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"Say Hello! to my new little friend"

Here is mine! Wiring instructions provided by Poultry were simple to follow, and as you can see I just screwed the transformer to a piece of red cedar and went with it. The Niles input switcher is attached to the FM-3, a JVC dvd player, and a Rotel phono pre-amp with Pioneer 518 record player. Magnavox 175 amp and homemade HE single driver speakers complete the package although I also have some University 312's waiting their turn.

I probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference between this and a really good pre-amp, certainly not in the garage with all this cobbled together stuff, but I think I would know if it sounded bad. It ceratinly does not!

I really like this pre-amp, and I have appreciated this thread. Thanks!

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Hello Everyone.


I wonder if this pre can be turned into a headphone amplifier somehow?
Also, does anybody know a way of adding a VU-meter to it?


Thanks!
 
app0 said:
Hello Everyone.


I wonder if this pre can be turned into a headphone amplifier somehow?
Also, does anybody know a way of adding a VU-meter to it?


Thanks!
Click to expand...

...off the top of my head I would say add a female headphone socket inline, maybe with a rotary switch, and a VU meter should not be that difficult to add (but why???)...lol...VU meters are just 'bells and whistles' that don't mean much regarding sound quality...
 
Just bought the 3 tube version from pokerelectronic last night! It should apparently be here right before christmas. That gives me just enough time to plan out an enclosure with multiple inputs. I wanna do it all within the same box with a rotary selector switch.
Has anybody done anything like this or have any ideas pertaining to this subject that hasn't already been posted in this thread? I'd love some examples/ food for thought! Pics are the best!
 
nbriles2000 said:
Just bought the 3 tube version from pokerelectronic last night! It should apparently be here right before christmas. That gives me just enough time to plan out an enclosure with multiple inputs. I wanna do it all within the same box with a rotary selector switch.
Has anybody done anything like this or have any ideas pertaining to this subject that hasn't already been posted in this thread? I'd love some examples/ food for thought! Pics are the best!
Click to expand...

That would make this simple plug and play preamp much more complex.

If it were me I'd take the easy route with the addition of a Niles AXP-1 input selector within the same enclosure. Even with the Niles it would still be smaller than most preamps.
 
Poultrygeist said:
That would make this simple plug and play preamp much more complex.

If it were me I'd take the easy route with the addition of a Niles AXP-1 input selector within the same enclosure. Even with the Niles it would still be smaller than most preamps.
Click to expand...

I was hoping I would be able to tie all the input earth leads together and run the signal lead to a switch and it'd work just fine. Would it not work as easy as I'm hoping it does? =/
I really still want to do something like that just because I need another project!
 
Just got mine in today after a 2 week wait! I have no idea how to connect the transformer, but I'm excited! I wanna wire in a fuse, a power switch, two more inputs and a rotary selection switch

After some review of this thread; it seems like mine is just a little different than everyone else's. I got the one from pokerelectronics and it came with no information whatsoever on how to connect the transformer. On one side, there are two black wires on the bottom and two blue wires coming from the top. On the other side, there are 2 blue wires and one black wire in the middle all coming out of the top.
Has anyone connected a transformer similar?

edit: figured it out! I'll post what the leads are on here in a little while because I forgot!
 
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Also picked up a matched pair of Tung-Sol 5670 black plates with square getter, date 1957 and it brought the pre to a whole new level, not even comparable with the stock tubes. I've also since switched my speakers from Dynaco A25's to Klipsch Forte's and the stock china tubes were painful to listen to with horn midranges. With the Tung-Sol's it just sounds amazing, soo smooth. For less than $100 total investment for a preamp this thing is so worth it. Next is some k40y-9 PIO caps. Still haven't made a case...
 
pich said:
Has anyone disconnected the green led?
Click to expand...

Why would you want to? It's hardly visible on mine. Not at all like those retina piercing blue lights we so often see with Chinese gear.

One thing I've learned with this preamp is how badly it needs a large volume knob. The small knob that comes attached is way too difficult to adjust accurately. Since I couldn't remove it for fear I'd break the control I fashioned a large knob that fits over it. Not ideal.

Has anyone been able to remove the stock knob?

Rat Shack has some very nice silver knobs that would work great if the stock knob can be removed.
 
A-Wall said:
Also picked up a matched pair of Tung-Sol 5670 black plates with square getter, date 1957 and it brought the pre to a whole new level, not even comparable with the stock tubes. I've also since switched my speakers from Dynaco A25's to Klipsch Forte's and the stock china tubes were painful to listen to with horn midranges. With the Tung-Sol's it just sounds amazing, soo smooth. For less than $100 total investment for a preamp this thing is so worth it. Next is some k40y-9 PIO caps. Still haven't made a case...
Click to expand...

You might want to pick up some Russian military grade tubes. They're dirt cheap and much taller than the vintage Tung Sols and IMO they sound better.
 
i'm now thinking about the 6n3 preamp. yuanjing has one on their site, there is the little bear and the DIY Magic Sound on the bay. any one stand out?
 
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