AOS Exclusive Review of Eco-Fan Sound Pre-Amp and Power Amp

[Jack Williams]

Stacking in the laminated core.

[Jack Williams]

Played at the Vector Arena here in Auckland NZ last night. 9000 people in attendance.
Of course he and the band (Crazy Horse) are all my generation and he's done his New Zealand homework.
In those days, when you went to the movies, before the show they always played the national anthem and we were expected to stand up.
The monochrome TV wasn't on all day then, and meanwhile during the day they'd transmit a test pattern with cicles in the corners etc, so you could adjust the magnets on the neck of the tube to get the linearity right (if you were lucky!).
So they opened the show with the New Zealand National Anthem (nobody stood up!) Other than the huge mosh pit crowd already standing of course.
High above the stage out near the corners of the auditorium each side were a pair of huge speaker arrays disguised as enormous portable 1950s TVs, cream and grey with handle on top. Should have had the rabbit ears.. CRT shape with B&W test pattern as above!
Show projected on those, so you could see them as on an old CRT TV! In colour though of course.
None of that would have been lost on at least us older bods, but a vast number there would never even have been born then. Brilliant. The band certainly powered out of those old "boxes"!
A privalege to be at another one of his shows here.

[Alex_UK]

Sounds like a great gig, glad you had a great time! :)

[Jack Williams]

Shows like that are like being at an outdoor concert. People dancing behind the mixing shed.
We were first seats up just hehind that looking over the top of it, and the vast throng on the flat. Basket ball etc is often played here.
Perfect spot because of course that's where it's mixed from!
Of course Niel and the band, as consistantly brilliant as ever, played heaps of well known and also more obscure works.
The crowd certaily tested the joint pounding. My seat was jumping!
Especially when we all were trying to get him to reappear.

[The Grand Wazoo]

Excellent stuff Jack, I've got a ticket to see them when they get here to the UK later in the year. I haven't seen Neil Young since 2005 and never with the Horse so I'm more excited about this than I have been about any upcoming gig for years.

[Jack Williams]

Great stuff! I'm looking forward to your assesment!

[Jack Williams]

Supplies of remaining odds and ends finally clicking into place. Expect product soon.

[adam_ecofansound]

hi all,

murray busy building up preamp
power supplies - more news soon,

cheers,

adam

[Jack Williams]

Have one going about tomorrow, when a photo will appear, with or without covers on the filter chokes. Some have been ordered from abroad.
As the bloke said in "The Grapes Of Wrath": "Won't affect the runnin' of it"!

[Jack Williams]

Here are shots of the new valve power supplies with the Phono Equaliser II and Ten Tube Preamp:
When the pics manage to be attached!

[Jack Williams]

Another go at getting the photos up!
No show.
Maybe the moderators know how.
They are 950 x 713 pixels...

[Rare Bird]

Is it Jpeg as that image size should upload into attachments..

[Jack Williams]

The problem was that the browser box did not appear yesterday, but is working today. A photo of the tube power supply and Phono Equaliser II went up OK on previous page.
I'll find the one with Ten Tube Preamplifier and get it up on this post..

Yep, working today!

[Jack Williams]

Right. Here is the perfect solution to an endemic problem:
Email is dead.
No longer do I delete pages of spam and endure even worse interference.
I am now contactable as follows: You can bookmark later, but first Google: "Flickr Jack Williams".
Then you will get my photostream.
Just bring up any photo, and in the right-hand top corner will be icon and a number. That tells me how many messages I have, and I click there to read and reply.
Spam free!9947

[Jack Williams]

Consulted an expert. This is what one does:
1: "Tools"
2:"Options"
3:"Advanced"
4:"Clear now" button
5:Close Firefox (or other browser)
6:Open again.
Fixed!

[Jack Williams]

The tubular linear recording is back!

[Jack Williams]

Here's how it sounds:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151457180854327&set=vb.242417102030&type=3&theater

https://www.prote.in/en/feed/2013/06/beck-s-edison-bottle

[Jack Williams]

Conversing with a friend on another site. Pertinate stuff:
http://www.skirtcafe.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=15836&p=127816#p127816

[Jack Williams]

10178Somewhat is happening here.
Laminated rimu wood boards are being glued together. This is a very dense and hard timber native to New Zealand.
These pieces were old bed ends, and thus have goodly space upon them. I will thus have some one and a half inches of thickness.
Perfect therefore for steam turntable and belts to govenor and for engine with boiler.
All need to be in line, as belts from govenor to platter, and from engine should be diametrically opposite to minimise pressure on bottom bearing of govenor, which by my off-the-cuff calcs will be doing some 900/1000 revs for 33RPM and 45RPM. We'll see what thrashing up to 78RPM will do!
I have the bits for govenor.
Meanwhile I have got myself this embroided skirt from the steampunk department of the Historical Emporium:

[Jack Williams]

Methinks the Rega arm with Ortophon cartridge would be a good combination from the collection.
Photo: Steampunk skirt with added pocket.

[Jack Williams]

Getting the governor together is the big thing. Reckon that will be together this week. A bit like clockwork construction. Making brasswork.
Pockets in Steampunk skirt now complete.

[Jack Williams]

Right. Got the beautiful little engine ordered today. Many to choose from, but this one very nice USA made one. Still to get boiler from UK. Spirit fired. Clean record, fuel turntable: same bottle.
http://www.miniaturesteammodels.com/prod154.htm
Ain't that nice?

Boiler next:
http://www.modelsteamenginesuk.com/acatalog/Spirit-Fired_Boiler.html

[Jack Williams]

From New zealand.

[Jack Williams]

Got the engine kit yesterday.
Quite a wee hobby project in itself!

