Bottlehead Foreplay

dcarlson
dcarlson Posts: 1,740
edited November 2004 in 2 Channel Audio
I've finally forced some time to building my Foreplay and should be done this week if everything goes well. :)

Here's the mock up, the guts aren't in yet.
SDA-2a, Anthem Pre-2L, Anthem Amp 1, MF A324 DAC, Rotel RCD1070

Senn HD650 Cardas, Mapletree Audio Ear+ HD2, Kimber KS1030, Bel Canto DAC2, M-Audio Transit, Laptop.
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited November 2004
    Looking good!
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited November 2004
    Thats a beauty, integrated amp right?
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited November 2004
    Dual mono tube line stage.
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • dcarlson
    dcarlson Posts: 1,740
    edited November 2004
    Thanks, it's been a lot of fun so far.

    It's a preamp.
    SDA-2a, Anthem Pre-2L, Anthem Amp 1, MF A324 DAC, Rotel RCD1070

    Senn HD650 Cardas, Mapletree Audio Ear+ HD2, Kimber KS1030, Bel Canto DAC2, M-Audio Transit, Laptop.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited November 2004
    Very nice piece.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited November 2004
    What's something like that cost in kit form?
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • tryrrthg
    tryrrthg Posts: 1,896
    edited November 2004
    Originally posted by steveinaz
    What's something like that cost in kit form?
    $180 or so, plus any mods you want...

    http://www.bottlehead.com/

    http://www.bottlehead.com/et/adobespc/foreplay/foreplay_line_stage_kit.htm
    Sony KDL-40V2500 HDTV, Rotel RSX-1067 Receiver, Sony BDP-S550 Blu-ray, Slim Devices Squeezebox, Polk RTi6, CSi3 & R15, DIY sub with Atlas 15
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  • dcarlson
    dcarlson Posts: 1,740
    edited November 2004
    I went with all the upgrades. I'm starting off stock and will do them one at a time.
    SDA-2a, Anthem Pre-2L, Anthem Amp 1, MF A324 DAC, Rotel RCD1070

    Senn HD650 Cardas, Mapletree Audio Ear+ HD2, Kimber KS1030, Bel Canto DAC2, M-Audio Transit, Laptop.
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  • gatemplin
    gatemplin Posts: 1,595
    edited November 2004
    Cool. I plan on building the Foreplay next year, or maybe someone could get it for me for Christmas, nudge nudge wink wink:D

    Let us know how the build goes and how you like the sound.
    Graham
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited November 2004
    Looking good! Let us know how it sounds when you're finished. Also, I'm interested to hear how much of a difference each upgrade makes. So do you find that building the pre is easy? Is the instruction easy to follow? Just wait until you get that baby hooked up to your Dynaco. Mine was smokin hot with the ASL pre.

    Maurice
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  • dcarlson
    dcarlson Posts: 1,740
    edited November 2004
    Messy update.
    SDA-2a, Anthem Pre-2L, Anthem Amp 1, MF A324 DAC, Rotel RCD1070

    Senn HD650 Cardas, Mapletree Audio Ear+ HD2, Kimber KS1030, Bel Canto DAC2, M-Audio Transit, Laptop.
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  • dcarlson
    dcarlson Posts: 1,740
    edited November 2004
    I'm actually a little further along than the picture and hope to finish up tonight.
    SDA-2a, Anthem Pre-2L, Anthem Amp 1, MF A324 DAC, Rotel RCD1070

    Senn HD650 Cardas, Mapletree Audio Ear+ HD2, Kimber KS1030, Bel Canto DAC2, M-Audio Transit, Laptop.
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  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited November 2004
    Well, that's awesome; it doesn't look all that complicated. 'Course, I'm sure I could make it be....

