Great news Mike. I have done a fair amount of repair work but never an actual build.
@mudflapjackson683013 күн бұрын
Mike just watched your video. That’s exciting news. Just subscribed to your channel. I’ve been working in electronics since the 70’s. Can’t wait to see these kits hit the market.
@PCBGraphixPCBGraphix13 күн бұрын
Thanks for stopping by! We're getting close to releasing them. The manuals go to the printers next week.
@MichaelRussoАй бұрын
Very cool! A video I would recommend to anyone learning best practices.
@ChrisBeenDeadInside4WhileNowАй бұрын
Am i going to need a extra phono stage to run it with a turntable using a reguler MM cartidge ? Or will it run just fine ?
@JeffCarder-do4rlАй бұрын
So exciting, Mike. Congratulations again on your audio journey. I just love the minimalist look of the chassis, and I think the walnut casing is going to bring it all home. Well done!
@pcbgraphix1903Ай бұрын
Thank you sir!
@ChrisBeenDeadInside4WhileNow2 ай бұрын
I just bought a very NICE heathkit AA-100. . im a young kid living in Portland oregon . And im interested in getting it serviced. I really like the work you did . Is there any chance you might be interested in doing it ? Or you completely done servicing them
@ChrisBeenDeadInside4WhileNow2 ай бұрын
Where are you located ? Any way to contact ? Like email or number ? I have a heathkit aa-100 that works fine but could probably use a modest tune up just for safety . Im in Portland oregon myself.
@pcbgraphix1903Ай бұрын
I am a former PDX guy myself. We've stopped doing AA-100 work so that we can focus on a new amplifier design, coming soon! [email protected]
@Alexus381063 ай бұрын
I love my HeathKit AA-100, I must say and I had a lot of Amplifiers in my life, but this unit makes incredible smooth sound, I also recapped it and I would never sell this angle of sound. I have here Mcintosh , Sonic Frontiers FSF-80, but the good old Heathkit makes the best sound I have ever heard!
@pcbgraphix1903Ай бұрын
It sure does! Thanks for watching.
@dougkiss76304 ай бұрын
Thank you for sharing your expertise. A had a HK AA-151 included N/C in a recent purchase of a metal press. I am inspired!
@pcbgraphix19034 ай бұрын
Sounds like a great deal. The AA-151 is a sweet amp.
@mansartherve58724 ай бұрын
Bonjour de la france🖐, superbe réalisation, il est magnifique et merci à vous de faire revivre ses amplificateurs à tubes, je suis propriétaire du même amplificateur, bravo pour votre video ❤
@MidnightVisions4 ай бұрын
Change out the white porcelain sockets, they don't have good reliability. Use the gray Beldin sockets instead.
@pcbgraphix19034 ай бұрын
I've heard rumors about that, but we've shipped over 900 of them in our previous products. We've never had a problem with them.
@davidanderson85004 ай бұрын
I kinda like the "utility" model.
@pcbgraphix19034 ай бұрын
That one is just a test fixture and it's not very builder friendly.
@davidanderson85004 ай бұрын
I understand, of course.. From your description, I'm sure the production model will be real classy! I have a soft spot in my heart for Heathkit. I think I shared before that my dad and I built an SA2 in 1960. I would love to relive some of that excitement!@@pcbgraphix1903
@zacharystrohl55664 ай бұрын
Hi! Do you still do restorations on the aa-100 ? I’m currently looking for someone that knows these particular unit please let me know thank you.😊
@pcbgraphix19034 ай бұрын
Hello, we are no longer doing restorations on the AA-100 amps. We've turned our attention to building new tube amp kits which we hope to have available soon.
@zacharystrohl55664 ай бұрын
@@pcbgraphix1903 OK are the circuit boards are going to be readable available or are they gonna be discontinued to
@pcbgraphix19034 ай бұрын
@@zacharystrohl5566 The AA-100 circuit boards are discontinued and sold out.
@johndavidson17655 ай бұрын
Hope I'm not stepping on any toes but I got a chance to listen to this amp today. It has very smooth and clear sound. Bass was solid, midrange was clear and well defined, highs were well pronounced and not overbearing. Looking forward to hearing a pair!
@pcbgraphix19034 ай бұрын
Thanks John! I hope to have another listening session in stereo this time soon.
@davidanderson85005 ай бұрын
Although I have no need for another mono amp, I would love to build one of the prospective kits. In 1960 my dad and I built a Heathkit SA-2 integrated stereo amplifier (which I use almost daily). I would go for a kit with transformers even though that would increase the cost.
