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Showing 1 of 119 conversations about:
rastus
1395
Jul 16, 2018
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Volly
328
Jul 17, 2018
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rastusDo you have any other tube amps to compare to in your inventory @ratus, I've got a Darkvoice and love it with my 650's, looking at adding another tube amp for a second setup. Would the APPJ be in the same ball-park with the DV in terms on sound?
I really love the look of this thing too!
I really love the look of this thing too!
rastus
1395
Jul 17, 2018
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VollyI'm the opposite, listening to a SET, but intrigued by the OTL, taking the problem noisy/distorting transformer out of the path... OTL gets rid of the noisy things, but at a price, you add caps. But,, you can get nice caps... you can also get nice transformers,, they just cost more... I have almost picked up a used La Figaro 339,, but I want a nice 300B SE for my speakers first...
To answer your other question; if you are willing to upgrade this 1502A with the caps and put some nice NOS tubes in it, it's worth it I feel. You will have a nice SET that will now work better with some cans than your OTL, and you can play around. Why you see it noted (elsewhere) that it has Japanese Z11 steel transformers, it matters, still a budget amp,, that I may never part with... would gift first.
I sometimes carpool with a fellow who now heads an audio R&D department, who also ran the soundboard for the Dead at one point. We got to talking about transformers, Tango, Tamura et al. and how critical the material/orientation is to the end result, shit goes deep, like Tamahagane... The C-Core amorphous transformers look interesting to me, such as Audio Note uses,, or the Lundahl's with silver wire winding,,, just takes money.
To answer your other question; if you are willing to upgrade this 1502A with the caps and put some nice NOS tubes in it, it's worth it I feel. You will have a nice SET that will now work better with some cans than your OTL, and you can play around. Why you see it noted (elsewhere) that it has Japanese Z11 steel transformers, it matters, still a budget amp,, that I may never part with... would gift first.
I sometimes carpool with a fellow who now heads an audio R&D department, who also ran the soundboard for the Dead at one point. We got to talking about transformers, Tango, Tamura et al. and how critical the material/orientation is to the end result, shit goes deep, like Tamahagane... The C-Core amorphous transformers look interesting to me, such as Audio Note uses,, or the Lundahl's with silver wire winding,,, just takes money.
scottlu
345
Mar 23, 2021
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rastusdid you parallels a small film Capacitor with the 1000uf ?
rastus
1395
Mar 24, 2021
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scottluNo parallel cap, in the list of things to try. Saw many doing the bypass, I was keeping it simple, first time.
With my 300B amp in repair, this little fellow is getting a lot of use again, and it sounds great.
scottlu
345
Mar 24, 2021
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rastusI just got mine , and start to read the schematic, and ordered some caps on the way.
scottlu
345
Mar 25, 2021
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rastusI placed order for pair of golden lion 6v6, and jj 12ax7. looks like all None NOS, I will keep eyes on ebay.
any recommendation for NOS?
(Edited)
rastus
1395
Mar 26, 2021
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scottluI like the value in a lesser sung great sounding manufacturer, Hytron, later acquired by CBS as a house brand supplier to the market, though also as a quality internal captive shop supplier. I have not seen one branded as Weber, guess I can find a 12ax7 labeled blue rhino to complete your amp.
My favorite tube in the APPJ is a Hytron, so something like this pair, look to be identical internals to mine.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Pair-1956-Hytron-USA-Black-Plate-6V6GT-6V6-Vacuum-tubes-Tested-Guaranteed/353428571731?hash=item5249fc0653:g:HQcAAOSwPZxfa~B3
I do like the detail from Sylvania, mind goes right to sonar applications.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/6V6GT-SYLVANIA-USA-Matched-Pair/114588674821?hash=item1aae046b05:g:ZXAAAOSwtMVeovSY
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Keep the tubes that come with it for test purposes, esp. if you replace caps.
Listen to those tubes first though, it's a baseline, then move on, i.e. ship the unit back or replace them (the move to prepare for).
Needful things to get your reward:
Replace the interstage caps with 0.47uF; Mundorf supreme's will allow you to put the cover back on (retain shielding), got mine here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/0-47-uf-1000VDC-MUNDORF-M-CAP-Supreme-Capacitor-0-47-uf-600-VDC-for-Audio/192319064599?hash=item2cc71c0a17%3Ag%3AH4QAAOSw2s1Uz5Na&_sacat=0&_nkw=mundorf+0.47uf&_from=R40&rt=nc&LH_TitleDesc=0
I also replaced the cathode caps with 1000uF Elna SIMIC II's: https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/elna-america/RFS-25V102MJ8-5/604-1059-ND/970220
The CBS (Hytron) 6V6GT's are the best I have used in the 1502A, a very open stage: https://www.ebay.com/itm/CBS-6V6-GT-NOS-MATCH-PAIR-1950s-5E3-ORIGINAL-BADBOY-RAUNCHY-OVERDRIVE-C05/223058149948?hash=item33ef4d423c%3Ag%3A9m0AAOSwKGpa53Rg&_sacat=0&_nkw=6v6gt+nos+pair&_from=R40&rt=nc&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.A0.H0.X6v6gt+nos+pair.TRS1&LH_TitleDesc=0
Preamp tube,, many choices,,, mine now goes between a 12BH7A or an E80CC: https://www.ebay.com/itm/NIB-1962-Vintage-Amperex-E80CC-6085-GOLD-Premium-TESTED-STRONG-96-96-NEW-NOS/332689683988?hash=item4d75d9b614%3Ag%3AgCkAAOSw9gRaNS6u&_sop=16&_sacat=0&_nkw=E80CC+NOS&_from=R40&rt=nc&LH_TitleDesc=0%7C0
Thread fyi: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/any-opinions-reviews-on-gemtune-appj-pa1502a.780178/