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tubehunter
02-02-2016, 19:23
Just finished this, sounds awesome.

Proves that the shunt resister does matter!

http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/zfoil%20preamp/A7DFBB82-9A71-4C26-B3D8-64802C9A2205_zpsfs2frsec.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/zfoil%20preamp/A7DFBB82-9A71-4C26-B3D8-64802C9A2205_zpsfs2frsec.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/zfoil%20preamp/D006B424-7477-4F1D-8C18-2F33A0E5514C_zpseuehisyc.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/zfoil%20preamp/D006B424-7477-4F1D-8C18-2F33A0E5514C_zpseuehisyc.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/zfoil%20preamp/CCE66099-2EC9-4D6B-8766-17679B34778F_zpsjvhqklvz.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/zfoil%20preamp/CCE66099-2EC9-4D6B-8766-17679B34778F_zpsjvhqklvz.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/zfoil%20preamp/DD61E9F1-E2C8-4918-B72B-2DF71AEA6967_zpsqza1en0o.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/zfoil%20preamp/DD61E9F1-E2C8-4918-B72B-2DF71AEA6967_zpsqza1en0o.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/zfoil%20preamp/723F0DF6-D26D-4113-9BC2-1182E433F914_zpsjsecclz3.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/zfoil%20preamp/723F0DF6-D26D-4113-9BC2-1182E433F914_zpsjsecclz3.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/zfoil%20preamp/7BE7A9AB-8526-4CF6-A1CD-A3E7EDAE3EF4_zps13rhijvv.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/zfoil%20preamp/7BE7A9AB-8526-4CF6-A1CD-A3E7EDAE3EF4_zps13rhijvv.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/zfoil%20preamp/4799FBFC-1417-4098-B1D9-050D0328C6C3_zpsnhme19ef.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/zfoil%20preamp/4799FBFC-1417-4098-B1D9-050D0328C6C3_zpsnhme19ef.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/zfoil%20preamp/C20FE291-4EB9-489F-AD75-654B4B74C757_zpswkphc48u.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/zfoil%20preamp/C20FE291-4EB9-489F-AD75-654B4B74C757_zpswkphc48u.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/zfoil%20preamp/921D51EE-54BC-4C69-9A74-F5BFE8C154E8_zpsfbktuecc.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/zfoil%20preamp/921D51EE-54BC-4C69-9A74-F5BFE8C154E8_zpsfbktuecc.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/zfoil%20preamp/8EAE5193-9243-45EB-A26E-E8107AA22EF7_zpsbppb6jgd.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/zfoil%20preamp/8EAE5193-9243-45EB-A26E-E8107AA22EF7_zpsbppb6jgd.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/zfoil%20preamp/CCE66099-2EC9-4D6B-8766-17679B34778F_zpseymgfjvd.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/zfoil%20preamp/CCE66099-2EC9-4D6B-8766-17679B34778F_zpseymgfjvd.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/zfoil%20preamp/6A035ED8-700B-445D-8542-F11E7FA3441A_zps4xnuwqed.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/zfoil%20preamp/6A035ED8-700B-445D-8542-F11E7FA3441A_zps4xnuwqed.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/zfoil%20preamp/CF487DB2-7FF7-443E-A357-C070215DE79C_zpsmlkpl4qg.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/zfoil%20preamp/CF487DB2-7FF7-443E-A357-C070215DE79C_zpsmlkpl4qg.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/zfoil%20preamp/602234BB-5D66-4511-AE5F-2D426C798D85_zpswbxityf9.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/zfoil%20preamp/602234BB-5D66-4511-AE5F-2D426C798D85_zpswbxityf9.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/zfoil%20preamp/A12BD417-6CDE-480B-9003-2429B6EE148F_zpshwqcvrkr.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/zfoil%20preamp/A12BD417-6CDE-480B-9003-2429B6EE148F_zpshwqcvrkr.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/zfoil%20preamp/6583F10A-AF6E-407C-823A-1B55D29B371F_zpsqbpnrs0q.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/zfoil%20preamp/6583F10A-AF6E-407C-823A-1B55D29B371F_zpsqbpnrs0q.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/zfoil%20preamp/CA7450FE-0CE8-4405-889E-A4B0F5ED15EA_zpsttqnuget.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/zfoil%20preamp/CA7450FE-0CE8-4405-889E-A4B0F5ED15EA_zpsttqnuget.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/zfoil%20preamp/1355D5C5-DF38-4D4E-A47D-EBAB38C516CF_zps6iz6roob.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/zfoil%20preamp/1355D5C5-DF38-4D4E-A47D-EBAB38C516CF_zps6iz6roob.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/zfoil%20preamp/3907C0FF-2137-417D-82CD-4B7A0FD86A0B_zpsqnj0jpwk.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/zfoil%20preamp/3907C0FF-2137-417D-82CD-4B7A0FD86A0B_zpsqnj0jpwk.jpg.html)

