Hagtech Bugle2 Build
mrbiron
Posts: 5,711
Finally! After almost 3 months, I have received my Bugle2 phono pre. This was in part to me sending Jim money through PP instead of his website and him missing it. But all is well. Now, while I troubleshoot the bottle head, this will be built in the meantime. Should be done in one sitting since its all in a PCB. I'll first populate and then solder away!
More on this later.
Where’s the KABOOM?!?! There’s supposed to be an Earth shattering KABOOM!!!
Post edited by mrbiron on
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You'll be able to do an interesting A-B comparison.
I have an original Bugle and it sounds good. Not world-class, but for the money they cost new (as kit or partial kit) they're not bad at all. Haven't heard a version "2", yet. -
Again....I blame you for this one as well!!!!!!!....(insert violent fist shake) :-)
We could potentially have an A vs B comparison on Bugles, a C vs D comparison on Bottles and then an E vs F comparison on the winners of their categories. I'll bring a 12 pack.Where’s the KABOOM?!?! There’s supposed to be an Earth shattering KABOOM!!! -
I've got a thousand rekkids to use as 'test articles' (as we say in my business)... maybe a coupla thousand... I've never counted (much less gotten 'em all in one place... even still).
EDIT: Finally, if you want, we can compare 'em all to the JLTi phono preamp... or maybe not ;-) -
Step by step pictures please.POLK SDA 2.3 TLS BOUGHT NEW IN 1990, Gimpod/Sonic Caps/Mills RDO-198
POLK CSI-A6 POLK MONITOR 70'S ONKYO TX NR-808 SONY CDP-333ES
PIONEER PL-510A SONY BDP S5100
POLK SDA 1C BOUGHT USED 2011,Gimpod/Sonic Caps/Mills RDO-194
ONKYO HT RC-360 SONY BDP S590 TECHNICS SL BD-1 -
I am VERY interested in your thoughts on this phono pre. I am highly debating getting one myself for my setup."....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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Ah crap....sorry
I did this last night while waiting for baby to pass out. Still have a couple more connections to make but all in all, super easy!
I have it set up for 40db (mm cart) but he also sends other resistor values for 50db and 60db. I will save those for another day. My one regret is not having a smaller solder tip. The one supplied with the Weller was a little on the large side making soldering the PCB a little more difficult.Where’s the KABOOM?!?! There’s supposed to be an Earth shattering KABOOM!!! -
I have it set up for 40db (mm cart) but he also sends other resistor values for 50db and 60db.
So do you install all three and it chooses which one to use or how does that work?"....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963) -
You swap out the resistors for your application.
Based on the board size, I'd say it would be easier to just buy another at $139. Have one for mm, and the other for mc.Where’s the KABOOM?!?! There’s supposed to be an Earth shattering KABOOM!!! -
Ah crap....sorry
I did this last night while waiting for baby to pass out. Still have a couple more connections to make but all in all, super easy!
I have it set up for 40db (mm cart) but he also sends other resistor values for 50db and 60db. I will save those for another day. My one regret is not having a smaller solder tip. The one supplied with the Weller was a little on the large side making soldering the PCB a little more difficult.
Sorry but I noticed that you got the resistors in backwards...
JK
“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” ~ Mark Twain -
Haha....I actually looked.Where’s the KABOOM?!?! There’s supposed to be an Earth shattering KABOOM!!!
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Sorry, Just couldn't help myself. :evil:“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” ~ Mark Twain
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Get the wrong resistors in backwards, and Jimi plays the guitar right-side-up
;-) -
McCartney plays right handed?Where’s the KABOOM?!?! There’s supposed to be an Earth shattering KABOOM!!!
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'zackly... and Ringo's an excellent drummer ;-)
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Hey now, don't mess with my man Ringo. One of the all time greats! No Buddy Rich, but the guy was incredibly tasteful with great touch.
Really!"Science is suppose to explain observations not dismiss them as impossible" - Norm on AA; 2.3TL's w/sonicaps/mills/jantzen inductors, Gimpod's boards, Lg Solen SDA inductors, RD-0198's, MW's dynamatted, Armaflex speaker gaskets, H-nuts, brass spikes, Cardas CCGR BP's, upgraded IC Cable, Black Hole Damping Sheet strips, interior of cabinets sealed with Loctite Power Grab, AI-1 interface with 1000VA A-L transformer -
You swap out the resistors for your application.
Based on the board size, I'd say it would be easier to just buy another at $139. Have one for mm, and the other for mc.
Gotcha. I ask because its a phono I have debated highly but I am TT dumb for the most part, so I would need to figure out what table I was using with it first to make sure I picked right."....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963) -
drumminman wrote: »Hey now, don't mess with my man Ringo. One of the all time greats! No Buddy Rich, but the guy was incredibly tasteful with great touch.
Really!
He kept phenomenal time :-)
Indeed, he was perfectly competent and just what the Beatles needed...
