Bottlehead Forum
Bottlehead Kits => Legacy Kit Products => Quickie => Topic started by: charger on August 01, 2013, 01:15:07 AM
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Hi to everybody I am waiting for my Quickie to arrive soon , but i little bit worried about , will I be able to build it? can you tell me if is it really easy to build ? thank you
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It is really easy to build. In fact, probably half of the manual doesn't even require you to use a soldering iron. It's just assembling the pieces, primarily by hand, with a final tweak from a screwdriver.
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No worries! Its a perfect first kit. Great instructions make a huge difference. Follow them EXACTLY! It will work first time if you take your time and study the instructions and double check everything. Enjoy the process, no hurries, no worries!
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ok thank you all , I am really exited to see how it sounds !!!
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I am anxious to hear what you think of it. Most of us are greatly impressed by it's performance.
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The Quickie is about as easy as it gets as far as tube preamps go. Plus, this forum will provide all the support you need to get it done.
What amp are you pairing it with?
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i will pair it with an ALC0240 Abletec module , a class D amp
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I am anxious to hear what you think of it. Most of us are greatly impressed by it's performance.
I will report for sure my impressions
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I think it will sound great with the class D. When I first built my Q I was using an integrated T-amp. What I found was that the Q provided mush needed "drive" to the sound. It was like putting a turbo charger on it, plus better definition, clarity, timber - you name it.
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yes i think they are well paired , Abletec modules are really nice sounding , powerfully dynamic
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That really gets me thinking... (That's dangerous!) - I might try to pick up muscular class D and see how it fairs next to my A/B amp with Q at the helm.
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That really gets me thinking... (That's dangerous!) - I might try to pick up muscular class D and see how it fairs next to my A/B amp with Q at the helm.
I have a ClassDAudio SDS-258. 250watts/ch. It weighs about 50 pounds because I put in a 1000VA toroid! Is that muscular enough?
(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi576.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fss207%2Fcorndog642%2Fclassdaudio%2520amp%2Fd0a25c7b.jpg&hash=0fd84edeb803cf210a193c0920fa1a1308206fbf)
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Eric, We have found our long lost brother!
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Hey Greg - yes I do believe Rob is a brother from a different mother! - hey Rob - ClassDaudio kits have been very tempting. How do you find their sound - withe the Q that is?
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It sounds good. Similar to NAD. Good dynamics and has a nice easy warmth to it. Definitely non-fatiguing. My only complaint is that it's not as resolving as my tube amps. It was fun to put together but now I mostly use it as a back-up when the valves go down.
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I wonder if anyone gets tired of us highjacking their threads.
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Rob, all you have to do is add a line about how easy the quickie is to build - because its WAY easy to build!
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yup, you can use your imagination even on the first build
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yup, you can use your imagination even on the first build
This is kind of important. The Quickie is cheap, high-performing, easy to build, and super-easy to modify. I think that combination makes it the perfect hook for those nasty Bottlehead pushers, trying to ply you with Crack, S.E.X., and rock-and-roll, I mean, erm....Todes? ::)
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I wonder if anyone gets tired of us highjacking their threads.
FWIW, I don't get tired of it. It keeps things vaguely amusing (don't let that go to your heads), provided the discussion doesn't get too far off-colortopic. And it helps fill in lulls when things otherwise get quiet.
The only downside is that it does tend to create very long threads, so that useful information can be buried and harder to find. But that's what the search function is for, right? ;)
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I agree, too much 'reigning in' can get in the way of a good time. It can be difficult to stay on topic sometimes when interesting is introduced. Of course there are those things that lead to off topic discussions more than others, like 'What size resistor should I use?" compared to "What do you think about the solid state stuff from the 70's?" One invariably down an old memory lane.
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Follow these instructions and you will have a working first kit:
1) Read the instructions before starting, collect the needed tools (see my sticky post in Tech Tools).
2) Take your time, look closely at each picture, measure the resistance of each resistor before installing it.
3) First make a good crimped connection then solder.
4) Don't build it at night, do it during the day on the weekend. Be refreshed.
Enjoy the music!
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4) Don't build it at night, do it during the day on the weekend.
Spoken like someone who either (a) doesn't have children, or (b) has grown children! ;D ;)
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Grainger,
All of your advise applies, but I say that #3, crimping a good connection is one I try to follow in everything I do electrically. It ALWAYS takes me longer than others for my projects.
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Adam,
It is (a).
Greg,
I got to be pretty efficient at Habitat (house electrician) crimping my #12 wires around the screws before tightening them down. They were not coming off unless someone used needle nosed pliers like I did attaching the wires.
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heh heh, yah, sometimes I cuss myself when I have re-enter an electrical job that I've done. I do the same thing, and I learned that with outlets, you tighten twice, once making the connection, and again just before it goes into it's hole.
