My new baby monoblocks!

corndog71 · 3283

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Offline corndog71

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on: January 20, 2017, 06:34:33 AM
I'm just about finished with a monoblock pair version of the venerable Dynaco ST35.  I've long been a fan of EL84 amps since the first time I heard them.  While only 17.5 watts per channel they have a really nice dynamic sound and warmth.  Some might ask why bother splitting the amp up.  I really just did it for the fun and challenge of it all.  Plus there aren't many EL84 monoblock amps out there.
It also gave me an excuse to order some new Clarity Cap CSA series caps which it turns out sound a lot better than their ESA predecessor.  I also splurged a bit on fancy connectors which are all copper based.  Another feature I added was Dave Gillespie's EFB circuit for lower distortion and slightly more power.

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss207/corndog642/EL84%20Monoblocks/0D4D700A-0259-4CFC-A4E0-38743941E5D4_zps7pcktfmt.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss207/corndog642/EL84%20Monoblocks/93967AD3-47A6-4122-AA22-C660D0F27ED5_zpsfltzrhyp.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss207/corndog642/EL84%20Monoblocks/C593F9CD-464B-475B-B5E5-CC302446DB59_zpsveku6p7j.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss207/corndog642/EL84%20Monoblocks/39FFDC78-E036-4540-83E5-8C6B53658D19_zps9mbv38ez.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss207/corndog642/EL84%20Monoblocks/5BB4FB0C-F2E7-4377-B260-625BF0128273_zpshsvmkz7d.jpg
« Last Edit: July 12, 2017, 09:55:47 AM by corndog71 »

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Rob


Offline Dnorris

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Reply #1 on: January 20, 2017, 11:55:40 AM
That is flat out awesome! Are you going to put it on some feet or a base/plinth?

Dale Norris


Offline Jamier

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Reply #2 on: January 20, 2017, 01:29:46 PM
Impressive Rob, really impressive!

Jamie

James Robbins


Offline Paul Birkeland

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Reply #3 on: January 20, 2017, 02:23:28 PM
Those are pretty neat, you could just about hide them anywhere!

Paul "PB" Birkeland

Bottlehead Grunt & The Repro Man


Offline corndog71

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Reply #4 on: January 21, 2017, 08:49:36 PM
That is flat out awesome! Are you going to put it on some feet or a base/plinth?

I haven't figured out what kind of feet to use yet. 

The world was made for those not cursed with self-awareness.

Rob


Offline Deluk

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Reply #5 on: January 22, 2017, 01:17:26 AM
Those are pretty neat, you could just about hide them anywhere!

Who'd want to hide them! Have you considered painting the chassis? Colour? Suggestions on a postcard..........



Offline BNAL

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Reply #6 on: January 22, 2017, 05:06:17 AM
Corndog71,

I really like the amps. I'm a fan of that family of tubes and sure they sound great.

Brad

Brad Nalitt
Iron Upgraded S.E.X. Amp 2.0
Foreplay III
Quickie w/PJCCS
Eros Phono
Blumenstein Orca Speakers, Baby Benthic Subs
S.E.X.y Speakers W/FT17H Horn Tweeters
Thorens TD 125 MkII W/ Shure M97xE JICO SAS Stylus


Offline corndog71

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Reply #7 on: January 22, 2017, 08:03:41 AM
Who'd want to hide them! Have you considered painting the chassis? Colour? Suggestions on a postcard..........

I originally planned to paint the transformer covers silver to brighten them up a bit and make them a little more unique.  But then I started building them and got too excited to wait.  I don't really have a good place to paint them and it's too cold out to do it outside.  Perhaps when the weather is nicer I may come back to the idea.

The world was made for those not cursed with self-awareness.

Rob


Offline corndog71

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Reply #8 on: January 23, 2017, 04:01:54 AM
A quick demo.


The world was made for those not cursed with self-awareness.

Rob


Offline mcandmar

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Reply #9 on: January 23, 2017, 05:03:52 AM
Cute little guys :D    ....a small piece of wood trim on each side of the base would work wonders, i.e similar to the Hammond wood/alloy enclosures.

M.McCandless


Offline BNAL

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Reply #10 on: January 23, 2017, 05:24:14 AM
A quick demo.
/quote]

That is really nice sounding. Wish I could hear them in person and get the full effect.

Brad Nalitt
Iron Upgraded S.E.X. Amp 2.0
Foreplay III
Quickie w/PJCCS
Eros Phono
Blumenstein Orca Speakers, Baby Benthic Subs
S.E.X.y Speakers W/FT17H Horn Tweeters
Thorens TD 125 MkII W/ Shure M97xE JICO SAS Stylus


Offline adeep42

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Reply #11 on: January 23, 2017, 06:33:51 AM
Wow. They sound great. Super job. If you do anything, paint the chassis with some of the outstanding automotive colors that are out there.



Offline Aural Robert

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Reply #12 on: January 29, 2017, 04:45:37 AM
Nice and clean, very cool looking.

I like the mirror image for each amp - I've built all my monoblocks as mirrors, makes more sense IMO.

Origin Live Calypso TT w String Theory arm & Shure V15VxMR, Eros or BH DAC -> BeePre -> MonAmor 2A3s w JJ's => Blumestein Bamboo Tritons on Blumenstein Bamboo stands, AND Enhanced SEX w Sexy spkrs and subs in the WAF zone. DIY Belden 89259 w Eichmann interconnects throughout


Offline Sugar Man

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Reply #13 on: February 02, 2017, 07:18:47 AM
Nice work!

Mike "Stein" Ayotte

Current Gear:

Elekit TU-8600 300B w/Lundahl Trannies
Herron Audio VTPH-2a
Rega RP8 w/ Apheta 2
Bluesound Node 2i
Audio Note E Speaker Kit-04 w/ AlNiCo drivers

Stereomour II w/ Jupiters
Eros w/ Mundorf Silver Oils
Blumenstein Orcas & Subs