With the prep work done on the base and dividers, I sprayed them matte black. The two transformers that will power the amp are located inside the centre, on each end. There is a lot of wiring contained in that space, running back and forth, and the partitioned area keeps them somewhat tidy. I did have to remove the dividers again to drill 1/2" holes for wires to come through. Originally those wires were going to go up and over the dividers, but I figured it would be better to have them go through down low. They connect the power supply boards (the two bigger boards in the centre) with the four power distribution boards at the base of each heatsink. Also mounted on the top of the centre area is the main power relay board at the back and the +/- 15vdc supply board for the active crossovers at the front. This is directly above the second transformer and is fairly close to it, so I put a strip of tape on top of the transformer to insulate it. I also made new standoffs from harder plastic to replace the ones I made from 1/4" tubing. If you missed it, you can watch the first assembly video here: th-cam.com/video/3ir4NwDFYio/w-d-xo.html
When I first got my Amateur Radio License in 1977, one of our local old timers now a SK (a Silent Key and a survivor of the sinking of his Merchant Ship in the North Atlantic during WW2), cautioned me about “letting the smoke out” on my early tube transceiver. He said it’s the smoke that makes everything electronic work. “If you let the smoke out it ain’t gonna work no’ mo’!” Of course I knew he was just pulling my leg but it was really funny. Another old timer told me a story about his tube collection. He acquired an early large X-Ray Tube from the local hospital. He was a local technician and did the maintenance on their machines. He took the still good tube and out of simple curiosity decided to hook it up to a big “pole pig” utility Pole transformer. When he threw the big knife switch to power it on he said it flashed and burned out. Next morning he woke up completely hairless! OmG that was just the funniest story I think I ever heard. 😂😂 Although he’s also a Silent Key (not because of him getting zapped by some unknown amount of radiation ☢️) we still tell the Story of Henry’s x-Ray tube experiment. Henry let the smoke out of that tube and that’s what made it stop working 😉😂
Looks very neat, must be very satisfying seeing it all come together! I'm not a fan of spade connectors anymore, gave me too many problems with crackling sound etc. I now use properly crimped connectors and/or screw terminals. YMMV.
I've never had a problem with spade connectors (20 years using them), but I have had screw terminals loosen. My first choice is to hardwire, but there's too much going on in an amp this complex to do that.
That's one of the depressing things about audio today - that you can do insanely detailed, complex and almost impossible for most people projects, and still have guys give reasons to doubt the quality of the results based on the audiofool nonsense that's out there floating in the muck.
I answered you as honestly as I could without getting into the easy to find technical reasons. And it's impossible for you to hurt my feelings in any way, so you shouldn't take my response as "butt hurt". What you did was what's known as a backhanded compliment, where you say something positive, then follow that up with a "but" that negates the compliment. Maybe you didn't realize you were doing that, because it's such a common thing these days. As for what some manufacturers are doing, it can be broken down like this: they are largely playing on the misinformation that has spread through high end audio. They are pandering, in other words, to the things that high end audio people think is true and want to believe. In doing that, they separate themselves from other manufacturers as "going the extra mile" or "doing all the little things right" that make for superior audio.
@@IBuildItYou are right I apologize . It's impressive what you do with everything from the woodworking to the electronics and I started designing speakers not even a year ago and I have designed and built a few pairs that's what brought me to your channel and I joined some groups and I didn't really like the way people act trying know it all who have never built anything themselves in their whole life but heard someone else say it and think that negative attitude rubbed off on me . I watched a video recently and the person was selling the idea of quality of the amp by the soldering of everything and the gage etc. And he made sense which could be what they believe or a sales pitch and I have seen you test theories on what actual difference can we actually hear and to be honest I don't think a lot of people can hear most of what they think they are hearing. But I will try to not do that anymore and leave with a positive. You are very inspiring and I found your channel on the beginning of my speaker design journey and I even talked about you to people telling them you should see this guy he even makes his own clamps everything in his shop is handmade. I was blown away by what you do and I want to try to learn more from your channels
Didn’t you need a vibro insulation for the transformers, sir? All of them hum. Even resined. And depending on a mounting point, and case material and sizes that hum can be audible very well.
No audible hum from either of these transformers. I have a video coming out tomorrow with an audio clip at the end of the amp powering up connected to a speaker. I boosted the volume of that sound clip by 30db so that you can hear if there is any noise from the speaker with the amp running, and the mic is close enough to the transformers that you'd hear those buzzing as well (if that were audible).
The roll I'm using is one I bought in the early 1990's and just recently found it packed up in a moving box from my move here 10 years ago. Seems creamier than the roll of Kester I have from 16 years ago, and definitely better than the new roll of Kester I just bought. All are 60/40, but the older ones seem to have more flux. I've not used the lead free ones.
With the prep work done on the base and dividers, I sprayed them matte black. The two transformers that will power the amp are located inside the centre, on each end. There is a lot of wiring contained in that space, running back and forth, and the partitioned area keeps them somewhat tidy.
I did have to remove the dividers again to drill 1/2" holes for wires to come through. Originally those wires were going to go up and over the dividers, but I figured it would be better to have them go through down low. They connect the power supply boards (the two bigger boards in the centre) with the four power distribution boards at the base of each heatsink.
