Bottlehead Forum
Bottlehead Kits => S.E.X. Kit => Topic started by: Noskipallwd on July 15, 2012, 01:38:43 AM
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Hey guys, just ordered the Sex 2.1. Just wondering if the impedence switch boards, (ala the Smack), are available for the Sex.
Cheers,
Shawn
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Shawn,
I believe the answer is yes and no. Meaning that yes, they are available (I believe the 2.1 I heard at RMAF had the boards in it) but no, because the manual hasn't been written or finished.
There should also be a C4S board coming for this amp soon too.
At least this is my current understanding of where things stand.
HTH,
Jim
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Thanks Jim,
I'll probably only use the amp for my speakers and my AKG K-702s once in a while. It would be nice to have the capability to change which tap your using without having to solder. I will be installing the C4S when available. Will the MQ iron upgrade benefit this version of the Sex?
Cheers,
Shawn
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The technical difference between the Magnequest upgrade and the v2.1 stock iron is not large; however Magnequest materials and workmanship are better - especially if you want nickel-core OPTs. Careful listeners will hear a difference but I'm not going to predict who will like what better.
I have MQ nickel in mine; Doc B has the stock iron in his. Doesn't tell you much, does it? :^)
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Hi Shawn,
Me too though I don't suppose I'll be using cans enough to warrant the switch boards myself. I had been considering the HE-500s, but if the Smack will work with the HE0-400s, then the s.e.x. will be mostly used with a pair oof Orcas -- either in our living/dining/kitchen area or in the mini HT setup.
As for the MQ upgrade, I just don't have any idea as I've never heard them in this amp and have limited exposure to the 2.1 as it is. For me I'll say probably not and will save the money for some dowdy chokes and a pair of nickel TFA-2004s for the Paramour IIs I am planning to build. The only thing that could trump that right now would be a pair of shunt regulated 2a3s, but that's probably just a pipedream at this point. Though the dowdy chokes are very doable and very likely.
And BTW, with regard to the posting replies -- I certainly wasn't trying to point fingers at any individual, and certainly not you.
Take care,
Jim
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The impedance board manual is 99% done. I've had a couple projects going on at once and it will get wrapped up soon. Good news for you is that you will get the fruits of one of those projects
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Thanks for all the replies guys. The K-702s are rated at 62ohms and 105dB, with the OTs wired for 8ohms it should drive them well, right? Jim, I was just laughing at the way the software pronounced my screen name, and agreeing with you. Reading threads at Head-FI was like trying to swim through peanut butter, I can just imagine what it is like for you.
Cheers,
Shawn
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Shawn,
Swimming through peanut butter -- I like that, and that pretty much sums it up.
Not having heard it, I'll go out on a limb and say that the 701s will be more than fine with the opts wired for 8 ohms. As I said, I'm not going to worry about it myself -- the old s.e.x. didn't have this and played nicely with all sorts of cans. I really liked the 2.1 with my Shure SE 425 iems, and those are about 36 ohms and super sensitive and there was just no problem with noise -- at least that I could detect in the can jam room at RMAF last year.
-- Jim
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Thanks Jim, of course I am going to build the amp stock first and give it some burn in time before I explore any component substitution. You know, any reader software that can't pronounce your Irish name is rubbish(ha).
Cheers,
Shawn
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Hey Jim,
The TFA 2004s would work for that SR 2A3 too (not the dowdy's though!).
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Xavier,
Understood -- sorry for the confusion as I'm talking about a couple different scenarios here and not being clear on what would go where. The Dowdys would be for the sr-45 and the shunt-reg 2a3 is not seriously being considered at this point and I'm sure that aside from the dowdys being too low of a current rating, the pt2 will probably not have the voltage or current needed for a shunt reg 2a3. Thanks for keeping me on track though. I actually have more than enough projects to keep me going for a while so it's silly of me to even consider what I may eventually be doing with the new pt2s I just bought.
First step is to get moved into the new place, get a basic system cobbled together with a cheapie preamp and cheapie phono stage I have, finish the stereomour as a power amp, then one at a time replace the preamp with the FPIII+ and the pphono stage with the eros... and then I can think about a rebox/rebuild of the sr-45s with the dowdy, new chassis layout, some CuTF coupling caps I have and maybe the driver/shunt reg board from the paramounts or whatever else PJ comes up with between now and then.
The good news is that it is all going to be fun, and the better news is that it should sound fantastic with the Nagas when all is done.
