Post by Sonofanengineer on 08/10/21 at 10:46:31
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https://www.decware.com/cgi-bin/yabb22/YaBB.pl SUPPORT FORUMS FOR ZKITS >> ZKIT 1 Support forum >> My first kit build ever https://www.decware.com/cgi-bin/yabb22/YaBB.pl?num=1627913277 Message started by Sonofanengineer on 08/02/21 at 15:07:57 |
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Title: My first kit build ever Post by Sonofanengineer on 08/02/21 at 15:07:57 I would like to thank the members who have posted kit builds and photos. And especially Steve for offering this in a kit form. My Dad an electrical engineer and instructor, built a Heathkit stereo amplifier and pre amp in the 60’s we listened to it for over 30 years before they moved and it went to goodwill unfortunately. So it got me thinking about tube amps during Covid. Then I purchased an inexpensive Reisong a10 tube amp which sounded nice. Even my wife said it sounded better than an expensive SS amp I own. Which made me wonder how much better a Decware might sound. I had been looking at Decware Amps for some time now and even called the nice folks there who offered to put Steve on the phone to help me but I wasn’t close enough to making a decision so I wanted to research more. By then the wait list a little more than blew up. So I decided I would attempt a kit. And here I am. Since Dad warned me to stay away from electronics at a young age as I’m severely colorblind, it was my first time even soldering. However I did make a few mistakes along the way. I didn’t leave enough room for the volume pot (metal Hammond chassis) so I had to remove a small amount of pc board along the edge. And I somehow got a 50k potentiometer instead of the 100k I asked for (Alps). And it works backwards so I wired it incorrectly. I have a new 100k pot now and will correct it. Another enjoyable aspect of the build was I learned quite a bit since I didn’t want to just solder parts together, I wanted to learn what each part did first. I have a question about my test voltages specifically the D reading it is .2 volts different is that acceptable? A. 340v B. 303v C. 9.4v D. 2.8v & 2.6v Upgrades were made to PS .47uf nichicon instead of .33uf and .1uf mundorf supremes for the coupling caps. I am using 6P-15P-EV reflektor output tubes and 6N1P-EV voskhod input tube. How does it sound? Incredible! When I first fired it up the bass was there but you couldn’t feel it at all. After approximately 8 hours or so it came to life and what an absolutely beautiful sound! The soundstage is enormous, wider taller and talk about depth! imaging is incredible. Even my wife has exclaimed I don’t remember hearing that on this song before! Precise detail. Late night listening blows my mind! It’s hard to describe the feeling you get when you can hear something you have built come to life! |
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Title: D test voltage Post by Sonofanengineer on 08/09/21 at 10:50:48 Can someone tell me if the .2 voltage differential between channels is acceptable? |
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Title: Re: My first kit build ever Post by Sonofanengineer on 08/09/21 at 11:06:13 I enjoyed building this kit so much I ordered another and will try mono’s |
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Title: Pic Post by Sonofanengineer on 08/10/21 at 10:46:31 Attach: |
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Title: Pic Post by Sonofanengineer on 08/10/21 at 10:49:55 Attach: |
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Title: Pic Post by Sonofanengineer on 08/10/21 at 10:54:56 Attach: |
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Title: Pic Post by Sonofanengineer on 08/10/21 at 10:56:28 Attach: |
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Title: Pic Post by Sonofanengineer on 08/10/21 at 10:58:19 Attach: |
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Title: Transformers arrived after 3 months Post by Sonofanengineer on 08/10/21 at 11:00:33 Attach: |
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Title: Pic Post by Sonofanengineer on 08/10/21 at 11:01:40 Attach: |
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Title: Pic Post by Sonofanengineer on 08/10/21 at 11:02:51 Attach: |
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Title: Pic Post by Sonofanengineer on 08/10/21 at 11:03:54 Attach: |
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Title: Re: My first kit build ever Post by JBzen on 08/10/21 at 12:58:34 Sonofanengineer, Nice job and congratulations on your build. If you are not noticing any issue with balance when listening then I would say the .2 difference on the cathode voltages is acceptable. If there is unbalance, be careful, it could be caused by many more things other than a .2 voltage difference on the cathode pre! John |
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Title: Re: My first kit build ever Post by Sonofanengineer on 08/10/21 at 18:33:31 Thank you for the reply JBzen! I have not noticed and difference in balance it seems to image quite well between speakers I am using somewhat efficient speakers, ZU Audio Omen DW’s. They seem to be a nice match. |
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Title: Re: My first kit build ever Post by Steve Deckert on 08/10/21 at 20:49:47 Quote:
There is no better feeling, and it never leaves. Steve |
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