@pcbgraphix19035 ай бұрын
Hi David, the kits will come with everything including tubes and transformers.
@rodduncan11835 ай бұрын
YES THE AMP WE SEE SOUNDS ABSOLUTLY FANTASTIC BUT As you pointed out the transformer you will get most certainly won't be the same & then there is the fact it has only 120 volts where the rest of the world runs on 240 volts which is where your main customer base will come from Are you going to call it a Tucker ???? I am not trying to be nasty & hateful just making a very small point. Kiwi Rod
@pcbgraphix19035 ай бұрын
Hello Rod, thanks for stopping by. Yeah, there's no reason to put a 30 watt transformer on an amplifier that can only put out 7 watts at best. I'd rather pass the cost savings on to my customers and apply the big iron to the big amps later. Good point about the voltage. I'm working to get started with this in North America where the power is 120 volts, but I'm not opposed to making a 240 volt version.
@cobar53425 ай бұрын
Looks promising
@russbetts14675 ай бұрын
I'm a big and Life-long fan of Valve amps. My first encounter with Valves was back in 1951, when my father bought a COSSOR Radio-Gram. I then found QUAD II amps, followed by the Leak Stereo 20, which also uses EL84 valves. I currently run a Kit Amp from World Audio Design - K5881 Mk2 - a British design by Noel Keywood, who is/was the owner of Hi-Fi World Magazine. He designed a series of them back in the 1980's/90's. Using EL84 and Russian 5881 Valves, amoungst others. All were Class A or AB. The K5881 is a 20 Watt Push-Pull amp, but he also used the same valves in a 17 Watt Parallel Single Ended model. I run my K5881 through a pair of QUAD ESL 57 speakers. The front end is a World Design Phono 3 - Not the same company as World Audio Design - into a World Audio Design KLPP1 Pre-amp and into the K5881 Power Amp. Used almost exclusively with LP, but sometimes with CD. I've subscribed to your channel and am looking forward to your further postings on this subject and the series of Kits you are designing. Cheers. Russ. UK.
@pcbgraphix19035 ай бұрын
Russ, thank you for the subscription. It's always interesting to hear how Hi-Fi was done in the early days! My grandfather was a hi-fi man back in the 1950s which is probably where I got it from.
@matytinman5 ай бұрын
There is a lack of bass and an excess of treble. I do not know if it is because of the loudspeakers or because of the monoblocks.
@biketech605 ай бұрын
The bass is fine , even punchy on my speakers in the final number , the only one with much bass . I believe what you noticed was the recordings which had little bass .
@russbetts14675 ай бұрын
I assume you are listening through bog-standard digital speakers connected to your Laptop/PC. If so, they are rubbish for giving a true Bass frequency, of any music. I have decent-ish speakers next to my Monitor, but they don't give anywhere near as good a sound as proper Analogue speakers connected to a real valve amplifier. The circuit he's using is a simple circuit, very similar to the circuit used in the VOX AC 15 Guitar amp. That gives plenty of Bass, from the same EL84 valves. Give him time to fine-tune the circuit and finalise the design and I'll guarantee it'll give you all the Bass you want. Russ. UK.
@matytinman5 ай бұрын
Nope. I only think about the sound of the VIDEO. Some hours ago: Are High-End Streamers Worth It? I Tested HiFi Rose RS 130 & Auralic Aries G2.2 kzfaq.info/get/bejne/mMCpqZhps865eZ8.html&lc=UgzX58tERxf_FkAIlrh4AaABAg @@russbetts1467
@matytinman5 ай бұрын
You should activate the subtitles option if you want to have a larger audience in the future.
@urwholefamilydied5 ай бұрын
@:18 what's the point of a pre-amp if it can't also handle a record player? "then on top of the phono amp, you'll need a cartridge amp before it goes into the phono amp... ANNNNND, you'll need a stylus amp before it goes into your cart. annnnnnd, you'll need a post power amp stage between the power amp and your speakers... just a final tweaking". You've convinced me to just use my vintage receiver for everything.
@pcbgraphix19034 ай бұрын
Lol! Don't forget about the power factor corrector that goes on the AC side! ;-) Even if we make an integrated pre-amplifier, it would be nice to have a standalone phono-pre available for anybody who's looking to add valves to an existing solid state amp.
@jmsbriann5 ай бұрын
Love your channel, especially the Heathkits. James's Audio Gear in my KZfaq channel
@pcbgraphix19035 ай бұрын
Thanks for stopping by!
@peterhutchinson34245 ай бұрын
Sounds fantastic 🤩
@Brian-mp6bg5 ай бұрын
love the design... even as a test it is gorgeous. Can't wait for the kit.
