Belles 21A preamp

Toolfan66
Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
edited November 2010 in 2 Channel Audio
Just thought I would post some pics. It sucked being at work today tracking it and reading it was left on the porch at about 11:30am and I didn't get home till 4:00pm. I will more then likely make me a black face plate at work for this unit. now it's all about what caps I want to put in it and roll some tubes... I don't want to compare it to the Dodd just yet till I get to roll some tubes in it. The Dodd to me is like a good sweet tooth but it has the sonicaps in it and a set of tubes I really like as well.

Belles21A001.jpg
Belles21A002.jpg
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited May 2010
    Looking good. Those cheap caps gota go!
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
    edited May 2010
    ben62670 wrote: »
    Looking good. Those cheap caps gota go!

    Do you just replace the 4 Daytons? I don't recall what brand that other cap is and I already put the top back on.


    I forgot to mention I hate the color of the board.. LOL
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  • punk-roc
    punk-roc Posts: 1,150
    edited May 2010
    very nice!
    2-Channel - So far...
    Pre: Dodd ELP
    DAC: W4S-Dac2
    Source(s): Computer and Denon 2910
    Amp: Parasound HCA-1200II
    Speakers: LSi9s - Vr3 Fortress Mod
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited May 2010
    What value are they?
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,420
    edited May 2010
    I don't think I would mess with that faceplate... It's purrdy already.

    Congrats!
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited May 2010
    TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »
    Do you just replace the 4 Daytons? I don't recall what brand that other cap is and I already put the top back on.


    I forgot to mention I hate the color of the board.. LOL

    Yes, just the 4 daytons is what it takes. I have read of others doing all 5 though, but also read it's not necessary. Although I do not own this pre-amp I did a lot of research on it and came very close to buying one. Let us know how it sounds, before and after new caps and tubes. Congratulations on the new pre-amp!

    Greg
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....

    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

    "Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited May 2010
    IIRC the "auricap" upgrade call for the replacement of the 4 caps @ 2,2 Uf,,I replaced all of mine,,why? cause they were there.Have fun and enjoy,,it's really a great unit.
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited May 2010
    Looks good Larry, but Ben probably knows best. I don't understand schematics much. All I can tell by looking in there is that it seems like a 'simple' straight forward design...which I understand as a 'good thing'. I think I'm going to learn how to read circuits when I get back to the U.S. or perhaps I should have one of my Chinese Ph.D. students in SS circuitry explain this to me 'here' because I'm getting tired of not knowing and frankly, I can learn almost anything very quickly.

    What are you going to use the Belles for?

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited May 2010
    Hey Larry,, hold up on buying caps,,I might sell you 5 of mine if you are interested,,as I'm thinking about rolling some new ones in mine.
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
    edited May 2010
    Face wrote: »
    What value are they?

    4 Dayton's

    MPT 15uf 250V 5%

    1 Mundorf

    2.2uf 3% 250VCD
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited May 2010
    george daniel wrote: »
    IIRC the "auricap" upgrade call for the replacement of the 4 caps @ 2,2 Uf,,I replaced all of mine,,why? cause they were there.Have fun and enjoy,,it's really a great unit.

    Auricaps sound really really nice in tube gear. All 3 of my Dared pieces have Auricaps from the factory. If they would have had the correct values I would have used Auricaps in the Adcom DAC mod. instead of MultiCaps

    FWIW

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
    edited May 2010
    heiney9 wrote: »
    Auricaps sound really really nice in tube gear. All 3 of my Dared pieces have Auricaps from the factory. If they would have had the correct values I would have used Auricaps in the Adcom DAC mod. instead of MultiCaps

    FWIW

    H9

    Looks like I will be spending about $150 ;) depending on what George wants to do as I might be interested.

    Sonic craft seems to be the only place with the right values.
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited May 2010
    In my 20A,, I had Five 2.2 uF/250 volt caps--I'll have to pop the hood on Jerry's and see if his values are different from mine/yours,,mine came stock with amphion(sp?),, Innaresting,,very inneresting.

    Yeah,,I looked for the auricaps in my adcom too Brock:)
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
    edited May 2010
    It looks like getting under the board is a real PITA
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited May 2010
    TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »
    Looks like I will be spending about $150 ;) depending on what George wants to do as I might be interested.

    Sonic craft seems to be the only place with the right values.

    Do a Google search as I found some other outlets for different value Auricaps.

    Michael Percy Audio and Parts Connexion come to mind.
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited May 2010
    Larry,, Jerry and I checked his,and the 15uF caps(4) are the correct value,,,good luck and enjoy that pre:):)
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
    edited May 2010
    george daniel wrote: »
    Larry,, Jerry and I checked his,and the 15uF caps(4) are the correct value,,,good luck and enjoy that pre:):)

    George thanks for checking with Jerry, and Jerry thank you for pulling the top on yours to confirm the values. I will order parts Monday.
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  • schwarcw
    schwarcw Posts: 7,338
    edited May 2010
    Looking good! Let suggest the Auricaps and the one Mundorf. Call Soniccraft. The have Auricap, Mundorf and Soniccap of course. They will provide excellent service and a good price!
    Carl

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  • jerryj12
    jerryj12 Posts: 451
    edited May 2010
    TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »
    George thanks for checking with Jerry, and Jerry thank you for pulling the top on yours to confirm the values. I will order parts Monday.

    No problem man. Sorry I haven't got on before now, I am having a very hard time with my laptop. My plan was to send you or post a few pics of mine for you.
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited May 2010
    Well,, I just spent hours reading about caps,,and I just ordered some of the Clarity MR series to replace the auricaps in my 20a. I hope these are worth the money.
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited May 2010
    Make sure to put some hours on them before making ANY judgments on them.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited May 2010
    Face wrote: »
    Make sure to put some hours on them before making ANY judgments on them.

    Hey Face--thanks to a thread i read on a'gon,,I saved about 40-50 dollars by using the site you suggested--thanks,,i just know they have to be an improvement over the auricaps that are in there .I hope.
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited May 2010
    They should be. Too bad I don't have any gear that I could easily make a direct comparison in for you.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • jerryj12
    jerryj12 Posts: 451
    edited May 2010
    Here are the pics..... Hope better late than never is ok...:D
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
    edited May 2010
    george daniel wrote: »
    Well,, I just spent hours reading about caps,,and I just ordered some of the Clarity MR series to replace the auricaps in my 20a. I hope these are worth the money.

    For the money there better be an improvment.:eek:
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited May 2010
    mrvsauri.jpg

    :D
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • jerryj12
    jerryj12 Posts: 451
    edited May 2010
    TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »
    For the money there better be an improvment.:eek:
    Face wrote: »
    mrvsauri.jpg

    :D

    Wow I want some of those to put in mine. Have you priced them Larry?
    How much will 4 run?
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited May 2010
    the clarity mr's are about 180 shipped to me 2.2uf's
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,649
    edited May 2010
    This is a purdy looking little preamp I must say..
    george daniel wrote: »
    the clarity mr's are about 180 shipped to me 2.2uf's

    How many pre's does George own?
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited May 2010
    Just three:o
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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