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Greg, your "SELF PORTRAIT" is freaking me out...
;)
Adam
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Look outside your window, in the bushes. No, not there, that's OJ, a little to the right.
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:o :P
That made me laugh...
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today my Q will be here and i will begin to work on it !! :P
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it's here !! with pearl white top, beautyful !!!
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Bon chance!
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it works !!!! but there is a little bit hum what depends about?
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Hum is often caused by poor filtering of the AC in the power supply. In the case of the Quickie that is impossible. The power supply has nothing to do with AC.
So it is more likely either induced hum or ground loop/grounding hum. Induced means it sits too close to something radiating a strong AC field. This is easy to check, move it 2 feet from any other piece of equipment. If you can't hear the hum being reduced as you move the Quickie it is not induced hum.
This leaves a bad interconnect or loose grounding wire on the ground reference wiring in the Quickie. Start at the two RCA input jacks. Touch up the ground wires there, the outer connection, not the center one. Follow those wires and touch up all the solder joints that are "grounded." Of course they are not grounded in the Quickie, it doesn't have a power cord that brings in the ground. The ground is in the other components.
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Quickie isn't shelded, so you have to pay some attention with grounding issues (only one item in the audio chain grounded usuallt solves the problem) and with EMF (try put the Quickie away from other PSU/wallwart).
I follow these steps and solved my hum problems.
PS: Post some pics of your beauty if you can!
Ciao!
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i solved, I resoldered all negatives joints now no hum!! I will post picture as well my next will be replace 2,2 mf capacitors
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What an amazing sound !!! natural , wide, clear with deep bass and i suppose changing valves it can be even better
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I guess this answers the question of how easy the Quickie is to build.
It is a simple, yet elegant circuit. A great starting place for a new hobby.
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What an amazing sound !!! natural , wide, clear with deep bass and i suppose changing valves it can be even better
I tried mixing PIO and teflon caps as bypass...really improved overall definition and bass... But first listen to it for 50 hours or so, letting everything settle down and be familiar with the sound.
After cap and tube rollings... choke or pjccs? ;)
Ciao!
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i don't know what is choke
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Take a look here:
http://www.bottlehead.com/smf/index.php/topic,70.0.html (http://www.bottlehead.com/smf/index.php/topic,70.0.html)
and here:
http://www.bottlehead.com/smf/index.php/topic,4618.0.html (http://www.bottlehead.com/smf/index.php/topic,4618.0.html)
A cheap mod, that's said to be really worthwhile!
Ciao
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thank you !!
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i can't understand what a choke is still, is it becouse i am Italian ? my english is very poor.... please can you explain better what is a choke ?
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Yes! We're both from Italy!
Choke means "induttanza" in italian!
It is measured in "Henry" units (H), it's also referred with "L" (like "R" means resistance and "C" capacitor).
Ciao!
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ciao compaesano !!! oh i see now , where the choke sholud be placed ?
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They should be used in place of the catode resistors (4k), and you can bolt them under the D cells holders.
Chokes are like small output transformers, you need 150H / 8mA ones.
PS: Did you pay a lot in customer's taxes for the quickie?
Ciao!
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You can get the chokes here:
http://angela.com/hammondchoke156c.aspx
I would recommend the PJCCS though. I have tried all three options and IMO the PJCCS adds the most in terms of "high end" sound, without loss of the Quickie character. The chokes are interesting though, and many like them. I listened to them for some time and liked them. In a recent comparison I realized that they add a bit of unnatural "depth" IMO. Now that I've heard it I cant go back, at least for awhile....
I say get all three and experiment!
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You can get the chokes here:
http://angela.com/hammondchoke156c.aspx
[...]
I say get all three and experiment!
You can also find the same choke by an italian seller on ebay (less shipping cost).
It is good to experiment and tweak: our hobby is full of "oil snake" and stuff like that, but with the Quickie you can listen and judge by yourself without going bankrupt!
A good friend of mine lestened to the quickie 2 weeks ago and I think is now placing an order... :)
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They should be used in place of the catode resistors (4k), and you can bolt them under the D cells holders.
Chokes are like small output transformers, you need 150H / 8mA ones.
PS: Did you pay a lot in customer's taxes for the quickie?
Ciao!
I have been lucky , I paid nothing at all
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I think I need a picture to see where exactely put the choke , can't understand otherwise
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is PJCCS easy to install ?
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is it right for the Q ?
http://www.ebay.it/itm/Hammond-156C-choke-150H-8mA-bobina-di-filtro-telaio-aperto-induttanza-1pc-/400496141293?pt=Trasformatori_e_Raddrizzatori&hash=item5d3f6e23ed
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Wow, you've been really lucky with custom!
Well, let's start to answer...