@pcbgraphix19034 ай бұрын
Thanks! It's painfully slow but we're working hard to get all of the details right.
@frankgeeraerts62435 ай бұрын
First observation ...............Timing and TONE are excellent ...........witch is not the case in many commercial amplifiers ........even if they measure outstanding but do not sound correct... Congratulations Tell something about the circuit and the tubes ......
@ginamartin41685 ай бұрын
👌Can you provide the titles of the musical selections? Can't wait for your next video.
@pcbgraphix19035 ай бұрын
In the video description above, there is a list of the music that was used. The long one at the end was the Norrie Paramor Orchestra.
@elext9q5 ай бұрын
A friend has one of these, what could cause voltage present on the metal chassis? touching the chrome bezel gives you a tingle when turned on..
@pcbgraphix19035 ай бұрын
There's some kind of electrical fault inside it. Try turning the power cord over in the outlet.
@billdang39535 ай бұрын
Looks like you're on the right track, circuit probably looks like a Fender Champ or Garnet Herzog (with the exception of using an EL 84 output instead of a 6V6).
@kirkandpam17495 ай бұрын
Hopefully you are going to leave all the AA-100 videos out there, I have the board I bought months ago and will not get to til summer
@pcbgraphix19035 ай бұрын
If you need any help, you can reach me at ["pcbgraphix at gmail.com"].
@alaingingras72245 ай бұрын
Cant see shit !
@pcbgraphix19035 ай бұрын
Is the image too dark?
@mfr585 ай бұрын
Yes, I have a 30 year old broom....it's had 5 new heads and 3 new handles....I love my old broom.... :) Quality control on vintage replacement components is left up to the consumer....it's a lot cheaper for the manufacturers that way....
@mikeschaper50395 ай бұрын
Adding a ground wire to a vintage tube amp can introduce ground loops and noise from associated equipment that is also part of ground system in house. I think the audio community is split on this subject. Myself, I rewire vintage tube amps to use a polarized plug, hot side wire travels through fuse first, then on/off switch. It wont hurt to try a grounded cord if you want, but many who try simply make a mess of things with making the hole bigger to accommodate the larger cord, and there is no strain relief. If amp has a buzz or noise when you plug it in, install a polarized cord instead.
@Geoduck.5 ай бұрын
A Single Ended EL84 is a great start. PP 6V6 would be nice. A PP KT66 or KT88 would fill in full spectrum of power. For me keep the amps simple without tone control or other clutter. Have options; lower priced "standard" Iron and caps or high quality iron and caps. Triode switches option along with Fixed bias or cathode bias choices.
@Geoduck.5 ай бұрын
Single Ended EL84 can sound simply amazing! I have two vintage SE EL84 amps that I love. I will be very interested in this product.
@pcbgraphix19034 ай бұрын
I agree! The EL84 has a sweet sound.
@frankiechristians78135 ай бұрын
PSET 6AS7G
@peterhutchinson34245 ай бұрын
Sounds great, I like my Heathkit W-5M's. They have plenty of power for my listening and I use 6L6's not the KT66'S. The AA-181 is also a very nice sounding amp but 7591 and 6EU7 tubes are not cheap or easy to find. The Sherwood S5000 II however has been my go too since I restored it. It too has major switch issues.
@TimsGuitarWorldwithTimFeskorn5 ай бұрын
How bout a mac clone.😎
@jeffcarder57475 ай бұрын
SET to kick it off would be my preference. Jeff
@jeffcarder57475 ай бұрын
Hi Mike. Super. Super. Super. Couldn't be more excited for you. Smart move in my opinion. I'm all in. Would love to start simple with a basic EL84 monoblock system, and go from there. Wattage? Preamp, too? Feel free to use me as a guinea pig for the first models out. Can't wait. Jeff
@pcbgraphix19035 ай бұрын
Hey Jeff! This SET monoblock made music right out of the gate which surprised me. It needs more tuning of bias settings and signal levels still but it's showing promise of good sounds to come. Definitely needs a pre-amp to go with it.
@jeffcarder57475 ай бұрын
Yes Mike. About the preamp., I should have been more clear. Will you be offering a matched preamp kit to pair with the monos? Jeff
@pcbgraphix19035 ай бұрын
@@jeffcarder5747 Absolutely! 🙂
@heathergrahamburt95665 ай бұрын
Where are you located?
@pcbgraphix19035 ай бұрын
Greenville South Carolina.
@jimsuber67846 ай бұрын
Very cool. Like your choice of Music.
