The ask dsavitsk thread

[postjack]

...and Nate suggested a Starving Student. Wanted to get y'all's opinions on these two Millett's for sale on HF.

Whiplash Millett SS for $130

Or Millett Hybrid for $150

the $150 looks like a good deal, but I don't know anything about the builder. Thoughts?

[feckn_eejit]

...any interest in a RA1 before I hawk it on HF?

[postjack]

thanks for the offer, but I'm looking in more of a Millett-y direction.

[feckn_eejit]

Fair enough! Can't comment on the SSs as I've never heard one but good luck.

[AlanY]

...and Nate suggested a Starving Student. Wanted to get y'all's opinions on these two Millett's for sale on HF.

Whiplash Millett SS for $130

Or Millett Hybrid for $150

the $150 looks like a good deal, but I don't know anything about the builder. Thoughts?

That Millett Hybrid is the second version. I have one of the originals, with the BUF634 like that one... it was an excellent match with my HF-1s. Don't know the builder. It's a good price; you probably won't be disappointed IMO if the HF-2s are anything like the HF-1s.

[en480c4]

I've had my HF-1s paired with a Nugget Audio Millett Hybrid since I got it. I think it's a great match... I love mine with the 12FK6 tubes. My only suggestion would be to try to track down some of the diamond buffers for the Hybrid... It's definitely a step up in all regards.

[HeadphoneAddict]

I think a MSSH, Cavalli CTH or head-direct EF1 would be a great match for the HF-2.

I don't know that I could decide which of the three I thought sounded better after listening, whether our rds Millett SSH kit (same at the Whiplash kit, but assembled by -=Germania=- for me as a free favor, the wiatrob built CTH that I handed over to Naamanf at CanJam, or the early production EF1 (which I just traded for an EF2 at CanJam).

[n_maher]

thanks for the offer, but I'm looking in more of a Millett-y direction.

Frack I wish I had more time on my hands. Stupid blackgated Millett is just dying a slow death in my parts drawer with no case.

[manaox2]

Frack I wish I had more time on my hands. Stupid blackgated Millett is just dying a slow death in my parts drawer with no case.

Ha, I'm listening to my MHMax uncased right now. It's super bassy even with Gamma1 right now, I'm going to switch in the 12FK6 tomorrow.

[postjack]

Frack I wish I had more time on my hands. Stupid blackgated Millett is just dying a slow death in my parts drawer with no case.

no worries nato. I'm really hoping for a cheapie solution until I can have the official nugget audio solution.

thanks all for your replies.

[voodoochile]

Frack I wish I had more time on my hands. Stupid blackgated Millett is just dying a slow death in my parts drawer with no case.

Uh-oh... I heard that.

[dsavitsk]

no worries nato. I'm really hoping for a cheapie solution until I can have the official nugget audio solution.

thanks all for your replies.

For cheap and good sound with Grados, I think you'd be hard pressed to beat a simple MOSFET follower. Even with top quality parts it will be cheaper and dare I say better sounding, than any of the Millett Hybrids.

http://www.ecp.cc/SZ.html

[luvdunhill]

excellent point. I do happen to have a few boards laying around for this amp Post Jack if you can find -=someone=- to build an amp for you....

[postjack]

thanks guys, I already worked out a solution, with a little help from my friends, of course. Minimax is on it's way to me ad we speak.

[dsavitsk]

Here's another variation I am in the middle of:

[luvdunhill]

hey, thats a fun idea. What about using those LU1014D power JFETs?

[postjack]

Friends of DIY have invaded my thread!

[dsavitsk]

hey, thats a fun idea. What about using those LU1014D power JFETs?

I'm sure it would work great, but I hate hunting down obscure solid state parts. Someone should try it, though. So far, my experiments with the topology have been really promising.

[Dusty Chalk]

[luvdunhill]

I'm sure it would work great, but I hate hunting down obscure solid state parts. Someone should try it, though. So far, my experiments with the topology have been really promising.

I'd expect more chokes from you Why not something like a choke loaded source follower?

[dsavitsk]

I'd expect more chokes from you Why not something like a choke loaded source follower?

DC offset. Depending upon the OPT used, the offset between sides has to be really small. For instance, I am working on the version below as an IV to a differential NOS AD1865N DAC. Talking with K&K, offset between sides needs to be in the less than 1mV range, with lower being better. I went through 100 2sk170's, and while I found reasonably match parts, I am still going to need trimmers to be able to make adjustments to get things in that range making choke loading impractical. In fact, I may need to pick up more fets to find better matches. With the Cinemag on the headphone driver, offset issues are slightly relaxed, but not really by much -- it is still a fully interleaved 80% nickel core. More than a few microamps of current will still saturate it.

However, barring the offset issue, I wonder if dual chokes on the same core might work for both sides ...

By the way, the topology is in use here: http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=141865

TDA1543's, cheap OPT's (Cinemags that cost $18) and it sounds great -- one of my favorite things I've built.

[luvdunhill]

I went through 100 2sk170's, and while I found reasonably match parts

Doug, I have a considerable number of LSK170 that are already grouped by Idss. In general, they fall into the Toshiba "V" grade Idss classification. I'd be more than happy to ship you a bag of them and let you choose whatever pairs you'd like.

Failing that, I have a considerable number of the Toshiba parts (both binned by Idss, and still in original packaging) that I could send as well.

I use a similar topology with my NOS DAC, except using a eight legged devil instead of a transformer

I guess I was referring more to this type of topologies discussed in this thread, but I appreciate the information about DC offset. I wouldn't have though about that

diyAudio Forums - CHOKE Loaded MOSFET, easy to build - Page 1

I think you need your own thread around here, many people enjoy picking your brain about things In fact, your name came up the other day with respect to a CCS for Pars Counterpoint Preamp. Maybe a mod around here can make that happen (thread split)!

Edited June 10, 2009 by luvdunhill

[luvdunhill]

sorry, right thread, but ambiguous post. Here's a schematic.

[dsavitsk]

I appreciate the offer. I probably have enough close matches, but if I don't, I'll take you up on it.

[dsavitsk]

hey, thats a fun idea. What about using those LU1014D power JFETs?

Now that this thread is thoroughly off topic ... do you have any thoughts on where to get a quad, or even a pair, of unmatched LU1014D's? I am looking for a decent high current low dropout CCS to use for a filament supply. None of the depletion mode mosfets that I can find are high enough current (I need ~250mA), and everything else I have tried has either not worked, or worked poorly for one reason or another.