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DIY thoughts of the day

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2018 1:19 pm
by karatestu
Not a day goes by without my thoughts turning to my sound system and what I am going to do with it. Often I drift off to sleep thinking about it. Have I got a problem ? Yes I think so :grin: but it's better than being an alcoholic or druggie.

Thought no.1 for today - need to sort that speaker out.
No.2 - if there is an improvement with using two mono stepped attenuators, would there be an improvement by using mono selector switches ? Bit of a pain having to use two switches but what the hell, its not that bad. Also could have 2 different tracks playing at once :lol:

Re: DIY thoughts of the day

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2018 1:30 pm
by Dr Bunsen Honeydew
Yes some, less crosstalk across the switch.

Re: DIY thoughts of the day

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2018 1:41 pm
by karatestu
Dr Bunsen Honeydew wrote: Fri Mar 16, 2018 1:30 pm Yes some, less crosstalk across the switch.
That was my guess. Might give it a go, although at the moment I don't have a selector switch at all :dance: Unfortunately I will need one eventually :( . Couple of rocker switches might be good.

Re: DIY thoughts of the day

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2018 2:50 pm
by Lurcher300b
No.2 - if there is an improvement with using two mono stepped attenuators, would there be an improvement by using mono selector switches ? Bit of a pain having to use two switches but what the hell, its not that bad. Also could have 2 different tracks playing at once
Maybe also worth trying (and not lots of cash) two mono TOCOS pots, the problem with the stereo version was matching, using two solves that.

Re: DIY thoughts of the day

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2018 3:33 pm
by karatestu
Lurcher300b wrote: Fri Mar 16, 2018 2:50 pm
Maybe also worth trying (and not lots of cash) two mono TOCOS pots, the problem with the stereo version was matching, using two solves that.
Nick, you are not the first person to mention TOCOS. Are they really that good ? I was talking about mono selector switches really but thanks for the input.

The thing with mono selector and volume control is that I can put one of each right next to my power amp boards (snug up to the back panel) and still have a distance of 40cm between them and the transformers. A couple of 6mm dowel extension rods to the knobs on the front panel and bobs ya uncle. I can in theory make two mono intergrated amps (with each amp containing two totaly separate power amps for 1)bass 2) mid & tweeter.) :dance:

Re: DIY thoughts of the day

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2018 3:43 pm
by Lurcher300b
They are good, not sure how good "that good" is but it was just a thought. :-)

Re: DIY thoughts of the day

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2018 4:19 pm
by karatestu
Lurcher300b wrote: Fri Mar 16, 2018 3:43 pm They are good, not sure how good "that good" is but it was just a thought. :-)
Okay dokey.

Thoughts now turn to interconnects. My Naim CDP has only one 0V connection to the preamp. Idea was this - get TIS cables made up so each cable has all it's conductors electrically joined. So that would be one whole cable for left signal, another for right signal and a third for 0V. I know it may be a bonkers idea and increase cost as I need a third TIS cable. My thinking was it would put distance between signal & 0V thus reducing capacitance.

Taking the idea further to connections between pre and mono bloc power amps - one cable for signal the other for 0V. Doubles the amount of cables you need but might be worth it ? :think: :think: :think:

Re: DIY thoughts of the day

Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2018 7:32 pm
by karatestu
Been thinking again....dangerous.

Thoughts turned to places in a living room where the sound system could go . Further to that is there any dead space not used.

Came up with (1) the bottom part of the sofa's (2) under the floorboards

Hows about a hifi sofa ? :lol: Could build all the amps in there and power supplies. Sources would have to be elsewhere and vol pot and source selector. Could be tricky when buying a new sofa. :think:

Thinking about electronics under the floor - air cooling would probably be ok, could even stick a fan in there. Would need an access trap door. Dont open that trap door. Or a souns system which comes up out of the floor with the push of a button.

More crazy thoughts that are either ridiculous or never going to happen anyway.

Stu

Re: DIY thoughts of the day

Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2018 11:33 pm
by Pianist~Envy
karatestu wrote: Sun Aug 12, 2018 7:32 pm Or a souns system which comes up out of the floor with the push of a button.
COOL 8-)

Re: DIY thoughts of the day

Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2018 6:15 am
by karatestu
Pianist~Envy wrote: Sun Aug 12, 2018 11:33 pm
karatestu wrote: Sun Aug 12, 2018 7:32 pm Or a souns system which comes up out of the floor with the push of a button.
COOL 8-)
Thats what i thought :guiness;