Autoformer - What is this thing?

Jetmaker737
Jetmaker737 Posts: 1,049
edited January 2011 in DIY, Mods & Tweaks
Curious device... anybody use one or can explain?

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?accstwek&1301420286&/Paul-Speltz-zero-autoformers-c
SystemLuxman L-590AXII Integrated Amplifier|KEF Reference 1 Loudspeakers|PS Audio Directream Jr|Sansui TU-9900 Tuner|TEAC A-6100 RtR|Nakamichi RX-202 Cassette
Post edited by Jetmaker737 on
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  • ysss
    ysss Posts: 213
    edited January 2011
    Hmm that's curious.

    It reminds me of a fingerbox I had.

    backpain-1287512157.jpg
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,197
    edited January 2011
    Google is your friend

    http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0603/midmonth/zeroautoformer.htm

    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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  • concealer404
    concealer404 Posts: 7,440
    edited January 2011
    ysss wrote: »
    Hmm that's curious.

    It reminds me of a fingerbox I had.

    backpain-1287512157.jpg

    Oh lord, i am ROLLING over here. :tongue:


    But it's awesome that you had one, too. I spent many years as a child playing with my fingerbox, and then when i got to high school, it scored me all the ladies because they all wanted to play, too.

    I need to buy a new one. Thanks for the memories! :smile:

    I'm thinking about this one, kinda modern, but it'd be neat to have one with modern doo-dads.

    E-fingerbox.png
    I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

    Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii

    Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999

    Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3

    HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000
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  • ysss
    ysss Posts: 213
    edited January 2011
    lol you too? what are the chances??

    It's been decades since I've stuck any parts of me inside a fingerbox of any sort... I bet it'd be weird to do it again in our age.
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  • concealer404
    concealer404 Posts: 7,440
    edited January 2011
    Did you have one of the vintage ones growing up?

    Ayo.jpg

    1282625564401_570x343.jpg
    I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

    Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii

    Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999

    Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3

    HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,197
    edited January 2011
    Wow, record time for this to go off topic :tongue:

    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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  • concealer404
    concealer404 Posts: 7,440
    edited January 2011
    heiney9 wrote: »
    Wow, record time for this to go off topic :tongue:

    H9

    You didn't have one? :confused:
    I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

    Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii

    Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999

    Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3

    HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited January 2011
    "The ZEROs are the simplest type of transformer called an auto transformer or autoformer. They are used to multiply the impedance of any speaker so that it "feels" like the optimum load for the amplifier being used. They are very helpful in matching speakers to amplifiers. By adjusting the speaker's impedance, both the damping factor and the maximum power transfer of the amp/speaker can be tailored for the best sound. Almost all amplifiers sound better when driving a higher impedance speaker."
    Jake
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,197
    edited January 2011
    concealer404 wrote: »
    You didn't have one? :confused:

    The OP is asking about an Autoformer which is used between speakers and a tube amp, so no I've never had/used an Autoformer.

    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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  • Jetmaker737
    Jetmaker737 Posts: 1,049
    edited January 2011
    heiney9 wrote: »
    The OP is asking about an Autoformer.

    H9

    Right... the finger boxes are kind of interesting. And creepy. But I was really just curious if anybody has used an autoformer and to what result.
    SystemLuxman L-590AXII Integrated Amplifier|KEF Reference 1 Loudspeakers|PS Audio Directream Jr|Sansui TU-9900 Tuner|TEAC A-6100 RtR|Nakamichi RX-202 Cassette
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