Search found 29 matches

by Ian Millar
Wed Aug 14, 2013 2:55 am
Forum: Preamps
Topic: Classic SE upgrade w/Teflon caps
Replies: 16
Views: 5754

Re: Classic SE upgrade w/Teflon caps

If you just paid for Teflon capacitors you are predisposed to believing that you can hear a difference. The difference "must" be an improvement and is "never" retrograde because such an admission would also be one of your own errors in judgement. I have built active crossovers us...
by Ian Millar
Mon Aug 12, 2013 7:50 pm
Forum: DIY, mods, tweaks
Topic: Jolida JD9 phono preamp Upgrade Guide
Replies: 11
Views: 18863

Re: Jolida JD9 phono preamp Upgrade Guide

Be extremely wary of anything listed on aliexpress. Having lived in China for many years I know that practically everything is faked. More recently I have purchased aluminium chassis from a seller in Guang Zhau listing on aliexpress. A chassis is a chassis so fake or whatever doesn't bother me. But ...
by Ian Millar
Mon Aug 12, 2013 4:54 am
Forum: Preamps
Topic: PV12>PV11>Premier 2
Replies: 8
Views: 3553

Re: PV12>PV11>Premier 2

I have a Premier Ten (got it for about $400 about 10 years ago). I also have a PV10AL. They sound the same to me, but if you put fancy valves (like French Mazdas of CIFTEs) into the PV10AL it will oscillate and scream like a siren after warming up. I believe it may need ceramic bypass caps installed...
by Ian Millar
Mon Aug 12, 2013 3:17 am
Forum: General Discussion - CJ related topics
Topic: What is phase inversion and what do I do about it?
Replies: 16
Views: 6353

Re: What is phase inversion and what do I do about it?

Hi Jack, I bet the album to which you refer could also trick the mind. Flip the switch and walk out of the room and back again and you may not know whether "the phantom" switched it back. The inversions would be listener position-dependant. I.e. what some might consider "diffuse"...
by Ian Millar
Mon Aug 12, 2013 3:06 am
Forum: Preamps
Topic: PV 12L and SS Power Amp Question
Replies: 4
Views: 1751

Re: PV 12L and SS Power Amp Question

SS power amps typically have an input impedance in the order of what you quote, whereas valve power amps are typically around 100K. Your PV12 doesn't care either way. Just use basic low capacitance interconnects such as Blue Jeans LC-1 and you'll be laughing. The speakers don't affect it. The "...
by Ian Millar
Mon Jul 29, 2013 8:12 pm
Forum: General Discussion - CJ related topics
Topic: The Sound in Heart Conrad Johnson
Replies: 11
Views: 2719

Re: The Sound in Heart Conrad Johnson

Hi Raymond, I don't apply rules to anyone but myself. :D I have not used a turntable since the eighties. They are an archaic relic and do nothing but further distort an already confoundly corrupted recording. Even a gold-plated steam shovel could only dig the same dirt. I have been in audio clubs wh...
by Ian Millar
Sun Jul 28, 2013 8:59 pm
Forum: General Discussion - CJ related topics
Topic: The Sound in Heart Conrad Johnson
Replies: 11
Views: 2719

Re: The Sound in Heart Conrad Johnson

The simple reality is that there is nothing special about the sound of C-J or any other high-end brand at all. I have built simple kit amplifiers that sound exactly the same at a small fraction of the cost. Indeed a dual opamp preamplifier on a PCB (e.g. ESP Project 88) that fits on the palm of your...
by Ian Millar
Sun Jul 28, 2013 6:54 pm
Forum: Troubleshooting/problems/manuals/schematics
Topic: cj pv2 transformer running hot
Replies: 8
Views: 2100

Re: cj pv2 transformer running hot

That imbalance might be just the old valves warming up. I see they are old Sovteks and Siemens, so they may be a bit long in the tooth. Maybe try to find some Syvanias or something. Tired valves take longer to "come up" on emission tests too. OK seems there may have been a production run c...
by Ian Millar
Sun Jul 28, 2013 5:35 am
Forum: Troubleshooting/problems/manuals/schematics
Topic: cj pv2 transformer running hot
Replies: 8
Views: 2100

Re: cj pv2 transformer running hot

Edit. The so-called PV-2 schematic in the download ZIP is a ring-in. It shows 4 tubes only and is the same as the other ring-in for a PV-3! Admin: get it right. Do not share misinformation. :shock: So take the following as though the schematic were correct which it is not. I discovered it after typi...
by Ian Millar
Sat Jul 27, 2013 8:47 pm
Forum: Troubleshooting/problems/manuals/schematics
Topic: cj pv2 transformer running hot
Replies: 8
Views: 2100