http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/more%20pre/IMG_8409_zpsowstznar.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/more%20pre/IMG_8409_zpsowstznar.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/more%20pre/IMG_8408_zpsp7xwewda.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/more%20pre/IMG_8408_zpsp7xwewda.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/more%20pre/IMG_8407_zpsvbhriwnb.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/more%20pre/IMG_8407_zpsvbhriwnb.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/more%20pre/IMG_8406_zpsjsyt0xud.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/more%20pre/IMG_8406_zpsjsyt0xud.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/more%20pre/IMG_8404_zpsfmc8ogup.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/more%20pre/IMG_8404_zpsfmc8ogup.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/more%20pre/IMG_8403_zpsqjfx1xtt.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/more%20pre/IMG_8403_zpsqjfx1xtt.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/more%20pre/IMG_8401_zpskhyvveyu.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/more%20pre/IMG_8401_zpskhyvveyu.jpg.html)
The Black Adder
02-02-2016, 19:35
Oooh! - That looks a bit tasty, Duncan.

Nice one :)

How does it sound? - With ZFoils I bet it's bloody lovely.
Marco
02-02-2016, 19:37
Yes, I've been hearing all about it from Ian! :eyebrows:

That's total quality, Dunc... I can see me joining the fold soon ;)

Marco.
Ali Tait
02-02-2016, 19:39
That's a few quid in resistors!
The Black Adder
02-02-2016, 19:42
Yup, I'd love to give that a go in my system too.
tubehunter
02-02-2016, 19:46
Best I've heard, just sounds so right.

Shame I don't own it.

Pretty expensive, what with 48 Zfoils @ around £12 each, 3 Seiden switches and Silver wire.
Marco
02-02-2016, 19:54
Yeah, but considering what Ian was going to buy instead! :eek: Anyway, get yer soldering iron primed for further duties soon, if I like what I hear on Friday (which given what Ian and you have said), I've no doubt that'll be the case ;)

Btw, I had little doubt that the shunts mattered, sonically, as the audio talk boys (such as Ali and lurcher) had already visited that one and concluded such - and I trust their ears...

Just as a thought, I wonder if you used a mixture Z-foils and AN Tants (for the series and shunts), in order to get the best of both worlds, as it were - a bit like mixing and matching the sonic signature of valves in a tube amp? :)

Marco.
Ian Walker
02-02-2016, 19:57
Best I've heard, just sounds so right.

Shame I don't own it.

Pretty expensive, what with 48 Zfoils @ around £12 each, 3 Seiden switches and Silver wire.
Yes I could see you were a little reluctant to hand it over:lol:,expensive...not in the scheme of things,this is easily the best pre ive had here,BLOODY BIG BARGAIN if you ask me :).
Nice one Dunc,fantastic job you did here....The dog with two d...s!.
Ali Tait
02-02-2016, 20:54
Marco, if you get one made, bring it to NEBO.
Marco
02-02-2016, 20:56
Almost certainly! :)

Marco.
Ali Tait
02-02-2016, 21:05
Like to hear how it compares to the Slagle pre.
tiguan
02-02-2016, 21:27
Wow first time I saw a fully zfoil pre.Wish I could hear it but pretty far from here :)
Ian Walker
02-02-2016, 21:43
Like to hear how it compares to the Slagle pre.

Got a piccie of the slagle Ali?
Firebottle
02-02-2016, 21:51
Great work Duncan :respect:
awkwardbydesign
02-02-2016, 22:31
I've only used Z-foils as the I/V converters in a DAC (2 of them cost enough!), but would love to be able to sprinkle them everywhere. The closest to fairy dust that I've heard.
Nice job, BTW.
mikmas
02-02-2016, 23:44
Pure work of art - I could gaze at those pics all day :)



Just finished this, sounds awesome.

Proves that the shunt resister does matter!

http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/zfoil%20preamp/A7DFBB82-9A71-4C26-B3D8-64802C9A2205_zpsfs2frsec.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/zfoil%20preamp/A7DFBB82-9A71-4C26-B3D8-64802C9A2205_zpsfs2frsec.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/zfoil%20preamp/D006B424-7477-4F1D-8C18-2F33A0E5514C_zpseuehisyc.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/zfoil%20preamp/D006B424-7477-4F1D-8C18-2F33A0E5514C_zpseuehisyc.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/zfoil%20preamp/CCE66099-2EC9-4D6B-8766-17679B34778F_zpsjvhqklvz.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/zfoil%20preamp/CCE66099-2EC9-4D6B-8766-17679B34778F_zpsjvhqklvz.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/zfoil%20preamp/DD61E9F1-E2C8-4918-B72B-2DF71AEA6967_zpsqza1en0o.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/zfoil%20preamp/DD61E9F1-E2C8-4918-B72B-2DF71AEA6967_zpsqza1en0o.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/zfoil%20preamp/723F0DF6-D26D-4113-9BC2-1182E433F914_zpsjsecclz3.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/zfoil%20preamp/723F0DF6-D26D-4113-9BC2-1182E433F914_zpsjsecclz3.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/zfoil%20preamp/7BE7A9AB-8526-4CF6-A1CD-A3E7EDAE3EF4_zps13rhijvv.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/zfoil%20preamp/7BE7A9AB-8526-4CF6-A1CD-A3E7EDAE3EF4_zps13rhijvv.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/zfoil%20preamp/4799FBFC-1417-4098-B1D9-050D0328C6C3_zpsnhme19ef.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/zfoil%20preamp/4799FBFC-1417-4098-B1D9-050D0328C6C3_zpsnhme19ef.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/zfoil%20preamp/C20FE291-4EB9-489F-AD75-654B4B74C757_zpswkphc48u.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/zfoil%20preamp/C20FE291-4EB9-489F-AD75-654B4B74C757_zpswkphc48u.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/zfoil%20preamp/921D51EE-54BC-4C69-9A74-F5BFE8C154E8_zpsfbktuecc.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/zfoil%20preamp/921D51EE-54BC-4C69-9A74-F5BFE8C154E8_zpsfbktuecc.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/zfoil%20preamp/8EAE5193-9243-45EB-A26E-E8107AA22EF7_zpsbppb6jgd.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/zfoil%20preamp/8EAE5193-9243-45EB-A26E-E8107AA22EF7_zpsbppb6jgd.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/zfoil%20preamp/CCE66099-2EC9-4D6B-8766-17679B34778F_zpseymgfjvd.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/zfoil%20preamp/CCE66099-2EC9-4D6B-8766-17679B34778F_zpseymgfjvd.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/zfoil%20preamp/6A035ED8-700B-445D-8542-F11E7FA3441A_zps4xnuwqed.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/zfoil%20preamp/6A035ED8-700B-445D-8542-F11E7FA3441A_zps4xnuwqed.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/zfoil%20preamp/CF487DB2-7FF7-443E-A357-C070215DE79C_zpsmlkpl4qg.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/zfoil%20preamp/CF487DB2-7FF7-443E-A357-C070215DE79C_zpsmlkpl4qg.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/zfoil%20preamp/602234BB-5D66-4511-AE5F-2D426C798D85_zpswbxityf9.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/zfoil%20preamp/602234BB-5D66-4511-AE5F-2D426C798D85_zpswbxityf9.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/zfoil%20preamp/A12BD417-6CDE-480B-9003-2429B6EE148F_zpshwqcvrkr.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/zfoil%20preamp/A12BD417-6CDE-480B-9003-2429B6EE148F_zpshwqcvrkr.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/zfoil%20preamp/6583F10A-AF6E-407C-823A-1B55D29B371F_zpsqbpnrs0q.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/zfoil%20preamp/6583F10A-AF6E-407C-823A-1B55D29B371F_zpsqbpnrs0q.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/zfoil%20preamp/CA7450FE-0CE8-4405-889E-A4B0F5ED15EA_zpsttqnuget.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/zfoil%20preamp/CA7450FE-0CE8-4405-889E-A4B0F5ED15EA_zpsttqnuget.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/zfoil%20preamp/1355D5C5-DF38-4D4E-A47D-EBAB38C516CF_zps6iz6roob.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/zfoil%20preamp/1355D5C5-DF38-4D4E-A47D-EBAB38C516CF_zps6iz6roob.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/zfoil%20preamp/3907C0FF-2137-417D-82CD-4B7A0FD86A0B_zpsqnj0jpwk.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/zfoil%20preamp/3907C0FF-2137-417D-82CD-4B7A0FD86A0B_zpsqnj0jpwk.jpg.html)

http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/more%20pre/IMG_8409_zpsowstznar.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/more%20pre/IMG_8409_zpsowstznar.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/more%20pre/IMG_8408_zpsp7xwewda.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/more%20pre/IMG_8408_zpsp7xwewda.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/more%20pre/IMG_8407_zpsvbhriwnb.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/more%20pre/IMG_8407_zpsvbhriwnb.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/more%20pre/IMG_8406_zpsjsyt0xud.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/more%20pre/IMG_8406_zpsjsyt0xud.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/more%20pre/IMG_8404_zpsfmc8ogup.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/more%20pre/IMG_8404_zpsfmc8ogup.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/more%20pre/IMG_8403_zpsqjfx1xtt.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/more%20pre/IMG_8403_zpsqjfx1xtt.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/more%20pre/IMG_8401_zpskhyvveyu.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/more%20pre/IMG_8401_zpskhyvveyu.jpg.html)
Ali Tait
02-02-2016, 23:58
Got a piccie of the slagle Ali?

It's a passive pre I added a pair of the Slagle autoformers to-

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?40101-TVC

Best pre I've had in my system, and the autoformers are only 200 dollars.
walpurgis
03-02-2016, 00:11
Yeah. I may have a good look at those myself Ali.
Ali Tait
03-02-2016, 07:12
Well worth a go Geoff.
Saber
04-02-2016, 07:40
Really nice work internally, the idea of all that soldering makes my head hurt :) I love the contols on this, did you sorce them new or are they cannibalised from something else?
tubehunter
04-02-2016, 07:51
Thanks, yes the soldering was interesting what with my eyesight failing.

All the parts were sorted from http://www.hificollective.co.uk/

except the case which came from http://www.modushop.biz/site/index.php?route=product/product&path=67_194_117&product_id=429
Saber
05-02-2016, 12:12
Great link, that site is pure component porn :)
I will do a simple 1 input passive pre one day, so, this will be really usefull, thanks tubehunter
John.
danilo
05-02-2016, 17:56
Certainly is...:eyebrows:
Another viewpoint is that it's Audio Weenie excess.. elevated to the point of fanciful obsession.
A product for every desire/taste. Ain't our civilisation grand ?
Ali Tait
05-02-2016, 18:02
Come off it. People spend way way more than this on hifi without a second thought.

Not expensive when you consider the quality of the parts.

Imagine how much this would be if made by a major manufacturer..
Ian Walker
05-02-2016, 19:07
Certainly is...:eyebrows:
Another viewpoint is that it's Audio Weenie excess.. elevated to the point of fanciful obsession.
A product for every desire/taste. Ain't our civilisation grand ?

Edited..
The Black Adder
05-02-2016, 19:19
I wonder if a version with other resistors would be good too? Maybe just have the Zfoils in the shunt? It would be certainly more affordable.

My olde Khozmo had Zfoils in the shunt with surface mount in the switch, sounded great.
Ali Tait
05-02-2016, 19:21
Yep, no doubt would be, it's ye olde law of diminishing returns, to get that last 5%..
Ali Tait
05-02-2016, 19:22
Alao why I was interested in comparing it to my Slagle pre. Different approach that does away with resistors altogether.
Ian Walker
05-02-2016, 23:58
Come off it. People spend way way more than this on hifi without a second thought.

Not expensive when you consider the quality of the parts.

Imagine how much this would be if made by a major manufacturer..
Couldn't have put it better Ali,this was the only way I could get this level of performance...buy the bits and get a mate to build it for me...ive had some very(supposedly)high end kit here and non of it came close..This has cost a whole 5th of the last pre I had...i'm listening to music again RESULT :)

Ian.
Ian Walker
06-02-2016, 00:10
I wonder if a version with other resistors would be good too? Maybe just have the Zfoils in the shunt? It would be certainly more affordable.

My olde Khozmo had Zfoils in the shunt with surface mount in the switch, sounded great.

Reason I went for this Jo was after talking to Marco and Duncan. They spent hours listening to all sorts of resistors and both came to the conclusion the zfoils were best or rather did the least damage to the music.So pleased with this, my pre amp fiddling is over :)
Marco
06-02-2016, 00:30
Well, I've just spent a good few hours this afternoon and tonight listening to Ian's rather 'bad-ass' new passive, and can confirm that it's superb: almost like hard-wiring the music to your head! :eyebrows:

600 quid for a DIY build, which would probably take £5k for a commercial item to sonically equal. That's certainly a Billy Bargain in my book... SPPV rules! :thumbsup:

I shall be getting one of my own built in due course :cool:

Marco.
Ali Tait
06-02-2016, 00:37
Couldn't have put it better Ali,this was the only way I could get this level of performance...buy the bits and get a mate to build it for me...ive had some very(supposedly)high end kit here and non of it came close..This has cost a whole 5th of the last pre I had...i'm listening to music again RESULT :)

Ian.

Good stuff Ian, glad it's doing the business for you. :-)
British high fidelity
06-02-2016, 03:00
Well done brother looks amazing and if Don Marco gives the thumbs-up then must be superb especially if he is parting with hard earned cash for one himself lol, I moved on to passive pre a year ago and will never go active again, the sound is truly magical and the blackness is black which I love, good job again