Then in between, there's still a couple of s.e.x. amps to build, a crack to finish, a smack, and I'm not sure how long I can hold off on giving the Quickie a try :-).
I know things seem somewhat helter skelter, but there really is a plan and a goal, and my listening room is priority #1.
-- Jim
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These puppies are ready!
(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bottlehead.com%2Fsc_images%2Fproducts%2F458_image.jpg&hash=656b9ca66eff19f4143142063a61cc4414bd7f7c)
http://www.bottlehead.com/store.php?crn=224&rn=458&action=show_detail (http://www.bottlehead.com/store.php?crn=224&rn=458&action=show_detail)
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That's great Doc, will be placing an order soon! ;D
Cheers,
Shawn
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"Unfortunately balanced operation won't work with the TRS headphone jack on the S.E.X. kit because a TRS jack uses a common ground between the two channels. But it will work on both the S.E.X. 2.1 and Stereomour speaker outputs."
Substituting a 4 pin XLR jack for the TRS will work for headphones, right?
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@Todd, yes, getting the grounds separated will allow balanced use.
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Hey Doc, is the TRS jack that is supplied with the sex2.1 still the switched type?
Cheers,
Shawn
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Nope, can't get those anymore.
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The jack is different now, but it does cut the signal to the speakers when you plug in phones, if that is what you're asking. This works with or without the impedance boards.
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Joshua, yes I was wondering if the jack cut off the speakers when the plug is inserted, thank you. Sorry Doc, should have been more specific.
Cheers,
Shawn
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@Todd, yes, getting the grounds separated will allow balanced use.
So if I have both XLR & TRS jacks installed, can I run the 4 wires to the XLR, then connect them from the XLR to the TRS jack with both grounds connected at the TRS together? I think that's how it was set up in the Smack as I recall.
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The jack that switched the speakers off in the SEX amp was only in production kits for a short while. We can't get a suitable jack at this time. The current jack still cuts the speakers, but no longer has the 120 ohm resistance to equalize the level across different impedance headphones.
The impedance switch board has three outputs - Pos, Neg, and Ground. The tip-ring-shield jack goes to Pos and Ground, the balanced outs get their signal from Pos and Neg.
Yes it took me some time to figure all that out!
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Ok sorry, I'm confused here -- do the currently shipping headphone jacks on the 2.1 cut the speakers when the phones are plugged in? It appears this is what Josh is saying, but it appears that PJ is saying the opposite.
A clarification would be great, and then perhaps an update to the product page?
-- Jim
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I hate to disagree with you Paul, but the current jack (marked "new" in the pic) does cut the signal to the speakers when a TRS is plugged in. I'm actually listening to my cans right now though such a jack and the speakers aren't making a peep.
My understanding of the choice for the "old" jack was to utilize the 120Ω resistors and still have the shorting feature. Since those resistors ended up being eliminated, the new jack could be used for the S.E.X. 2.1.
Todd, how many outputs are you planning on having? As far as I know, these boards have only been used as the TRS/XLR in Smack and TRS/Speaker-binding-posts in the S.E.X. TRS/XLR hasn't been attempted in a S.E.X. (but I don't see why it wouldn't work) but TRS/XLR/Speaker-binding-posts might be more complicated than I can wrap my feeble mind around. I think wiring as Paul suggests will make the BAL/UNBAL switch a selector between your TRS and XLR and my guess is you may have to choose which configuration you want your speakers in when you wire the binding posts (if you are indeed wiring the binding posts).
Please take my wiring comments with the very large grain of salt that I don't necessarily know everything that's going on here and my electrical knowledge falls pretty squarely in the average (or a bit below) of most Bottleheads.
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Josh, you're right, and I have edited my post. I remember the disappearance of the good switching jack, but mis-remembered the choice that was made of what to do about it.
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Todd, how many outputs are you planning on having? As far as I know, these boards have only been used as the TRS/XLR in Smack and TRS/Speaker-binding-posts in the S.E.X. TRS/XLR hasn't been attempted in a S.E.X. (but I don't see why it wouldn't work) but TRS/XLR/Speaker-binding-posts might be more complicated than I can wrap my feeble mind around. I think wiring as Paul suggests will make the BAL/UNBAL switch a selector between your TRS and XLR and my guess is you may have to choose which configuration you want your speakers in when you wire the binding posts (if you are indeed wiring the binding posts)
I'm not using the speaker terminals so it will just be the TRS & XLR (provided there is enough room to make a new hole)
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I'd just like to say that I really enjoy having so many smart guys working with Bottlehead now. With so many kits and projects going at any one time I just can't keep up with all of the questions anymore, and PJ, PB, Shawn and Josh have been amazing when it comes to stepping in to answer everyone's questions. Thanks guys!
