I've been thinking about attempting a Neurochrome build. how difficult is it -- a matter of connecting cables following clear, easy to follow templates or something that requires specialist understanding of circuit diagrams etc?
Location: Estonia
Posts: 145
I'm ahto.
I've been thinking about attempting a Neurochrome build. how difficult is it -- a matter of connecting cables following clear, easy to follow templates or something that requires specialist understanding of circuit diagrams etc?
Lenco L75 in a very heavy plinth /Hadcock 228 /London Decca Blue /Croft SMA IV Octal with separate 2020 PSU/ Croft 7R monos /Harbeth SHL5
Fletcher .3 /Hadcock 228 / Denon 103R/ Croft HeadAmp /Croft Mega Micro II (2015) /Croft Series 5 MkIi /Markaudio SOTA Cesti B
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Location: Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland
Posts: 533
I'm stuart.
It's pretty straightforward. Tom supplies very good instructions on how to put it all together.
You can buy the Mod-686 fully populated but the other boards (if you want to use them, there are others available) Power-686, Guardian and ISS need to be purchased as bare boards and you need to order parts and stuff the boards yourself. Again, Tom supplies you with the BOMs, which you can order from Mouser as a project, so it's pretty easy to get all the correct parts - or you can choose to purchase the components you require from anywhere.
You don't need to be able to understand circuit diagrams to build it but ability to solder and distinguish different types of components (how to correctly orientate diodes electrolytic capacitors etc) is fairly essential.
Garrard 401, Jelco 750 with Shuggie, Ortofon 2M Black / ZYX Yatra 100, Project Phono RS with Sigma22 Linear PS, RPi3 + DigiOne + Linear PS, RPi3/1Tb SSD with PiCorePlayer + Linear PS, Perreaux Eloquence 250i 40th Anniversary with ES9038Pro DAC, DCG3 Pre-Amp, Neurochrome 8x2 Pre-Amp, Neurochrome 686 Power amp, Benchmark DAC2 HGC, Primare V25 CD player, Monitor Audio PL300, Sjostrom DCT03 DC Blocker.
There is a new ISS (intelligent soft start( coming out soon, which is only available fully populated.
I was unsure if I could do this, hence building the Guardian 686 first. That went quite well, so now I plan to build the power boards.
Kevin
Too busy enjoying the music....
European loan coordinator for Graham Slee HiFi system components..
Progress
Guardian 686
Power 686
Power 686 from the other end.
Kevin
Too busy enjoying the music....
European loan coordinator for Graham Slee HiFi system components..
2nd Power 686 finished.
Probably total overkill, but I don't intend to use any other amplifiers after this is finished.
Kevin
Too busy enjoying the music....
European loan coordinator for Graham Slee HiFi system components..
The Power 686 boards were easier than the Guardian 686 to build, in my opinion.
There is less space between components, and the transistors were a challenge, but I watched a few YouTube videos, and I succeeded at my first attempt.
If you can solder, and use the internet, it is relatively easy.
The instructions supplied are very clear. There are step by step photos of what your board should look like as you progress through the stages.
I think I have just finished the soldering for this project now, apart from maybe a few cables to make up the harnesses.
It was quite therapeutic.
Kevin
Too busy enjoying the music....
European loan coordinator for Graham Slee HiFi system components..
Location: Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland
Posts: 533
I'm stuart.
Kevin, Looks like you've configured the Guardian incorrectly. To use the Guardian with a Mod-686 you must use the balanced/bridged/BTL configuration, see page 11 of Tom's Guardian guide and you need 2 Guardian's, one for the left channel and a Guardian for the right channel.
Garrard 401, Jelco 750 with Shuggie, Ortofon 2M Black / ZYX Yatra 100, Project Phono RS with Sigma22 Linear PS, RPi3 + DigiOne + Linear PS, RPi3/1Tb SSD with PiCorePlayer + Linear PS, Perreaux Eloquence 250i 40th Anniversary with ES9038Pro DAC, DCG3 Pre-Amp, Neurochrome 8x2 Pre-Amp, Neurochrome 686 Power amp, Benchmark DAC2 HGC, Primare V25 CD player, Monitor Audio PL300, Sjostrom DCT03 DC Blocker.
It's built for a dual mono.
Kevin
Too busy enjoying the music....
European loan coordinator for Graham Slee HiFi system components..
What IS a Guardian circuit? Surge protection? Soft turn-on?
And kudos to Stuart for observation!
Chris.
Kevin
Too busy enjoying the music....
European loan coordinator for Graham Slee HiFi system components..