F-5 builders: Plans on building B-1?

Not yet. I've been looking for something like an extruded enclosure, but those I've seen so far might not be tall enough for the radial lead caps.

Saw this one from Hammond too, but not sure I really like the looks (although, frankly, looks aren't that big of a deal to me).

If anyone has some good links to various enclosure sites that would be great.

One thing I've found is that the PassDIY lab board is set up for the large (coupling?) caps to have lead spacing of 38mm. Just based on the selection of caps at Parts Express, it looks like only the Jantzen and Solen brands will fit pretty directly. The others seem to be longer and would require leads to be bent under, or perhaps mounted differently to facilitate lead connections.
 
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Thread's kind of cold...I'm thinking I should order some parts soon. what sort of good bits are y'all going to put in your B-1s?

What about PS? Going to do the external or build in a nice, clean regulated jobbie?
 
whoaru99 said:
Thread's kind of cold...I'm thinking I should order some parts soon. what sort of good bits are y'all going to put in your B-1s?

What about PS? Going to do the external or build in a nice, clean regulated jobbie?
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I'm still in the air on power supply. I'm finishing the F-5 before I go crazy with B-1 parts, but sometime deals pop up that are so good one must change course! I'll need to do a little more reading to see what others are doing, looks like a wall wart will do temporary service, but I'd like something better than that in the end.

As to RCAs, I usually go with cardas. Not sure if I'll set it up for only 2 inputs via DPDT switch, or go with a selector switch.

Since my F-5 will be aluminum plate, I may very well do something similar, I'd like this unit to be a little special in appearance, instead of my usual "Frankenstein's Laboratory" look.

For the volume pot I am very interested in the "Lightspeed attenuator" project on DIY, may use something else first, probably dual pots like Nelson
specs.

Since the boards come w/ the fets already matched that headache is avoided. There really arent that many other parts, so I thought for caps and resistors I might go somewhat boutique, but want the parts to fit the board
so to avoid that cobbled together look if I can. Not that there' anything wrong with cobbled together Frankenstein laboratory look most of my builds have, I'd just like to see if I could build something as elegant as some of the finer "store bought" units I cant afford!:D

I am watching your progres carefully, now to go spend a couple of hours reading the B-1 threads over on DIY.

What ideas for box and tid bits are you thinking of?

Russellc
 
I've mainly been tossing and turning over the bigger caps. Like you say, there aren't many parts so even some moderately boutique stuff won't break the bank. But, no, I'm not buying $600 Teflon capacitors. :no:

One side of me says if the Axons are good enough for Pass they're good enough for me. OTOH, something like TRT DynamiCaps have a moderately boutique feel to them and aren't terrible expensive but still a fair bit more than the Axon/Solens.

I'm leaning toward an internal power supply, or maybe at least building my own external based on something like LM317.

Also thinking a ladder-type stepped attenuator, although that Lightspeed setup does look pretty tasty.

Enclosure is something else. Really nice ones can get spendy fast. Perhaps I'll get no enclosure until I see how it works out. Just so many ways one could go with this thing, the best might be to follow Nelson's plan verbatim and see how it compares to my "reference" preamp, a Proceed PRE, and go from there. :dunno:

Indecision....
 
whoaru99 said:
I've mainly been tossing and turning over the bigger caps. Like you say, there aren't many parts so even some moderately boutique stuff won't break the bank. But, no, I'm not buying $600 Teflon capacitors. :no:

One side of me says if the Axons are good enough for Pass they're good enough for me. OTOH, something like TRT DynamiCaps have a moderately boutique feel to them and aren't terrible expensive but still a fair bit more than the Axon/Solens.

I'm leaning toward an internal power supply, or maybe at least building my own external based on something like LM317.

Also thinking a ladder-type stepped attenuator, although that Lightspeed setup does look pretty tasty.

Enclosure is something else. Really nice ones can get spendy fast. Perhaps I'll get no enclosure until I see how it works out. Just so many ways one could go with this thing, the best might be to follow Nelson's plan verbatim and see how it compares to my "reference" preamp, a Proceed PRE, and go from there. :dunno:

Indecision....
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Similar thoughts here as well as indecision. Many times these boards arent friendly to resoldering. So once the decision is made......Maybe I better order another board....