Also mounted on the top of the centre area is the main power relay board at the back and the +/- 15vdc supply board for the active crossovers at the front. This is directly above the second transformer and is fairly close to it, so I put a strip of tape on top of the transformer to insulate it. I also made new standoffs from harder plastic to replace the ones I made from 1/4" tubing.
If you missed it, you can watch the first assembly video here: th-cam.com/video/3ir4NwDFYio/w-d-xo.html
Very cool, I thought I was the only one that braided cables like that….nothing new under the sun. Another good job, thanks.
Beautiful. Awesome work John.
When I first got my Amateur Radio License in 1977, one of our local old timers now a SK (a Silent Key and a survivor of the sinking of his Merchant Ship in the North Atlantic during WW2), cautioned me about “letting the smoke out” on my early tube transceiver. He said it’s the smoke that makes everything electronic work. “If you let the smoke out it ain’t gonna work no’ mo’!” Of course I knew he was just pulling my leg but it was really funny. Another old timer told me a story about his tube collection. He acquired an early large X-Ray Tube from the local hospital. He was a local technician and did the maintenance on their machines. He took the still good tube and out of simple curiosity decided to hook it up to a big “pole pig” utility Pole transformer. When he threw the big knife switch to power it on he said it flashed and burned out. Next morning he woke up completely hairless! OmG that was just the funniest story I think I ever heard. 😂😂 Although he’s also a Silent Key (not because of him getting zapped by some unknown amount of radiation ☢️) we still tell the Story of Henry’s x-Ray tube experiment. Henry let the smoke out of that tube and that’s what made it stop working 😉😂
Great build! Thanks for sharing!
WOW. this is some kind of dedication.
Looks very neat, must be very satisfying seeing it all come together! I'm not a fan of spade connectors anymore, gave me too many problems with crackling sound etc. I now use properly crimped connectors and/or screw terminals. YMMV.
I've never had a problem with spade connectors (20 years using them), but I have had screw terminals loosen. My first choice is to hardwire, but there's too much going on in an amp this complex to do that.
Lovely Build.
That's impressive my only question is do the steel connectors degrade the sound?
That's one of the depressing things about audio today - that you can do insanely detailed, complex and almost impossible for most people projects, and still have guys give reasons to doubt the quality of the results based on the audiofool nonsense that's out there floating in the muck.
@@IBuildIt is it though. Why are some high end like prima Luna still doing point of point soldering.
@@IBuildIt I said it was impressive I just asked a question. No need to get butt hurt
I answered you as honestly as I could without getting into the easy to find technical reasons.
And it's impossible for you to hurt my feelings in any way, so you shouldn't take my response as "butt hurt".
What you did was what's known as a backhanded compliment, where you say something positive, then follow that up with a "but" that negates the compliment. Maybe you didn't realize you were doing that, because it's such a common thing these days.
As for what some manufacturers are doing, it can be broken down like this: they are largely playing on the misinformation that has spread through high end audio. They are pandering, in other words, to the things that high end audio people think is true and want to believe.
In doing that, they separate themselves from other manufacturers as "going the extra mile" or "doing all the little things right" that make for superior audio.
@@IBuildItYou are right I apologize . It's impressive what you do with everything from the woodworking to the electronics and I started designing speakers not even a year ago and I have designed and built a few pairs that's what brought me to your channel and I joined some groups and I didn't really like the way people act trying know it all who have never built anything themselves in their whole life but heard someone else say it and think that negative attitude rubbed off on me . I watched a video recently and the person was selling the idea of quality of the amp by the soldering of everything and the gage etc. And he made sense which could be what they believe or a sales pitch and I have seen you test theories on what actual difference can we actually hear and to be honest I don't think a lot of people can hear most of what they think they are hearing. But I will try to not do that anymore and leave with a positive. You are very inspiring and I found your channel on the beginning of my speaker design journey and I even talked about you to people telling them you should see this guy he even makes his own clamps everything in his shop is handmade. I was blown away by what you do and I want to try to learn more from your channels
Didn’t you need a vibro insulation for the transformers, sir? All of them hum. Even resined. And depending on a mounting point, and case material and sizes that hum can be audible very well.
No audible hum from either of these transformers.
I have a video coming out tomorrow with an audio clip at the end of the amp powering up connected to a speaker. I boosted the volume of that sound clip by 30db so that you can hear if there is any noise from the speaker with the amp running, and the mic is close enough to the transformers that you'd hear those buzzing as well (if that were audible).
@@IBuildIt Cool. A good transformer supplier is a thing.
@3:38 it is a tube amplifier!
TIDY!
what a nice skill to have. amazing
Cool looking build. Smoke free! 😂
Glad to see you using rosin core leaded solder. I hate the Chinese no lead stuff. With a passion.
The roll I'm using is one I bought in the early 1990's and just recently found it packed up in a moving box from my move here 10 years ago. Seems creamier than the roll of Kester I have from 16 years ago, and definitely better than the new roll of Kester I just bought. All are 60/40, but the older ones seem to have more flux.
I've not used the lead free ones.
John, what is your background that you can design and build an amplifier by hand? You clearly know what you’re doing.
I'm making a video talking about that and it should be out on Sunday.
This one goes up to 11.
Wow! So tedious and meticulous. I don’t know how you keep track of it all
So now you started doing ASMR videos as well? 😜
Less audio editing and more work accomplished
This is up there with Paul Sellers regarding ASMR and building stuff haha
it was a great video. But IMO I think it would've been better narrated