Here you'll find a good picture about where to install chokes (from diyaudioprojects forum):
(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdiyaudioprojects.com%2FForum%2Fdownload%2Ffile.php%3Fid%3D1391%26amp%3Bsid%3Ddb0ea13ee3ab2f9ceda4edf1989bff95%26amp%3Bmode%3Dview&hash=4b63d459cf9f3bb9bee9d653242ae7b740471d08)
i don't know if PJCCS is easy to install, but to me it seems pretty easy, Erik surely can be more precise ;)
The chokes you found are exactly to ones I bought, I'm waiting to try them..no time to solder for now :(
Ciao
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Wow, you've been really lucky with custom!
Well, let's start to answer...
Here you'll find a good picture about where to install chokes (from diyaudioprojects forum):
(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdiyaudioprojects.com%2FForum%2Fdownload%2Ffile.php%3Fid%3D1391%26amp%3Bsid%3Ddb0ea13ee3ab2f9ceda4edf1989bff95%26amp%3Bmode%3Dview&hash=4b63d459cf9f3bb9bee9d653242ae7b740471d08)
i don't know if PJCCS is easy to install, but to me it seems pretty easy, Erik surely can be more precise ;)
The chokes you found are exactly to ones I bought, I'm waiting to try them..no time to solder for now :(
Ciao
where is the picture ? I can't see :-[
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Ok, I can see the pics, but probably you're behind a proxy... so this is the direct link:
http://diyaudioprojects.com/Forum/download/file.php?id=1391&sid=db0ea13ee3ab2f9ceda4edf1989bff95&mode=view (http://diyaudioprojects.com/Forum/download/file.php?id=1391&sid=db0ea13ee3ab2f9ceda4edf1989bff95&mode=view)
And this is the thread from diyaudioprojects' forum
http://diyaudioprojects.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1099 (http://diyaudioprojects.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1099)
Ciao!
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i can't see pictures becouse i am not registered on that site :-[
another question :
are,
Mundorf Supreme 2,2uF - 600 vdc suitable for the Q , instead of the stock 2,2 mf capacitor ?
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;D you're right, my fault! But I think you can find some pics also in the gallery, or here:
http://www.bottlehead.com/smf/index.php/topic,3491.msg30798.html#msg30798 (http://www.bottlehead.com/smf/index.php/topic,3491.msg30798.html#msg30798)
Speaking about caps it's like speaking about cooking...someone like spices, some other no...
Sometimes it's more important how it's a capacitor made than who made it, take a look here:
http://www.bottlehead.com/smf/index.php/topic,1723.0.html (http://www.bottlehead.com/smf/index.php/topic,1723.0.html)
and here (posted on this forum too):
http://www.enjoythemusic.com/diy/0708/capacitor1.htm (http://www.enjoythemusic.com/diy/0708/capacitor1.htm)
There is also the bypass option to mix things up!
Ciao!
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yes i know the thing about different sound , i was just asking if values and type of capacitor are correct
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As long as the value in uF is the same and the voltage is above 60v it's ok!
Let us know your impressions!
Ciao!
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Off topic - Italian dudes, where in Italy? I hope to be in Rome and Syracuse this fall ...
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Off topic - Italian dudes, where in Italy? I hope to be in Rome and Syracuse this fall ...
Hi Paul! I'm from Venice and I moved to Milan in 2008.
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Hi Paul , I am from Tuscany
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Well maybe another trip then ... It's been nearly 40 years since we saw Venice and Florence but I still want to attend a performance at La Scala some day!
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Well maybe another trip then ... It's been nearly 40 years since we saw Venice and Florence but I still want to attend a performance at La Scala some day!
you are wellcome !!
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Why not La Fenice + La Scala?
;D ;D ;D
Nice journey anyway! Have fun!
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there is still a little bit hum on the right channel , how can i quite it at all ??
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I haven't followed your issue completely, but chances are that the Q is too close to another component, picking up hum on just one side. The other possibility is cabling/routing.
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the him is really low , what do you mean for routing ?
thanx
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Well, my interconnect cables will sometimes pick up hum from nearby power cords, or even nearby equipment. I will try to get them away from such 'problems' by routing the interconnect a different path, so it is not so close to the offending cable/equipment. You might even try moving the interconnect cable around and listen for hum as you move it. If that is not the problem, then let's look to the position of the Quickie itself. Is it close to another piece of equipment? I say this because you have hum in one channel only, and that indicates a possibility of one side of the Quickie being affected by the magnetic field of the offending component. My Quickie ha to be away from my amp at least 4 inches or the left channel will have a slight hum. Hum can be tricky to find. Rarely I have even found a component UNDERNEATH the affected unit! The shelf below. Out of sight, out of mind.
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there is still a little bit hum on the right channel , how can i quite it at all ??
Have you tried swapping channels with the tubes? If the noise moves to the other channel then you probably have bad tube.
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thnk you all , I think the prolblem is the laptop pc cable i will check better but i think surely is it
thank you