[Jack Williams]

Went with Cade to a bloke's place not too far away to hear a pair of Altec Lansings on a single ended amp using new version 2A3s. Very nice.

[Rare Bird]

I used to have these as a kid..

http://www.mamod.co.uk/

[Coelacanth]

Went with Cade to a bloke's place not too far away to hear a pair of Altec Lansings on a single ended amp using new version 2A3s. Very nice.

Yes we were treated to an excellent afternoon of listening and maybe a bit of imbibing too. The Altecs of which Jack speaks are actually GPA 804G Mk III units and the amplifier we spent most time with was the remarkable Sun Audio 2a3 unit running EML mesh plates.. an incredibly linear combination that was hard to say goodbye to. Good fun. Thanks Gortnipper...!

[Jack Williams]

1054710546Yes, a nice wee session there. Will I hope have more time there another day. I'll take a selection of records next time that the blokes won't have heard.
Here's a shot of the new tube power supply with Ecofan Sound Phono Equaliser II. A much more three dimensional sound from your vinyl collection.

[Jack Williams]

Got the engine kit recently.
I liked the "engine green" colour of it in their illustration of the comleted engine, but of course you paint your one yourself..
I am thinking maybe the Dulux "Indian Red" colour I have on the amp transformers would look good, and it would match the amp!
I notice this new illustration shows it in a red rather similar! http://www.ebay.com/itm/Live-Steam-Mill-Engine-Fully-Machined-Kit-3BIM-/130436266758
Also I notice different parts have been painted in those illustratins.
The rule of thumb is: paint the cast but never machined parts.

[adam_ecofansound]

hi all,

just to let you know, ian in the deep south of
new zealand is very happy with his new
valve rectified power supply for his ecofan
'ten-tube' preamp.

he's running an ecofan 6A3 stereo amp into
hawthorne silver iris open baffle loudspeakers.
an excellent match it seems.

hopefully a picture or two to follow,

cheers,

adam

[Jack Williams]

Here's a shot of a MK 1 amp and preamp owned by friends Rachel and Neville, in for checkup.
I like to see a decent layer of dust on them. Shows how reliable they be!
Also with American amp which does need re-tranny-ing.

[Jack Williams]

Lots of winding happening right now.

[Jack Williams]

On the way to the bus in Karangahape Road, Auckland, NZ, I had a natter to this DJ bloke at the entrance to a club.
Genious to have him out in the entrance, and better air for him too.
He said, no he didn't believe in the digital special "DJ" premixed disks a lot use. He'll mix up his own records thank you very much.10806

[Jack Williams]

In the above post I was returning after a terrific afternoon at the annual Diwali Festival Of Light, put on by our local Indian community.
Besides many photos, I did make a few videos with my pocket Canon camera.
The tops could be better, but they tend to dissapate outside.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Cwd6Wb69ms
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZxmMrIZspM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmUi_9L7a4Y

[Jack Williams]

A great loss to all music lovers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrMLt9bMd_I

[adam_ecofansound]

hi all,

i'm lucky enough to have been lent an audioquest usb/dac
to try.

gave my dad a run with his $200 earbuds and this
year's imac - his response: "more of this" - indicates increased
top to bottom image scale - "and more of this" - spreads arms
to show increased soundstage horizontally.

he's not enough of a headphone listener to buy one -
but he appreciated the gee-whiz high-tech miniature
nature of the thing.

i haven't had a good play with it yet but it didn't really add
much to sound of my overear sennheiser hd 485's and i don't
think it'll drive my ultrasone hifi-680's... could be the trick
for anyone with high class in-ear phones though,

cheers,

adam


p.s. thanks to marco for letting ecofan keep this thread
gently humming along

[adam_ecofansound]

hi all,

further experiments with phones and dragonfly:

interesting result:

2011 desktop imac - i wouldn't
enjoy listening to either the native output or the
dragonfly here - (as someone said - my ears are
ruined by triodes...)

2012 macbook pro: much cleaner and more
relaxed with native output than imac - much
more bass extension with dragonfly.

neither machine computer with or without
dragonfly really pleasing though the macbook
has the edge. i wasn't expecting such a large
sonic difference with the dragonfly in the 2
computers.

all sources collapsed into nastiness with any
kind of heavy weight bass or e-guitar production
- might just be my midprice sennheisers but
i have heard rather listenable results with other
sources.

don't think i'd be spending up on the dragonfly,
though don't take my word for it, give one a go,

cheers,

adam

[Jack Williams]

Surprising how good this little speaker sounds.
Captured by me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnwJWOLWBls
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Cwd6Wb69ms

[Jack Williams]

11124This hitherto shockingly wired amp will soon be unrecognisable with new power & output transformers and a completely different circuit.

[Jack Williams]

Only new capacitors and LV rectifier needed.11125

That's running a 15" electromag speaker in an open back cabinet.

Pickup inside the speaker enclosure of course.

[Jack Williams]

I think it's all about resonance actually.
The speaker and cabinet resonate at a suitably low note, so you get a really good dance beat out of not a huge amp.
The turntable is actually vertical, and, sorry, really heavy stylus pressure, sprung to resonate at some other frequency.

The preamp is very interesting. It is an oscillator, which is modulated by the coil in the pickup!
Then FM detector.

[Jack Williams]

I feel a new preamp coming on..

[Jack Williams]

What if you could tune in to your turntable on your FM tuner??

Ahem, that's rather complicated, as you meed a crystal on a proper fequency etc. In other words: "Don't try this at home"!

You have to do some research into local regulations and all that.
It's kind of like a remote, but on FM band. Tiny range.

I'm going to experiment with it. It's a tiny transmitter on a designated frequency. At least here. Swotting up local regs would probably be good.

