Dolly amp, v2.0
- Thread starter Redboy
- Start date
Redboy
a few good watts
Thanks!
Actually, these are the end results! I'm going with the industrial bare metal look this time...
Last edited:
doucanoe
Registered Audio Abuser
About a week ago, Nate offered his Dolly v.2-0 up for me to try out in my system for a little trial run.
The amp really had very little run time when it showed up, so any break-in happened over here. Initially, it was pleasant but a little rough around the edges. I had been running it for a couple of days and nothing had changed much. Nice tone but the soundstage was pushed a forward to my liking, also a tad short and narrow. I could sense more of the room boundries and my horns were calling a little more attention to themselves than they had with my Pilot or Gary's PP Magnavox 6BQ5 amp. This Dolly was providing a little taste of what I had heard with the SET 2A3 but lacked the ultimate sweet detail and resolution the 2A3 had. Like I said, nice but just a little jagged around the notes. I was enjoying my listening but it just was not as involving as I had would have liked.
Yesterday afternoon, I was listening for a spell and suddenly realized that things had changed for the better. I wasn't hearing the same slight roughness around the notes any more. I put on a few more things that I am very familiar with and it seems that whatever it was, has faded into the ether. Soundstage now back or a little behind the speakers and seems quite a bit more spacious
Today I fired everything up again and was met with the same nice smooth tone. Seems to me that this little gal just needed some time to get her bearings. The Dolly v.2.0 may never compete with hottsie-totsie SET amps but it is sounding remarkably good! I only say remarkably because of the simplicity of the circuit and cost of the components. I am feeling that I honestly could live with this amp and be very happy.
Just so you know, I have no horse in this race and actually told Nate what my initial
feelings were about it. I never expected to hear much (if any) difference after a few days but am now pleased to report differently.
Nice Job Nate! Seems that you have a winner here :thmbsp:
RC
The amp really had very little run time when it showed up, so any break-in happened over here. Initially, it was pleasant but a little rough around the edges. I had been running it for a couple of days and nothing had changed much. Nice tone but the soundstage was pushed a forward to my liking, also a tad short and narrow. I could sense more of the room boundries and my horns were calling a little more attention to themselves than they had with my Pilot or Gary's PP Magnavox 6BQ5 amp. This Dolly was providing a little taste of what I had heard with the SET 2A3 but lacked the ultimate sweet detail and resolution the 2A3 had. Like I said, nice but just a little jagged around the notes. I was enjoying my listening but it just was not as involving as I had would have liked.
Yesterday afternoon, I was listening for a spell and suddenly realized that things had changed for the better. I wasn't hearing the same slight roughness around the notes any more. I put on a few more things that I am very familiar with and it seems that whatever it was, has faded into the ether. Soundstage now back or a little behind the speakers and seems quite a bit more spacious
Today I fired everything up again and was met with the same nice smooth tone. Seems to me that this little gal just needed some time to get her bearings. The Dolly v.2.0 may never compete with hottsie-totsie SET amps but it is sounding remarkably good! I only say remarkably because of the simplicity of the circuit and cost of the components. I am feeling that I honestly could live with this amp and be very happy.
Just so you know, I have no horse in this race and actually told Nate what my initial
feelings were about it. I never expected to hear much (if any) difference after a few days but am now pleased to report differently.Nice Job Nate! Seems that you have a winner here :thmbsp:
RC
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specialidiot
Break Glass, Smoke Lucky
Cool stuff Ron. Gary's Maggie has sure made the rounds.
Your salad bowls look great, too.
Your salad bowls look great, too.
Redboy
a few good watts
Ron, it's interesting that things suddenly "gelled" like that. I can only attribute that to the caps settling in a bit, because the tubes are all old stock with lots of hours on them.
As I mentioned when we talked earlier, I've entertained the idea of building this circuit around some really nice SE output iron to see what it's full potential is. That's a project for another day, though.
There are a couple members out there in the process of building this amp, so I'm excited to see what their thoughts are.
As I mentioned when we talked earlier, I've entertained the idea of building this circuit around some really nice SE output iron to see what it's full potential is. That's a project for another day, though.
There are a couple members out there in the process of building this amp, so I'm excited to see what their thoughts are.
doucanoe
Registered Audio Abuser
It surprised me also. I figured that after the first few days, that, that was pretty much it. Not bad but nothing to sell the house over. I don't know what is was, but whatever grain was present before seems to be gone.
RC
willyrover
Super Member
How about the new Output transformers? Would there be any "burn in" involved with new iron?:scratch2:
Redboy
a few good watts
Now there's a thought. I wonder. I won't claim to know the answer.
doucanoe
Registered Audio Abuser
westend
Audiopile
ROFLMAO
:thmbsp:
doucanoe
Registered Audio Abuser
You know, I wouldn't go as far to as to say that the change was sudden actually. I just came to the realization that things had changed from the last time I was sitting there earlier that afternoon. The amp was running all day.
RC
AndyB
Active Member
Nate,
Beautiful amp! Thanks for sharing the build. I have a theory about "breaking in" that is based on 50% getting used to the different sound and 50% on parts heating(expanding) and cooling(contracting) a few times to find home. I think this especially true with tubes and transformers. Of course my theory could also be 100% BS too.
Beautiful amp! Thanks for sharing the build. I have a theory about "breaking in" that is based on 50% getting used to the different sound and 50% on parts heating(expanding) and cooling(contracting) a few times to find home. I think this especially true with tubes and transformers. Of course my theory could also be 100% BS too.
marantzfan
...
Just came accross this thread for the first time. Very nice read and great end result. Kudos to you Redboy..:thmbsp:
Someday I'd like to build a tube amp, just need to do a little homework first...:scratch2:
Someday I'd like to build a tube amp, just need to do a little homework first...:scratch2:
intotubes
Well-Known Member
Yes, nice work redboy. Makes my DIY's look a little shy.
Marantzfan, try a rebuild of an existing console pull. That was one of my first projects. Hard to screw it up, free iron and circuit that has shown itself to work. New caps, resistors and tubes and you have a new amp that will last another 40 years,
marantzfan
...
I never find consoles around here and if I do, they have SS gear in em...
Maybe a kit? :scratch2:
