Posted on Saturday, 23rd July 2011 by Auw Jimmy

A special edition of MJ Audio Technology Magazine from Japan. A must have for 300B/2A3 lover! Quite expensive, especially if you buy it outside Japan.

(more…)

Tags: 2A3, 300B, book, Tube Amplifier
Posted in Collectible Stuff | Comments (0)

Posted on Sunday, 17th July 2011 by Auw Jimmy

After a long journey listening hundreds of tracks, finally I come up with JimmyAuw.com Reference CD #1. This CD, off course due to law regulation, are made by me and only for my own private collection. I use it to simplify myself when testing some audio system. So I can save my space on the bag to bring other things, instead of bringing several CDs.

Actually, it was very hard to pick only few tracks from hundreds of my collections. I think I will come up with Reference CD #2, #3, and so-on. For this Reference CD #1, I think mostly I put vocal tracks there. Probably female is more than male one. Well, that’s probably my own personal taste. Most single ended tube will love the tracks on it.

The JimmyAuw.com Reference CD #1 was recorded on Apogee Reference Gold CD-R. Carefully burned on “protected” machine in order to achieve best result. Probably not the best on the planet, but surely the best than I can get after experimenting with a lot of configurations.

(more…)

Tags: Audio System Testing, Reference CD
Posted in CD/DVD Review, Collectible Stuff | Comments (11)

Posted on Friday, 15th July 2011 by Auw Jimmy

To tweak a lot of things, usually I reserve a good set of tweaking tools. One of them is the tape. The function, mostly, is to seal something (wire/chassis/transformer) in order to prevent unwanted outsider interference to come in.

During my experience, I always stock four types of tape. My first one is Copper tape (quite common, for cheaper one, you can have aluminum tape).

Second is Teflon tape which well known of its durability to withstand of very high temperature, quite common in industrial machinery application and also in audio (probably you’ve ever heard one of the most expensive Teflon capacitor, V-Cap).

Third is Kapton tape. This tape also can withstand a very high temperature, but probably not a common stuff to be used in audio.

And the last one, also a unique one, is a silk tape. Don’t ask me how to get the last one, as you might think I’m “quite” insane (indeed).

Different type of tape will be used on different location and different purpose. Sometime, more than one type used on the same time. Feel free to try yourself, as I might not share those experiments at current time

(more…)

Tags: Copper Tape, Kapton Tape, Silk Tape, Teflon Tape
Posted in Collectible Stuff | Comments (0)

Posted on Friday, 15th July 2011 by Auw Jimmy

Not yet finished chassis. Quite huge for a preamp, around 42×42 cm in size. Some copper sheet shown on the picture for some section on the top plate.

(more…)

Tags: Aikido, chassis
Posted in Collectible Stuff, DIY Audio | Comments (16)

Posted on Friday, 15th July 2011 by Auw Jimmy

The upgrade not yet ended. I still have something to finalize my Aikido PreAmp. I go to upgrade some section in order to make it firms before fitting it on the new chassis.

Here we go. First, we will install the affordable grade IEC from Furutech, the Rhodium plated FI-03. Fuse holder integrated there (oh well, which fuse shall I use?). That’s gonna be another question.

(more…)

Tags: Aikido, Cable, Cardas, Duelund, Furutech, Kimber, resistor, Vishay
Posted in Collectible Stuff, DIY Audio | Comments (12)

Posted on Tuesday, 12th July 2011 by Auw Jimmy

Not just Lundahl here, I also ordered custom choke from Jack/Electra-Print. I contacted Jack and asked him to create a Choke, with requirement to be placed in Input position. He offered me a VPI technique which (according to him) enough for Choke Input application. Other requirements was a “jimmyauw.com” standard which mean oversize construction (M6 lamination, 30H/75mA).

(more…)

Tags: Choke, Electra-Print
Posted in Collectible Stuff, DIY Audio | Comments (5)

Posted on Friday, 8th July 2011 by Auw Jimmy

AD1865 was build from some different factory around the world. Some may have from Malaysia, some from Philippines, some maybe from anywhere around the world. I collected some old AD1865N, probably from year 90′s and some N-K series from 2000′s. I think, Analog Device also changed the font size. Newer one got smaller font size.

