Homemade AI-1

BrettT1
BrettT1 Posts: 560
edited October 2007 in Vintage Speakers
Hello, all. Unfortunately, my buddy got his system put back together and I had to give back his interconnect. After some apprehension, I eventually put together the homemade version. Glad I did it.

Gotta love that SDA sound.

:D

Brett
Post edited by BrettT1 on
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited June 2007
    No pics? Blade blade, or pin blade?
    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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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited June 2007
    Would you mind posting which method you used to make the AI-1. I had traded mine for a straight pin/blade and am sure I'm going to need another.
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  • BrettT1
    BrettT1 Posts: 560
    edited June 2007
    I used an isolation transformer and 12 gauge speaker wire. I bought some end connecters from radio ****. I'll post pics when it's prettied up a bit. I would still like to trade an original pin/blade and some $ for an original ai-1. If anyone is interested, drop me a line.

    Thanks,

    B

    :)
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  • strider
    strider Posts: 2,568
    edited June 2007
    hearingimpared wrote: »
    Would you mind posting which method you used to make the AI-1. I had traded mine for a straight pin/blade and am sure I'm going to need another.

    Hey Joe,

    I'm going to get off my arse here in the next month or so and build myself a new blade/blade one using an Avel transformer. I'll be sure and take pictures and notes.
    Wristwatch--->Crisco
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  • BrettT1
    BrettT1 Posts: 560
    edited June 2007
    I used a Magnetek transformer. Since my 1C's are modified, I didn't need pin/blade or blade/blade ends. One wire to the negative terminal; one wire to the SDA binding post. Works great and simple to make.

    B

    :)
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited June 2007
    strider wrote: »
    Hey Joe,

    I'm going to get off my arse here in the next month or so and build myself a new blade/blade one using an Avel transformer. I'll be sure and take pictures and notes.

    Thanks Bro!
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  • BrettT1
    BrettT1 Posts: 560
    edited October 2007
    Sorry to dig up an old thread but, ...

    Don't do what I said - unfortunatley had to learn the hard way.

    I was lucky to get an original AI-1 from a friend.
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited October 2007
    so does this cable depend on what version of SDA you are using or what amp you are using with your SDA's? me so comfused
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • BrettT1
    BrettT1 Posts: 560
    edited October 2007
    There is a good possibility I built the homemade correctly. I think it is very possible I didn't hook it up to the terminals correctly. My SDA1C's are modified and have the single terminal for SDA. Please don't take too much advise from me. I mean well, but I'm not knowledgable. Sorry is I confuse you, man, I seem to be confused all the time.

    B.
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,204
    edited October 2007
    danger boy wrote: »
    so does this cable depend on what version of SDA you are using or what amp you are using with your SDA's? me so comfused

    Yes and yes.

    DB, did you ever get a compendium? It's all spelled out in there. What specific model do you have? Serial #'s and what connectors? I'll get my compendium out later today and let you know.

    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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  • shadowofnight
    shadowofnight Posts: 2,735
    edited October 2007
    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55888

    Scroll down...second from the bottom entry...everything you need to know....
    The first rule of Fight Club is you don't talk about Fight Club
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited October 2007
    i did get the compendium and i love it.. my concern is that the amp that was driving my 2B's just recently died.. and I was wondering if it's a non common grounding amp. and that's why the amp died, trying to power the 2B's. it's a dual mono design amp.. so I don't know if that is any way could cause problem. I've emailed Pioneer, but they were no help.
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,204
    edited October 2007
    danger boy wrote: »
    i did get the compendium and i love it.. my concern is that the amp that was driving my 2B's just recently died.. and I was wondering if it's a non common grounding amp. and that's why the amp died, trying to power the 2B's. it's a dual mono design amp.. so I don't know if that is any way could cause problem. I've emailed Pioneer, but they were no help.

    The best thing to do I guess with your next amp is use DVM to measure between the neg. terminals on the amp to see if it is common ground or not. I plan on building an AI-1 cable and I asked the opposite question, can you run the AI-1 with a common ground amp. Jury is still out on that one. So it's always best to know what your're running and then match to correct SDA cable.

    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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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,734
    edited October 2007
    I asked the opposite question, can you run the AI-1 with a common ground amp.

    Absolutely.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,204
    edited October 2007
    F1nut wrote: »
    Absolutely.

    Do you know from experience? I asked Raife and his simple answer was, why would you want to?

    I'm still searching for the right amp and I'm tired of trying to figure out before I buy if it's common ground, etc. Because common ground means different things to different people. So I thought why not make the AI-1 and just use it on whatever amp I decide on, that way I'm safe with the whole "common ground" issue.

    I suppose it's not abig deal to have both handy to choose from.

    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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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited October 2007
    heiney9 wrote: »
    Do you know from experience? I asked Raife and his simple answer was, why would you want to?

    I'm still searching for the right amp and I'm tired of trying to figure out before I buy if it's common ground, etc. Because common ground means different things to different people. So I thought why not make the AI-1 and just use it on whatever amp I decide on, that way I'm safe with the whole "common ground" issue.

    I suppose it's not abig deal to have both handy to choose from.

    H9

    I traded mine for a straight through SDA cable. I'm sorry I did cause now I had to ask for it back and I hate doing that. I've heard the AI-1 on F1nut's rig and if it caused anything negative to occur I certainly didn't hear it. His is the first home rig I've heard such natural tone.

    I hope to get that same tone with a Tri Vista 300 here in my rig. That is why I've asked for the reverse trade on the AI-1 as it is not a common ground configuration. I've also been told that the stock AI-1 sounds better than the two homemade ones floating around here. I've not heard them but a very reliable source made that observation.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,734
    edited October 2007
    Do you know from experience?

    Yes, there's no difference to my ears.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,204
    edited October 2007
    F1nut wrote: »
    Yes, there's no difference to my ears.

    That's good to know.......but I didn't make myself clear in that I was more concerned about having electrical difficulties with the amp or the SDA's if I were to use the AI-1 cable with a common ground amp.

    That's when Raife responded, why would you want to? :)

    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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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,734
    edited October 2007
    Ah, no electrical difficulties either.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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