alexberger's System

by alexberger on

Description

My YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoKPY28XI3Q5vWi95swzysA/
I always try to get a best sound that I can afford from vintage, DIY and new components.
I think the vintage audio equipment is underrated because most of modern audiophiles newer have deal with it. In opposite most of "vintage" lover audiophiles started from a new stuff and moved to vintage, because vintage components sound more musical and better value for money. 
https://youtu.be/B72ZPbM7aI0
https://youtu.be/KkoEgdyXVts
https://youtu.be/zN25YNxjr1M
https://youtu.be/7YXif2cd7Q4
https://youtu.be/spOiSAmdGjM
https://youtu.be/5Xlw7Lv7M8U
My philosophy is: 
1. Good dynamic and real instrument tone are most important.
2. Good mid-range - first. 
3. No HiFi-ish highlighted high frequencies and bass. The real acoustic instruments don't sound like this!
4. High sensitivity speakers  
5. SET Tube amplifiers.
6. Idler and direct drive turntables.


Read more...

Room Details

Dimensions: 20’ × 13’  Medium
Ceiling: 8’

Components Toggle details

    • EMT Audio 948
    Turntable
    • Altec Lansing 604E
    Speakers
    • DIY 300B SET Integrated Amplifier
    Tubes:
    6sn7 - input tube
    6f6 - driver tube
    300B - output tube
    5u4g - rectifier

    Parts:
    Hashimoto H30-3.5 output transformers and C-15-200CH choke
    James Audio  power  transformer
    Duelund Custom Cu - signal capacitors, Cu-Sn bypass capacitors
    V-Cap CuTF - signal capacitors
    DACT - volume control
    Shinkoh Tantalum an Audio Note Silver resistors
    Alan Bradly, Mills, Ohmite Gold resistors
    Audio Note Kaisei, Jensen 4-pole, Nichicon electrolytic capacitors
    Duelund, Jupiter Silver Silk and Neotech hook-up wiring 
    • DIY Phonostage
    Build used EAR834P scheme used Thorsten and Romy The Cat modifications included air capacitors.

    Parts:
    Air capacitors in feedback circuit
    Audio Note, Z-foil and Shincoh tantalum resistors
    Jupiter Cu coupling capacitors and Duelund Cu-Sn bypass capacitors
    Hammond AC transformer and chokes
    • Cary Audio CD 303
    CD Player. I use it like transport now.
    • Chord Electronics Ltd. Qutest
    • Werner Jagusch Crossover
    Updated HF capacitors to Duelund RS bypassed by Duelund Cu-Sn
    • Fostex T90A
    Supertweeters
    • Sun Audio - Tamura SAT-1000 Step-up Transformer
    • Dick Sequerra Pyramid T9 ribbon super twitters
    • Altec Lansing n-1500 DIY Crossover
    DIY crossover built using Altec n-1500 schematics.
    Original Altec inductors
    Duelund CAST and Standard resistors.
    14uF capacitor is built using: Jupiter VT 8uF, Duelund RS 3.9uf, AuriCap XO 2.2uF, Duelund JDM Silver Bypass 0.01uF, K71-7 Russian Military Polyester 0.01uF.
    3uF is built using: Jensen Aluminium PIO capacitors 2x1.5uF, Duelund Cu-Sn Bypass 0.01uF, K71-7 Russian Military Polyester 0.01uF.
    Plus Fostex T90a supertweeter 4th order crossover. 0.06mH, 0.35mH air inductors. 1uF Multicap RTX and 1uF Audio Note Mylar in oil Copper capacitors.
    • DIY Power Conditioner
    L-C-L power conditioner with Furutech FPX-Cu receptacles.
    • DIY Black Pearl 300B SET Integrated Amplifier
    My DIY Project. Integrated 300B amplifier with x2 external powers supply and Hashimoto interstage and output transformers A-107, A-305, H-30-3.5.
    6sn7, 6f6, 300B tubes. 
    Oversized cathode 100000uF capacitors banks.
    Big powers supply capacity with multi-bypass technic (combine electrolitic, polypropylene, oil motor, PIO and silver mica capacitors. 

