The Eros tape preamp must have been my longest audio project by far. I started the build quite soon after receiving the kit, but every time I hit an obstacle, I'd set it aside for a day or two, and as I turned to other projects (audio and not-so-audio) those days would turn into months...eventually it became a multi-year journey. I posted earlier this year about the final problem, where I could only get ground hum out of my Technics tape deck. That was my fault, unsurprisingly, as the output cable + six-pin connector I soldered together for connecting to the wires from the headblock were reversed - signal to ground pins and ground pins to signal. Yes, I really am that crappy at deciphering a schematic.
So after resoldering that connector/cable...joy! Actual music. I think this deck and preamp are going to be very happy together.
Sadly, I don't see another Bottlehead kit in my near future. I went with a Japanese kit phono preamp for my turntables, and the other Bottleheads I once entertained hopes of purchasing (integrated or power amps) are climbing the cost ladder for my budget. A few years ago that might have worked, but the yen dollar exchange rate is painful right now, and it's unlikely to return to where it was. The only low-hanging fruit is the Speedball upgrade for the Crack.
Paul and Doc. B, thanks again for your patience and all the assistance.
