2021 Audio Plans

Wntrmute2

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Just a continuation from last year's thread.
1) Build the Gadget pre-amp.
2) Try DC heating on the 300B amps.
3) Try @paulbottlehead modification of the above amps to increase HF response.
3a) Try some of the Western Electric mods to accomplish the same.
4) Send Jubilee to Ortofon for a rebuild.
 
Well, given this thread, first on the list is a pair of speaker grills for my Altec 753c speakers to protect the drivers from curious puppy noses. :)

Also will be veneering said speaker cabinets (teak) while I'm at it.

I've got a friend building a set of cabinets for my 604E drivers, plus I'll (hopefully) finally get around to building the Wyn Palmer LOMC phono stage that I've had sitting on my project shelf for about a year.

Last but not least, I'll be trying to declutter a bit - I've got a couple of tube projects and some solid-state gear that will probably end up on The Emporium or USAudioMart.
 
Huh! It seems I had no stated plans in the 2020 Audio Plans thread. That might explain my aimless wanderings in the desert.

In 2021 I would like to:

FOCUS​
  • clear out some excess​
  • better organize the stuff I keep​
  • finish some projects​
BUILD​
  • tube phono​
  • two-way horn project​
  • tube amp(s)​
FIND​
  • WE 728b (have one, need one)​
 
I actually do have a plan.

1) Try to up upgrade my integrated amp to something with more power. Looking at some British brands, as the step up from my amp in the Moon lineup is likely not going to happen.

2) I also want to try a couple German tubes for my phono stage. Siemens / Telefunken 12ax7.

3) Wild Card - since one of the resident Mac Mini's just died there's probably going to be changes afoot at some point on how I deliver signal to the digital system.
 
I had completed my 2020 Audio Plan to Rip my whole CD collection and back it up.

2021 plans.

Will be an amp and preamp build year.

Changes my PP 6A3 amp to a PP UL 6L6 amp. (Started already)
Build a PP EL84 amp based on the design from the TubeCad website.
Build a 6C33C amp driven by D3A
Build a 211 amp driver are (TBD)

Rebuild my 6SN7 preamp with a new housing better PS and duel Mono 64 step Volume control.
 
I'm pretty sure nothing I planned for 2020 came to pass due to my unexpected move and long-term storage of my main system.

So 2021 plans:

Finish setting up my Sony TTS-8000 turntable with an arm or two. Technics EPA-100mk2 and ?

Have my Dynavector XX2 retipped.

New speaker cable.

Finish selling some leftover items like power cords, biwire cables and a few extra phono stages and whatnot. My big accomplishment last year was getting rid of about 2/3 of my collection with the help of a friend that loves selling and shipping things.

Other than that I'm all set. More than set... I have a whole other great system in storage and I love this one almost as much.
 
- finally get streaming set up
- winnow down collection of amps and speakers
- decide to either fix or sell technics sp-10mkii which re-developed the "spin out" issue after being fixed once already
- depending on the above, get "end-game" table (the sp10ii was it previously)
- properly set up listening room (incl. source good listening chair)
 
- finally get streaming set up
- winnow down collection of amps and speakers
- decide to either fix or sell technics sp-10mkii which re-developed the "spin out" issue after being fixed once already
- depending on the above, get "end-game" table (the sp10ii was it previously)
- properly set up listening room (incl. source good listening chair)
What is the spin out issue?
 
One more item - at some point I have a Raspberry Pi 4 compute module and I/O board arriving, so I'll be building out a new primary streamer for my main system.

(was originally supposed to be here by now, now it is looking like early January)
 
LOLOL. Funny how that has yet to happen.

I'd say there is a slightly greater than 50% chance that I end up with Maggie 3.3R by the end of 2021. The other thing I want to do (bang for the buck upgrade) is use some type of dsp to provide low pass filter @ 100 Hz to the 3 12s in my Carver Amazing Silver MK4, and a high pass @ I believe 20 Hz to the ribbons. Actually the Carvers sound darn similar to Maggie 3.3R and 1.7i but play lower (flat to 23 Hz). I heard all 3 when I bought the Carvers and would be getting the 3.3R from the same guy (who got the 1.7i and 2nd from TOTL SVS sub to replace 3.3R and mid/late 80s M&K sub(which I also will probably end up buying as well as a Hafler DH200 amp from the same guy bc I "have to have it" as I dont own any Hafler, think it looks cool, and it gets good reviews).

