Bottlehead Forum

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: corndog71 on January 20, 2017, 06:34:33 AM

Title: My new baby monoblocks!
Post by: corndog71 on January 20, 2017, 06:34:33 AM
I'm just about finished with a monoblock pair version of the venerable Dynaco ST35.  I've long been a fan of EL84 amps since the first time I heard them.  While only 17.5 watts per channel they have a really nice dynamic sound and warmth.  Some might ask why bother splitting the amp up.  I really just did it for the fun and challenge of it all.  Plus there aren't many EL84 monoblock amps out there.
It also gave me an excuse to order some new Clarity Cap CSA series caps which it turns out sound a lot better than their ESA predecessor.  I also splurged a bit on fancy connectors which are all copper based.  Another feature I added was Dave Gillespie's EFB circuit for lower distortion and slightly more power.

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss207/corndog642/EL84%20Monoblocks/0D4D700A-0259-4CFC-A4E0-38743941E5D4_zps7pcktfmt.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss207/corndog642/EL84%20Monoblocks/93967AD3-47A6-4122-AA22-C660D0F27ED5_zpsfltzrhyp.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss207/corndog642/EL84%20Monoblocks/C593F9CD-464B-475B-B5E5-CC302446DB59_zpsveku6p7j.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss207/corndog642/EL84%20Monoblocks/39FFDC78-E036-4540-83E5-8C6B53658D19_zps9mbv38ez.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss207/corndog642/EL84%20Monoblocks/5BB4FB0C-F2E7-4377-B260-625BF0128273_zpshsvmkz7d.jpg
Title: Re: My new baby monoblocks!
Post by: Dnorris on January 20, 2017, 11:55:40 AM
That is flat out awesome! Are you going to put it on some feet or a base/plinth?
Title: Re: My new baby monoblocks!
Post by: Jamier on January 20, 2017, 01:29:46 PM
Impressive Rob, really impressive!

Jamie
Title: Re: My new baby monoblocks!
Post by: Paul Birkeland on January 20, 2017, 02:23:28 PM
Those are pretty neat, you could just about hide them anywhere!
Title: Re: My new baby monoblocks!
Post by: corndog71 on January 21, 2017, 08:49:36 PM
That is flat out awesome! Are you going to put it on some feet or a base/plinth?

I haven't figured out what kind of feet to use yet. 
Title: Re: My new baby monoblocks!
Post by: Deluk on January 22, 2017, 01:17:26 AM
Those are pretty neat, you could just about hide them anywhere!

Who'd want to hide them! Have you considered painting the chassis? Colour? Suggestions on a postcard..........
Title: Re: My new baby monoblocks!
Post by: BNAL on January 22, 2017, 05:06:17 AM
Corndog71,

I really like the amps. I'm a fan of that family of tubes and sure they sound great.

Brad
Title: Re: My new baby monoblocks!
Post by: corndog71 on January 22, 2017, 08:03:41 AM
Who'd want to hide them! Have you considered painting the chassis? Colour? Suggestions on a postcard..........

I originally planned to paint the transformer covers silver to brighten them up a bit and make them a little more unique.  But then I started building them and got too excited to wait.  I don't really have a good place to paint them and it's too cold out to do it outside.  Perhaps when the weather is nicer I may come back to the idea.
Title: Re: My new baby monoblocks!
Post by: corndog71 on January 23, 2017, 04:01:54 AM
A quick demo.

https://youtu.be/bJa_9mDHcWc (https://youtu.be/bJa_9mDHcWc)
Title: Re: My new baby monoblocks!
Post by: mcandmar on January 23, 2017, 05:03:52 AM
Cute little guys :D    ....a small piece of wood trim on each side of the base would work wonders, i.e similar to the Hammond wood/alloy enclosures.
Title: Re: My new baby monoblocks!
Post by: BNAL on January 23, 2017, 05:24:14 AM
A quick demo.
/quote]

That is really nice sounding. Wish I could hear them in person and get the full effect.
Title: Re: My new baby monoblocks!
Post by: adeep42 on January 23, 2017, 06:33:51 AM
Wow. They sound great. Super job. If you do anything, paint the chassis with some of the outstanding automotive colors that are out there.
Title: Re: My new baby monoblocks!
Post by: Aural Robert on January 29, 2017, 04:45:37 AM
Nice and clean, very cool looking.

I like the mirror image for each amp - I've built all my monoblocks as mirrors, makes more sense IMO.
Title: Re: My new baby monoblocks!
Post by: Sugar Man on February 02, 2017, 07:18:47 AM
Nice work!