AudioCircle

Audio/Video Gear and Systems => Owner's Circles => Bent Audio Owners => Topic started by: Redboy on 30 Jun 2014, 06:52 pm

Title: The sound of silver
Post by: Redboy on 30 Jun 2014, 06:52 pm
For a couple of years I have been blissfully using a simple passive preamp that I built with Slagleformer modules, and it was the pinnacle of preamplifiers for me.

Was

A couple months ago I sent another email to John Chapman, asking him if there were any truth to the rumor that these magical modules could be wound with silver wire.  Oh, and dare I ask how much they might cost?  He replied quickly (as John always does) that yes, they could be wound with silver.  Yes, they are expensive and if it were him he would rather try to ignore their existence and spend the cash on a pile of records, instead.  A very sensible thing to do, I thought, as I considered the option... 

But I am not a sensible audiophile. 


 (http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w178/whobody/AgSlagle%20passive%20preamp/IMG_2704_zpsd5a4089e.jpg~original)

 (http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w178/whobody/AgSlagle%20passive%20preamp/IMG_2729_zpse288a698.jpg~original)

 (http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w178/whobody/AgSlagle%20passive%20preamp/IMG_2718_zpsa507e9e2.jpg~original)

 (http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w178/whobody/AgSlagle%20passive%20preamp/IMG_2710_zpsee41b30a.jpg~original)
Title: Re: The sound of silver
Post by: Redboy on 30 Jun 2014, 06:53 pm
Oh, and the sound

Heaven...


(http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w178/whobody/AgSlagle%20passive%20preamp/IMG_2743_zps08aabc9e.jpg~original)
Title: Re: The sound of silver
Post by: poseidonsvoice on 30 Jun 2014, 08:52 pm
Nice system and suhweet build for the AVC! Any idea on the cost per module? I think a standard module costs about $450 a piece and there are 4 in my balanced TAPX.

Best,
Anand.
Title: Re: The sound of silver
Post by: DaveC113 on 30 Jun 2014, 08:53 pm
Nice system!

Feastrex drivers?  :thumb:
Title: Re: The sound of silver
Post by: poseidonsvoice on 30 Jun 2014, 08:55 pm
Nice system!

Feastrex drivers?  :thumb:

Yup.

Best,
Anand.
Title: Re: The sound of silver
Post by: Redboy on 30 Jun 2014, 09:03 pm
Nice system and suhweet build for the AVC! Any idea on the cost per module? I think a standard module costs about $450 a piece and there are 4 in my balanced TAPX.

Best,
Anand.

Given the volatile cost of silver, I think you'd want to contact John directly at time of purchase.   They're a bit hard on the wallet, though.

Yes, the speakers are Feastrex.  :)

Title: Re: The sound of silver
Post by: jtwrace on 30 Jun 2014, 09:06 pm
Nice system and suhweet build for the AVC! Any idea on the cost per module? I think a standard module costs about $450 a piece and there are 4 in my balanced TAPX.

Best,
Anand.
$2500 upgrade for us IIRC.
Title: Re: The sound of silver
Post by: DaveC113 on 30 Jun 2014, 10:24 pm
Given the volatile cost of silver, I think you'd want to contact John directly at time of purchase.   They're a bit hard on the wallet, though.

Yes, the speakers are Feastrex.  :)

Nice, good job on choosing a br cabinet... I remember years ago when they were building all these BLHs for them, they all kinda sucked. I do like Lotus Audio's Feastrex-based OB speaker, it was/is awesome, but $200k.

And congrats on owning the worlds' finest volume control :)

Title: Re: The sound of silver
Post by: poseidonsvoice on 30 Jun 2014, 11:44 pm
$2500 upgrade for us IIRC.

 :bowdown: :cry:

Best,
Anand.
Title: Re: The sound of silver
Post by: Redboy on 1 Jul 2014, 03:10 am
Nice, good job on choosing a br cabinet... I remember years ago when they were building all these BLHs for them, they all kinda sucked. I do like Lotus Audio's Feastrex-based OB speaker, it was/is awesome, but $200k.