Like I said LOLOL.

// Since I inevitably will not get to it in the next month, I am also working on room treatment (which will be quilts hung on the walls) and figure that will be completed at some point during 2021.
 
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Hmmm, 2021 plans? I'm going to use my 2020 plans as a template, with adjustments:

1. Less time in audio forums.
2. Upgrade power conditioner (and probably power cables) on front-end gear.
3. Maybe reconfigure listening room a bit to accommodate "future" plans...
4. Listen more, fuss less.
5. Did I mention less time in audio forums?
 
For 2021, I would like to accomplish the following:
  1. Rearrange my listening space to make it into a proper listening room, eliminate some furniture, and gather all my records and CDs into one place.
  2. Whittle down from 4 turntables to 2.
  3. Complete cataloging of media in Discogs.
  4. Sell off excess gear to focus resources on a single primary system and an office system.
 
My goals for 2021:

- Finish my Fisher KX-200 restoration
- Eico tuner upgrade/restoration
- Utilize DSP/speaker measuring equipment to improve speaker builds and passive crossovers.
- DIY room treatments
- Sell or give away several pieces of unused audio gear
 
I am really looking forward to 2021. It just has to be better than 2020! Aside from the obvious, 2021 is also my first year of retirement so I should have more time to devote to the finer things in life, like building Hifi gear. Here’s my list so far:

* Solid brass arm pod for my Siggwan tonearm.
* Rebuild my DAC to include I/V transformers.
* Make new interconnects.
* Make new enclosure for my AVC.
* Build a stereo PP EL-84 integrated.
* Reduce clutter; sell unused gear
* Simplify, simplify!
 
Spilling into 2021.........

Sell more gear.
Buy a new DAC.
Start burning my SACD's to files. (bought the right cd player this year!)
Refurbish a DQ-10 pair
Learn and use the Minidsp with ???? software.
Still have about 60 cd's to burn to files.
Configure a better garage system.
Possibly replace my TT.
 
The only things i started and finished this year is a step up transformer i put togeather, and some phono cables both in a couple of hours on sunday. Oh and finalised my crossovers so no messing around with those now, they are done 100%, i think...

Proper stands for my speakers.
Get the chassis made and finally put together the power amps ive been messing about with.
Try a passive preamp.
Build a non ecc83 phono.
Somehow add somthing like a sliding base for my tonearm.

Sort through parts ive acquired and do something with all the bits i cant use, ive got about 5 sets of the sony tc500a output transformers, a couple of the speakers, several chicago potted transformers for US voltage and a load more stuff ive been given that ill never use.
 
The only things i started and finished this year is a step up transformer i put togeather, and some phono cables both in a couple of hours on sunday. Oh and finalised my crossovers so no messing around with those now, they are done 100%, i think...

Proper stands for my speakers.
Get the chassis made and finally put together the power amps ive been messing about with.
Try a passive preamp.
Build a non ecc83 phono.
Somehow add somthing like a sliding base for my tonearm.

Sort through parts ive acquired and do something with all the bits i cant use, ive got about 5 sets of the sony tc500a output transformers, a couple of the speakers, several chicago potted transformers for US voltage and a load more stuff ive been given that ill never use.
“100% done” with your crossovers? That’s great! But are you really sure about that? It seems like there’s always something else to try....
 
“100% done” with your crossovers? That’s great! But are you really sure about that? It seems like there’s always something else to try....
Well, i have tried tons of capacitors in the LF part and ended up with the same mundorf you did, i think having all capacitors (LF and HF) of the same gereral type provided for a very cohesive sound compared to using a paper in oil one there.

ive left the HF exactly as you recomended with the sonicap gen1 (i was tempted to try the mondorf silver/gold in oil, as i when i put one in my phono it seemed to extend the HF, however the exact values arnt available).

I would be tempted to try some AN silver wire on the HF but then saw the price, so the kimber tcss will do for now!

I suppose maybe id try some super tweeters...
 
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