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Thanks Josh and PJ for the clarification.
-- Jim
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$14.83 shipping on the impedance boards??
That can't be right.
Can you check your shopping cart settings before I order Doc?
Thanks
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Todd,
There is a note about this in the stickeys at the top of the general discussion forum. Basically, they know this is a problem and will credit your card/paypal after the purchase.
-- Jim
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Paul, is this a good time to remind you about the wiring description for these boards? I won't be building the smack right now but will be building a s.e.x. dedicated to headphone use and want to do the same thing with a set of 3 exposed switches on the top plate -- or maybe even just two.
Thanks,
Jim
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$14.83 shipping on the impedance boards??
That can't be right.
Can you check your shopping cart settings before I order Doc?
Thanks
I just received my credit card bill and was charged $14.95 for shipping.
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Hi everybody,
I got my kit today and am looking over the instructions.
I do not have the speaker terminals hooked up and don't intend to ever use them.
I have the newer style headphone jack.
My plot is to install a 4 pin balanced XLR (somewhere) to use with my headphones that are re-cabled in that manner as well as keep the TRS jack for the phones that are conventionally wired.
Looking at the instructions, I'm not sure if I have my potential wiring correct in my head, but tell me if I do:
Pos & Neg will go to pos & neg terminals of the 4 pin XLR, and ground will go to the safety ground. The switch will be on BAL when using the balanced phones.
Correct so far?
Now to wire the TRS jack: I jumper from the 4 pin XLR, the pos wire for each channel, then.......I get stuck. What do I connect to the ground terminal of the TRS? Is it still the ground?
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Todd,
I'm goig to be interested what the answer to this is as well. Hopefully it will get me one step closer to understanding the switching scheme.
-- Jim
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The POS of each switching board need to go to the appropriate terminals on the 1/4" jack (the tip and the ring). Th e sleeve connects to the ground of the amplifier.
When the toggle switch is set to UNBAL, the negative and ground are wired together, when the toggle switch is set to BAL, this connection is lifted and replaced by a pair of resistors, one between ground and neg and the other between ground pos.
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The POS of each switching board need to go to the appropriate terminals on the 1/4" jack (the tip and the ring). Th e sleeve connects to the ground of the amplifier.
When the toggle switch is set to UNBAL, the negative and ground are wired together, when the toggle switch is set to BAL, this connection is lifted and replaced by a pair of resistors, one between ground and neg and the other between ground pos.
Thanks Paul, that helps me understand how it works.
So (in my application) the ground wire from each board will go to the ground on the TRS, and the neg wires from each board will go to the appropriate terminal on the 4 pin XLR, correct?
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Thanks Paul, that helps me understand how it works.
So (in my application) the ground wire from each board will go to the ground on the TRS, and the neg wires from each board will go to the appropriate terminal on the 4 pin XLR, correct?
Perfect.
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Installed the boards today and all went smoothly with the exception of a couple of the transformer wires needed to be longer (sorry, I should have noted which ones).
I got real brave & drilled big holes in my top plate and was able to fit a Neutrik locking 1/4 jack and a 4 pin XLR jack in that area. (Pictures later)
Now I need that C4S upgrade!
Come on Doc, I'm ready!
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Now I need that C4S upgrade!
Come on Doc, I'm ready!
Me too
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Got the boards the other day as well and got them populated, still waiting on my Amp kit. I'll worry about the C4S a little later.
Cheers,
Shawn
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Got my boards in as well and a couple of Neutrik locking jacks. See, there is room (just barely)
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Hello,
I have installed impedance switch board on my SEX 2.1 with OT-2. Instruction manual in section "Output impedance switching" (page 15) says that both "ML" and "HI" positions gives 8 ohm for SEX with OT-2. Is this a typo? I guess "HI" position should give 32 ohm for OT-2 - is it right?
Please let me know
Thanks
Anton Petukhov
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Yeah, it's a typo. HI is the 32 ohm setting, ML is the 8 ohm setting.
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Thanks, Doc
It sounds really good. I already tried it with my Grado RS-2 headphones and also with my Cain&Cain Abby speakers.
It works great with Abby's - SEX has enough power to drive them, I need turn volume knob only about half way.
Thanks again
Anton