Paramour I Power Supply Resistor /Choke

leonlicer · 10309

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Offline Grainger49

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Reply #15 on: July 13, 2012, 02:09:48 AM
I wouldn't second guess VoltSecond.  He is younger than I am (hears better) and is an excellent engineer as well.  So I'm saying go with his suggestion.  I upgraded to MQ iron so I have no experience with the double output transformer configuration.  
« Last Edit: July 13, 2012, 10:07:14 AM by Grainger49 »



Offline Paul Joppa

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Reply #16 on: July 13, 2012, 09:21:33 AM
The best is to parallel the 0.635W primaries. This uses the full winding. The secondaries can be connected in several ways:

Parallel the 8 ohm secondaries for a 4 ohm load

Put the 4 ohm taps in series for an 8 ohm load

Put the 8 ohm taps in series for a 16 ohm load

Paul Joppa


Offline leonlicer

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Reply #17 on: July 13, 2012, 12:05:26 PM
Thank you Paul, I have now a 1,5 uF Jantzen supreme coupling cap,  I think I read somewhere I need to increase it to 4,7 uF for a double iron. If I connect a 3,3 uF in parallel ?? do I get a 4,8 uF?  (I have a pair of 3,3 uF Solen FC caps at home) or would be better to have one with higher value?



Offline Grainger49

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Reply #18 on: July 13, 2012, 01:29:45 PM
Leon,

Yes, caps add in parallel.



Offline Paul Joppa

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Reply #19 on: July 13, 2012, 04:39:27 PM
I have posted elsewhere about parafeed cap values. They depend on the plate choke value, with some adjustments for the specific situation. For the Paramours into a 4K load (which is the double transformer as I described it) and using the original 10 henry choke, 1.5uF is just about right.

The original Paramour used 3.3uF, which extended the deep bass for small signals but limited the power handling of the tube in the deep bass. I thought that was OK because the single transformer also had deep bass power limitations. With the double transformer (and assuming you have retained the stock 10 henry choke) the transformer can handle the power so I would use the smaller cap (1.5uF, more or less) so that the tube is able to deliver all the power the transformer can handle.

If you decide to replace the plate chokes with the 20H toroids, and replace the power supply resistor with the original 10H plate chokes, then the best capacitance would be twice as large, something nearer 3uF.

But in any case, it is always worth experimenting. Try the 1.5, try the 3.3 (original), try both in parallel. The quality of the cap will affect the midrange and treble; the capacitance will affect the bass (especially deep bass). When the deep bass sounds best, you can explore better caps in that value to optimize the mids and treble.

Paul Joppa


Offline Grainger49

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Reply #20 on: July 14, 2012, 03:05:59 AM
Try the Obbligato (black) Film/Oil caps for a cheap but nice cap to experiment with. 



Offline leonlicer

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Reply #21 on: July 14, 2012, 09:35:38 PM
Thank you Paul and Grainger for very useful information.



Offline leonlicer

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Reply #22 on: August 16, 2012, 03:13:43 AM
Hello again, Last week I got the two Specos. Thank You Grainger. They are in the Paramours already and the sound is overall better, I would say fuller, authorative. Very cost efective upgrade. Only one thing I need to eliminate on one of the amps. One is ok, no brum, hum....the second one I can hear from my listening place. It is very low frequency hum. Probably bad ground somewhere.

Leon



Offline Grainger49

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Reply #23 on: August 16, 2012, 04:23:27 AM
I'm glad someone could use them.

Him is an exploration.  It can come from anywhere or nowhere. 

Good luck!