@pcbgraphix19034 ай бұрын
Thanks!
@peterhutchinson34246 ай бұрын
Hello. I have one that has an intermittent right channel. Do those tone control modules ever fail?
@pcbgraphix19036 ай бұрын
Hello! I've never seen a tone module fail, but I have seen plenty of problems with tube sockets, bad switches, cold solder joints, etc. I would suggest wiggling tubes, poking and prodding circuit boards (with insulated gloves of course!). Eventually you'll find something that gives away the problem.
@peterhutchinson34246 ай бұрын
@@pcbgraphix1903 Thank you. I will continue to look elsewhere. I will scope it out and try and find where the signal on the right side is going weak. Fortunately the left channel is working to compare. Great Vids by the way. I had your output section in my eBay wish list. Are you completely out of them?
@pcbgraphix19036 ай бұрын
@@peterhutchinson3424 You will have fun troubleshooting your amp, especially when you find the culprit! Yes, we're all out of PCBs and there are no plans to build more of them. We're working on an exciting new project which is taking up all of our resources. Watch this space for more information...
@peterhutchinson34245 ай бұрын
kzfaq.infoALAVO0w3eOo?feature=shared Thanks Mike.
@scratchback20016 ай бұрын
The problem with PCBs is that heat is the greatest enemy. Over time they will fail and not in an easy way to find. I live in Australia and we call them valves. The sockets should be mounted to the chassis, not the PCBs. I own a Leak Point One Stereo 20 that needs a full going over. I have to find someone to do it. I'll get there.
@zarzum6 ай бұрын
how about using a variac to test your rebuild instead of changing blown fuses?
@pcbgraphix19035 ай бұрын
In this case I had to induce a failure to find out where the problem was. High voltage arcing can be difficult to trace, and reducing the line voltage would have made the problem go away.
@zarzum6 ай бұрын
The tubes from Jugoslavia (Yugoslavia) are actually made by Ei factory and licensed by Telefunken West Germany. If they check OK, I suggest you keep them.
@pcbgraphix19036 ай бұрын
They were pretty well shot so the owner asked for a full re-tube.
@markbatten51786 ай бұрын
excellent work sir. Thanks for sharing all the tips!
@pcbgraphix19035 ай бұрын
My pleasure!
@wa4aos6 ай бұрын
Hi, I'd like to offer some constructive feedback. As an engineer and audio amp/preamp designer as well as a Ham op since I was 15, 50 years ago, I take exception to what you said regarding not having concerns about powering the unit on without any protective measure. You may get away with that but at some point when you have a completely shorted electrolytic cap just after the rectifier, what may happen is it will briefly draw far more current than the rectifier can deliver resulting in a blown rectifier or worse your HV tap(s) on your power transformer will open. A simple fix is to pull the rectifier out or open one side of a diode bridge if the circuit does not have a tube rectifier. Then check your primary side of the xformer then all of the secondary voltages. If all looks good your transformer is probably OK. However, in case you do have a very low resistance condition with a cap or rectifier it is best to monitor the current as you bring up the AC power with a variac. Just use your multimeter in series in the current mode with one of the input AC lines to measure the current. It will swing high for the first few second while caps are charging after the rectifier is up then go down a good bit. On simple fairly low power tube amp, the initial surge may be over 2 amp then quickly go down to well under an amp..."usually" As you probably know, almost every electronics YT channel doing tube work has had their version of a dim bulb tester.. They were used as far back as the 1930's in radio shops according to some reading I did a few years back when everyone was excited about these simple devices. If you do have something which will rapidly hog what little power coming from a secondary winding, the bulb will act as a ballast and protect the transformer by glowing brightly. Finding transformers for vintage equipment is tough to impossible. Good luck with your restore !!
@pcbgraphix19036 ай бұрын
These are all good points, and I did use a dim bulb in the repair portion of this build. My comment about not needing it for initial power up was specific to this amp because all caps and tubes were coming out anyway, and it wasn't intended to be a general practice. Thanks for watching.
@darwinsaye6 ай бұрын
I had one of these for a few years. The most striking aspects of it to me were the separate treble and bass controls for each left and right channel, and the control that turned gradually from mono to full stereo. Amazing warm sound too.
@tennesseered5866 ай бұрын
A step drill bit works best for enlarging an existing hole.
@pcbgraphix19035 ай бұрын
I've invested in one. You're right, it goes fast!
@johnthursfield30566 ай бұрын
iirc Jugoslavia was how Yugoslavia was spelt in the country itself, the rest of the world called it Yugoslavia