Quickie novice takes the plunge

[jmv]

After eyeballing these forums for a year or so, I've finally taken the plunge and ordered my first kit - Quickie with the PJCCS updgrade.  It arrived in less than two weeks - before I was ready to work on it - so I'll spend some time with manual first.  My chassis plate is a beautiful shade of emerald green, and a visit to the local cigar shop turned up a suitable box (for free, no less), so I'm pondering some color options.

In preparation for the kit, I picked up a soldering iron for the first time about a month ago.  With the help of David Erik Nelson's excellent book Snip, Burn, Solder, Shred, I put together a chip amp and mounted it in a shoebox.  To practice PCB work, I got a little LED "blinkie" kit from Radio Shack.  30 solder joints in a 1.5" square area taught me a lot about setting up and sequencing the work.  Finally, I rebuilt the crossovers on my old Spica TC-50s.  I was actually able to troubleshoot, find, and fix my mistakes before remounting the boards, so I guess I've managed to learn a bit along the way.  Now I'm confident that I can tackle the Quickie.  I'll probably run stock for a bit before adding the PJCCS, just so I can savor the differences.

No doubt I'll be posting questions and observations in this thread.  Thanks in advance for your help.

[jmv]

OK, first question.  I'd read suggestions for placing O-rings or rubber washers under the tube sockets to reduce microphonics.  Where, exactly, should those pieces go - between the sockets and the chassis place, or between the sockets and the retaining rings?

[Grainger49]

You got it, between the top plate and the tube socket.  It cushions the tube.

[earwaxxer]

Microphonics problems are easy to solve with methods of shielding and damping the tubes and the socket/board. You can get creative on that. I did find that one of my tubes that was ringing a lot needed to be trashed.

[jmv]

Thanks for the comments.  For now, I've stayed away from dampening the tube sockets.  I'll deal with that if microphonics become a problem.

I do have a question regarding the final voltage check.  The manual instructions for the check are to "reconnect the negative lead of the volt-ohm meter to the ground buss at terminal 23."  However, there is no terminal 23 (terminal numbering ends at 10).  Should I just connect the negative lead to the ground buss between the RCA ground jacks, as the instructions indicate for the resistance checks?  The other possibility would be connecting the negative lead to T3, which is the negative terminal for the 9V battery pack.

[Grainger49]

Hmmmm.... You are right!  That must have been cut and pasted from another manual.

Yes, I would use the same wire as the RCA Jack commons.  That is "circuit common."

[jmv]

And it's done!  I've posted a picture of my Quickie in the gallery.  The build process went smoothly.  My only quibble is that one step requires a solder to the RCA output, and a later step requires an additional solder to that same ground - I had to desolder the connection to add the new lead.

This thread in the Crack forum (http://www.bottlehead.com/smf/index.php/topic,2816.75.html) has some excellent advice for first-time builders.  One additional precaution I took was to write down all the solder points on an index card, which I kept by my work area.  I did the project in sections, and with each section I would make mechanical connections first, double-check them against the card, and then solder.  This saved me a few bonehead mistakes early on.

The Quickie sounds good!  The tubes will need a while to settle, but I'm very pleased with the bass extension already.  My experience with tubes is that the sound forms from the bottom up, so strong bass now promises excellent treble later.  Once I've enjoyed the sound for a bit I'll put together the PJCCS and see what it does.

[jmv]

Just wanted to add that it took about 30 hours for the Quickie to settle in and open up, which is pretty much in line with the other tube gear I've used.  The Quickie adds more definition and detail to the midrange, and it puts some flesh on recordings that are cold or thin (like much of my beloved 80s synthpop).  As an addition to any system, I believe the Quickie punches well above its weight.

[earwaxxer]

Another suggestion Jim would be to give the chokes a try as well. I'm still back and forth between the chokes and the PJCCS. Fun stuff, and real easy to swap them in and out. The chokes have a nice bit of 'tubiness' IMO. Its a trade off with a bit more smear and distortion IMO.

[earwaxxer]

another thought.... I have also been experimenting with the gain (voltage) that is fed to the Quickie. I have realized that the Transporter has quite a punch in terms out output. That may not be all good. Some attenuation seems to smooth the output. Not sure. Just saying. I think DAC's these days are set up for high output. Might tend to cause clipping. It may also be because I upsample, but I also use a smart limiter. Not sure. Something to consider. I like the Transporter sound better when it is attenuated digitally to some extent.

[Grainger49]

I hadn't thought of that.  The attenuators used to even out the volumes from different sources might have an affect on the sound.  I guess this is a good place for a $4 designer resistor.  Maybe some $17 Vishay Nudes?

[jmv]

My source is my PC, running FLAC files through JRiver Media Center and outputting in S/PDIF.  That feeds a Schiit Bifrost DAC, then the Quickie, then a Red Wine Audio Signature 15 integrated amp, and finally a pair of JohnBlue Audio Art JB3s (single-driver speakers).  The digital volume out is set at 100% through JRiver (which bypasses Windows for all audio output).  I have noted a wild variety of volume levels at the same volume setting.  For example, internet radio stations are consistently louder at a given volume setting than anything in FLAC, and individual albums vary.  More recent albums are consistently louder at a given volume setting than older albums, even though everything has been ripped from redbook CDs.

Also, I prefer to turn to volume of the Quickie way up (90%) and then use the volume control on the RWA Sig 15 to achieve the desired final volume.  This is opposite of the way most do it, but I feel it allows the Quickie to fully express its characteristics, particularly in the bass/midrange.

[Grainger49]

Individual albums always vary.  I have a CD that can be played directly into the power amp(s).  The volume level is that low.

Which ever method gives the best sound to you is the way to go.  I'm convinced there are no absolutes in sound reproduction due to the varying tastes/needs of the end user.  I know several guys who have two hearing aids and are avid listeners.

[earwaxxer]

Also, I prefer to turn to volume of the Quickie way up (90%) and then use the volume control on the RWA Sig 15 to achieve the desired final volume.  This is opposite of the way most do it, but I feel it allows the Quickie to fully express its characteristics, particularly in the bass/midrange.

Interesting that you feel that way. I also had a similar experience with my t-amp with its passive volume control. Lots of variables. Doesnt make it easy. I'm now with a power amp, and I am finding that the Quickie sounds better if the volume from the DAC is attenuated a bit. Interesting little observations. I wonder How the Quickie would sound if I just subbed in a pot with a higher resistance?