Successful build

[pduk]

I finally finished the build today (it's a public holiday here in the UK over Easter) and... it works! I had one scary moment with a blown fuse when doing the high voltage test, and it turned out I'd fitted a capacitor backwards, but no harm done.

Early days yet but I am hearing detail I've not heard before, and it feels like the band is in the room with me. Thanks very much, all at Bottlehead. I really enjoyed putting the kit together.

Paul.

[Doc B.]

Congrats!

[ebag4]

Congratulations!  Interesting that it sounds like you are still running the 1.5 amp fuse.  Your transformer wiring will differ from the states I assume, that may have come into play.

Best,
Ed

[pduk]

Hi Ed,

Actually I blew the 1.5 amp fuse during assembly due to an error but had already bought a pack of 2 amp slow blow in anticipation of any issues, having read the remarks here. The 2 amp went in once I'd put the capacitor in the right way round, so the answer is unknown. I may pick up a 1.5 again and try it at some point.

Cheers

P.

[ebag4]

Hi Ed,

Actually I blew the 1.5 amp fuse during assembly due to an error but had already bought a pack of 2 amp slow blow in anticipation of any issues, having read the remarks here. The 2 amp went in once I'd put the capacitor in the right way round, so the answer is unknown. I may pick up a 1.5 again and try it at some point.

Cheers

P.

Thanks for the clarification, 2 amp slo blo is what I had to use in mine as well.

Best,
ed

[pduk]

Just sharing this picture that I took last night after listening to the frankly amazing new King Crimson live album. And yes, I have done lots of reading about "the blue glow". Hopefully all is well... it started a few hours after initial use. Everything sounds wonderful.

Paul.

[drewh1]

After a couple of weeks my Eml's still have a slight blue glow and it sounds better and better.  I don't think there is any problem

Coincidently I was listening to king crimson's Zoom. Last night. Would love t find a Hi res digital version of "in the court"

[Natural Sound]

Hmmm... A couple of King Crimson fans eh? Oddly enough I was just listening to "Red" the other night. I've always liked anything with John Wetton.

[pduk]

Just reporting back... I received the DC filament upgrade kit today after it spent a brief spell trapped in customs. It was a very easy hours work, the amp works fine, and is now absolutely silent. Interrestingly the blue glow I reported earlier in the 300Bs has now gone completely. Anecdotally tbe bass seems a lot better, but the CD I;m listening to right now is bass heavy so it might be coincidence.

[fritzthecat]

So in the end I got there as well - at least it looks like at the moment...

yippie - I just finished my first Kaiju with stock parts - have a second kit just waiting to get assembled - but for this one I will use some other caps and way more silver wiring - everything I need just arrived two days ago... Curious about the difference

After adjusting hum balance I get 7 mV on the left and 5 mV on the right channel - seems more or less okay.

I did not yet install the DC filament upgrade - looking forward to that...;o) But first I'll let it run a while and listen to some music...

I just put it in its chassis...;o) looks nice.

I am using EH 300bs, I had around anyway - got the EH 300b gold and a matched pair of PSVane mesh plate 300b N (as far as I know they do meet the standard 300b specs as well, maybe I'll try these later on beside someone tells me not to.

So far no smoke or strange sound so I go on listening...

so long and thanx for advising the crazy newbie from switzerland.

Cheers and a great weekend to everybody

Chris