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Pass / Hypnotoad / Salas Preamp in Walnut

Zonker92

Zonker92

All shiny and chrome
Just finished; sounds great!

Nelson-Pass / Salas design buffered passive preamp: Salas DCB1

High-output phono stage: Hypnotoad HTMCPS

Low-output phono stage: Hypnotoad AD797

Attenuator: Goldpoint Mini-V

Remote control module: Bent Audio Remote Volume System

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Transformer / shield: Antek

40 mm billet AL knobs: eBay

12 VDC remote power supply: eBay

Input selector: eBay

Misc parts: Parts Express

Case: Homebrew (left-over 8/4ths walnut stock; perforated aluminum baking pan; aluminum stock from Lowe's)

Build thread here.
 

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Zonker, that's gorgeous!

I've kicked around the idea of building a similar modular pre, but I don't know if mine would look that good. Your craftsmanship hits it out of the park!
 
Thanks for the kind words! I've just been listening to it, and man, I don't think my stereo has ever sounded this good before. I'm adding RCA jacks to my turntable right now and hope to fire up the HO phono stage this afternoon. (I've already tested it and it works fine.) Here is the rest of the system, before I replaced the preamp:

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=574955

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=579372

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Edit, months later: Here's the rig now, in our new (to us) house; the tube amps are waiting for me to set up my home office:

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Good Lord ... someone's got talent. Thank you for posting ... I saved the pictures as I'm not sure I will see anything quite like this again.

I tip my glass to you sir,
 
Dang Zonker!! You are my idol!!! :ntwrthy:

That is the coolest looking preamp! Fanatastic! When can I place my order!! :D :thmbsp:
 
One of the best build, looks very nice. It matches well with your other gear.

Regards
Sachin

Sent from my E3 using Tapatalk
 
Some serious wood working skills!!!

A zero gain preamp built around a nice attenuator and followed by a DCB1 (Nelson Pass B1 buffer with a killer regulated power supply) is unreal good. Got one myself and highly recommend it. I prefer this with my tube amps over any of the tube preamps I've had. Great combo IMHO
 
Love the MCM-ish look of the feet, Zonker! Reminds me of some old JBL cabinets. How did you do the section for the power LED? What did you do to get that cone-shaped inlay on the panel? Can you post a close-up of that?
 
Thanks, guys! The preamp board has a power LED tap with a resistor for it. I did the remote eye countersink with a wood countersink bit on my drill press; in fact, I basically did all the work on the AL with wood-cutting tools and some oil. Probably not ideal, but it worked. :D

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Crestwood23 said:
Super cool - love the walnut "heat sinks"!

:tresbon:
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Thanks! Yes, heat sinks are I think what got me thinking of this design. I had an alternative version in my head, but that may have to await another build, of ... something. No idea what right now.

sachu888 said:
One of the best build, looks very nice. It matches well with your other gear.
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Thanks, Sachin! Yes, lately I've been on a Mid-Century Modern kick--I think it happened from watching Mad Men and Archer--and I just can't get some of these designs out of my head.

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