[Bill Epstein]

I've had all the parts for an Aikido 6SN7 linestage for an age. The box is even fully drilled. I just don't seem to ever get around to building the power supply which is loosely based on the Cornet PSU and ideas from Steve Brown. I love the sound of my PEC pot-based passive but I miss the gain and other benefits of my ARC LS-1 which recently went 'tits up'.

Reading Tubes' adventures, ordering some of his caps and batting the ball around with O'Malley the other day finally motivated me to order the Clarinet board today. I'll pull the 370BX from the Aikido and have most of the other parts. Sunday, instead of cutting enough cherry for just the new Cornet, I'll make two copper-lined boxes and have a nice matched pair.

There should be good karma in having an entire system from audio buddies: Jim , Wayne Parham (speakers) and Steve Brown (amplifier).

[PatOMalley]

The latest change of adding Jupiters/Russian Teflons at output has made the thing smooth and pleasant.
Turns out that the best upgrade I made in the last few years was buying a Weller iron.

[tubesforever]

Hey Bill, 

I think we need to ask Jim to redress the Clarinet for octals!  They are more linear and I know he liked the sound of the Cornet Octal.

I would think there would be only a few resistor changes and mounting the octal sockets above the PCB. 

Or I could be completely and totally wrong.......

I am very happy with my Clarinet, and I consider it the stand out piece of my stereo system at this time. 

Cheers!

[mingles]

> the best upgrade I made in the last few years was buying a Weller iron.

I recently bought a Weller and couldn't be happier. There's nothing better than a good soldering iron.

[ronpod]

Happiness is a warm Weller.  

[MusicMtnMonkey]

are you talking about the cheapy Weller's from Home Depot or the more expensive temp controlled editions?

I really thought my cheapy Weller from Home Depot was weak and difficult to use since you couldn't tell how hot it was or not.  I WAY prefer my cheapy MPJA.com chinese temp controlled model...


But in terms of going Clarinet, I'd love to build one someday!  I think a Coronet is next for me and my TT.  I need the CASTANET more right now for my transition to using headphones much more of the time...

I've enjoyed the pics of everyone's builds, Thanks for Sharing!

[tubesforever]

Jim mentioned to me that you can simply build the Castinet and add a selector switch for inputs and use the high impedance output for your amp.  So just buy a low impedence set of head phones and you have both built in one.

You could probably run a series of high impedence outputs for a set of headphones and your amp if you needed to do so.  I am running three pairs of outputs on my Clarinet.

I am thinking about trying the castinet as a line stage simply because I like the idea of the iron based power supply. 

I think you would find these small modifications pretty simple overall. 

Cheers!

[MusicMtnMonkey]

I'd love to compare the CASTANET and Clarinet someday!  I'm definitely intending to try hooking up the CASTANET as a pre amp after it's built to at least try it and maybe regular duty.  I'm just not sure if I want to add the selector switch later or in the initial build??

If anyone's close to Vail, Colorado and has a nice Clarinet built?  (we could get together and compare)  I better clarify now that it's gonna be a month or two before I receive all parts and complete my CASTANET...  Probably not in time for RMAF, but you never know!  Not sure if I'll be down at RMAF anyway, but who knows...

What I'm most curious about is how does the Clarinet, Tube rectified power supplied Pre Amp compare to the parafeed power supplied CASTANET?  (do I have my power supply technology right here??).  I'm pretty sure there are circuit design differences in these two build, would be most curious the difference!

[flocchini]

I have used the Castanet as a line stage and thoroughly enjoy the combination with my AKSA amps and home-brew speakers (SEAS, PHL 1120 and Raven 2). I also use a 6SN7 Ultrapath ( see circuit on the Electra-Print site) Also very nice. My sources are an Octal Chime and a Octal Cornet2. To my ears it is difficult to pick one over the other. As I have stated elsewhere the Castanet is a great headphone amp. Best 

[mingles]

MusicMtnMonkey said:

> are you talking about the cheapy Weller's from Home
> Depot or the more expensive temp controlled editions?

Yes, I'm talking about the cheap 25 watt Weller (SP23L). I'm sure there's better, but it works weller for me ;~}

[Bill Epstein]

There are some expenditures that just have to be made.

A $100 solder station with a temp controlled tip like the Weller or Hakko allows you to get on and off the part quickly with little chance of a cold joint. You also save money by not throwing parts across the room when leads break and adjacent parts melt from frustrations with under-powered irons. I've thrown and melted parts; I now own a Hakko 936.

There's a hierarchy to this kit-building thing; tools ought not to take a back seat to anything else.

[Brinkman]

There's a hierarchy to this kit-building thing; tools ought not to take a back seat to anything else.

Seconded.

[tubesforever]

Thirded.....

When I ordered all my Cornet 2 parts I eagerly called ScottRT to thank him for his hospitality.  We evaluated his C2 for a full weekend and lots of tube rolls.

I remember when he told me, Jim get yourself a soldering station.  I couldn't find the model he recommended but ended up getting a Velleman digital for 70 dollars plus some tax money.

This is the best 70 dollars I have EVER spent.

I doubt I could have soldered and desoldered 6 components to the C2 board without a single trace failure without a hot and fast iron with dial up precision.

Don't cheap out on the iron!

[Bill Epstein]

Ordered all the parts today. Funds went far enough to fill in some missing values of Kiwames, a pair of Caddock MK-132 332k ohm resistors for R302 and Fairchild Stealth diodes. Gonna forgo the balance control and use a PEC volume pot and Greyhill switch I already had on hand.

I was eyeing the Dynamicaps but didn't have the 80 bucks. I do have a full complement of Auricaps in the bin and will start with those. Maybe by-pass the 1.0s with the rooskie teflons after I do some listening. Just remembered I still have to order a brass plate to match the one for the Cornet.

Between Digikey, Percy and AES, I'll have about $250 in it over and above what I already had with Jim's board. Not too shabby for what I expect to hear. 

[tubesforever]

The Auricaps bypassed by Teflon will sound tasty.  I've tried them.  The Dynamicaps are just a little lighter and less thick in the midbass. 

I have a bunch of Dynamicaps I think....I could send you some if you want to roll some caps.

I have been using K40y9's in either .22 or .47 400V with an FT-3 for B+ bypass duties.  I think they sound just a little more natural for stuff like Cello, Piano and Guitar.

Cheers!