Bottlehead Forum
Bottlehead Kits => Legacy Kit Products => Paramount => Topic started by: debk on July 21, 2012, 09:31:07 AM
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Just finished my 2a3 Paramounts. Wow do they sound great! It's like liquid gold is coming out of my speakers. While not as forceful as my 300b DRD amp, it is much more liquid sounding. Hearing nuances in the music I didn't hear before. I am very impressed, thank you Bottlehead.
Can't wait to get the EML mesh 2a3's, and the Magnequest iron I have on order
(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi566.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fss102%2Frktdoc%2FP1000179.jpg&hash=aa597955e45d3de63012f920b0f6c24612b10c78)
Deb
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Thanks for the kinds words, Deb! Those bases are killer.
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Thanks, I made all my Bottlehead bases this way.
I am really enjoying that amps, I know I have to go out and run a few errands, but I just don't want to turn off the music
Deb
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deb i am in agreement with doc--did you use a dye or paint?
howie
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My Paramounts are 2a3 too (I use three pairs). I have RCA 2a3s and of course MQ iron (Ni TFA 2004, exo 03 and some MQ filter chokes in the ps).
I just love them. The only thing I think can challenge them is gonna be the SR45s. Of those I'm only gonna build two pairs of those since I wanna drive the tweeters with something different (long story). I'm planning on building them with exo 050s Ni. One pair will use M3 Dowdys and the other BCPs gapped for 40mA. I'll also use MQ ps chokes and the best caps I can think of to eliminate the coupling cap complex. The midrange ones will get Ni grid chokes. I'm also thinking of using expensive ps caps. They'll have a though time beating the Paramounts.
Saludos!
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Congratulations, Deb! What beautiful amps. And nice work to get them up and running smoothly. I assume you went all stock on the parts? What did you decide to do about the parafeed caps?
Best,
John
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deb i am in agreement with doc--did you use a dye or paint?
howie
It's Transtint purple dye diluted in water. After dyeing the wood, I finish it with 3 coats of Minwax Tung oil finish.
I tried other tung oil finishes and pure tung oil, but I like the Minwax product the best
Deb
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Congratulations, Deb! What beautiful amps. And nice work to get them up and running smoothly. I assume you went all stock on the parts? What did you decide to do about the parafeed caps?
Best,
John
John thanks for your kind words
For now all the parts are stock expect the 270 Ohm power supply resistor and the parafeed capacitor.
I used a Mills resistor since I have a number of them left over from another project. have no idea if this impacts the sound or not, but I had them so I used them.
For the parafeed capacitor I used a 6.2uf ClarityCap ESA capacitor.
I will be upgrading to Magnequest iron which I have on order. BH5 full Ni and BH6 plate chokes. I am not sure what I am going to use for the parafeed capacitor. The optimal calculated value with this combo is around 10uf. I have some 10uf ClarityCap MR capacitors, but thy are Huge, like the size of a small can of pop. Not sure how I would mount them. I also have a pair of 10uf Solen AGM Silver metalized polypropylene film capacitors. I can't find much about the Silver Solen's so don't know what to expect, but size wise they will fit much better.
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In theory at least :^) you can use less expensive caps and listen for quality, extension, and distortion at high power - all in the bass, especially deep bass. That will help choose the cap value. Better caps will (again, in theory!) not have much effect in the bass, but will pay their dividends in the midrange and treble.
Of course, in practice it's very difficult to separate the frequency ranges - we hear music; separating it into parts is more intellectual than gut perception. And the gut is way more discriminating than the frontal cortex.
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Deb,
That sounds like a good plan. The ESA is one I've used before...pretty good for a lower cost cap (lower at least compared to the higher costing ones, right?). Why not try out the one that fits...if you like it, great! If not, not the end of the world. The really big caps are kind of crazy in terms of what you have to do to make them fit. My 3.9 uf Mundorf SIO seems large compared to the stock cap...the soda pop cans would be a bit over the top.
On the one mono block I have running, I found that the mid range clarity was simply stunning. And that was an area I liked before! Enjoy your music...
Best,
John
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I received a pair of EML 2a3 mesh plate tubes today. I thought the amp sounded great with the Sovtek, well the EML's are another order of magnitude. Very impressed the detail, realism and richness of the sound. I know it is an expensive upgrade, but I found it well worth the price.