What about a wee box which has the phono preamp valves on top, but beneath is a readily available FM tranmiiter chip with telescopic antenna. Switch from "Phono" to "Line". Wallah!
Remote turntable etc to your transister on the deck.

[Jack Williams]

Here we are in a nutshell!
http://www.digikey.com/us/en/ph/rohm/bh14.html

[Jack Williams]

Totally impractical. The thing to have would be a mini transmitter connected to the "Tape recording out" socket.

[Jack Williams]

It was the 78RPM machine that had the "Cobra" arm with the oscillator. A vane was moved by the stylus to vary the inductance of the coil, which modulated the oscillator preamp. I have one of those pickups here for test purposes, as that is the only way to check if it is operating.
On those 'boxes, the records are each on a tray stacked to the right in the cabinet, and the selected one swings out over the turntable, which spirals up, collecting the record and carrying it up to the top where the arm is. Only plays one side of record.

[Jack Williams]

Here is another jukebox amp in for an overhaul.
This a Row-Ami amp in really mint condition, of the early'60s. Those red, and black wax and paper caps you see are the main thing to replace, but also it's a good idea to do all the plate load resistors, as they are doing a lot of work and are invariably carbon composition types, where the resistance value is got by varying the proportion of carbon granules with the amount of chalk granules. (!).
Nothing like a film type, carbon or whatever to lower the noise heaps.
Stereo amp with separate preamp not shown.
That has conventional magnetic pickup and valve automatic volume control to cope with varying levels on the records.
It's a bit "hard case" really, as the record producers would impress bigger and bigger levels on their records so theirs would sound louder than the other guys. All to be levelled out by the designers of the jukebox.

[Jack Williams]

Dunno why I didn't think of it before, but here in front of me is an 8" speaker connected to sophisticated short-wave radio nobody listens to anymore.
So what I do is take out the old radio type speaker and install a one only 15 ohm Richard Allan CG8T I happen to have.
Above the bench in the workshop I keep a ten watt wee monoblock with sentitive front end and traditional ulta-linear EL84'S.
My YouTube videos rock!
Carefull though, one can overblast the decibels from only a few feet away.
A refinement:
Well this is just a rapid rig-up on a Sunday afternoon.
The speaker is 15 ohm, but the amp happens to be set to 8 ohm.
The amp is overpowered in "ultra-linear" and would be better in triode mode. Easy to set amp to triode and 15 ohm.
Speaker is open baffle.
Can redo cabinet to Helm-Holtz I think.
As is, not in the slightest scientific, but I have to say it certanily rocks on those YouTube videos!

A bit of a blast on this video I made myself I have to say:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Cwd6Wb69ms
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnwJWOLWBls

[Jack Williams]

11180The mini monoblock.

Actually quite a serious wee OPT on that, with 1.75" of Radiometal.
The copper wrapped power transformer prevents transmitting hum into those cables!

[Jack Williams]

This looks better for a quicker broadband:

11181

[Jack Williams]

Gotta get these records
As it says in the top RH corner:

"Featuring 800 tracks, the deluxe version of the Paramount Records set includes lavishly illustrated books and tortoiseshell (!) LPs housed in phonograph-style "wonder cabinet".

[Jack Williams]

11198Here's the machine of the Rowe-Ami amp seen on the previous page, as depicted in the manual:
..and the preamp and power amp.

[Jack Williams]

Find I have to rewind both output transformers.
Fortunately I've done them in the past, and therefore have the data.
Saves unwinding one to obtain that data, the most time consuming part.

[Jack Williams]

Here's the '50's mono Wurlitzer amp with push-pull 6L6s.
In the bench shot I've already replaced the twenty assorted necessary caps on that board..
This is the amp with the modulated oscillator phono pickup system.

[Jack Williams]

It's now up and running with new modern capacitors as nec.
Those 6L6s do a great job on the sensitive bunch of electro-mag speakers in that machine. Really powers out. Certainly would rock the joint mono or not.
That strange pickup system is really sensitive. You'd never get past half up on the pot for normal level. Special tool (or pair of tiny-pointed pliers) to adjust the volume.
That's so the customers can't surruptiously crank up the volume and blow everyone out of the joint.

[Jack Williams]

Well, find I have to rewind both output transformers.
My friend Richard who owns it says: No matter the cost, get it up and running.
He knows I am not about to be a rip-off.

[Jack Williams]

Hope all viewers to this thread have a very enjoyable and tuneful Christmas and New Year.
Jack.

[The Grand Wazoo]

....and the same to you Jack.

[keiths]

All the best Jack. I really enjoy this thread and am astounded by your knowledge of this kind of kit. It's just so far away from any hi-fi I have experience of that it's difficult for me to comment upon. Have a great Christmas.

[Jack Williams]

11258Dug up this shot for another site:
As an aside, do you notice that for the same pixels that shot comes up bigger on the other guys than over here?

http://www.skirtcafe.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=16515&start=15

[Jack Williams]

Just checked, but does not seem to be on sale yet.

[Jack Williams]

11259This here cabinet has an eight inch speaker.
In a big open backed cabinet.
In those conditions you don't want a too floppy speaker.
What happens is that the cabinet reinforses the bass, while the smaller cone blasts out less of the rest.
Real basic 1933 superhet with rare and special Wonderlich detector tube (globe shape blue Acturus of course) and type 45 output tube.
It certainly sounds better than later ones with 12" speakers.
Sound's great for follwing the cricket, where we have convincingly trounced the West Indies in the serious test series.

Hard to find any music on the AM band these days.

[Jack Williams]

I got chatting to a bright and cheery woman in the supermarket queue today, who is doing a Phd. We were talking about the brain and keeping it active. I said I wasn't about to retire and was still designing and building valve amplifiers. She had never heard of a valve. I said things sound better on a valve amplifier. I showed her my camera and said even my YouTube videos sound better on my valve amplifier. She was amazed.

