Custom AI-1 SDA Dreadnought Project underway

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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
    edited December 2010
    A1-1part3064.jpg

    A1-1part3065.jpg

    A1-1part3066.jpg
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  • cincycat13
    cincycat13 Posts: 882
    edited December 2010
    ...drool... Err I mean nice pix. Merry christmas.
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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited December 2010
    Very nice Larry! I am interested in your findings between the steel vs. aluminum case. What do you think of the sound with the AI-1? Pretty phenominal, huh?

    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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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
    edited December 2010
    I added a 3/8" thick piece of rubber underneath the transformer Hoping for a little bit more isolation,that and I had it "so why not".

    Well this is a very easy project that just about anybody can do. I'm bummed I waited so long to jump into it.

    My experience with amps is limited (Adcom 585,555,5802,Emotiva XPA-2,and these BadAss Tube amps I have but the straping of the negitives IMO is and should just be a means to get you by till you either get a original AI-1 or Build your own,They are and sound better strapless.YEMV

    Ray I don't think the steel case is affecting the sound at all. I personally think this one sounds much better then the original AI-1 cable. You have the means to measure this and do better testing results but it does come down to what you hear. I will leave the testing to you when you get this case..:)

    The SDA effect seems richer in sound and the depth is blacker, I am very happy with it.

    Larry.
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
    edited December 2010
    headrott wrote: »
    Very nice Larry! I am interested in your findings between the steel vs. aluminum case. What do you think of the sound with the AI-1? Pretty phenominal, huh?

    Greg

    Yep it's awesome!! I will do a A/B test between the two but I'm going to leave the real testing to DK (Ray) and see what his findings are..
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
    edited December 2010
    cincycat13 wrote: »
    ...drool... Err I mean nice pix. Merry christmas.

    Thanks!! and Merry Christmas to you as well!!:wink:
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
    edited December 2010
    I am lovin the tube life!!!

    Tubes Rule!!!
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
    edited December 2010
    Ray,

    I wired mine the same as yours as in the pic in your thread but this morning before I fired everything up I double checked everything and noticed that if the binding posts are facing the wall then right would be left and left would be right. Not sure if it matters or not but I swapped them around before I fired up the system..
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
    edited December 2010
    Well I wasn't expecting this to sound better with just a few hours (about 15) but it really seems to have opened up. I will put in my Audioquest cables sometime this week to see if there is a difference there..

    One thing for sure is the SDA effect is better,much better..
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited December 2010
    Larry as is Ray and few others, you are a true artist!
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  • greyford1979
    greyford1979 Posts: 749
    edited December 2010
    hearingimpared wrote: »
    Larry as is Ray and few others, you are a true artist!

    I fully agree, some beautiful work here!
    I love animals, they're delicious!
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  • mole'
    mole' Posts: 3,160
    edited December 2010
    looks nice.......
    mole'
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  • fbm211
    fbm211 Posts: 1,488
    edited December 2010
    Ive had my 565s strapped for a few years and,,,well,,,it seems like I need to get me one of these since everyone who has done it says its a vast improvement.
    Where do I get the parts I need to do this project and whats the ballpark cost.?
    SDA-2BTL with custom IC
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  • civilian
    civilian Posts: 357
    edited December 2010
    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=74472&highlight=Dreadnought
    ________________
    2 Channel-Denon AVR-4520/SDA 2.3TL's
    5.1-Denon AVR-4500h/RT3000P's/CS1000P/RT2000P's/
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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited December 2010
    fbm211 wrote: »
    Ive had my 565s strapped for a few years and,,,well,,,it seems like I need to get me one of these since everyone who has done it says its a vast improvement.
    Where do I get the parts I need to do this project and whats the ballpark cost.?

    Yes, do it. You will not be disappointed.

    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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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited December 2010
    fbm211 wrote: »
    Ive had my 565s strapped for a few years and,,,well,,,it seems like I need to get me one of these since everyone who has done it says its a vast improvement.
    Where do I get the parts I need to do this project and whats the ballpark cost.?

    Hey Bro just an FYI. When I had my Adcom 565s I tried them strapped and with the AI-1 and yes what Greg said below is true however, I would like to make this know to you. I heard the 565s stock and they were nice, when I bought my own they Musical Concepts mods done to them and they sounded like a completely different beautiful sounding amp.

    I had the signature mods with IIRC LX Elite Mod. Here's the link;

    http://www.musicaldesign.com/MC_AdcomAmp_mods.html

    I've used Musical Concepts mods on two other amps one being a Hafler amp and I can tell you, their mods are the bees knees and they completely (after burnin) transform the sound of the amp.


    headrott wrote: »
    Yes, do it. You will not be disappointed.

    Greg

    You are correct Sir!!!!

    Derail over, now back to our regularly scheduled program!
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  • DarqueKnight
    DarqueKnight Posts: 6,765
    edited December 2010
    TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »
    Ray,

    I wired mine the same as yours as in the pic in your thread but this morning before I fired everything up I double checked everything and noticed that if the binding posts are facing the wall then right would be left and left would be right. Not sure if it matters or not but I swapped them around before I fired up the system..

    As with the original AI-1, right and left orientation does not matter. What matters is the correct parallel connections of the primary and secondary, which you have correct.
    Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country!
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
    edited December 2010
    DarqueKnight wrote: »
    As with the original AI-1, right and left orientation does not matter. What matters is the correct parallel connections of the primary and secondary, which you have correct.

    Thanks Ray,

    I figured as much but wanted to be sure..
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  • DarqueKnight
    DarqueKnight Posts: 6,765
    edited December 2010
    I think your ears had already told you you had it right.:smile:
    Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country!
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
    edited January 2011
    Wanted to touch base here again...

    This unit has been sounding better and better this last week.as much as I loved it out the gate the more I love it with some hours on it.

    I guess sometimes synergy can creep up on you.:wink:

    You guys that have yet to build one of these really need to get off your ****,It's one of those upgrades that are worth the $$$ and it keeps on giving.

    I have yet to build an aluminum case and do a side by side but to be honest I don't think it's needed...

    Ray I will get one out your way soon. We have been playing catch up at work after the holidays...
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  • RickTfromAZ
    RickTfromAZ Posts: 122
    edited November 2011
    Great job! I cant wait to get one built and unstrap my 5802.
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
    edited March 2012
    I'm thinking of selling this if there is any interest. I will figure out a price soon..
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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited March 2012
    Toolfan66 wrote: »
    I'm thinking of selling this if there is any interest. I will figure out a price soon..

    You're talking about the 1KVA transformer and your newer case right Larry?:razz::wink::lol:

    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
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • fjross
    fjross Posts: 183
    edited March 2012
    Toolfan66 wrote: »
    I'm thinking of selling this if there is any interest. I will figure out a price soon..
    PMed you.
    Thanks Dave
    Mcintosh MC-501 mono blocks
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    Polk 3.1 TL's mint/stock (purchased new)
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  • woofiepaws
    woofiepaws Posts: 215
    edited March 2012
    I'll buy one!
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