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ckng

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Posts posted by ckng

  2. Posted · Report reply

    I recently got a Xenos amp from SE. I pair it with a UM1 and it sounded very good provided u dun play dwl songs larh. Eh, there is a large diff. The bass becomes more distinct and the sound becomes more clear. But i tink u should go down to Se and test urself. Probably u have a diff liking of music....

    =))

     

    If I am not wrong (I don't own an iPod), you can get a line out from it via the iPod dock. I also remember seeing some iPod dock connectors/line out cables and the like in this forum before.

     

    Regards

    CK

  4. Posted · Report reply

    That's what I'am doing right now but i can somehow control the loudness of the music from my computer still... :blink:

     

    The behaviour is correct. Unlike things like iPods, PCDPs, the lineout levels of most sound cards are adjustable via the volume control. If you want to bypass all the Windows DirectX stuff, use a software like foobar with the kernal streaming plugin. This leaves only the "master" volume controllable.

     

    Regards

    CK

  5. Posted · Report reply

    ya, i am thinking of a mini to rca....even if i add in rca sockets i would also need interconnects i think. oh, am i read that you got an extra kit...maybe when i am done with my current one and I am very satisfied I might get tat extra one from you.

     

    Cheers!

    Kross, complete one first lah! Just do a plain AMP5 with 1 input and a passive volume pot like me first. :)

     

    Regards

    CK

  7. Posted · Report reply

    i am thinking whether to make rca out or use a hybrid mini to rca cable, what do you think heady? If i make rca sockets, I might as well take the whole thing out since it is impossible to do soldering inside the case.

    Personally I'd prefer RCA. You would still need to get the PCB out to solder the wires for the RCA or mini anyway ;)

     

    Regards

    CK

  11. Posted · Report reply

    Yeh, man, you are right about the amp5. I was so upset when I first heard it because it was so good for so cheap. Doesn't made sense. And I agree with you re: the looks of the older generation amps. They will retain their aesthetic value for a long time. The modern amps will look weird and dated in a decade.

    Yeah, that's right. And I kinda like minimalistic amps, so those vintage amps with 20 knobs don't appeal to me too. :P Just a source select + volume is about right.

     

    Regards

    CK

  12. Posted · Report reply

    Giving myself an early birthday present, splurging on your idea :D - two monobloc amp5. Will also get a amp32ps just for the fun of it.

     

    I found the instructions on the forum, the bridging only involved one resistor, I thought there were more to do. My mistake when I thought the instructions were more involved.

     

    Sounds good. Let us know how it goes. I'll live with this AMP5 for a while more before building another. Casework quite siong. Probably add in half a SOHA as tube-preamp and see how it goes first. :P

     

    Regards

    CK

  13. Posted · Report reply

    Hi, I am getting some amp kits from 41Hz (www.41hz.com). I am willing to accept others who want to join my order, to reduce shipping cost. I will do the ordering and pay first but I will need a deposit upfront. Payment via ATM transfer. Ideally, you can collect your items from Tampines MRT.

     

    I have done this before with ckng and kross. They can vouch that I am fair. Anyone interested, please PM me with your e-mail and details of the product you want.

     

    You can read about the amp5 which ckng and I have finished but kross is completing soon (c'mon kross!) here : http://www.sgheadphones.net/index.php?showtopic=5854

     

    Wah, which kit are you looking at now?

     

    Yeah, c'mon kross, you are the last one :P

     

    Regards

    CK

  14. Posted · Report reply

    ck, you got a cool MF amp in the pic you post and you prefer the amp5?

     

    Somehow it sounds better with the AMP5 leh. Remember the AMP5 already beat your Meridien monoblocks liao. heh. Probably will keep the MF, it's a classic. Don't quite like the new MF looks. :P Of coz, part of the reason for getting the AMP5 is also for the fun and experience in building it, and the sense of satisfaction when it worked the first time.

     

    Regards

    CK

  15. Posted · Report reply

    Didn't have a chance to try it as preamp. I have not cased it yet, so did not use it. I did compared it to my PPA v1.0 with Glassman buffer which is supposed to be comparable to the v2.0. The SOHA has the standard tube and OPA 2134 and it sounded as good, if not slightly better than the PPA. I have not tried changing the tube yet although I have bought another supposedly better tube. Considering changing the OPA as well.

