DIY Audio Projects Forum

If he wants lots of money you could always make a stencil on the computer, cut it out and spray it on shiny aluminium, you would then have to give it plenty coats of lacquer but... Shouldn't look too bad. This only works of course if the plate hasn't been sprayed.

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Problem is I could spend hundreds of dollars on engraving then not be able to see it.If you look at the top of the Pinot "KiSharn" there is not much bare plate. On the Merlots its different. But bigger plate more dollars to engrave.

An effect is only good if it can be seen. Not much sense in spending lots of money or hundreds of hours doing something that may not be noticed. It has to be as much a feature as the electronics are. Balance one against the other for good effect. A timber base is easy, it can be seen, enjoyed, commented on, adds to and does not detract. Blue top plate?? Different strokes!

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Projects: "Sortilege" - 180W Tripath Class D Mundorf upgrade amp | “Mantra” - tube MM phono preamp | "Carbon” - MM phono preamp | 180W RAW Class D amp |

I had just never occurred to me that the endcaps were another area that a builder could exercise some artistic freedom without adding anything extra or superfluous to the parts-count of the amp. Sure, the genessian blue powdercoating that Edcor uses is pretty, but it's still the usual endcap design (and there's not a damn thing wrong with that). I've been thinking mostly about the circuit I'm planning on building and trying to learn more about it. The plan is to breadboard it for a good long time and play around with some different variables. But afterwards I want to put it in a chassis that I've given as much thought and care to. I've come up with a few ideas and design concepts I could follow, but the transformers were either, hidden or potted, in both cases they had to be covered or I had to work with existing potted designs and try to style the rest of the amp to match (both shape, material and texture). This just gives me a few other options

I'm not in a position to do any metal stamping or casting in my apartment, so I'm left with soldering or brazing for anything metal. I can probably get my hands on some copper or brass sheet I could play with... although that may require more work than I'm really willing to put out right now. We'll see what I can come up with.

How about a polished walnut burl topcap

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A Paragon of Mediocrity Since 1982

There is no question, if you have open trannnies, power or OPTs, they should be covered. I have built amps in the past (6T9) which had open and exposed trannies but in all the latestest builds open OPTs have been hidden away. Bells on trannies is the way to go. It not only looks better but restrains stray mag. fields also.

http://diyaudioprojects.com/Tubes/6T9-Tube-Amp-Kit/

Not sure how hard (or even if you can do it) it is to remove bells, give them a spray paint or whatever and put them back.

Anyone pulled the bells from an Ecor??

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Projects: "Sortilege" - 180W Tripath Class D Mundorf upgrade amp | “Mantra” - tube MM phono preamp | "Carbon” - MM phono preamp | 180W RAW Class D amp |

Covered and grounded, absolutely. Just gettin' some ideas. Which reminds me, in regards to tranny and tube location and orientation, how does mounting the power or OPT in a horizontal plane affect things? Or does it?

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A Paragon of Mediocrity Since 1982

If I can find an excuse to take my K12G out of the system for a little while, I might convince myself to pop my edcors just for kicks. My guess is it'll unbolt with some insulation. wilco

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A Paragon of Mediocrity Since 1982

If you are looking for ideas, check out Chey's 6L6 (5881) Single-Ended DIY Tube Amplifier project where he used copper clad PCB to make a transformer cover which IMO turned out fantastic.







You won't be able to use the PCB idea for end bells, but it is a neat way to make a shielding transformer with just hand tools (hand saw, file, drill, soldering iron, glue) should you go decide to go with a lower cost open frame audio output transformer.

Cheers

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[ DIY Mains AC Power Cable Cord ] - [ Gobo LM1875 Amp Kit ] - [ Tang Band D4-1 Horn Speaker Kit ] - [ Monoblock Push-Pull KT88 Tube Amp Kit ]

Edcor claim very little tray magnetic fields from thier trannies. Then add bells and any leakage is absolute minimum.

Usually at right angles to each other helps. Some times at 45 degrees is better but looks ugly. OK under a top plate but then using enclosed trannies yhey should be exposed.

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Projects: "Sortilege" - 180W Tripath Class D Mundorf upgrade amp | “Mantra” - tube MM phono preamp | "Carbon” - MM phono preamp | 180W RAW Class D amp |

I saw Chey's amp... impressive work, and I really appreciate the fact that it was done with hand tools. Not an easy thing to do.

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A Paragon of Mediocrity Since 1982

I agree with Mr. Macaroni, to me that project is a work of art, it proves that with the barest of tools if you put your mind to it and have patience you can make something that looks just as good or even better than something you can buy on the market.

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My Mini 12AU7 Tube Preamp, Pioneer SX-D7000, JVC XL-V221BK, JBL L80T, DCM TF700

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