Valve amp...+speakers

Hi,

A big thanks to Pete K for puting my Dynavox valve amp right.

Two or three weeks ago it started sounding distorted especially at any sort of wick. I knew the valves were a few months old so that was the first thought.

To cut a long story short, it soon became clear that there was more afoot here, so I asked Pete (Zanash) if he could help.

The amp is now back at home sounding very nice. My old cyrus 1 is ok but you do notice vocalists singing from 2 feet off he ground .

Whist I was over to collect the emp, Pete offered me to lend me his diy QLTL (is that right pete?) (quarter length transmission line) speakers to try. I've always fancied having a pop at floor standers .....my Ruark Sceptres are stand mounters.....so I was interested.

They sound very good. This is despite having just the one main driver.

The comparison is interesting.

My Ruarks woiuld have retailed at about £800. Petes DIYs were I think complted at about £50?

I need to go back to the Ruarks again for a better comparison but intital impression are petty favourable. At least as much detail+ soiundstage........the only thing they loose oiut on is bass extention. pete tells me I should have them closer to the back wall than the RSs (for bass) but my iso plinth is further out than that so I am limited for now.

For ease of construction Pete made his out of pine. I am intereted in following this up with MDF construction and see what that does.....aso trying other materials.

Mods hope this is in the right place.

 

IPL do some nice tranmission line kits that you can buy with or without the cut mdf panels.Ive built a few of ipl kits and always been impressed http://www.iplacoustics.co.uk/ipl_acoustics_____transmission_l.htm

 

Thanks.

I'll take a look.

 

Heres a pic of one my brother dik built in my system http://dik.dolan.googlepages.com/IPL.JPG a m8 built the bigger ones with 8in driver and the bass they produce is scary so the huge 3 ways would sound huge with bass from hell.

 

No reason to stick to a single driver system. There are some very nice DIY designs around where you can simply copy the circuit for the xover.

Have a look at some of these, which should offer considerably better sound (more pricey drivers though) http://www.zaphaudio.com/

My view is if you are going to put in the effort of building a cabinet, you may as well use decent drivers.

 

quite a set up!

a few quids worth of mission stuff there!

what tt is that?

yes, my room isn't big s I don't need anything quite as meaty as that!



cheers



David

 

hmmmm....

thanks simon

more ideas!

 

Turntable is a garrard 401

 

arm and cartridge?

 

Rega rb300 rewired and michell tehcno weight.Cartridge is ortofon mc15 and phono stage is michell iso.

 

I just plugged the ruarks back in.

They are undoubtedly doing more bass extension.....but loose out in another way. I can't quite put my finger on what that is tho'!.