Posted on Monday, 17th October 2011 by Auw Jimmy

I always enjoy the beauty of vacuum tube, especially when the heater is glowing bright on thoriated tungsten tube and in a dimmed room. The photo below only taken for fun. I power up the EIMAC 8165/4-65A tube with 4x AA battery. The 6V filament glows, but I think due to limited current from the AA batteries, it can’t be as bright as normal. But even with the limited current, we still can enjoy the beauty of it…

More EIMAC tubes to follow…

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Tags: EIMAC, tube
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Posted on Wednesday, 12th October 2011 by Auw Jimmy

Still remember the first chapter here? I have transferred the paper mockup into digital format. It didn’t take long time to do that

Just need to send (or print) this format and send to the manufacturer. I’m quite sure they can make one for me.

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Tags: Aikido, power supply, preamp, Prototype
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Posted on Wednesday, 12th October 2011 by Auw Jimmy

I ordered Duelund CAST Cu capacitor few months ago. I already have Duelund CAST Ag (Silver) on my Aikido Preamp. But I wanted Duelund CAST for my future amp (probably it’s gonna be another abandoned project?). As the CAST Ag price is very not reasonable (around US$2500 or more for a pair of 1 uF/630 VDC), then I think the CAST Cu is the best option (around US$ 1200 a pair). I also ordered my Alexander by Duelund capacitor (less than US$ 200 a pair of 0.47 uF/900 VDC), just to ‘finalized’ my passion on it (how bad it could be?).

After around 3 months or so production, finally the goods arrived on my home yesterday. When I opened it, I got a surprise. Duelund changed their chassis design for the CAST capacitor. See below.

I think the design is more likely a ‘small car battery’. Quite nice, since the new design is smaller and it’s ‘boxy’ design could fit on most PCB easily, compared with the old ‘moon cake’ chassis design.

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Tags: Capacitor, CAST Ag, CAST Cu, Duelund
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Posted on Tuesday, 11th October 2011 by Auw Jimmy

It’s interesting to hear how does this low end capacitor would sound. So I eventually try to obtain it. I just can’t stop my passion in this. Sigh…

Priced at very low value (just a little bit more expensive than Audio Note Mylar version), this Alexander capacitor from Duelund got ‘unique’ 900VDC rating. Based on its specification and capacitance availability, I’m quite sure this is more for electronic circuit instead of crossover.

Interesting to hear how does it sound. I also order the new version of Duelund CAST Cu capacitor. Although they are at different level, but at how much? That would be remained as question, until I try it.

All I need is some more time…

Tags: Alexander, Capacitor, Duelund
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Posted on Sunday, 9th October 2011 by Auw Jimmy

As my chassis has done few days ago, now it’s time to design the placement of the parts. I have mentioned before that the dimension was quite tight, so I wasn’t sure that I could fit all the parts on it. But without doing some prototyping, I couldn’t confirm that. So let’s start doing that.

My new chassis contains 3 chambers. One for the main transformer, one for the power supply section, and one for signal section. The size around 40×40 cm, more or less.

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Tags: chassis, design, layout, power supply, prototyping
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Posted on Thursday, 6th October 2011 by Auw Jimmy

I did a stupid mistake. I ordered new chassis, but during the construction, I changed some parts and forgot if the new parts actually ‘lot’ bigger than the old one. Two most significant in terms of the size are Hashimoto C-25-150CH and Tamura A-4004. They both occupy over half of the space (see the right chamber, on the size of copper plate). The copper plate itself will hold a giant custom Z11 power transformer.

I have to think how to solve this puzzle… re-order a new chassis would be my last, worst, but also simplest option…

See how things going soon… What you see below is not a ‘complete team’. I still have a pair of VCap and a Jensen 4pole electrolytic to join.

Tags: Aikido, chassis, preamp
Posted in DIY Audio | Comments (6)