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Little Bear Tube Phono Pre??

I have some sheet aluminum stock around here......and I'm thinking about simply making a new top and bottom panel from it. That would still leave the sides open, but that ought to cure any major RF shielding problems. WC
 
When I get a chance I'll go straight into the amp and let you know.
Right now I have it connected to a Tascam US-144MKII and set not to clip while recording.

Main thing for me is I can record to the HD and not hear hum during play back.

The way I have it set I get faint hum at 11:30 on the amp and can go all the way up without a major increase in hum. Nothing playing.
 
Hotrodster said:
When I get a chance I'll go straight into the amp and let you know.
Right now I have it connected to a Tascam US-144MKII and set not to clip while recording.

Main thing for me is I can record to the HD and not hear hum during play back.

The way I have it set I get faint hum at 11:30 on the amp and can go all the way up without a major increase in hum. Nothing playing.
Click to expand...

I get hum and "tube rush" [best I can describe it] at about 2/3. Of course in the listening mode I never go past 12 o'clock and it's only apparent when I am changing records.

So, as usual I am torn between my SS pre [currently an iFi iPhono] which is very clear, detailed and quiet vs the warmth I get from the tubes.
 
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Well, I go past 12:00...But, that's with a 6V6 Pre-Amp...I can hear the Hum after 12:00 with the Needle Up. But, not after it hits the Groove...I hear the Groove louder than the Tube Rush...
 
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voltage still a little high.

I installed the diodes per sled's instructions.
The voltages are now 17.3 on the 15V block and 6.8 on the 6.3Vblock.
Are these voltages still too high?

I'm thinking the 6.8 might be OK but the 17.3 is too much?

Thanks
 
brijenjas said:
I installed the diodes per sled's instructions.
The voltages are now 17.3 on the 15V block and 6.8 on the 6.3Vblock.
Are these voltages still too high?

I'm thinking the 6.8 might be OK but the 17.3 is too much?

Thanks
Click to expand...

I had the same readings on mine...what I did was I added two more diodes to the 6.3 side and it brought it down to 6.0v and I added two more diodes to each of the green wires and it brought it down to 16.3v and I left it at that. The tubes don't glow like they did before and I believe it sounds abit warmer than it did originally. I really like the Little Bear, its cool to look at and it really sounds great once you get all the mods done.
 
LoStrings said:
I had the same readings on mine...what I did was I added two more diodes to the 6.3 side and it brought it down to 6.0v and I added two more diodes to each of the green wires and it brought it down to 16.3v and I left it at that. The tubes don't glow like they did before and I believe it sounds abit warmer than it did originally. I really like the Little Bear, its cool to look at and it really sounds great once you get all the mods done.
Click to expand...

I'll Plus 2 that...The 6.3V must be as Low as you can get to 6.3V, or even Lower...If not, the Rectifier will Fry...
 
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Any ideas where I could get one of these Little Bears, any trusted sellers someone wants to share?

My searches on eBay are getting no results whatsoever... :scratch2:
 
Hi there,
The seller on Ebay isn't taking any orders until the 12th of February. I'm assuming that he's celebrating the Chinese New Year.
According to my purchases page he will resume business then.

Cheers,
Alistair
 
I have been following a different thread over at DIY Audio, and it seems that the Chinese manufacturers have been reading the thread and redesigning new amp boards in response to some of the constructive criticism that people had been offering. I hope the seller of the Little Bear is doing the same here as he takes a rest during the New Year. While I have no problem diy-ing this thing to bring it into optimal performance, I do have to say that readjusting the voltage coming out of the transformer is pretty unacceptable.
 
I agree............. Mine has 'sat' since I got it mostly because I haven't had time to work with this 'voltage' problem and I don't want to screw it up. I DID install the better capacitors....... but when I got wind of this voltage issue I just 'shelved' the thing for now. I should probably get it out and 'fix' it before I lose track of all the additional needed repairs. But.... damn!!...... this should NOT be this way!! Tom D.
 
I guess I think for the price it's okay that a few tweaks need to be made. I'm sure plenty of people will argue to the counter of that, but I thought it was fun to make the mods that I did, and I learned something about diodes along the way!

On the other hand, the seller did add a ground plunger, so it certainly seems that they are listening to people and their suggestions/complaints. It will be nice to see if they come back with an improved version.
 
Wharfcreek said:
I agree............. Mine has 'sat' since I got it mostly because I haven't had time to work with this 'voltage' problem and I don't want to screw it up. I DID install the better capacitors....... but when I got wind of this voltage issue I just 'shelved' the thing for now. I should probably get it out and 'fix' it before I lose track of all the additional needed repairs. But.... damn!!...... this should NOT be this way!! Tom D.
Click to expand...

Sure, it shouldn't have the Voltage Problems...But, for a couple of Bucks you can get Plenty O' Diodes to make it Right...And, after you do that...You'll have a Great Tube Phono Stage that you Can Not Touch for Close to that $$$...
 
Russian PIO's

Just bought the Little Bear Phono preamp . Does anyone have them with
the Russian caps installed . Can you post a picture with them .Their pretty
big compared to the ones it came with . The Russian PIO's seem to be
5-6 MM long .:scratch2:
 
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