Comments 22

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Owner
Here is the Black Pearl 300B amplifier project page: https://photos.app.goo.gl/isJsvYM3x7hDaput9

alexberger

Owner
Hi @subterranean6 ,
I had the old 300B DIY amp, and did a lot of upgrades on it. There were a lot of parts that I put around the amp. So I decided to build the new 300B amp "Black Pearl" reusing parts of the old 300B amplifier.

alexberger

Such a crucial system. I feel like I could learn a lot just trying to figure out what's going on with the amplifier and the phono-stage. Love the look of the speakers, too.

subterranean6

Cool stuff! I've seen a few of your videos on youtube (recognized the name/system). I almost made a comment about the speakers being huge and then realized they probably aren't much bigger than mine. haha! Enjoy!

mmcgill829

Owner

alexberger
724 posts
05-04-2023 at 02:33pm 

I used my Altec 604e with the original N-1500 crossover.

After 10 years I bought an autotransformer DIY crossover from Germany. I liked it more than the original one. As I understand lately the schematics of this new crossover wasn’t good but better parts quality made speakers sound more transparent despite losing some neutrality.
Then I upgraded it with Duelund RS, Jupiter VT and Duelund Cu-Sn bypass that made the sound even better - more resolution, tone and clarity.

When I bought a measurement mic MiniDSP I found some significant issues with this crossover schematics that caused serious dips in frequency response.
So I decided to build the original N-1500 with better parts. I used old N-1500 inductors with Duelund RS, Jupiter VT, Jensen Aluminium foil, Duelund Bypass (Cu-Sn and Silver) that I already used in German crossover plus constant Duelund Cast resistors (that I used instead of variable resistor in original N1500). So I get even better and more neutral sound with much better midrange and bass. In the end I exchanged the inductor to Jantzen copper foil Wax Coil inductor that improved dynamic and bass even more.

I never tried the famous Mastering LAB crossover that should improve bass extension of price of sensitivity and smooth high frequency frequency response. I don’t think it will sound better than my current crossover that use much better quality parts than Mastering LAB does.

alexberger

Owner
Hi @noromance,
I did a small number of mods with my Croft preamp. it was the older model with one stage cathode follower in the line stage path. And the most important was to exchanging the output capacitors to better quality capacitors (the best I could afford that time).
Regards,
Alex.

alexberger

Alex, that was some read. All very interesting. Not sure I'd have the patience. I've carried out some mods to my Croft phono-pre which you might find interesting. It sounds very good.

noromance

Owner
Hi @noromance,
My phono stage is based on EAR 834p schematics. I had original EAR 834p and Croft phono stages. They were very close in therm of sound quality. But I prefered EAR a little, because it sounded more solid. Inspired by “End of Life" Phonostage I made my own DIY project.
http://romythecat.com/Forums/ShowPost.aspx?PageIndex=1&postID=5953#5953
Here is the latest upgrades I did in my phono stage that were very effective - 
1. Output signal capacitors mix - 2x60uf ASC polypropylene capacitors per channel bypassed by Jupiter Cu 1uf, Duelund Cu-Sn 0.01uf, Soviet K71-7 0.01uf.
2. Power supply capacitors per each channel the mix of capacitors - 820uf CDE, 22uf Solen, 22uf Obbligato, 4.7uf Siemens MKV, 0.5uf Soviet KBG-MN, 0.008 Soviet Silver Mica.
Regards,
Alex.

alexberger

Love your system, Alex. Can you comment on your phono stage? It seems there's two versions, with one having air-gapped capacitors. Are they in the RIAA feedback? Cheers.