    Let us know what you think!!
    George Grand wrote: »
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
    In Use
    PS3, Yamaha CDR-HD1300, Plex, Amazon Fire TV Gen 2
    Pioneer Elite VSX-52, Parasound HCA-1000A
    Klipsch RF-82ii, RC-62ii, RS-42ii, RW-10d
    Epson 8700UB
    In Storage
    [Home Audio]
    Rotel RCD-02, Yamaha KX-W900U, Sony ST-S500ES, Denon DP-7F
    Pro-Ject Phono Box MKII, Parasound P/HP-850, ASL Wave 20 monoblocks
    Klipsch RF-35, RB-51ii
    [Car Audio]
    Pioneer Premier DEH-P860MP, Memphis 16-MCA3004, Boston Acoustic RC520
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited November 2004
    Wow! Very neat and clean. I hope to build one in the future. While you're on a soldering frenzy, why don't you take out the Dyna and strap that **** in triode.

    Maurice
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  • dcarlson
    dcarlson Posts: 1,740
    edited November 2004
    I'm only about half way. Lol. I'll let you know how complicated it gets as more gets stuffed in there.
    SDA-2a, Anthem Pre-2L, Anthem Amp 1, MF A324 DAC, Rotel RCD1070

    Senn HD650 Cardas, Mapletree Audio Ear+ HD2, Kimber KS1030, Bel Canto DAC2, M-Audio Transit, Laptop.
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  • dcarlson
    dcarlson Posts: 1,740
    edited November 2004
    The Dyna will get a full reworking in a couple of months. ;)
    SDA-2a, Anthem Pre-2L, Anthem Amp 1, MF A324 DAC, Rotel RCD1070

    Senn HD650 Cardas, Mapletree Audio Ear+ HD2, Kimber KS1030, Bel Canto DAC2, M-Audio Transit, Laptop.
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited November 2004
    Very cool. Keep us posted.

    I'm planning to do the same thing with my Dyna. Probably this summer. Will get new tube sockets, re-wire everything and install a replacement 7199 board from www.dynaco-doctor.com
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  • dcarlson
    dcarlson Posts: 1,740
    edited November 2004
    Funny, I've been thinking of doing the same.
    SDA-2a, Anthem Pre-2L, Anthem Amp 1, MF A324 DAC, Rotel RCD1070

    Senn HD650 Cardas, Mapletree Audio Ear+ HD2, Kimber KS1030, Bel Canto DAC2, M-Audio Transit, Laptop.
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited November 2004
    Cool. Do you plan to buy the blank board + parts or the assembled and tested? I plan to get the assembled with cap upgrades. Re-wiring and changing tube sockets will be a pain in the ****, so I don't want to spend too much time on it. I plan to get the whole thing done in a day and enjoy the 'good as new' amp by night.

    Maurice
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  • dcarlson
    dcarlson Posts: 1,740
    edited November 2004
    Originally posted by organ
    Cool. Do you plan to buy the blank board + parts or the assembled and tested? I plan to get the assembled with cap upgrades. Re-wiring and changing tube sockets will be a pain in the ****, so I don't want to spend too much time on it. I plan to get the whole thing done in a day and enjoy the 'good as new' amp by night.

    Maurice
    Haven't thought about it much, but after this project, I'll probably do it myself. It's been pretty fun. :)
    SDA-2a, Anthem Pre-2L, Anthem Amp 1, MF A324 DAC, Rotel RCD1070

    Senn HD650 Cardas, Mapletree Audio Ear+ HD2, Kimber KS1030, Bel Canto DAC2, M-Audio Transit, Laptop.
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  • dcarlson
    dcarlson Posts: 1,740
    edited November 2004
    It's alive. I've got some hum but I was somewhat expecting it for my first kit.
    SDA-2a, Anthem Pre-2L, Anthem Amp 1, MF A324 DAC, Rotel RCD1070

    Senn HD650 Cardas, Mapletree Audio Ear+ HD2, Kimber KS1030, Bel Canto DAC2, M-Audio Transit, Laptop.
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  • dcarlson
    dcarlson Posts: 1,740
    edited November 2004
    Oh yeah, it's sound good. I'm sure there's gonna be some sort of burn in and only get better. :)
    SDA-2a, Anthem Pre-2L, Anthem Amp 1, MF A324 DAC, Rotel RCD1070

