Posted on Monday, 8th February 2010 by Auw Jimmy

Due to high workload on my primary job, I prefer to leave my serious listening session for a while. So if you are waiting for my Gainclone Project initial impression, perhaps you must wait a little bit longer. Sorry to say. Also my Duelund CAST Silver delayed to mid of March. It makes me also miss the Duelund sound so much. That’s also another reason to stay away from serious listening session, for a while.

I prefer to do simple pending task, like disassembly my Hickok 539B Tube Tester. This heavy tube tester really consumes my energy more than I expect.

Below is the general appearance inside the tester. Two rectifier, one is the “deadly” #83 Mercury Vapor Rectifier and the other is 5Y3GT Rectifier.

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Tags: 539B, hickok, tube tester
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Posted on Sunday, 31st January 2010 by Auw Jimmy

I have some collections of vintage meters. One of them have problem like shown below. The needle can’t be fixed on the zero position. It seems like the internal magnetic stabilizer parts have loosen its function or misplaced inside the meter. Let’s open it

The good from a vintage meter is its accuracy, stability, and build quality. Many modern meters are available in cheap price but the quality is very poor. The meter moves in a very unstable manner. Far from what I say a smooth movement of the vintage meter. That’s why, even many modern meters are available in many store in affordable price, I still prefer to hunt vintage meter, usually from eBay.

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Tags: vintage meter
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Posted on Saturday, 23rd January 2010 by Auw Jimmy

The first thing that I need to do to refurbish my Hickok 539B Tube Tester is to clean up its appearance. I bought CRC QD Electronic Cleaner. This quick drying and no residue formula should be OK for my purpose. I remove all the buttons to wipe out all the dust and dirty things from the front plate.

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Tags: hickok, tube tester
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Posted on Friday, 8th January 2010 by Auw Jimmy

I manage to secure one vintage tube tester, a Hickok 539B. This is an ultimate tester, Lab grade, and one of the most wanted tester on eBay. Don’t ask how much did I pay for this. This is also a very heavy tester. I believe it’s over 10 Kgs. So please also don’t ask the shipping cost to deliver this item from other continent.

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Tags: 539B, hickok, tube tester
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Posted on Sunday, 3rd January 2010 by Auw Jimmy

A nice “300B Western Electric-like” tube from China and 300BS from Shuguang/Valve Art with Mesh design. Must be interesting to see how they both perform in the real world. Both are also very cheap for 300B tube.

Tags: 300B, Shuaguang, Valve Art, Western Electric
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Posted on Sunday, 3rd January 2010 by Auw Jimmy

On this lazy new year, I do a comparison between some of my old cheap meter (for Capacitance and Multimeter) and my new well know brand, Sanwa.

I finish some measurement for Capacitor and Resistor. It seems even the old cheap meter (cost <US$10) could measure very well compared with my expensive Sanwa (rated at 0.08% accuracy, cost >US$100). But for some special purpose, especially very small value measurement, the more expensive meter would do it better and more accurate. If you don’t mind with the “very standard” (more polite word for “cheap”) build quality, rarely measure small value item, and don’t need extra digit accuracy, then you can go with cheaper meter.

I compare 3 meters here. One is multipurpose meter, Sanwa PC510. High tech meter from Japan brand, Sanwa. Claims 0.08% accuracy, AC True RMS, and capable of testing Capacitance and Temperature (beside a standard AVO function of a Multimeter). This meter cost around US$ 150. The others are two my old meter. One is Heles UX35 (a standard AVO meter, cost around US$ 5) and the other is China brand Capacitance Meter CM8601A+ (up to 20.000uF, Capacitance meter only, cost less than US$ 8).

As the subject, I pick Audio Note Copper Foil Mylar-In-Oil Capacitor (default value at 0.47uF) and three value of 12W Mills Resistor (3R9, 22R, and 22K).

The photo below will speak by themselves.

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Tags: capacitance meter, heles, Sanwa
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Posted on Monday, 21st December 2009 by Auw Jimmy

Not really published on the market (at least not well spotted around big online webstore), but I manage to get a pair of it.

This is the CAST version of the Duelund Resistor. Well, for the Capacitor, the CAST definitely better (less ringing, so quiet, dynamic). How about this Resistor? Not sure though, plan to test it somewhere. Picture below is the 5W version.

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Tags: CAST, Duelund, resistor
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Posted on Saturday, 12th December 2009 by Auw Jimmy

Just arrive, could be my last “considered high end” capacitor… I welcome you, Audio Note Copper Foil Mylar in Oil 0.47uF/630Volt.

I do love the beautiful elegant copper appearance from this capacitor. It just wonderful and good looking (maybe I’m too bored with “brown paper” from Jensen and Duelund). How does this thing sound? Will see, later, don’t expect me to test it soon, since quite busy these days.

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Tags: audio note, Capacitor
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Posted on Thursday, 3rd December 2009 by Auw Jimmy

I order another transformer. This should be an upgrade of the previous version.

First, I add 0-75V tap for my neon lamp INS-1.

Second, I upgrade from H10 to Z11 lamination, from 35 size to a bigger 38 size.

Finally, I also upgrade the internal wire from local made to Germany/Australia combination.

It’s a kind of oversize for an “only” 100+VA transformer.

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Tags: transformer
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Posted on Saturday, 28th November 2009 by Auw Jimmy

Finally, with the help from my girlfriend, I manage to get the Nuvotem Talema Transformer on hand within a week. It’s rated at 6.3A with 2x18V output or about 225VA. Not bad for my LM1875 huh…

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Tags: power supply, talema, transformer
Posted in Collectible Stuff, DIY Audio | Comments (16)

Posted on Wednesday, 25th November 2009 by Auw Jimmy

I manage to secure some old vintage meters. One is for DC Voltage (up to 300V, exactly what I need for my pre-amp). While the other is mA meter (up to 30mA, another luck for my pre-amp). I’m thinking of removing the old black cover, change it with some wood and acrylic. Are you thinking what I’m thinking?

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Tags: vintage meter
Posted in Collectible Stuff, DIY Audio | Comments (7)

Posted on Monday, 12th October 2009 by Auw Jimmy

Some singers have their own unique “tone”, which reflects their “style” when singing. This uniqueness will  make us remember his/her specialty.

This old vintage CD Audio, produced around 2001, shows the wonderful soprano named Cui Yan Guang. She comes from Dalian, China and getting famous on the USA, HK, and Japan for Opera and Orchestra singer. You will understand when you hear her voice on this album.

She sang “vintage” (or I should say, “oldies”) songs. Perhaps at the age of Teresa Teng (邓丽君). But it’s a little bit different sensation to hear Teresa’s songs sung in an “Orchestral” way.

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Tags: CD Audio, chinese, female, soprano
Posted in CD/DVD Review, Collectible Stuff | Comments (6)