Re: cj pv2 transformer running hot

According to the schematic (which does not appear to be original), the power supply tranny has only a single primary winding which means that there is no means of adjustment for different countries, so that counts out the possibility of user error on that front. It does not count out the possibility...
by Ian Millar
Fri Jul 26, 2013 8:52 pm
Forum: Room design/acoustics/positioning
Topic: A bigger trap in the corner
Replies: 18
Views: 9344

Re: A bigger trap in the corner

Toole P 266: 'Without your own acoustical measurements, you are "flying blind"'.
by Ian Millar
Thu Jul 25, 2013 11:19 pm
Forum: Room design/acoustics/positioning
Topic: A bigger trap in the corner
Replies: 18
Views: 9344

Re: A bigger trap in the corner

I don’t think so. I have plenty more. Why would you post your floor plan if you considered it meaningless or weren't open to scrutiny? Perhaps you are just trying to be proud. I have been through the process and can tell you that you are wasting your time and money with commercial bass traps. Simple...
by Ian Millar
Thu Jul 25, 2013 8:11 pm
Forum: Room design/acoustics/positioning
Topic: A bigger trap in the corner
Replies: 18
Views: 9344

Re: A bigger trap in the corner

Nope. I wouldn't need to. Read Toole yet? Run any impulse responses for left and right channels individually or any at all? Done a spatial average? I've done mine. I assure you that room is all over the shop and no absorption "product" that could fit inside the room can fix it. WIth that o...
by Ian Millar
Thu Jul 25, 2013 7:39 pm
Forum: Troubleshooting/problems/manuals/schematics
Topic: Pr17LS problem!
Replies: 13
Views: 2366

Re: Pr17LS problem!

In other words is he telling you that the thing is not competently shielded? It would not surprise me one bit. The thing should be designed to work in the modern world. All so-called sources of interference must comply with emission standards, so the problem is very unlikely to be those. Reminds me ...
by Ian Millar
Wed Jul 24, 2013 4:37 am
Forum: Room design/acoustics/positioning
Topic: A bigger trap in the corner
Replies: 18
Views: 9344

Re: A bigger trap in the corner

The most effective traps in that layout are the openings into other rooms and there is an horrendous asymmety brought about by the opening at top right which your traps at bottom right do not help since they are "tuned" to absorb different frequencies. The commercial room treatment offerin...
by Ian Millar
Wed Jul 24, 2013 4:20 am
Forum: Troubleshooting/problems/manuals/schematics
Topic: Pr17LS problem!
Replies: 13
Views: 2366

Re: Pr17LS problem!

I'd go along with that placebo theory.
by Ian Millar
Mon Jul 22, 2013 4:19 am
Forum: Troubleshooting/problems/manuals/schematics
Topic: Pr17LS problem!
Replies: 13
Views: 2366

Re: Pr17LS problem!

An infrared thermometer can measure component temperatures without touching anything (accuracy depends on colour/emissivity of target - matte black being best suited for most inexpensive thermometers). I do not know your particular pre-amplifier, but I do know that C-J uses thermal cut-off switches ...
by Ian Millar
Sun Jul 21, 2013 5:27 am
Forum: General Audio and Video Discussion
Topic: What have you been listening to?
Replies: 44
Views: 16305

Re: What have you been listening to?

For classical listeners I recommend any of the Jordi Savall/Le Concert des Nations/Hesperion XXI recordings on the AliaVox label. Rich ambient recordings - especially the SACDs. This one would be a great starter: http://www.amazon.com/Altre-Follie-Jordi-Savall/dp/B000A0HG16/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qi...
by Ian Millar
Sat Jul 20, 2013 2:18 am
Forum: Troubleshooting/problems/manuals/schematics
Topic: Premier 275 Crackling
Replies: 4
Views: 1614

Re: Premier 275 Crackling

OK seems I can't help you really. I had never heard of a Premier 280 or a Premier 275. Now I see that it was advertised as a "Premier 280" on Audiogon and it looks very suspicious. If it really was a one-off that never went into production, why would it be on the market? Clearly from the A...
by Ian Millar
Wed Jul 17, 2013 3:43 am
Forum: Preamps
Topic: Classic SE upgrade w/Teflon caps
Replies: 16
Views: 5754

Re: Classic SE upgrade w/Teflon caps

Dear admin. As per my previous post, valves and speaker drivers are excluded from what I say about burn-in. You are correct about valves (you say tubes - I am Australian so I say valves). Here is an interesting link: http://sound.westhost.com/madashell.htm#burnin. I know the author personally. He wa...