advertisement


A new pre-amp

Big John

Big John

pfm Member
I have just had a shock.

I am listening to a pre-amp my 19 year old son John has built as a project for an application to get an apprenticeship, using 4 Russian Nuvista valves, with a PSU designed by a professional friend of mine, for which John etched/made his own PCB at college, all other parts of the Pre-amp are hard wired. My friend safety checked the finished pre-amp.

The pre-amp is playing direct into my Power-amp I have never heard the like, it improves on my excellent modified and tube rolled valve pre-amp, I would not have believed that such an improvement was possible, the Nuvista's are so fast and tune full...

My OTA Quad 57's are playing bass rich John jnr recordings with no stress or struggling and deeper than I thought possible, using my existing exceptional pre-amp I have heard how the Rogue Atlas Magnum power-amp I use drives Quads exceptionally well. Playing Beethoven 9th ode to joy choral section magnificent, we have thrown every genre of music at it only to find all areas of the envelope are improved despite higher highs it remains sweet and oh so clean...

It is so good, after his interviews etc I have asked him to build me one, I am a very proud father.
 
That's exactly the space DIY is for. Congrats :)

And come on, please post more details on the project - such diversity is good for us all :)
 
mudlark said:
Brilliant stuff, a youngster into good stereo. Perhaps there is a new hope.
Click to expand...

There is.. A couple of my friends kids after hearing my stereo want a 'proper stereo'.. And they seem to have a good taste in music as well!!!
 
The basic pre-amplifier is the "TNT Audio Preamble N - DIY Nuvistor Dual Mono Pre-amplifier", originally it required 4 transformers for the PSU, John's college could not afford the bulk of the components, so as the bank of Mum & Dad were paying for most of the parts, it was decided that using 4 Transformers was overkill, a simplified PSU circuit was required, it was drawn up on CAD? by a friend using one transformer with heater takeoff.

John created a PCB using a computer program which he produced & populated. As I said the rest of the assembly ie the amplifier part is discreet hard wired construction, It only has one input/output at the moment as John has kept it as a "simple" unit driven by his I Pad using loss-less files; It has no case as yet so it can be taken to the apprenticeship interview to showcase his abilities, John has a a video with sound of it working as well.

As for taste, true he has classical music, Lou Reed, Prodigy, Bastille, Doors and others on his I Pad however the big but is; he hates anything to do with the Beatles but worse still, unlike the rest of the family (his mother is a genuine Cockney) he does not have "Parsley liquor" on his Pie & Mash...
 
That would be this one?

http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/preamble.html
http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/preamble_n.html

Looks like it takes two transformers per channel: one for 230 to +/- 15V and the other for 230 to 12V. It seems to yield a 40V swing. I can see how you'd use a single transformer for the power supply, but hopefully you'll post the schematic?

Outstanding work for a 19 year old. Always nice to have a financial backer. He'll be building an amp and then a pair of speakers to go with it in no time.
 
Retrovert said:
That would be this one?

http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/preamble.html
http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/preamble_n.html

Looks like it takes two transformers per channel: one for 230 to +/- 15V and the other for 230 to 12V. It seems to yield a 40V swing. I can see how you'd use a single transformer for the power supply, but hopefully you'll post the schematic?

Outstanding work for a 19 year old. Always nice to have a financial backer. He'll be building an amp and then a pair of speakers to go with it in no time.
Click to expand...
This one
http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/preamble_n.html can't post schematic it's copyright will seek friends permission.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.


advertisement


Back
Top