[Jack Williams]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrWpviU1phY

[Jack Williams]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Cwd6Wb69ms

[Jack Williams]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnwJWOLWBls

[Jack Williams]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmUi_9L7a4Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZxmMrIZspM

[Jack Williams]

Managed to get a good seat at the excellent "Civic" venue here in Auckland. In April the concert is. Certainly something to look forward to in 2014, which I reckon is going to be a good year.
About that time last year I was lucky enough to get a good seat there for Manhattan Transfer. That was certainly a good show.

[Jack Williams]

Be spending some time absorbing live music, and general holidaying. Some transformer winding will be on though. There's a jukebox to sort, and David's Yank amp.
Preamp power supplies and BSEA amps to boot. About sixteen altogether with two BSEA amps. That should keep me entertained for a bit.
Meanwhile, there are three free jazz concerts to film for me YouTube channel, plus WOMAD, and other stuff. I am needed. I was the only one to cover the Bollywood stage at the Diwali Festival Of Light on YouTube. OK only Bollywood, but very popular all the same on TV.
There's the Chinese New Year Lantern Festival too, complete with unique music.
Not exactly HiFi, but not bad, and...captured.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LSZTJz1l68
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWIIMUcQBFU

[Jack Williams]

Those clips are basically recordings of the bands' PAs, not so much live unprocessed.
The only ones I have to date of live natural sound is a bunch of fun videos I made on my old Canon camera at Waikawau Bay a couple of summers ago of some cavorting in the surf.
The surf high frequencies are certainly really good.
I'm not so sure about this newer one, which does have the wider screen, but the sound I have not yet tested under the same conditions. But also, I think that Silkboby dress could do with another cavort.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqpaBeRBtUs

[Jack Williams]

11294Tomorrow off with it's OPTs.

[Jack Williams]

11295No flies on the blokes who designed this little amp.
Notice the two channels are at right angles to maximise separation.

[Jack Williams]

Some local jazz musos at the Auckland Domain yesterday.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZLZrmnNF_4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFjuw3sRbxs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezRwUB9RJ38

[Jack Williams]

http://youtu.be/pMAtL7n_-rc

[Jack Williams]

Going to the supermarket today there was this lovely girl promoting funds for the Paralympics :
11360

[Jack Williams]

11363That lovely West Indian girl took this shot. Hard to comment really.

[Jack Williams]

A very nice set from Quantum Blue.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgJpe3JxaA0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-O4iKQJ_1I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GweENdA4cA0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idRc1XPMWV0

Actually, I seem to be the only one covering these events on video, so look out for more of such clips..

[Jack Williams]

11403Newly rewound trannies go on tomorrow.

[Jack Williams]

11431Refurbished with change to EL84s, rewound OPTs and whatever, this is a very fine little amp.
It has fixed bias and is definitely a lot better than a Leak Stereo 20.

[Jack Williams]

11477The green monster has now been stripped out except for the 845s and sockets for new all triode front end and also valve voltage doubler power supply installed. The input RCAs were where I put the pretty green electro cans, the inputs now on the back.
It really becomes a Murray Dick amp, and no relationship to whoever it was that concieved it in the first place.
Meanwhile there is the Ecofan Sound "Super-Audion MKIV", inherited from "family".
I shall upgrade it to the new front end of 417a to 437a driver. A great grunt amp for my outdoor JBLs. Even in the triode mode.
It has type 6550s in the output and radiometal OPTs. Ulta-linear and triode modes.

[Jack Williams]

Hard to say where these clips stand in the annals of HiFi, but I have to say, listening to these two clips recorded at Sunday's free jazz gig sound pretty good to me on the type50s.
This time I was somewhat further back (zoomed) so the camera would not be so compressed by the sound level. I think you can notice the difference.
These are the two that I have so far got uploaded out of a total of eight that day:
I have to say how good it is to see how many kiddies are being exposed to jazz music in these clips.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6Ew6ETz9uo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPtVlj3DxEY

[Jack Williams]

See how these clips sound.
They had the most powerful, and the crystal clearest PA I have ever enjoyed. Headroom to Mars.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBNn3zVNNzY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSuOPxNSN3c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeG2mglGKRM

[Jack Williams]

1165511654Rick Bryant and The Jive Bombers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ge2FZL7Gd64&list=UUI5qyk_exT3AsZ6Ly5S-iIQ&feature=c4-overview
Well, I did make a few clips of another old legend of Kiwi rock & poll, but the sound quality turned out less than optimal shall we say:

[Jack Williams]

Midge Marsden.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuHtJgBH4ik&list=UUI5qyk_exT3AsZ6Ly5S-iIQ&feature=c4-overview
Sorry, the sound is abismal. I don't know why I bother sometimes.
This might be better:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfuAuSRMI_s&feature=c4-overview&list=UUI5qyk_exT3AsZ6Ly5S-iIQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASA-XEGqT-Y&list=UUI5qyk_exT3AsZ6Ly5S-iIQ

[Jack Williams]

Lost it there, but did make a few clips at a gig the other day.
See how I go:

[Jack Williams]

..But it's hard to beat vaccuum tubes with push-pull power output.
Circa 1932, this set would have cost about the price of a car in those days. A Model T at least.
Ten tubes, three short wave bands, plus local and distance AM.
Two IF stages, push-pull type 47s. The audeo certainly is great.
Can't say it's going yet. Have to get some data unfortunately to unravel unusual circuitry in detector/IF teritory.