    Senn HD650 Cardas, Mapletree Audio Ear+ HD2, Kimber KS1030, Bel Canto DAC2, M-Audio Transit, Laptop.
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  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited November 2004
    haha; nice! maybe you can get that 'hum' worked out of there...
    George Grand wrote: »
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
    In Use
    PS3, Yamaha CDR-HD1300, Plex, Amazon Fire TV Gen 2
    Pioneer Elite VSX-52, Parasound HCA-1000A
    Klipsch RF-82ii, RC-62ii, RS-42ii, RW-10d
    Epson 8700UB
    In Storage
    [Home Audio]
    Rotel RCD-02, Yamaha KX-W900U, Sony ST-S500ES, Denon DP-7F
    Pro-Ject Phono Box MKII, Parasound P/HP-850, ASL Wave 20 monoblocks
    Klipsch RF-35, RB-51ii
    [Car Audio]
    Pioneer Premier DEH-P860MP, Memphis 16-MCA3004, Boston Acoustic RC520
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  • dcarlson
    dcarlson Posts: 1,740
    edited November 2004
    Yeah, I'll go over all of the solder points again and take it from there. Tonight was pretty much just a test run. :)
    SDA-2a, Anthem Pre-2L, Anthem Amp 1, MF A324 DAC, Rotel RCD1070

    Senn HD650 Cardas, Mapletree Audio Ear+ HD2, Kimber KS1030, Bel Canto DAC2, M-Audio Transit, Laptop.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited November 2004
    Congrats! Tell us how it sounds! How bad is the hum? You can double check your grounding points. My ASL hummed with my NAD amp but was dead quiet with my Dyna.

    Maurice
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  • dcarlson
    dcarlson Posts: 1,740
    edited November 2004
    Thanks, it really sounds great, the hum is there but not too noticable while playing.

    With the Foreplay, SDA's, Kimber 8TC on the way, some cheap tube dampers on the way. All of a sudden I almost have a whole new system. I'm very happy. :D
    SDA-2a, Anthem Pre-2L, Anthem Amp 1, MF A324 DAC, Rotel RCD1070

    Senn HD650 Cardas, Mapletree Audio Ear+ HD2, Kimber KS1030, Bel Canto DAC2, M-Audio Transit, Laptop.
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  • dcarlson
    dcarlson Posts: 1,740
    edited November 2004
    Well, the hum only occurs when I hook up the Foreplay to my Dynaco. :confused:
    SDA-2a, Anthem Pre-2L, Anthem Amp 1, MF A324 DAC, Rotel RCD1070

    Senn HD650 Cardas, Mapletree Audio Ear+ HD2, Kimber KS1030, Bel Canto DAC2, M-Audio Transit, Laptop.
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 7,658
    edited November 2004
    Hello,
    Putting the circuit inside the enclosure should reduce the humming. Nice job on the construction!
    Ken
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  • dcarlson
    dcarlson Posts: 1,740
    edited November 2004
    Interesting, thanks. I'll give it a try.

    I'm still finishing the wood casing.
    SDA-2a, Anthem Pre-2L, Anthem Amp 1, MF A324 DAC, Rotel RCD1070

    Senn HD650 Cardas, Mapletree Audio Ear+ HD2, Kimber KS1030, Bel Canto DAC2, M-Audio Transit, Laptop.
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  • dcarlson
    dcarlson Posts: 1,740
    edited November 2004
    This project was a lot of fun and may have awaken a DIYer in me.

    Here's the finished underside.
    SDA-2a, Anthem Pre-2L, Anthem Amp 1, MF A324 DAC, Rotel RCD1070

    Senn HD650 Cardas, Mapletree Audio Ear+ HD2, Kimber KS1030, Bel Canto DAC2, M-Audio Transit, Laptop.
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