Debra
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Congratulations Deb! I have been waiting to pull the trigger on a pair to replace the NOS GE's I have in the Custom Bottlehead amp that Paul Birkeland built for me. Hope I am just as pleased as you are!
Cheers, Hank in Eugene
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"I am really enjoying that amps, I know I have to go out and run a few errands, but
I just don't want to turn off the music..."
That's what it's all about! Congrats on this latest upgrade. Wish I could see the purple -- I'm going to be building something (probably a s.e.x.) for my neice and she will undoubtedly also want a purple amp. Did you paint the top plate or leave it natural aluminum?
Someday I still hope to build a pair of paramounts, and hopefully with a pair of nickel TFA-2004s and grid chokes, but I'd most likely build it as a 2.5v 300b and run the JJ 2a3-40s in it
Looks like you have a new TT and cart too.
-- Jim
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Jim
The Top plate and transformer bells are finished with copper hammertone paint.
Yes, I did get a new TT and cartridge. The Sota comet dynavector combo is fantastic, a big step up from my music hall TT. I has the Sota made with purpleheart wood, very happy with the results
Deb
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Finally got around to putting in the Magnequest Iron upgrade with full Nickle outputs, BH-6 plate chokes (Only going to use 2a3's), and 10uf Solen AGM Silver capacitors (a newer capacitor from Solen). Had everything sitting around for a few months, but with moving to a new house and busy at work didn't have time to do the upgrade.
WOW what a change, I though the Paramount sounded great before this, but the iron upgrade really kicks it up a notch. Still very detailed, but the music sounds fuller, and bass is improved. Great sound stage, you can sit with your eyes closed and you wouldn't know that there wasn't a grand piano playing right in front of you.
Have a Happy Holiday
Deb
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Replaced the Solen Silver caps with a 10uf Clarity Cap MR's (they are big suckers)
I felt the Solens were a little muddy sounding in the mid range. The clarity Caps sound much more transparent. I like it much better
I know I didn't give the Solen Silver caps much time, but the difference with the clarity caps is not small and i assume will only get better as they burn in
Happy Holidays
Deb
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Just want to say , (WITHOUT BEING SEXIST) , that i think it is EXTREMELY awesome that this forum has a female kicking diy audio butt like YOU......and i agree with your purple choice... i chose and worked with purpleheart wood for an audio project that just looked fabulous.. it is truly an amazing wood from good ol mother nature.... great choice, you have good taste... :)
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Yes, I agree, that, It's yaa cool. And no sexism etc. Ya. Alright. Sorry - USA. Ahh, Ok, I'll shut up....
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Thank you guys!
Chris, I too love Purpleheart wood. I used it on the bases of a pair of 300b DRD amps inbuilt and had my Sota TT made with Purpleheart
Thanks again for the kind word
Deb
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Deb, Yer killin' me here! I love the looks of your amp! And yes, I am a lover of the purpleheart wood as well. It does however, do bad things to my lungs. Must be very careful around it.
And then I see Hanks amp. Good lord guys! Very Very nice stuff. Gives me something to shoot for.
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Working with Purpleheart wood can be dangerous the dust can be toxic to some
Deb
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Replaced the Solen Silver caps with a 10uf Clarity Cap MR's (they are big suckers)
I felt the Solens were a little muddy sounding in the mid range. The clarity Caps sound much more transparent. I like it much better
I know I didn't give the Solen Silver caps much time, but the difference with the clarity caps is not small and i assume will only get better as they burn in
Happy Holidays
Deb
Debk:
Looking at Paramount cap upgrade options (too many)- and there's a sale at PCX. I see this post is old- but relevant to me now. The original kit spec for the output/parafeed/Cpf cap is 3.3uF. Your post states a value here of 10uF (Clarity Cap MR)- I would like to get a confirmation/advice for correct/prefered capacitance value before I order. Where did you wind up for the coupling cap (Cc 0.1uF 630V) and cathode bypass cap (Ck 47uF 450V)? Any advice appreciated- much thanks in advance, Kip.......
PS: I'm also building BeePre and Eros.
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Deb, have seen your posts around the forum and, I think on other forums. Woman or man, your work is fantastic. Would love to see pics of your whole system.
Best regards and keep up the great work,
Alan