[Jack Williams]

Playing at Auckland's Domain Wintergarden.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH0bIrmD61M&list=UUI5qyk_exT3AsZ6Ly5S-iIQ

[Jack Williams]

Kimbra.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H34T_189eks&list=UUI5qyk_exT3AsZ6Ly5S-iIQ

[Jack Williams]

Pokey Lafarge.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wnu08VD5KdE&list=UUI5qyk_exT3AsZ6Ly5S-iIQ

[Jack Williams]

Sochy Olympics coming up.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26265230

[Jack Williams]

Big OTL I built some time ago.
In with his Lamm preamp, had to replace all the five toggle switches on the front of the Lamm with quality ones as seen in Ecofan Boost-its, but used the flat toggle ones.
OTL needed a couple of new silicon diodes.

[adam_ecofansound]

hi all,

otl above is a heavyweight beast indeed -
definitely a two man lift....

a

[Jack Williams]

Certainly for you and me Adam, but Allan swung that thing around like a toy!

[Firebottle]

Are those 6080 output valves? What output power do you get from that?

:cool: Alan

[adam_ecofansound]

hi alan,

the otl is running 6080's and is a 30W stereo model - murray's
take on the circlotron; below is otl in monoblock form...

regards,

adam

12114

[Jack Williams]

Yes that's about the power of the big one as with that many 6080s there would be too much heat if too much HT voltage used. Would have been better as monoblocks.
Those monoblocks with four a side therefore give about 20WRMS each with somewhat more HT.
I like them better, and may even do more of them.
I found with the OTLs that even though they do like, 5HZ to 100KHZ they sounded bass heavy unless wired with 1mm silver wire. Then the tops keep up with the bass to listen to although on instruments just the same. So all those beasts are wired in the silver.
6080s get really hot with their 2.5amp heaters and high current low voltage HT.

[Jack Williams]

What is this?
http://www.skirtcafe.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=69&t=10701&start=1050

[adam_ecofansound]

hi,

sorry murray - but that link just leads to
the login page of skirtcafe.org - sadly the
discussion of otls is not visible....

also - just registered with skirtcafe but
it won't let me visit the linked post...

cheers,

a

[Jack Williams]

Try this link again Adam.
http://www.skirtcafe.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=69&t=10701&start=1050
Just checked it, still works.
Maybe they are miffed with me for standing up to the bullshit!

Here's a link to the second page:
http://www.skirtcafe.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=69&t=10701&start=1065

Otherwise it's under "Pics and Looks": "Jack Track".

Or from here:
https://www.facebook.com/murray.dick.52?ref=tn_tnmn

[Jack Williams]

12342Adam was prevented from accessing this thread of mine on the Skirtcafe, so I have taken these screen shots which should enable the drift to be got. Me under attack!

[Jack Williams]

The Skirtcafe files 002!:lol:

[Jack Williams]

Just for fun, here is my dress I created from junk as mentioned above:12355

[mantha3]

Murray,

I ordered a new Boost It shipping to USA Minnesota and I think the 115VAC transformer winding is needed. I can't wait to get it and run it in my system.

I made the order on April 21st. Do you know when you will get to the winding for for this unit?

I appreciate your work and time posting on this forum thread. Interesting view into New Zealand life and your music passion.

Thanks,
Andy

[Jack Williams]

Yes. Adam was here today to shove me along, and will do a couple of those xfmrs today so Mike can complete another unit, and we'll have another 115v tranny in hand too.
Guess I do waste too much time mucking about on the dreaded internet, sure is a consumer of time, but also a lot of fun. Also do have to contend with trolls as in the photos above who have to attack. Not sure that I'll be on that outfit again, but here's my slightly loopy Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/murray.dick.52?ref=tn_tnmn
ipernity:
http://www.ipernity.com/doc/712389
Flickr:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/44894889@N02/
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/user/MrMdick

[mantha3]

Nice! Thanks Murray!

No worries on farting around on the internet. Everyone needs a break in the action.

Thanks for your work on the transformers Murray. Not many places left in the world doing this quality of work building hand made electronics all the way down to the hand wound transformers you do. Worth the wait!

Thanks again and enjoy your Southern hemisphere Fall!

regards
Andy

-PS you asked a couple years ago where my turn table was... I finally got that taken care of last Winter. Spinning some "Hooker and Heat" at the moment. NICE!

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/812dn6EB2AL._SL1300_.jpg

[Jack Williams]

I have an idea I may have that record. I've certainly got those guys.
Tranny for USA voltage unit is wound. In wax today.
Cheers and good listening.
Murray.

[Jack Williams]

Getting some winding done:

That is actually a 1950s machine I bought off a friend about twenty years ago for $100 when he decided to move to Australia. He was soon back though and building speaker designs and sub-woofers.
The machine has a Kopp Variator, which means it has continuously variable pitch. So no matter what the reel says, be it square inches, B&S, SWG or millametres, a slight twiggle of the little brass wheel (only while moving!) and they are layered in perfectly. The machine is actually calibrated in SWG.
I did in fact completely rewire it and overhauled the Kopp Variator and other things shortly after I got it so that everything that was supposed to happen did in fact do so. It already had a new motor.

[mantha3]

Not many who have that skill Murray. No doubt.

Thanks for spinning me up my transformer Murray!!!!

