tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63348567489731282792011-10-01T09:36:20.207-07:00My journey through the design, build and modification of stereo audio components. I have been designing and building vacuum tube audio equipment for years while tweaking the performance of existing components through the process of modification to extract the most performance on a tight budget.-KEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00645852478201093372noreply@blogger.comBlogger111100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6334856748973128279.post-73434797753800969352011-07-07T18:43:00.000-07:002011-07-07T21:05:16.665-07:00

The folks at Reference Media encouraged me to create a new series of lower priced, easier to assemble products that they can sell at their stores. This prompted me to re-consider my stance on printed circuit boards (PCB's). I still believe that they are not good for tube circuits because of the high-voltage and heat involved, and the capacitive properties of the board itself, but if designed and

-KEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00645852478201093372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6334856748973128279.post-85509804516923535542011-02-26T17:06:00.000-08:002011-02-28T18:19:43.340-08:00

The Elliott Studio Arts 66-100 in a showroom! I recently ran into my old associate Hans at a 7-Eleven. After a brief visit I found out that he works at the only high-end audio shop in Everett, WA; Reference Media (they also have a store in Bellingham, WA) http://www.reference-media.net/. I told him about my amp and preamp and we agreed on an audition of the 66-100 the store. I was surprised

-KEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00645852478201093372noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6334856748973128279.post-46529575421584459412010-12-12T19:59:00.000-08:002011-07-07T21:07:07.123-07:00

Here's a short description of the construction of an Elliott Studio Arts 66-100 power amplifier. This is a basic model, unbalanced and without a triode/UL switch (which switches the output stage between modes). The first step in construction is to assemble the chassis and related components. Shown below is the top panel to which the circuit board is installed after it is seperatly constructed,

-KEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00645852478201093372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6334856748973128279.post-60413966124202307982010-10-21T21:08:00.000-07:002011-07-07T21:11:21.046-07:00

Tube Stomp Box for digital recording A good friend of mine is an accomplished guitarist who has a recording setup for his band. Part of his rig is an amp simulator plug-in that he uses with digital input (AD converter) to simulate the tone of an amplifier. Recently he asked if a tube guitar pedal would add that tube 'roundness' to enhance the sound of his recordings. This sparked an idea..

-KEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00645852478201093372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6334856748973128279.post-74704364065267014152010-10-02T21:03:00.000-07:002010-10-02T22:46:11.001-07:00

I am amazed at what I'm (not) hearing!Have you ever noticed how your system sounds great on some days and kind of grainy and harsh on others? Usually sounding more sweet late at night? Dirty power - that's what I say! During the day when usage is high in your area microwaves, electric motors, ubiquitous switching supplies, fluorescent CFL bulbs, etc. generate tons of spurious RF and harmonic

-KEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00645852478201093372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6334856748973128279.post-76622533937770816482010-05-10T21:27:00.000-07:002011-07-07T21:12:01.358-07:00

Building the 66-001p Vacuum Tube Reference Preamp (an overview) Well, it's been a while since I've posted here. I've been working on a preamp that is bound for review. The picture above is the regulator section for the outboard PSU, which in this case is configured for 120VAC / 60Hz. The regulator board is the only circuit board used in the entire product. Circuit boards are convenient but can

-KEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00645852478201093372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6334856748973128279.post-33969599529789113722010-03-25T22:35:00.000-07:002010-05-10T22:48:48.488-07:00

The Mighty McIntoshMy boss Jack has had a pair of old dusty and slightly pitted MC-30's laying in his office for several years. The story was that they belonged to his father who purchase them new sometime in the golden age of Hi-Fi, and they had been languishing at the home of one of his other sons for years. Jack came across them and rescued the pair thinking that someday he would put them to

-KEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00645852478201093372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6334856748973128279.post-65905833349235561872010-03-23T14:40:00.000-07:002010-03-23T14:44:32.818-07:00

Becoming interested in a few DIY projects seen online I decided to make my own speaker cables to replace some home-made jobbies that I'd been using for about 10 years.. Since I work in the commercial A/V field I have collected a ton of surpluse cable and wire over the years. Having an abundance of CAT5E cable on hand it was a cinch to choose one of the projects that feature use of that sort of

-KEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00645852478201093372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6334856748973128279.post-5202587878758081622010-03-05T16:07:00.000-08:002010-03-05T22:14:02.402-08:00

In my day job I am a service technician for a medium sized regional A/V contractor. Most of my work involves troubleshooting audio systems and optimizing performance. I have the opportunity to work with some very nice equipment in beautiful environments, like some of the local church sanctuaries around Seattle. One such system involves a church that is used as a venue for performing and recording

-KEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00645852478201093372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6334856748973128279.post-8739330761567274012010-02-22T22:13:00.000-08:002010-02-26T18:01:15.080-08:00

I love vinyl, but was always looking for ways to improve the sound. I built a dynamic noise canceller circuit, installed equalizers, dynamic range expanders and all manner of processing to try and improve the sound of some recordings. When CD players first arrived on the scene I was in High School, and a couple of guys from our local community college came by our electronics class and told us

-KEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00645852478201093372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6334856748973128279.post-38230221393587817632010-02-22T22:04:00.000-08:002010-02-22T22:12:16.113-08:00

Recently I decided I needed a better CD player to use as a reference (I do have an audio manufacturing company after all- http://elliottstudioarts.com) and the best I can currently afford is the Rega Apollo. My old AMC CD8b gave up the ghost a while ago, and since I mostly play vinyl didn't really care much.Well, after getting the unit home (I bought it used from a local retailer in Seattle,

-KEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00645852478201093372noreply@blogger.com2