     

    I can't use my PPA as preamp cos it uses an active ground. I am sure you know that better than me. I am just a script "kiddie". :P

     

    I see. So you are using a "real" pre-amp now? Or are you running a passive volume pot like me? :P

     

    Regards

    CK

  16. Posted · Report reply

    Yup a tiny 15-0-15 transformer from Sim Lim. My SOHA got no hum, just like mee siam.... :D

    How does it sound as a pre-amp for the AMP5? Good? I am thinking if I just build the tube front-end, it'd be very very simple. If it works that way, that is. :)

     

    "Towkay! One SOHA amp, mai hum!" :D

     

    Regards

    CK

  17. Posted · Report reply

    CK,

    Digi01 is selling the boards on his site now, he also has the info on the site:

    http://taihu.bjtzh.gov.cn/~digi01/soha-v3.0.htm

     

    Note that his delivery time is legendary for its slowness.... :D

     

    Haha. Looks like I don't need the entire amp, just the tube input stage. Which looks very, very simple. What transformer did you use for the SOHA? I reckon just need a small 15-0-15 like the headwize article mentioned.

     

    Regards

    CK

  18. Posted · Report reply

    CK, very nice. Your case is big, can fit in two monster tranny but mine isn't so big. Hmmm, really tempted to change the case but I am sad to waste the old casing.

     

    I ordered a CK2III headamp, maybe I will use that as preamp, I think it is smaller. Let's see.

     

    Your casing looks very big leh, like those big power amps with 2 handles. :P You can get another AMP5 and run in bi-amp mode too.

     

    Do you have the SOHA schematic? Would like to have a look.

     

    Regards

    CK

  19. Posted · Edited by ckng · Report reply

    Integrated amp!! Problem is the monster tranny. Takes up too much space!

    Should be fine, my casing can put in 2 of the monsters!

    IPB Image

     

    As you can see, still got lots of empty space!

     

    This is the amp on top of my Musical Fidelity A220.

    IPB Image

     

    The silver casing with a big knob next to the CD player is my AMP3, and the black box below is a META42 headamp. Will need to get a knob for the volume, the provided one doesn't fit an ALPS pot. :(

     

    Regards

    CK

  20. Posted · Report reply

    Had a spare hour today and walk to SLS from my office. Saw the casing in Wells Audio, nice. Also found an Alpha (UK) 3 pole 4 position switch in Martin ($10) but bought a 2 pole 6 position switch, also Alpha from Bytetron ($4.50).

     

    Going to make a passive preamp until I case my SOHA and I can try that as a preamp.

     

    Case the SOHA into the same case as the AMP5, then drill a hole on the front panel for headphone out. :P

     

    Regards

    CK

  21. Posted · Edited by ckng · Report reply

    ops..should be transformer, not amp..lol

    ok, maybe I'll try to take some pictures along the way once i get started..hmm...$85 for a case is considered resonable or not ck? I have not bought such cases before so $85 to me seems expensive..

     

    I think it's quite reasonable, compared to the Thai one I posted earlier which cost about double of that after shipping. And the pre-drilled holes mean I have less work to do too. :D

     

    Oh, and I forgot to mention that it also came with 8 RCA sockets (for 4 inputs), a "ALPS" selector switch (dunno real ALPS or not), a power switch, 2 knobs for the volume and source selector, a power button for the power switch, and a power LED too.

     

    The case I bought from Bytetron was about $30+, so I don't think the case CK bought is expensive, since the holes are pre-drilled. I think I may even want to go down and buy one too, my current case looks kind of dull.

     

    BTW - CK, you bought a selector switch? I need to buy one.

     

    The selector switch came with my case. It has "ALPS" printed on it but I don't think it's the real thing :P I have not wired mine up yet, so the CD input goes direct to the volume pot then to the AMP5 now. Can't wait to get it singing so I did minimal work first :P

     

    Thinking of making a relay-based input selector at a later stage.

     

    Regards

    CK

  22. Posted · Report reply

    Hi,

     

    I used the monster transformer from RS Components. Just as big and heavy. I'll post some pics soon. Now thinking of how to squeeze in a tube buffer or tube preamp inside since I got quite a bit of space in the casing. If you have not bought a case yet, you can drop by Well Audio. They now have lots of casing from LiTe Audio at reasonable rates.

     

    Pity that while I was building it, I did not think of shooting pics of the amp in progress like heady did. :P

     

    Regards

    CK

  24. Posted · Report reply

    Baked in oven, you mean the smt components? So bad as that?

    Not all, just one of the Tripath chips. According to Jan at 41hz, for high power applications you need to solder the heat slug of the chip to the corresponding PCB's pad. For obvious reasons you can't use the oven that you use to cook to do this. :P

     

    Regards

    CK

  25. Posted · Report reply

    Congrats CK. The amp5 over threw my 20 year old Meridian monoblocs which cost like 10 times more 20 years ago. Now with the news that Tripath may close down, wondering if I should order another set of amp5 and maybe amp2, just in case. Anyone wanna join me?

     

    AMP2 is a bit too difficult, have to bake in oven and all. :P I'll probably let this run for a while before I get anything else. Maybe since the gainclones are so simple, can give them a try too. ;)

     

    Regards

    CK

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