Another new record I just got the other day that I'm digging - "blak and blu" by gary clark jr

Here is a good song off of it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_ZeDn-hHGE&feature=kp

Thanks for everything you do Murray. Enjoy the Fall season down in NZ

[Jack Williams]

Great track! I've got it bookmarked.
I'm not sure whether the internet is a great productivity boost for Mankind, or a wonderful diversion. Anyway, today I spent some really enjoyable time bringing up things that entertain and even titillate me (without being porn!), so I then select ones that I think more people will enjoy and "share" or link them onto my Facebook page.
That is a good outlet, as it does not have to be any particular area of interest, just mine!
Some good additions did get put up today, and I hope you all enjoy them.
https://www.facebook.com/murray.dick.52?ref=tn_tnmn

[Jack Williams]

Xfmrs progressing, but Mike of "Boost-it" construction is a bit under the weather at present (Winter here).
I'm doing two USA ones to add to a couple at least of the UK/NZ ones we have.
Hope all had a look at my YouTube link, I'm very pleased with it:
https://www.youtube.com/user/MrMdick

[Jack Williams]

Or not, but this person looks bloody great to me.
http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=when_conchita_wurst_met_graham_norton&fb_action_ids=670898402964666&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=aggregation&fb_aggregation_id=288381481237582

Always been a fan of this guy, and certainly have his records:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/GENE-VINCENT-FAN-CLUB/228785458542
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_rrwDBay6o

[Jack Williams]

Let's see what this does:
https://music.yahoo.com/blogs/reality-rocks/vote-for-the-wurst---bearded-lady--conchita-wurst-wins-eurovision-2014-233842050.html

[Jack Williams]

Although I usually use cash, I keep what is called a "loaded" card, upon which I can put an amount of cash as needed for things on the internet etc.
When I load it at the bank I have to swipe it with the magnetic strip towards the outside, whereas at the supermarket it is the other way round.
The difference is that the fatter part on the right at the bank has the magnetic tape head there whereas the supermarket one is on the left with the rest of the electronics and just a piece of tin on the right.
Talking to the oft seen young woman at the bank I mentioned this and that it was just like the old reel-to-reel tape decks, and peering at the gadget, yes indeed there was the tape head clearly visible. Analogue!
It was really quick, but there is also the gold plated digi thing at the end of the card, which you can insert at the bottom. She said that was really slow. Which I have noticed at other places where that's all they have.
Yes, the digital system has to read the info, convert it to bits and bytes, digest it, get it back into the real world and regurgitate it.
Have we progressd?

[Jack Williams]

Transformers are wound and Mike will have them tomorrow. This will give us two USA, and two British voltage ones.

[Jack Williams]

Mike got the the trannies, and the sunset was remarkable:

[Jack Williams]

Would you believe I got a (slightly) bigger rendition of this here than on ipernity. Both much bigger (fullest screen) than on the "new" Flickr, which use up about a third of the screen with info. No "full screen" in other words. Picture size 4604 x 2550 pixels. I'm impressed.

Have a look/listen to these German girls. I tried last night to order a copy of a DVD of theirs, but I was bamboozled by the Amazon order form all in German.
I'll have to work on getting them on the English version!
https://www.facebook.com/murray.dick.52?ref=tn_tnmn
Linking to their actual page is blocked it seems, but there they are on me Facebook page.

[Jack Williams]

12689Meanwhile doing boring repairs, and dodging showers to shops as nec.

[adam_ecofansound]

dear forum folk,

i am very sad to report that murray has passed away
suddenly - and quietly.

thank you all for your support and interest in ecofan,

warm regards,

adam

[RobsterD]

What an incredible shock Adam,my sincere condolences another master has left - RIP Murray .

[mantha3]

Complete shock. 2 months ago he was winding my transformer and sharing sun set photos...

I know he was close to you and I'm sorry for the loss of your friend Adam.

[Giant Haystacks]

i am so sad murray has passed away -a miracle has left us .thankyou murray for being part of my life
r.i.p from francis

[Spectral Morn]

dear forum folk,

i am very sad to report that murray has passed away
suddenly - and quietly.

thank you all for your support and interest in ecofan,

warm regards,

adam

Adam I am in complete shock, personal circumstances means I haven't been keeping as close an eye on stuff recently so missed this.

I was very privileged to hear some of Murray's designs and in a small way via a few reviews help share his little known genius to a wider audience. I am deeply saddened by this news as a great audio designer has left us.

RIP Murray


Regards Neil

[synsei]

Sad, sad news this :(

RIP Murray, god bless...

[keiths]

I too missed this. So sorry to hear of Murray's passing. R.I.P.

[Giant Haystacks]

murray (jack williams) is having his funeral service tomorrow wedensday 1.30 pm new zealand time or 5.30am uk time i work nights so i will be up thinking of him.
thanks to neil for starting this thread and allowing murrays friendship and fun for us all to read

[Spectral Morn]

murray (jack williams) is having his funeral service tomorrow wedensday 1.30 pm new zealand time or 5.30am uk time i work nights so i will be up thinking of him.
thanks to neil for starting this thread and allowing murrays friendship and fun for us all to read

Folks wanting to pay their respects can do so by leaving a message/signing it/or lighting a candle on Murray's guest book here http://www.legacy.com/guestbooks/nzherald-nz/murray-james-dick-condolences/171791773?eid=0#sthash.neMONwbU.dpbs

If it wasn't for you Francis arriving down with his amps I would not have heard them, wrote about them and no one outside New-Zealand would be any the wiser. My big regrets are One not pushing Murray harder to do an interview - I did try - Two not buying a 6A3 or one of his other designs and Three not getting to meet him in the flesh.

Sad day.


Regards Neil

[adam_ecofansound]

hi all,

thank you for the kind words.

not making any more like murray.

hopefully there will be a way to
finish the gear in progress,

best wishes,

adam

[adam_ecofansound]

hi all,

team assembled yesterday to begin clearing out
murray's house...

will be quite a job to sort out the workshop and
storeroom - many treasures amid much other
material.

hopefully a few last items from ecofan can
be completed with the help of the other bods
on the project,

further reports to come,

regards,

adam

[Spectral Morn]

hi all,

team assembled yesterday to begin clearing out
murray's house...

will be quite a job to sort out the workshop and
storeroom - many treasures amid much other
material.

hopefully a few last items from ecofan can
be completed with the help of the other bods
on the project,

further reports to come,

regards,

adam

Sad duty to perform Adam, all the best with it.


