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#1 Headphone switcher
Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 10:39 pm
by floppybootstomp
I put one of these together >>
Link to use with my two EL84 push/pull monoblocks @ 10W each.
It works ok but when I turn the volume up I get distortion and the top end hurts my ears, it's kinda shrill.
I used the resistor values (all 3W +/- 5%) for the 20W output and wondered if using resistor values suited to 10W would help matters. I wondered what values for R1 & R3 might be suitable for 10W?
Have tried two sets of headphones, Pjilps Pro-Luxe PX-921's and some new-ish Sennheisser wireless HDR-160's, both of which display same characteristics as mentioned.
#2
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 4:37 pm
by floppybootstomp
Nobody? Could anybody offer a view whether changing resistor values might make a difference to the sound?
I thought of maybe making R1 & R3 150R & 68R respectively might make it better suited to a 10 watt output.
Here's a few pix of the thing, the piece of vero is held in place with a couple of velcro squares and the box came from Maplins:
#3
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 6:27 pm
by Mike H
floppybootstomp wrote:Nobody?
Only just got here!
Ah I think what's going on here is that that design assumes a transistor amp will be used ~ your valve amp's need 8 Ohms dummy loads to work properly.
So you need 8 Ohms between 'AMP L' (or whichever) and 'GND'.
I've found 10R and 47R in parallel are close enough. The 10R needs to be quite a few Watts rating, mine were 25W aluminium clad. Just in case. The 47R can be 6W or somesuch.
Unless you can find 8.2R 25W, but I haven't seen any for years.
HTH
#4
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 6:36 pm
by floppybootstomp
Thanks Mike. Now you mention it, I do recall having read that elsewhere here in the past but it clean slipped my mind... Time to order up some WW's
#5
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 6:41 pm
by Mike H
#6
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 7:10 pm
by pre65
I have a few 15R Berco resistors. If Tony wants 4 (2 in parallel = 7.5ohms) just PM me with your address.
#7
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 7:37 pm
by al newall
Yes.
I mentioned this to Rod Elliott some time ago, and he said the design wasn't really intended for tube amps. Doesn't say that on his site though.
#8
Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 12:39 pm
by Mike H
Mmm, only needs a couple of sentences adding to say what to do in that case.
pre65 wrote:I have a few 15R Berco resistors. If Tony wants 4 (2 in parallel = 7.5ohms) just PM me with your address.
Yep that'll work.
#9
Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 12:40 pm
by Mike H
floppybootstomp wrote:Now you mention it, I do recall having read that elsewhere here in the past but it clean slipped my mind...
Easy done I totally sympathise
#10
Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 12:51 pm
by pre65
Resistors have been posted Tony.
#11
Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 1:14 pm
by floppybootstomp
You sir, are a scholar and a gentleman, I am in your debt.
Thanks
#12
Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 1:16 pm
by pre65
floppybootstomp wrote:You sir, are a scholar and a gentleman.
Thanks
Tony has not met me yet.
#13
Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 3:40 pm
by Mike H
And the 'debt' bit I'm not sure about
#14
Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 2:24 pm
by floppybootstomp
That sorted it, pair of 7.2 ohm dummy loads, thanks Phil.
I am still occasionally surprised and warmed by human generosity.
This is probably a good thing
#15
Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 2:24 pm
by floppybootstomp
There was a big slow down somehwere, caused me to make double post so I have deleted it.
If you give it a short, sharp, shock.... hey