Craig Sawyers

First the link. Chinese - what do you reckon the chance of obsolete sand from China being genuine? And second - What exactly are you saying? Please very carefully clarify.

Clark Gable signing autographs in 1958 in glorious Kodachrome

Well that is interesting. The killer, however, if these came from the US to the UK is (a) $18 shipping and (b) They would get stopped for VAT and a clearance fee of UKP10. So the actual price per quad is about doubled. But the same thing happens for the DIYAudio linear systems ones. All part of rip off Britain.

The key difference between a toroid and an R-core is primary/secondary capacitance and leakage inductance. R-core has primary and secondary on opposite legs. So the capacitance is low, but the leakage inductance is high. With a toroid, the capacitance is high, but the leakage inductance is low. So an R-core (like a split bobbin EI) is better for not coupling RFI between windings. But the leakage inductance means enough stray magnetic field to cause potential hum problems. A toroid by contrast, because of the tight coupling between the windings, tends to couple RF. But because of the low leakage inductance has a very low external magnetic field. Basically, horses for courses. I've used both types in various bits of my kit. But since I always use an outboard supply (for non-power amp use) either type has worked just fine.

That is taking the term "near field monitor" a bit to extremes!

Thanks guys! That was a fine day that started with a Zoom with the kids (well, 32 and 35!), and finished with an excellent steak dinner. And now - time for bed said Zebedee.

And now for something insane. The two monoblocks weigh half a ton, and in US speak around $400k . Dan D'Agostino going totally bonkers. https://dandagostino.com/products/relentless-monoblock.php

Good grief. Sounds really flaky.

We had the same demise of Maplin - a similar sort of thing in the UK to Fry's. Back 25 years or so back, they stocked audio parts like Elna Cerafine capacitors, and power drivers from Eminence. I know because I bought both from there because it was to go to place for Cerafine, and I built a 15" bass cabinet for my son using an Eminence driver, both bought over the counter. Then they made the mistake of dumbing down. So if you wanted a remote control gizmo, or a drone, or some rubbish audio tat that became the place of choice. It ended up folding in 2018 after it had changed hands four or five times. But oddly enough it has been relaunched entirely on a mail order business, mainly selling tat https://www.maplin.co.uk/ . I have no idea who owns the brand name now.

Damned right. All the high voltage, low capacitance stuff went west when "conventional" CRT based TV's bit the dust and flat screen took over. All of which needed a radical rethink of how to do solid state electrostatic headphone amps.

The other one I forgot to mention if you have deep pockets is Interfet. They do have possibly the lowest noise n-JFET ever, the IF3601/3602. These have wild and unpredictable Idss, but a noise voltage of typically 0.3nV/rootHz and a noise corner of a few Hz. If you can bear that $100 price tag for the dual version and $30 for the single.

It isn't confined to On-Semi. Rohm did the same thing with all their low noise offerings ages ago, So did Renesas with the J79/K216 - in fact lateral MOSFETs are a thing of the past. Most p-channel jFETs have gone, and many low-noise jFETs of any flavour. The latest to go is the very low noise J107 (another On-Semi casualty). NXP killed off the n-jFET BF862 (lower noise than the K170) and indeed all jFETs, period. Analog Devices has just EOL'd the monolithic dual MAT01, unusual because it BVceo is 45V; every other low-noise dual is 40V. So in one of my applications where the maximum Vce is 41V it is the only part that will do. Hell On-Semi even obsoleted that ubiquitous BC560! OK they still make the SM version, the BC860, but it is tough nuts if you needed the power dissipation of a discrete part. If a part does not go in an automotive, mobile device, TV or other ultra-high volume application, semiconductor manufacturers lose interest real fast. The glimmers of hope are Toshiba, Diodes Inc, Linear Systems and THAT. And LS is the only one with a credible line up of single and dual jFETs and dual bipolars in multiple package choice.

That is just part of OnSemi's quest to obsolete anything remotely of use to audio. They took over Fairchild and Sanyo and have systematically removed many much loved discrete transistors from both their lines. I hate OnSemi with a passion. A big fucking hatred. A big fucking passionate hatred.

FWIW I measured the TTA004b/TTC004b a little while ago. Proviso is that they are only in the range <12V and <10mA. But I have measured Cob and Early Voltage. Toshiba TTA004 TTC004.pdf

Have a great birthday Naaman!

You know - it is a long time since I enjoyed a cigar. But you guys have sure got me thinking....

Have a massive and spectacular day - happy birthday!

Have a great day! Happy birthday!!

Another one I nearly missed! A very happy birthday!!

We've been re-watching The West Wing. I'd forgotten how really, really good that series was. Tightly scripted, excellent cast of superb actors, and fine storyline. Currently half way though series 2

How did I miss this? Apart from the Vertigo scare I hope you had a very happy birthday Steve!

Darn. Pretty good innings though. Back when I was working for PA Technology in the early/mid 80's, Neve's design and manufacturing unit was directly in the dead end road across from where I worked. The name lives on in a road in a new housing development called Rupert Neve Close almost exactly where the factory was. neve close.pdf

The 1970 festival resulted to serious problems with the inhabitants. There are only 120,000 (at the time) living on the Isle of Wight, so 700,000 stoned, drunk and rowdy festival goes were really a bit of a problem. The festival has been revived in recent years, but is much smaller - 50,000 or so, and it is much more tightly organised and managed. Also, locals have now entered into the entrepreneur spirit and put their fridge and freezer outdoor and sell bottled water, beer and ice cream to festival goers.

Found the pic. This is looking down the bank towards the site of the festival And this is from the same viewpoint fifty-one years ago

Jimi Hendrix set at the 1970 Isle of Wight. Guinness Book record for the largest festival ever with 700,000. Only a few weeks before he died at the age of 27. In full, completely amazing flight here. Funnily enough I've walked across the area that that iconic festival was held, now totally rural with a few cows and sheep. Absolutely no sign at all that it was ever anything other.