It’s gonna be interesting to see how good the N-K would be, vs the lower grade N series.

(more…)

Tags: AD1865, DAC
Posted in Collectible Stuff | Comments (0)

Posted on Friday, 1st July 2011 by Auw Jimmy

I’m ongoing to rebuild my Aikido Preamp which has been suspended for quite long time. The target is simple: a complete wood chassis and some upgraded parts then we are done (no more upgrade or whatsoever for this Preamp). You can check link above to check the current parts used on the Preamp.

I have ordered new chokes from Sowter, Electra-Print, and Lundahl. Brian (Sowter) and Jack (Electra-Print) needs to custom my order, so they will be delayed around 2 weeks for production times. Meanwhile Per (Lundahl) got a ready to use one (LL1673) then I ordered from Kevin (K&K Audio) and delivered right to my home around 2 weeks with Priority Mail service.

Kevin helped me to match both chokes. Although from the appearance, I think they were not manufactured on same batch (you can see different font size), but from some short measurements, they are indeed quite “matched”.

(more…)

Tags: Choke, Common Mode Choke, Lundahl
Posted in Collectible Stuff, DIY Audio | Comments (1)

Posted on Saturday, 12th February 2011 by Auw Jimmy

I dig some of my collection and find some AZ1 tubes. Basically, I have several tubes, but short word, they are separated into 3 brands, Philips Miniwatt AZ1, Valvo AZ1, and Telefunken AZ1. I don’t use P-Socket on my system, but I could use my converter here.

Caveat before reading: This test result is purely subjective on my system. It could be different on your system. Take it as reference only, please

First test is Philips Miniwatt. This tube has quite nice sound. The Ingram Washington’s vocal could be delivered sweet enough. Staging is not too wide, but depth is fine. The piano slightly light, less weight. When I first turn on the High Voltage, I see a blue spark. I think this tube is quite new, so probably need some time to break-in. Overall the tone are enjoyable, although slightly less weight.

(more…)

Tags: Philips Miniwatt, rectifier, Telefunken, Valvo
Posted in Collectible Stuff, DIY Audio | Comments (5)

Posted on Saturday, 12th February 2011 by Auw Jimmy

I would rather call this as “beauty in the dark”… No longer perfect in terms of construction, slightly off-center for the mesh and triangle, since probably over 70 years old tube. But… It’s still a nice collectible item. Since the label has gone, from my knowledge, this should be Valvo G2504, but it could be Telefunken RGN2504 also.

How does it sound? Beautiful thick vocal, wide staging, excellent mids, very musical, transparent, but slightly “too powerful” on the preamp section. Added: The low frequency is awesome, tight, and very well controlled. Will compare them with my Telefunken 2004 later. I’m interested to hear the different

(more…)

Tags: rectifier, RGN2504, Telefunken, Valvo
Posted in Collectible Stuff, DIY Audio | Comments (2)

Posted on Wednesday, 2nd February 2011 by Auw Jimmy

This album is one of the my precious collectible album. Not just because this CD is quite rare (the original one, not remastered with XRCD bla-bla-bla), but this CD also has an outstanding quality. The Vinyl version is even better (but the price is getting not reasonable to purchase one at mint condition). I also have the Vinyl version, but rated at VG or VG+ only.

What makes this CD so special? This CD was made directly from two-track “live” analog master tape, recorded simultaneously, and no additional editing or polishing possible. According to Sheffield Lab, this kind of technique combined with their custom electronics and microphone will increase the transparency and phase linearity. Also the production of this CD is limited to specific quantity. No more additional copy will be made, unless we are talking the new version (like XRCD).

(more…)

Tags: amanda, CD Audio, sheffield lab
Posted in CD/DVD Review, Collectible Stuff | Comments (1)

Posted on Sunday, 7th November 2010 by Auw Jimmy

Not completely done, but I could imagine the final appearance later. Enjoy!

Only one last module left, the audio player as source. And off course, the speakers.

(more…)

Tags: amp, TBA820, tube buffer
Posted in Collectible Stuff, DIY Audio | Comments (7)