now 7 day a week .
I have had few interest bangs I managed to blow up a 1600V 300A IGBT, the beast was 4 x 3 x1.5 inches approx and the smoke escaped blowing it lid off and the 5mm connector bolts.
Thank good I have few more, I was building a 400V 100A charger. Clocking at 50KHz I only had to find lots of mobile phone bats to make it work. I need 80 of 5V 2500mA per Cell block and I need 50 blocks. So has any body got 4000 mobile phone batteries? :mental::mad:

iansr
07-01-2021, 22:17
Col you are not allowed to retire, your audio creations are too special for that to be allowed :)

Colin Wonfor
07-01-2021, 22:19
OK there are nearly as good as Amstrad.:lol: