Nick G modified Lentek Head Amp

[Marco]

Not that I know of, Andrew. Given the circuit is so basic, isn't it possible to trace it from a good close-up picture of the components on the PCB?

Marco.

[RothwellAudio]

Yes, a good close up picture of the PCB with a light behind it (to show the PCB tracks) might be enough, but it's often difficult to get component values from a picture. But with so many people in this thread having worked on the Lentek I thought someone would have a circuit diagram.

[Arkless Electronics]

Indeed. If we can get suitable photos of it to be able to trace the circuitry (I've a very good idea what it is already), I'll offer to build clones of them for anyone interested, if the profit margin is enough.... It would not be worth my while to build them anywhere near as cheap as the second hand price of the real thing so probably a commercial non starter..... and I can build better ones of my own design anyway.... but people seem to like 'em, Lentek are long defunct, and the wolf must be kept from the door...

[Marco]

Nice idea, Jez, which I'm sure would be appreciated

The trouble is a) finding someone with a Lentek willing to fully remove the PCB from its housing in order to photograph it properly, and b) with the necessary photographing skills (and camera) to take a good enough picture of what's needed.

Sadly, I suspect that such people are in short supply, but you never know! A better idea might be for one of you guys to obtain a Lentek on Ebay, trace the circuit yourselves, and then produce your own units from that basis.

I'm sure that the 'donor unit' originally purchased could be successfully sold later here on AoS, as the Lentek has somewhat of a cult following, so no-one need be out of pocket long term, and if your own units catch on, then you'll be quids in from there!

A classic example in business of 'speculate to accumulate'.

Marco.

[RothwellAudio]

A better idea might be for one of you guys to obtain a Lentek on Ebay, trace the circuit yourselves, and then produce your own units from that basis.

I wasn't intending on copying the Lentek - I already produce the Headspace http://www.rothwellaudioproducts.co....c_headamp.html
My idea was to simply draw out the circuit so I could suggest any sensible mods based on knowing the circuit. Of course, I would also post the circuit diagram on the forum for the benefit of anyone interested.

[Arkless Electronics]

I also already make much better head amps than the Lentek, which I don't rate, but which seems very popular for some bizarre reason. I'm just cynically trying to make some money by copying a very simple circuit for a long dead product...(I can probably get the circuit from already published photos) and not expecting a single sale... but shy bairns get nowt... hey whose likely to pay me say £200 to make a new Lentek when they can buy a second hand one for £60? It's worth offering though just in case a few people do want them.

Head amps seem a very unpopular niche product in general, many people believe (very wrongly in my opinion) that SUT's are better and many don't seem to understand what they are and think they're for headphones!

[RothwellAudio]

Head amps seem a very unpopular niche product in general, many people believe (very wrongly in my opinion) that SUT's are better and many don't seem to understand what they are and think they're for headphones!

Yes, indeed, headamps are a very niche product. There days there are so many mc compatible phonostages around that there seems there's hardly any point in getting a headamp. Of course, most valve phonostages are mm only so some kind of headamp or step-up is essential if you want to use an mc cartridge, but I have no idea what they're using - they're certainly not buying a lot of headamps or step-up transformers from me!

[RothwellAudio]

... but shy bairns get nowt...

Yes - something for us all to bear in mind

[Marco]

I wasn't intending on copying the Lentek - I already produce the Headspace http://www.rothwellaudioproducts.co....c_headamp.html
My idea was to simply draw out the circuit so I could suggest any sensible mods based on knowing the circuit. Of course, I would also post the circuit diagram on the forum for the benefit of anyone interested.

Indeed, and that would be great, if you are at all able to do so. I was only suggesting the most likely way of gaining access to the circuit for tracing, as I suspect if you're waiting for anyone to produce said required picture, the wait could be a long one!

Marco.

[Marco]

I also already make much better head amps than the Lentek, which I don't rate, but which seems very popular for some bizarre reason.

It's popular because it sounds bloody good, and it's cheap!

Perhaps at the next NEBO you could bring one of your head amps along and test it against the Lentek and I (along with others present) will give you our honest opinion?

I'm just cynically trying to make some money by copying a very simple circuit for a long dead product...(I can probably get the circuit from already published photos) and not expecting a single sale...

Nothing wrong with the former - it's called 'supply the demand' (and perfectly good business sense), although in this instance the demand is small. However, head amps/SUTs, and such devices, are discussed more on AoS than on any other forum I know, so if you're going to sell any, it'll be here...

In terms of the last bit (highlighted in bold), you've got the concept all wrong, and I've been meaning to mention this to you for a while. With these types of bespoke products it's completely unrealistic, mate, to expect people just to automatically buy whatever it is you're offering, without first listening to it themselves.

Therefore, if you're offering to copy the Lentek circuit, then if you want sales, you'll have to MAKE ONE FIRST (as a demo unit), then send it out to people interested [let it do a 'round robin'], just as Alan (Firebottle) does with his stuff, and allow the users themselves to decide if its any good or not, or indeed as good as an actual Lentek. People have to use *their ears* to make their own choices, not just be 'told by an expert' what's best.....

I've no doubt that it would be just as good or better, but you have to put the product out there first, and allow it to be assessed, before any likelihood of sales will happen. That's just how it works, hence my reference earlier to 'speculate to accumulate'. If you're not willing to do that, then I completely understand, but it's the *only* way you'll generate sales for such items.

However, if you could get the circuit from already published photos, and publish it here for reference, then that would be a nice thing to do for the AoS community, and a way of showing thanks for the support your business has been given, especially in hard times before you came here (think what happened on pfm)

Marco.