FWIW, McCartney played drums on some tracks on White Album if memory serves (and definitely on his first couple of solo albums)... left handed, of course ;-)
PS my dig at Mr. Starkey wasn't really sincere, it was based on a quip from an old episode of the BBC Sci-Fi sitcom Red Dwarf... about a parallel universe in which, they surmised, "Ringo was a good drummer" :-) -
Soldering is complete. Powered on and lights up. Connected Doug's interconnect, turned on turntable, aaaaaand baby decides that its nap time. I'll try again tomorrow. Sorry for the shortly photo, my phone likes to pretend every image should be treated like Sasquatch.Where’s the KABOOM?!?! There’s supposed to be an Earth shattering KABOOM!!!
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I did the in out because I'm scared my "roommate" will unplug something and not have a clue.Where’s the KABOOM?!?! There’s supposed to be an Earth shattering KABOOM!!!
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... Sorry for the shortly photo, my phone likes to pretend every image should be treated like Sasquatch.
:-) That's signature line material right there...I did the in out because I'm scared my "roommate" will unplug something and not have a clue.
"Ah, the old 'in-out'... ;-) -
And that's how babies are made........Where’s the KABOOM?!?! There’s supposed to be an Earth shattering KABOOM!!!
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...any listening test updates?
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I will be completely honest with you.......NO
Work has been hellacious and finding time at home with baby just doesn't exist. It has been powered up for a week now, no smoke, no sparks, no nothing......yet.
I'm hoping to do the ol' listen to the same song 9 times routine with wifey (3 on built in pre, 3 on bugle2, 3 on reduction) and maybe, just maybe one of us will be able to hear a discernible difference.
I do have to check the bottlehead one more time as i think the voltages are off slightly.
Anxious is the word....time is of the essence!Where’s the KABOOM?!?! There’s supposed to be an Earth shattering KABOOM!!! -
I hear you; I was a postdoc when ours were little - the first month of my son's life was like one long day...
Mrs. H hates it if I play the same track multiple times whilst "testing" something...
Re: the Bottlehead - how "off"? 10% should be OK (line voltage fluctuations)... do you have a "Kill-a-watt"? If not, you ought to! :-) It's a danged handy piece of kit, both for audio repair and troubleshooting and for general household utility. Sadly, they don't pay me to endorse their product ;-)
http://www.p3international.com/products/p4400.html -
I've been meaning to get one for s while. Might as well complete my diy kit.
Its more the voltages between the 2 channels being off.Where’s the KABOOM?!?! There’s supposed to be an Earth shattering KABOOM!!! -
Christmas is comin'... ;-)
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I've been meaning to get one for s while. Might as well complete my diy kit.
As a FYI I emailed Jim asking about why he choose to use a switching powersupply and if their might be a better powersupply out there for the unit. This is what I got back....
My question:Dear Jim:
I am looking at purchasing a Bugle 2 phono pro from you. However I was curious if you think the included powersupply/wallwart is fine, or if you would suggest building/buying a different one.
I noticed that the original Bugle had a add on to build a powersupply for it so you could not worry about replacing the batteries.
I realize for the price the included powersupply/wallwart is what was called for I was simply curious if you thought their would be worthwhile improvements from a better powersupply, and if so if you had any suggestions.
I look forward to your response and thank you in advance for your time.
His response:I made a number of design improvements to allow the use of a simple wall wart. Normal power supplies won't work properly with it (unless modifications are made).
jh
I am still debating one of these for my setup as well since my Integra doesnt have a phono and most AVR's dont anymore. I spun some LP's on my Project Debut last night and it was heaven direct into my Sunfire."....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963) -
So! I finally sat down this morning (off for 10 days...w00t!!) and turned on my little system.
ATLP120 ->Bugle2->dougs interconnects->Anthem Tlp-1 Pre-> Aurial Thrills Silver interconnectz ->Anthem Mca20->MIT Exp2->RtiA5 running in full range
I'll keep this short and simple as I don't quite know what I'm talking about and am willing to lay that right out there. Immediate impression is I really have to turn the knob well passed the -30dB I was used to with the built in pre. I'm now at -14dB on the Tlp to achieve the same listening experience. My three songs of choice are as follows;
Dire Straits - Sultan's of Swing
Paul Simon - Slip Slidin Away
Chicago - Make Me Smile
The songs have more detail. I wouldn't say a jaw dropping amount but when switching back and forth, the little rimshots and finger snaps that were basically lost in the background have seemed to move up a couple feet closer to the front. The singers voices have become a little more pronounced but slightly harsh up top. This might be noticing what speakers I'm using. Listening fatigue/brightness actually become a factor especially during the guitar solos in Sultans and the trumpets from Chicago. There was no change in bass response that I could tell but I'm not a bass head to begin with.
All in all, @ $139 shipped to my door, I'm generally impressed. I'm not going to get rid of it yet until I play "weakest link" and either replace the speakers or the TT.
Dan, I say at $139, give it a whirl. Your LSIs will likely tame the highs a bit more and be more musical.
MHardy, shoot me a pm with your address and i can send it to you for evaluation unless your going to schedule another get together?Where’s the KABOOM?!?! There’s supposed to be an Earth shattering KABOOM!!!