noromance

Owner
Hi lidler,
Yes I did change crossover to n1500 with my Altec 604E.
n1500 gives much more flat frequency response and sounds better than WJ with 604E.
Just very important to change original capacitors and potentiometers to better parts! I use Duelund CAST carbon resistors instead of potentiometers.
Original inductors are OK. But I tried Jantzen Wax Coil inductors and they are even better.
Regards,
Alex.

alexberger

Hey Alex,
What a great looking system you have made!  I also remember your discussions on Jeff Day's site.
Did you change your crossover to N1500 after using the WJ?  Why did you make the change?
I am using modified WJ on my Altec Valencias.

lidler

Owner
If you ask about black panels? There are my DIY speakers grills .

alexberger

Owner
On Amazon. There are plastics acoustical tiles 30x30cm.

alexberger

Where did you get the "panel" on the wall behind your speakers?

slaw

Owner
Hi @cal3713, @islandmandan,  @jond 

Thank you all!
Old good speakers are very musical and sound more natural and real than a big part of modern speakers. I'm glad there are people on this forum that share my passion for great vintage equipment.

Regards,
Alex

alexberger

Alex, your system is unique, and sounds incredible. I also tend to live with older speakers and other gear, I enjoy it so much more than something  new out of a box. 
Fifty year old custom Tannoy speakers that are built like a tank, a 3C24 amp built for me by Paul Birkeland has the Tannoys sounding the best they have ever sounded.

I love what I get to live with, no hoping for anything better to come along. Makes my old life better every day.

Enjoy your fine system, it's an accomplishment as well as a system.

Regards,
Dan

 

islandmandan

Alex I was perusing the horn speakers thread and wanted to check out your system and glad I did! Those Altecs are gorgeous and so is your amp it's really chock full of great parts! I used to own that same Cary cd player so I know how good it sounds and that EMT table is droolworthy. Really well done thanks for sharing!

jond

Wonderful system Alex.  I'm sure it puts many big box modern systems to shame.  Congrats.

cal3713

Owner
Hi Shop1,

The cabinets of my speakers were made by previous owner.
I didn't try 6cu. ft. cabinets. But I think 9cu. ft. cabinets should sound deeper in base. I use Werner Jagusch Crossover. I just replaced HPF capacitor to high quality Duelund RS bypassed by Duelund Cu-Sn capacitors.
I also don't like most of modern tower speakers. They sound compressed and  have a deep between mid bass and upper mids. They also have too much high frequencies. They try to do a virtual kind of sound that modern audiophiles like. In contrast Altecs sound more like real live music.
I listened JBL L300 and Olympus C50. And I steel prefer Altec's more alive more breathing sound.
Regards,
Alex.

alexberger

I clicked on this to see what those "big" spkrs were & was pleasantly surprised to see the 604's.  I have a pair that my father bought cir 1970 & although I don't get much chance to hear other speakers because of my location (rural MI) I have yet to hear anything that really surpasses the 604's for realism, accuracy....  Mine are in approx 6 cu. ft. cabinets he built, & I've often wondered what they'd sound like in the approx. 9 cu. ft. cab's they s/b in, & look closer to what you have.  I don't think there are many speakers out there that except for $$$$$ monitors can equal these things.  Those who've only heard the "towers" of today might be shocked.  They're paired with Harmon Kardon Citation 11 & 12 preamp/amp.   I also have a "newer" vintage H K 21 & 22 set up, with a pair of Dynaudio Focus 260 towers that also sounds good, but doesn[t make you jump like the 604's.  By jump I mean sometimes I'd be in another room & hear something thru the 604's & think someone had sneaked into my house....    The N15 crossovers on mine seemed to be getting a bit "scratchy" & I switched to the Great Plains Audio crossovers a few years ago with good results.  Anyway, nice system you have, probably better bass response than mine with your cab's & ports.  Enjoy.

shop1

Owner
Thanks!

alexberger

Beautiful pic! Alex
I like your CD and LP racks as well. Happy Listening!

jafant

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