DIY JE Labs Darling 1626 Build

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marantzfan

marantzfan

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As I've mentioned in other threads, I am about to embark on a new scratch build of the SE 1626 as designed by @je2a3.

DSCF1751.jpg

JELSimple1626SC.jpg

jelabs.blogspot.com

Darling Amp, JE Labs Style

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I've started getting together the parts that I need including the same transformers from the Sony TC-500a reel deck. I just ordered some NOS RCA 1626, RCA 6F5 and a nice Mullard EZ81 rectifier. All in, I'm under $100 for all tubes with shipping; how about that? :)

Sony PT dimensions are (LxWxH)

3.5" x 4" x 2.75" (90mm x 102mm x 70mm)

Sony OPT dimensions are (LxWxH)

2.5" x 3.5" x 2.25" (64mm x 90mm x 58mm)

In looking at the other parts, most everything is pretty straight forward and I'll be placing orders for the remainder of what I need today.

However, right out of the gate I have a question with regards to the first two capacitors in the PS are marked on the schematic as 20uf and 40uf, 500v. How critical are these values? At this position they are primarily only for filtering, right?

I have some ASC oil caps laying around that I would love to press into service, but they are a little smaller. I've got two 15uf and one 30uf can here. So, I could end up with 15uf for C1 and 45uf for C2. Will it cause an issue to stray from the published values this much?
 
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Oooh, glow-y!!

I think 15uf and 45uf would work, or you could do 30uf and 30uf but it might skew your B+ a little. Are you using the Sony power transformer, as well? JE must have had B+ to burn with his, tuning it a bit with the 1K5 5W resistor after the rectifier.

You could model it in PSUD... or you could just wing it and see what happens. :)
 
Redboy said:
Oooh, glow-y!!

I think 15uf and 45uf would work, or you could do 30uf and 30uf but it might skew your B+ a little. Are you using the Sony power transformer, as well? JE must have had B+ to burn with his, tuning it a bit with the 1K5 5W resistor after the rectifier.

You could model it in PSUD... or you could just wing it and see what happens. :)
Click to expand...

Believe it or not...I’ve never played with PSUD. It’s a free download, right?
 
Apparently...one can buy 6061 aluminum sheet on Amazon these days...

Just ordered a 12” x 12” x .125” sheet for $19, prime one day delivery. That is pretty nifty and should give me plenty of room to lay this one out.
 
Some of the larger parts have shown up... starting to play around with a mock up.

I’m going to lay it out pretty similarly to the JE Labs Simple 2a3 I built a while back with IEC/fuse/switch in the back, speaker posts by the output tubes and RCA’s by each driver.

EZ81 will go in front of the PT, behind and between the oilers.

3023EEE5-E9D7-4691-80C5-1B39DC24E0B3.jpeg
 
gable said:
You might want to turn the PT, or the OPTs, I think in that picture the cores are all aligned.

I think. :D
Click to expand...
I think they are 90 degrees from each other, assuming the windings are directly behind that copper colored bit in the center of the PT.
 
Looking at @je2a3’s build, it looks like he has the PT aligned the same, but with the OPT’s flipped... so I think @gable was right.

Everything fits either way, so I’ll probably just flip to match.

As much as I like the look of these, I’m inclined to go with transformer covers to tidy up the finished look.

Jusr like last build, I’m having almost as much fun with the design as the build.

Too early to talk color schemes? Wood for the base? Lol
 
marantzfan said:
Looking at @je2a3’s build, it looks like he has the PT aligned the same, but with the OPT’s flipped... so I think @gable was right.

Everything fits either way, so I’ll probably just flip to match.

As much as I like the look of these, I’m inclined to go with transformer covers to tidy up the finished look.

Jusr like last build, I’m having almost as much fun with the design as the build.

Too early to talk color schemes? Wood for the base? Lol
Click to expand...
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the power transformer is a horizontally-oriented design, yes? If so, then it is 90 degrees from the vertically-oriented output transformers, regardless of which way the transformers are oriented (assuming the transformers are all being bolted to the same plane).

But hey, nobody every complained about not enough magnetic coupling. :)

-D

p.s. I'm going to suggest my favorite wood - Goncalo Alves - for the base. And if you decide to put transformer covers / end bells on the outputs, might I suggest a glossy fire-engine red?
 
Thermionics said:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the power transformer is a horizontally-oriented design, yes? If so, then it is 90 degrees from the vertically-oriented output transformers, regardless of which way the transformers are oriented (assuming the transformers are all being bolted to the same plane).

But hey, nobody every complained about not enough magnetic coupling. :)

-D

p.s. I'm going to suggest my favorite wood - Goncalo Alves - for the base. And if you decide to put transformer covers / end bells on the outputs, might I suggest a glossy fire-engine red?
Click to expand...

Yes, the PT is horizontally oriented...doh!

I would love to play with Goncalo Alves. I remember you recommending it before and I nearly went that route then.

Planning to powder coat the top plate and transformer covers, so thinking of some nice contrasting colors.
I’ll have a little time tomorrow and will swing by the lumber store and see if they have any Goncalo Alves. :)
 
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