As far as a case, I think it will match what I have in mind for the F-5, aluminum plate, 1/8 inch. Bottom, sides, and front panel. Top would be as well. Likely external power supply, unless everything will fit in the case....:scratch2:


That's the plan!

Russellc
 
I'm thinking I might just give one of these a whirl for giggles. Says it has an 18V 1A regulated supply inside, in a separate compartment.

http://www.surplussales.com/Cab-RacksHardware/Close-ups/encl_nabu.html

Not the prettiest thing, but it's about the right width for other stereo components and for the price including PS, might work out OK. Heck, even has some LEDs you could use for power and maybe even to rig up for source selector indication.

The DACT enclosure looks really nice, but they're really proud of it price wise.
 
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Was just looking on the first watt site at Nelson's commercial B-1. I very much like that look, thick aluminum front plate, two volume controls, I'll probably use dpdt switching for the selector.

russellc
 
djnagle said:
Hey, wait just a dern minute here, There's no tubes in that thing:D
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Yes its a temperary deviation from the tubuals......then back to the usual sickness.....such tiny parts....I used to big tube amp parts that you can grab with your fist, these parts require magnification!

Russellc
 
Russellc said:
Yes its a temperary deviation from the tubuals......then back to the usual sickness.....such tiny parts....I used to big tube amp parts that you can grab with your fist, these parts require magnification!

Russellc
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It's a bitch getting old ain't it? I am working on my GM70 amp at the moment and I can see everything.
 
Ordered most part the other day. Should be able to get the majority of the board stuffed and soldered this weekend assuming the parts come today or tomorrow.

Still haven't decided on the film caps or potentiometer yet. Looks like PS for the time being will be an old Toshiba laptop computer power supply I found in the "spares" box, 18V 'n 1.7A is way more than enough; hopefully it is not noisy. Has a standard 2.1 x 5.5 mm connector so that makes it easy too.
 
whoaru99 said:
Ordered most part the other day. Should be able to get the majority of the board stuffed and soldered this weekend assuming the parts come today or tomorrow.

Still haven't decided on the film caps or potentiometer yet. Looks like PS for the time being will be an old Toshiba laptop computer power supply I found in the "spares" box, 18V at 1.7A is way more than enough and hopefully it is not noisy. Has a standard 2.1 x 5.5 mm connector so that makes it easy too.
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I am going to use dual volume controls, so as to have a balance function without a ballance pot. For starters, I'm going to use the PEC 25K units Nelson does, upgrade later. Antique electronic has them. Probably mouser and digikey too. someone showed a nice knob that looks just like the one on Nelson's B-1....Also looks like what Counterpoint used on one of my pre amps as well.

russellc
 
There's some traction finally... who will be the first to get one going? I'm really looking forward to hearing about the first listening experiences with an F5.

I'm seriously leaning towards getting started too. I want to build one that integrates a Hagerman Bugle or similar phono stage within the enclosure in order to simplify my office desk space. So I'd need inputs from my DAC and Sony tuna as well.

I'm thinking of the AL-Dark-Knight chassis found here: http://www.vt4c.com/shop/program/main.php?cat_id=1032&group_id=2 but it's a bit on the pricey side. Still, if it is going to sit on my desk.....

BTW, Antique Electronic Supply has a 10% off sale in April....
 
Hey!! Thanks for that link on the chassis. Yeah, they're not inexpensive, but if the bench build seems to merit a nice, finished unit, I think they're definitely viable options. One can spend close to the same for plain bent metal enclosures that look like they're for an old Rat Shack power supply.
 
Russellc said:
I am going to use dual volume controls, so as to have a balance function without a ballance pot. For starters, I'm going to use the PEC 25K units Nelson does, upgrade later. Antique electronic has them. Probably mouser and digikey too. someone showed a nice knob that looks just like the one on Nelson's B-1....Also looks like what Counterpoint used on one of my pre amps as well.

russellc
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Almost ordered a pair of Honeywell/Clarostat conductive plastic pots from DigiKey. Probably should have...they were from the 381 series dubbed "the quiet ones" in some of their product literature. ~$12 each.
 
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