Regards Neil

[adam_ecofansound]

hi all,

just reporting in - first pass of storeroom complete
many loudspeaker drivers from last 70 years or so

a few treasures - asstd spares and old radio works
and cabinets - transmitting valves - garrards (2)
and a great many old transformers.

also generations of ecofan material - including a
couple of full sets of transformers - of course
unlabelled - but possibly one for an sv-811-10
amp and a bsea - will let y'all know after testing.

won't be easy to have amps finished but we have
a good team here to help untangle murrays work.

kind regards,

adam

[adam_ecofansound]

hello again,

any thoughts on a transformer supplier
to wind to murray's designs - any
recommendations welcome - plenty
of options - magnequest? sowter?

regards,

adam

[Spectral Morn]

hello again,

any thoughts on a transformer supplier
to wind to murray's designs - any
recommendations welcome - plenty
of options - magnequest? sowter?

regards,

adam

You could try Stevens & Billington. http://www.stevens-billington.co.uk/contact_page.htm

Jonathan Billington is a very nice guy, if he can't help then he will be able to make suggestions.


Regards Neil

[adam_ecofansound]

hi neil,

thanks for the tip - have dropped
a line to jonathan - will see what
he says.

i just went through last section of
the ecofan workshop - all the gear
and parts boxed up ready to be
moved and thoroughly sorted.

still a stack of n.o.s. preamps to
complete - and a few mystery sets
of transformers to identify.

should be enough iron for an
sv-811-10 amp and a couple of
balanced single ended amps.

regards,

adam

[RobsterD]

Terry at Canterbury Windings ?

[adam_ecofansound]

hi all,

have written again to jonathan at stevens and billington
- ecofansound mail has been used for spam (dammit) so
i've mailed from my other account.

thanks robsterd - hadn't heard of canterbury windings
will have a look now...

here is a link to my public links page - i think almost
a dozen transformer outfits tucked away there - a
lot of other interesting audio and electronics links too
may be of some interest - never know when you've
missed something...

http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/arednail

have been moving murray's electronics and parts to
friend's factory - he's made space and put up a lot
of heavyweight steel shelving for storage - will still
be a big job to properly sort everything out though.

work area being set up as well - take a while to get
back into any electronics - but skilled folk ready .

regards,

adam

[adam_ecofansound]

hi all,

canterbury very interesting - thanks
for pointer.

we do need e/i transformers though
- part of murray's style was the high
iron content in the trannies - better
bass response among other things.

cheers,

a

[captains log]

Terry at Canterbury Windings ?

Superb quality transformers from Terry....

[adam_ecofansound]

hi all,

murray's workshop and storeroom cleared
and gear being set up at new location.

circuit book copied and mike m of ecofan
and clarry s of 34 audio studying up on
m's work - some very interesting stuff...

another friend will begin to transcribe
the circuits into electronic format in the
near future - i hope to make some of
the older circuits available to the diy scene.

slow progress but will get there eventually,

kind regards,

adam

[adam_ecofansound]

hi all,

just checking in to keep thread alive.

gentle progress here - will be some
time still before all of the ecofan
material is properly organised but
optimism maintained.

marco: hope it's ok to maintain the
thread - very helpful and appreciated,

kind regards,

adam

[Spectral Morn]

hi all,

just checking in to keep thread alive.

gentle progress here - will be some
time still before all of the ecofan
material is properly organised but
optimism maintained.

marco: hope it's ok to maintain the
thread - very helpful and appreciated,

kind regards,

adam

Adam

There is no issue with you continuing to post here, thus keeping it active. For those of us who knew Murray a lot or a little it keeps his memory alive and informs us where you are at with sorting his estate out.

As I started the thread I personally have no issues with you doing so and I am pretty sure Marco won't either.

All the best

Regards Neil

[adam_ecofansound]

hi all,

the ecofan website and mail service are down
while a new site is built - might be a month or
two before we'll be on the web again,

kind regards,

adam

[adam_ecofansound]

hi all,

some interesting news for ecofan -
i just gave a cracking presentation
to local venture fund folk at a prize
for best idea - have been picked up
for further development - well worth
making entertaining slides,

stay tuned for further developments,

all credit to murray and his work,

cheers,

a

[adam_ecofansound]

hi all,

gentle progress with funding -
contract in final stages - looks
like action stations in the new
year - fingers crossed,

regards,

adam

[Spectral Morn]

hi all,

gentle progress with funding -
contract in final stages - looks
like action stations in the new
year - fingers crossed,

regards,

adam

Good news Adam :)


Regards Neil

[adam_ecofansound]

hi all,

good news - contract signed
new iteration of buffer and
boost-it will get under way
in the new year...

thanks for support and interest,

kind regards,

adam

[Spectral Morn]

hi all,

good news - contract signed
new iteration of buffer and
boost-it will get under way
in the new year...

thanks for support and interest,

kind regards,

adam

Excellent that Murray's designs will continue :)

Happy Christmas to you Adam and I hope you have a great 2015


Regards Neil

[adam_ecofansound]

hi all,

some news at this end: project to build new
'mark 2' version of buffer and boost-it underway

we have our first power transformer from the
local specialist 'marque magnetic' and the second
'lash-up' is undergoing testing

some further refinement of the power supply
filtering is in progress and we have some very
interesting new chassis concepts coming from
local designers

as usual with 'ecofan' the pace of development
is very modest - but moving ahead nonetheless

more news as it happens,

kind regards,

adam

[walpurgis]

Sounds interesting Adam.

Keep us informed and some photos when all is up and running would be good.


Geoff.

[Spectral Morn]

Sounds interesting Adam.

Keep us informed and some photos when all is up and running would be good.


Geoff.

+ 1

So glad Murray's legacy hasn't been lost.


Regards Neil

[adam_ecofansound]

hi all,

some pictures as requested:

here is the first lash-up from late
last year - murray built transformer
- two mono boards with different
grounding schemes,

adam

[adam_ecofansound]

hi all,

here is the second version of the new pcb
- homebrewed by mike mcree - pictured
next to the original point to point module,

adam

[adam_ecofansound]

hi all,

lash-ups with paul downie - a friend of
murray's who makes harpsichords - he's
going to be making handsome wooden
enclosures for us - present plan is for
him to use ebonised wood with gilt trim;

also shown is the new transformer from
marque magnetic - full 120V version -
three times heavier than murray's -
original design used a voltage doubler
to keep the size of the transformer down

the third picture is of the harpsichord
paul is building - has a clavichord under
way too - superb craftsmanship - very
decent fellow to boot,


adam

[adam_ecofansound]

hi all,

slowly making progress on mk2 buffer project,
second version of new transformer ordered -
we tried the 120V output version pictured above
and have a 60V version on the way

also - new brand for the new gear coming along
- skeleton of the website forming - more news
as it happens....

kind regards,

adam

[Spectral Morn]

Good news, thank you for the update.


Regards Neil

[adam_ecofansound]

hi all,

some scans of photo's murray
took of what may be the very
first ecofan products,

cheers,

a

1520915210

[adam_ecofansound]

...

1521115212

[adam_ecofansound]

...


1521315214

[adam_ecofansound]

...

an ecofan brand radio - would be very
interested to find the owner...


...

15215

[Barry]

Interesting photos - thanks for sharing.

One question - what is the arm mounted on the Garrard 301 plinth?

Regards
Barry

[walpurgis]

Love the look of those. Interesting to see a couple of Connoisseur BD2 turntables there.

[Spectral Morn]

...

an ecofan brand radio - would be very
interested to find the owner...


...

15215

I didn't know Murray had built a tuner, I am sure that's very good. If I had known.... sigh.... I would have asked Murray to build me one.

So many regrets re not getting Murray to do stuff. My biggest is the interview I tried to organise that fell through, he just didn't seem that interested in doing it.



Regards Neil

[adam_ecofansound]

hi all,

barry: i zoomed in on the original scan to see
if there were any distinguishing features on the
garrard's tone arm - sorry can't i.d. it...

walpurgis: murray plinthed a whole series of
garrards and connoisseurs in the '80s - there
were still a few in the storeroom when we
tidied - garrards went to keen locals and the
connoisseurs are still in storage

dalek s: an interview would have been great -
murray always proud of his gear but oddly
reluctant to have hifi conversations all the same

there are still about a dozen preamps from the
90's ready to assemble - both 'ten tubes' and
'phono eq twos' - all the casework and modules
are complete - need only final assembly and
power supplies... if anyone is interested we can
look in to completing some - there is still a top
notch transformer winder here called brian smith
- lives in a town called foxton - well regarded and
very decent chap with it - let me know if fancies
are tickled - pictures attached,

kind regards,

adam


1522215223

[adam_ecofansound]

hi all,

have been rummaging through the
photos - found more preamp pics...

phono eq and ten tube together;
phono eq and valve supply;
a solid state power suppy,

cheers,

a


15230

15231

15232

[adam_ecofansound]

hi all,

i watched a fascinating talk by
david huron - the author of a really
interesting book on music and
cognition called 'sweet anticipation'

video link below is to a talk he gave at
a conference on music and the brain
in santa fe last year - mostly about
why music gives listeners 'goosebumps'
but also happens to describe why the
big knob on your amp is labelled 'volume'...

kind regards,

adam


'music and emotion: got a feeling?'

https://youtu.be/g7FdMwWhGe8

[adam_ecofansound]

hi all,

am pleased to report the delivery of
the new 60V transformer from marque
magnetic - significantly smaller than the
last 120V unit - 50mm x 50mm x60mm
- hope to have new 'lash-up' by next
weekend - pictures to follow,

kind regards,

adam

[adam_ecofansound]

hi all,

happy to post picture of latest
'lash-up' of the ecofan boost-it

bigger caps and more filtering
in the new supply board - new
stereo valve 'module' - and of
course new power transformer

more work on power supply to
come - hope to post an in-box
version before too long

here's a link to the magazine
beneath the lash-up - good
coverage of nz music - also
good columns for players:

http://www.nzmusician.co.nz/

regards,

adam

[Spectral Morn]

Thank you for the update Adam

[adam_ecofansound]

hi all,

very long time no see

good news: thanks to
the hard work of clarry
schollum and mike mcree
we have two new builds of
the boost-it up and running

a pcb number with beefy
new power supply filtering
and a turret/p2p version by
clarry - c also cooking up a
transformer coupled balanced
version in a standard 19" box

good to be back,

cheers,

adam

[Spectral Morn]

hi all,

very long time no see

good news: thanks to
the hard work of clarry
schollum and mike mcree
we have two new builds of
the boost-it up and running

a pcb number with beefy
new power supply filtering
and a turret/p2p version by
clarry - c also cooking up a
transformer coupled balanced
version in a standard 19" box

good to be back,

cheers,

adam

Good to see you Adam and thanks for the update.

[adam_ecofansound]

hi all,

mike m spent a pleasant day going through the ecofan
circuit book yesterday - could be time to make an amp

would anyone be interested in sponsoring an amp build?

we have sets of transformers for a number of amps that
could be constructed - most keen to complete a seotl and
a bsea - let me know if it strikes anyones fancy,

cheers,

adam

[mantha3]

I want to hear this gem!