The Glow is Gone!

[galyons]

 As B.B. put it best.....

The glow is gone
The glow is gone away
The glow is gone baby
The glow is gone away...

Installed the Smash up today.  Right at the throw of the switch the improvement was obvious.  Bass definition is much tighter, better low level resolution and a deeper black background.  I built the boards stock, with the exception of the 0.1uf caps, I used Russian K40Y9's.  The standoffs for the boards are a bit shorter because I used the taller standoffs from the kit to create a height differential for the output cap platform. All nice and solid.

(http://i.imgur.com/UooqBtr.jpg)

  everything powered up and passed the voltage checks...spot on! Took me about 3 hours total time.  Two hours last night stuffing the boards and a bit over an hour this morning to install the boards.  Everything powered up and passed the voltage checks...spot on!

Time to listen for a couple of weeks....then choke the PS.  Well done PB, etal!!!

Cheers,
Geary

[Paul Birkeland]

Hello Geary,

Thanks for checking in with the Smash-up.  It looks like those caps could also function as anti-resonance devices?

-PB

[JamieMcC]

Its always nice to see your handy work Geary   

[galyons]

Hi PB,
Yes the little brick caps help!!  Still need to work on the microphonics though,  but at this point they are really self inflicted.  The attenuator and Grayhill switch still sing out loud with every click.  I am going to try some constrained layer damping in the switch area and isolate the switches from the plate.

But, all in all, GREAT linestage!!!

Cheers,
Geary

[galyons]

Its always nice to see your handy work Geary   

Thanks Jamie!!!

Geary

[mcandmar]

I see in your sig you also own the FP3 and Quickie, how does it compare to those two?

[galyons]

I see in your sig you also own the FP3 and Quickie, how does it compare to those two?

Clearly beats the Quickie, even before the Smash-up, though a similar DHT sonic signature.  Everything is simply better, more refined.

The FP3 Extended was a closer match, but the Smash is still better....that DHT magic.  I actually have 2 FP3's one  is 6CG7, the other 7N7, (Locktal 6SN7).  The 7N7 is closer to the Smash, but I think with the Smash-up  the Smash pulled ahead a bit more. Too early to tell, as I just finished the Smash up and haven't done a head-to-head with the FP3's. That being said, the FP3/Paramour 45 system still get's used regularly and is definitely not embarrassed by its newer, bigger brothers!!

Cheers,
Geary

[mcandmar]

Very interesting, thanks for that.  I have been experimenting with different circuits using 6SN7, 6CG7, 6J1, 6N23P, 4P1L and even tried a few 7N7s but there is something about DHT tubes that just sounds magical to me too.  I'm really lusting after the BeePre

[galyons]

  I'm really lusting after the BeePre

If the BeePre is even 10-15% better ,than the Smash, at twice the price, then YES I share your lust.  I have only heard the BP once, at a DIY gathering recently.  Sadly I was not impressed. But it was a poor venue acoustically and the system in which it was used was, IMO, well below the capabilities of the BP! Seemed such  a waste!!  But the BP is certainly eye candy!!!!

Cheers,
Geary