Paramour 2 -> Custom SR45 conversion - (an evolution, with photos)

[Mikey]

Bottlehead Paramour II Amplifiers: (Mechanical Assembly)

I'm building a pair of Paramour 2 amps, and I thought I'd share my progress with the group!


Initial Impressions:

The Paramour II monoblock amplifiers share the same footprint as the other Bottlehead products. A quick glance at the manual reveals a simple circuit that should prove easy to build and modify, with a well thought out layout. The new chassis plate gives the kit a much higher quality feel, with more room for future modifications.


Finishing the Parts:

- The chassis plate is painted with a coat of clear lacquer.
- The transformer end bell is finished with satin black lacquer.
- The transformer lamination stack is painted with high heat flat black paint.
- The base is finished with Watco Danish oil.


Mechanical Assembly Notes:

The mechanical assembly was very straight forward. Exercising all the restraint that I can muster, I am building the amps exactly as described in the manual

[Mikey]

Bottlehead Paramour II Amplifiers: (Electrical Assembly)

Paramour II progress report!


I realized yesterday that I haven't yet updated the group on the completion of the amplifier wiring...


Electrical Assembly Notes:

The electrical assembly was very simple, following the well written manual. The layout is very clean and logical, with components placed on the chsssis plate according to their function. All resistance and voltage checks were spot on after finishing up the wiring. After adjusting the hum balance pots, both amps were very quiet!

Here are a few photos of the electrical assembly:

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/mpaschetto/Paramour%202%20Amps/DSC05635.jpg)

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/mpaschetto/Paramour%202%20Amps/DSC05632.jpg)

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/mpaschetto/Paramour%202%20Amps/DSC05623.jpg)

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/mpaschetto/Paramour%202%20Amps/DSC05621.jpg)

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/mpaschetto/Paramour%202%20Amps/DSC05619.jpg)

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/mpaschetto/Paramour%202%20Amps/DSC05612.jpg)

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/mpaschetto/Paramour%202%20Amps/DSC05609.jpg)

Listening impressions are next....

Mike

[Mikey]

Bottlehead Paramour II Amplifiers: (Octal Driver Conversion)


So

[Mikey]

Bottlehead Paramour II Amplifiers: (Magnequest Iron Upgrade)

I had plenty of free time over the Thanksgiving holiday, so I decided to install some Magnequest iron in my Paramour amps. Specifically, I installed the BCP-15 plate choke and the EXO-45 M6 output transformers. The original Triad C-7X choke was moved to the power supply to create a C-L-C filter (replacing the 270 ohm resistor). The parafeed capacitor was increased to a 12uF Solen, since that

[Mikey]

Bottlehead Paramour II Amplifiers: (45 Conversion)

A few days ago I converted my Paramour II amps over to utilize 45 output tubes

[Mikey]

Bottlehead Paramour II Amplifiers: (Oil Parafeed Capacitors)

I did some more component 're-arranging' the other night so I could try out some ASC oil capacitors in
place of the Solens I was previously using. I moved the plate choke and output transformer back underneath
the chassis plate, and installed some new binding posts.

A 15uF ASC capacitor was used, since that's what I had on hand! Here are some photos of the retrofit:

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/mpaschetto/Paramour%202%20Amps/DSC05821.jpg)

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/mpaschetto/Paramour%202%20Amps/DSC05823.jpg)

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/mpaschetto/Paramour%202%20Amps/DSC05824.jpg)

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/mpaschetto/Paramour%202%20Amps/DSC05826.jpg)

There was an audible improvement over the Solen cap I was using previously....just a hint more smoothness.
The sound seemed a little bit more 'relaxed,' for lack of a beter term.

That chassis plate sure is getting a little bit shopworn, huh? :-)

Mike

[Mikey]

Bottlehead Paramour II Amplifiers: (Shunt Regulator Conversion)

With all of the inclement weather in New England this weekend, I had plenty of time to add shunt regulators to the power supply of my Paramour 45 amplifiers.

A 6SN7 was chosen for the shunt regulator tube. This tube (along with its associated circuit board) was mounted on the chassis near the 6J5, and additional heater wiring was run back to the power transformer to heat the 6SN7 filaments. At the moment, I

[Mikey]

Bottlehead Paramour II Amplifiers: (Magnequest Iron Upgrade, Part 2)

Since the Bottlehead SR45 was developed with the Magnequest TFA-2004 Jr. in mind, I decided to call Mike LaFevre and see if he had any of these output transformers in stock. He happened to have a pair of pinstripe units on the shelf, so he sent them to me at the beginning of the week. They arrived yesterday, and I installed them into the amps last night.



The result?

HEY! Who added the super-tweeters to my loudspeakers?! I was expecting a subtle improvement, but not this! The top end was MUCH more extended and airy, by what seemed at least an additional half octave or so. All of the goodness that was there with the EXO-45