My very low budget tube rig
- Thread starter rudedogg
- Start date
airtime
Super Member
At one point I had stereos filling my closets, under my bed, in the garage, in the basement, in my setup rack, etc... I started thinking, what the heck AM I doing with all this gear. I really didn't care about much of it. I was only storing the stuff. Then I realized I was just playing musical stereos by putting one in one day and changing it out the next. Never really enjoying any of them.
The only advice I can give is don't purge out of frustration. I did that when I had five or six stereos in my setup rack. One crapped out so I hooked up the second. That one had a problem, then number three, that had a problem. etc..... Finally I had enough. Six stereos and NONE of them worked. So I sold them all. A BAD !!!!!!!! move!!!!!! I'll never get some of those back and I really shouldn't have let some of them go.
ferninando
Lunatic Member
I just want that little foztec metronome like rudedogg has. the Madisound is abit more than
Im after.
but thanks for showing them. always like seeing other folksses stuff.
Im after.
but thanks for showing them. always like seeing other folksses stuff.
Poultrygeist
Lunatic Member
Here's a good thread on the Metronomes. I noticed that unlike BL horns the plans call for a corrective circuit.
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/full-range/85410-metronome.html
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/full-range/85410-metronome.html
Poultrygeist
Lunatic Member
I can see why you like the Magnavox 9304 with the 90db Sigmas. It's got over twice the power compared to your single ended Stromburg Carlson amp.
I have a Magnavox EL84 single ended amp and while it's barely enough for the 93db Fostex Fe126En drivers it's a match made in heaven for my 98db 12" Zenith Alnico's.
I have a Magnavox EL84 single ended amp and while it's barely enough for the 93db Fostex Fe126En drivers it's a match made in heaven for my 98db 12" Zenith Alnico's.
rudedogg
AK Member
Yea i know.., i now regret selling my 107db Fraziers!. I do have some EVs to try yet. And my modded Klipsch speakers... Damn this is fun!
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Poultrygeist
Lunatic Member
I concur! Back in the day I liked my Frazier Mk4s and Monte Carlos but with a powerful SS amp which is all I had they were not a great match.
rudedogg
AK Member
Yep! I had DixieLanders. With a Crown ss amp they could do a coliseum, but sounded like PA speakers... On tubes, they excelled. Hey Poultry, i truly thought my Consonance Preamp in the first pic was the sh!t! Then i picked up the octal pre above, and it is magical! Soundstage and imaging are unlike anything i have heard. This kinda upped the "very low budget" to "somewhat low budget" lol. Have you tried an octal preamp in your system?
Poultrygeist
Lunatic Member
No but I've heard good things about them.
I've got a few decent tube preamps but folks keep raving over the LDR's which have stirred my interest.
https://www.tortugaaudio.com
vinylkid58
Super Member
rudedogg
AK Member
Well, i had seen this custom build octal preamp here on BarterTown and was curious about it. A friend, and somewhat local AK member "MATT0404" was selling it. It is quite unique in that it has the ability to "roll" capacitors by simply twisting a knob. You can select from PIO caps or polys...or both in parallel. Pretty cool! And it changes the sonic character of the pre. Also it has a tone control knob on the front panel which just slightly cuts the highs when turned a click to the right, or just slightly boosts the low frequencys by twisting counter clockwise. The center position is flat. The signal tubes are vintage mostly NOS 12sn7, of which 5 sets were included,Details, we need details.
jeff
and the rectifier is a 5y3. The internal build quality is just insanely well done, quite OCD, and stunning! This preamp has stopped (at least for a time) my tube preamp quest, it is just fantastic.
vinylkid58
Super Member
Thanks for the description.
jeff
jeff
rudedogg
AK Member
Actually Jeff i botched the tone control description slightly, the clockwise turn "boosts" the highs, not cuts it,,oops!
rudedogg
AK Member
I'm going to have to pull a driver and see if there is a little crossover in there...