And congrats on owning the worlds' finest volume control :)

Thank you!

The Feastrex are really nice and I was fortunate to buy them at a very friendly secondhand price from the US dealer.  I am amazed at their overall coherence from top to bottom, though I don't demand much from them (mostly jazz and "simple" music played at low volume).
Title: Re: The sound of silver
Post by: cab on 1 Jul 2014, 03:42 am


And congrats on owning the worlds' finest volume control :)


I'm guessing you haven't heard the Tortuga LDR based preamp.....
Title: Re: The sound of silver
Post by: DaveC113 on 1 Jul 2014, 12:14 pm
.....
Title: Re: The sound of silver
Post by: jtwrace on 1 Jul 2014, 12:40 pm

I'm guessing you haven't heard the Tortuga LDR based preamp.....
I'm guessing you haven't seen the measurements (http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=115115.msg1202524#msg1202524) or heard the TAP-X. 
Title: Re: The sound of silver
Post by: playntheblues on 1 Jul 2014, 03:25 pm
Damn cab     :guns:
Title: Re: The sound of silver
Post by: Redboy on 1 Jul 2014, 03:58 pm
Oh, it's all good.  I haven't heard an LDR passive but I would like to, someday.  I nearly built one a few years back but I ultimately decided against it because they seemed so... fiddly.

Back to the Slagleformer thing, though... Eventually I'll put the preamp into an aluminum enclosure that I made the panels for, but I am still trying to decide on a finish.  The design goal was to hide as many fasteners as possible and when it's buttoned up, only four screw heads will be visible on the back panel.

It'll look a lot like this one that I built two years ago, but without the visible screw heads:

(http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w178/whobody/Bent%20Pre/2015.jpg~original)
Title: Re: The sound of silver
Post by: J-Pak on 26 Jul 2014, 03:46 pm
Are the AVC 50 or 80% nickel?
Title: Re: The sound of silver
Post by: Redboy on 31 Jul 2014, 08:02 pm
Are the AVC 50 or 80% nickel?
I missed your question earlier, sorry...

I believe these are 80% like Dave's other AVC cores. 
Title: Re: The sound of silver
Post by: werd on 8 Aug 2014, 02:09 am
Nice touch! Did that silver winding touch come with silver wires into the modules and out to rca plugs?
Title: Re: The sound of silver
Post by: cab on 8 Aug 2014, 02:58 am
I've owned the Placette unit which was really nice. Then I built a tvc unit with copper wound transformers from John Chapman at Bent Audio. It was better. Then I replaced the copper wound units with silver, which I suspect are similar to what the OP is reporting on. Even better. Then I heard the Tortuga LDR unit. Not even close. My preference of the LDR Tortuga over the Placette and TVC units has been shared by others who have tried all three so there may be something to it....And yes, I have seen the measurements and heard the product.
Title: Re: The sound of silver
Post by: J-Pak on 8 Aug 2014, 02:59 pm
I've owned the Placette unit which was really nice. Then I built a tvc unit with copper wound transformers from John Chapman at Bent Audio. It was better. Then I replaced the copper wound units with silver, which I suspect are similar to what the OP is reporting on. Even better. Then I heard the Tortuga LDR unit. Not even close. My preference of the LDR Tortuga over the Placette and TVC units has been shared by others who have tried all three so there may be something to it....And yes, I have seen the measurements and heard the product.

IMO it's more what flavor you prefer. I had the Lightspeed LDR, Prometheus and Sowter TVCs and preferred the TVCs. Dynamics are most restricted in resistive based attenuators.
Title: Re: The sound of silver
Post by: Redboy on 8 Aug 2014, 05:28 pm
Nice touch! Did that silver winding touch come with silver wires into the modules and out to rca plugs?
Choice of hookup wire is left to the builder: I used silver wire throughout.