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"Say Hello! to my new little friend"

thanks for quick reply pal

if they not quite tall enough, can 2 be put together for double the height, or is that getting a bit risky function wise, the more you stack?
 
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I suppose you could do that, the one's I got are .800 high that's a little over 3/4 of an inch,
that should be high enough for your needs.
 
I have two of these little gems. One I have resoldered all the connections with Mundorf silver solder, and taken the variable pot off, and hard-wired the connections, as I am using it as a buffer section between the pre-amp out connection of my NAD and its main-amp in connection. This sound has improved dramatically, with greater air - soundstage - natural dynamics - vocal imaging etc...I have not looked back.

I have got a 2nd one stock standard, which (contrary to the opinion of some) I have gotten to work admirably with an ME550 SS amp. The sound is simply remarkable. I am still coming to terms with it sounding so good unexpectedly. I will be building another valve Jardis style valve preamp, but these Guanzos are brilliant value for money. I recommend them between pre-and-main stages in an integrated SS amp; and one as a buffer between CD player (tames them) and amp.... If using between pre-and-main in an Intergrated amp, take out the variable pot.

If using as a dedicated preamp (and they are good at it) leave it in..., and build a nice shielded to earth case for it with variable selector (use silver solder and shielded mic cable)

This unit is a no-brainer - well worth the $$$...
 
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Transformer connection help

I just received the new model with the additional rectifier tube and it came with no instructions and the wires are different colors from the ones in this thread. This model also has the plexi top cover with the tubes protruding through.

Looking at the 110 transformer standing on edge with the two red wires on it's left side there are five wires on the right side in this order ( top to bottom the first 3 wires are blue, 4th wire is black and 5th wire is blue).

So if anyone has this model or knows the proper connections I'd appreciate your help.
 
Help!

Here's a diagram of the newer version of the Guanzo 6n3. Can someone tell me the proper connections to make?

picture.php
 
I finally got it

OK no responses but I'm now able to answer my own question which in the future might help someone who purchases the newer 3 tube model.

Connections are as follows:

Looking at the transformer with red leads on the left side and amp on the right these of course connect to the 110V source

First blue wire ( closest to rear of amp ) on right side connects to #5 screw down marked AC 6.3 ( first of the two grouped together nearest front of amp )

Second blue wire connects to #4 screw down marked AC 6.3

Third blue wire connects to screw down marked AC 160v

Fouth wire which is black is ground wire connects to screw down #2 marked GND

Fifth blue wire connects to screw down marked AC 160v.
 
Hey TigerScent - details on removing pot? I have a 2.0 version & use it in the tape loop of my pre. Recently swapped out the 5670 GE 5 stars (which were a big upgrade from stock) for some Sylvania 5670s. They sound better yet.
 
BrokenHill said:
The Alps pot is a very nice improvement to Guanzo, just beware of counterfeit Alp
pots they sound inferior and that auction site on the internet usually has a lot of those
inferior ones listed, I have had bad luck with the ones that have splines on the shafts.

The real Alps pots track very nice with good balance at low volumes and so you will
benefit from that, problem is they are larger then the ones that come on the Guanzo
and you will need to build a housing or enclosure of some type to hold the pot and
circuit board and solder wires to connect them to each other, same with any motorized
pot that you might use.

For the money they are a nice little preamp and have a nice smooth airy warm sound,
I think they lack a little oomph at lower volume but when you turn it up they sound
very impressive for the money spent.
Click to expand...

Any idea of how to remedy the lack of oomph at lower volumes? is it lacking in dynamics at lower volumes?
 
Poultrygeist said:
I like mine better at low volumes. Seems more detailed but I use highly efficient single driver full range speakers.
Click to expand...

Lol I have very inefficient Dynaco A25...

would there be a way to add a low volume booster or bass contour like some other preamps have? On my little Philips tube amp it's a cap attached to the volume pot itself.
 
Mine has been sitting around and I really have not done anymore tinkering with it, I have
been working on a preamp linestage that is based on the Eico HF-85 that's got far better
dynamics at lower volumes, taming the hum is very challenging and I am still working on
that.

The sound of the basic HF-85 circuit is so much better then the Guanzo I just lost interest
in most other preamps, I do read what others have been doing though and for the price of
what those Guanzo can be had for it's a good way to experience what tube preamps can sound
like.

I saw what Poultrygeist has done, looks cool but I just don't know much about that particular
version, although it might be better then the 2.0 version I have.
 
I bought a set of 3 decorator boxes for $9 at Tuesday Morning and glued the smaller two together ( see previous pictures ). They came stained and finished. A wooden cigar box will work. Another option is a wooden box from a craft store with a plexi cover. There's a nice little LED under the tubes that glows violet which I wouldn't hide.

I started a thread on the 3 tube model under Modern Hi-Fi here on AK.

I don't know how the two tube model sounds but the newer version with the extra rectifier tube and vintage Tung Sols beats my Aric 3.7.
 
Any idea of how much gain these actually put out? I was doing some reading on DIYAudio and some have said 0db of gain, it's just a buffer. After reading this thread, from what you guys are saying, it's gotta be boosting the signal.

Has anyone compared the gain to another preamp they have in their collection?
 
Hmm, I'm really on the fence about getting one. I'd like a little project and I need a preamp really bad right now. I'd be hooking it up to an MC250 until I save the funds for a nicer preamp. Unless I can make this one sound amazing of course :D

In the end I think I'll have about $100 in the project. I'd like to upgrade the volume pot, add a multiple input selector and roll some tubes in it. Maybe re-read this thread again and see what caps made a difference. If it's got some gain then I think I'll do it. My cd player and tube phono stage have very low output voltage and need a boost.

Poultygeist, what are the specs on you're Aric 3.7 so I can get a reference point?

thanks!
 
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