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The Dynaco Tube Audio Forum

Dedicated to the restoration and preservation of all original Dynaco tube audio equipment - Customer support for Tubes4hifi VTA tube amp and preamp kits and all Dynakitparts.com products


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Dogstar
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Hoffsgarage
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    Custom Base For VTA ST-120

    Hoffsgarage
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    Post by Hoffsgarage Fri Sep 05, 2014 2:02 pm

    Hi Guys, I am new to the forum and thought I would post a couple pictures of my recent ST-120 build with a custom walnut base. I designed this base to allow the amp to slide in without any modifications other than attaching a ground lug to one of the front octal socket screws.
    Custom Base For VTA ST-120 IMAG0955_1280Custom Base For VTA ST-120 IMAG0959_1280
    Bob Latino
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    Post by Bob Latino Fri Sep 05, 2014 2:55 pm

    Hi Craig,

    That is an ingenious way that you used the original chassis and yet included the analog bias meters on a wood front. I can see that the SPDT switches allow you to select either the front or rear tube when you are measuring bias. Nice work !

    Bob
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    Post by Guest Fri Sep 05, 2014 5:03 pm

    nicely done indeed!!
    Hoffsgarage
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    Post by Hoffsgarage Fri Sep 05, 2014 6:05 pm

    Thank You Guys.
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    Post by DrewK Fri Sep 05, 2014 6:27 pm

    That's a beautiful looking amp. You did a hellava nice job putting that amp together. DrewK
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    Post by Guest Fri Sep 05, 2014 8:32 pm

    Nice job. Looks something like Skizo's work.

    Question: By using the bias meters, can you omit the test points on the front? I was thinking of using meters as well.
    Hoffsgarage
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    Post by Hoffsgarage Fri Sep 05, 2014 8:49 pm

    Captain Coconut wrote:Nice job. Looks something like Skizo's work.

    Question: By using the bias meters, can you omit the test points on the front? I was thinking of using meters as well.

    Actually, it was Skizo’s beautiful work that inspired me to build this one.
    I put the test points in the front so I can calibrate the analog meters with my Fluke DMM.
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    Post by Guest Sat Sep 06, 2014 8:27 am

    Ah, never thought about calibrating the meters.
    sKiZo
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    Post by sKiZo Sat Sep 06, 2014 4:57 pm

    I thought it looked a bit familiar too ... ;-}

    Beautiful work, eh.

    As far as biasing using just the meters ... I can get close just using the Mark One Eyeball - within a point or two anyway - but the VOM is much more accurate. Great for quick checks when I fire the amp up - I used the same switching setup for the meters, so just flip thru the positions and read them for ready. I still use the VOM at the test points when needed.

    Just one word of caution ... the meter circuit does add resistance, so you need to verify that the readings are the same at the tubes. Had a pretty major discrepancy here with a direct hookup.

    Custom Base For VTA ST-120 Meter-error

    Ended up going with center off switches for the front/rear selectors and added some small VRs (200 if I remember right) to each test position that allow me to match the meters to what I get on the VOM with the meter out of line. I also had to cut the internal shunt resistor on the meters to convert the meters I used from mV to mA ...

    Custom Base For VTA ST-120 Meters-backs-4vr2

    Still gotta get in there one of these days and clean up the wiring a bit ... things got a bit messy after version three or four of the circuit ... geek
    Hoffsgarage
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    Post by Hoffsgarage Sat Sep 06, 2014 8:23 pm

    sKiZo wrote:I thought it looked a bit familiar too ... ;-}

    Beautiful work, eh.

    As far as biasing using just the meters ... I can get close just using the Mark One Eyeball - within a point or two anyway - but the VOM is much more accurate. Great for quick checks when I fire the amp up - I used the same switching setup for the meters, so just flip thru the positions and read them for ready. I still use the VOM at the test points when needed.

    Just one word of caution ... the meter circuit does add resistance, so you need to verify that the readings are the same at the tubes. Had a pretty major discrepancy here with a direct hookup.

    Custom Base For VTA ST-120 Meter-error

    Ended up going with center off switches for the front/rear selectors and added some small VRs (200 if I remember right) to each test position that allow me to match the meters to what I get on the VOM with the meter out of line. I also had to cut the internal shunt resistor on the meters to convert the meters I used from mV to mA ...

    Custom Base For VTA ST-120 Meters-backs-4vr2

    Still gotta get in there one of these days and clean up the wiring a bit ... things got a bit messy after version three or four of the circuit ... geek


    Well, you know what they say about imitation..........

    Thanks for the heads up. I will check the voltage at the tubes with a DMM and see if it coincides with the analog meters. If it does not I will try the VR’s you suggested. I did use center off SPDT switches because I didn’t want the meters in-circuit when I wasn’t actually checking the bias, although I’m not sure if that even matters. I was able to find mV panel meters so I did not have to do the conversion.
    Roy Mottram
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    Post by Roy Mottram Sat Sep 06, 2014 11:53 pm

    I knew sKiZo would weigh in on this, I thought he might sue you for copyright infringement! But then again, is anything original design??
    It's ALL been done before by someone, somewhere
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    Post by MarcVBelgium Sun Sep 07, 2014 6:48 am

    Very nice work!! I envy those who have the skills to build such beautiful custom bases.
    Enjoy the amp....it does sound wonderfull

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    Post by Guest Sun Sep 07, 2014 10:05 am

    I think you guys just talked me out of using meters! Laughing
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    Post by Guest Sun Sep 07, 2014 10:47 am

    Captain Coconut wrote: I think you guys just talked me out of using meters! Laughing
    the ONLY meters worth while adding are VU!! What a Face
    Hoffsgarage
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    Post by Hoffsgarage Tue Sep 09, 2014 12:03 am

    Thanks again to sKiZo. I did have a discrepancy with the meters although not as much as he had. My DMM was showing 5mV less with the analog meters in-circuit. Not that big of a deal for me as the meters I am using are 0-1V with a 20mV resolution. I just have to remember to set the bias at 545mV when using a DMM at the test points.

    If I had to do it over again I would have added 4 test points instead of 2 so I could bypass the meters with the switch in the center position.
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    Post by sKiZo Tue Sep 09, 2014 9:10 pm

    Figured it was worth mentioning ... happy to be of service!

    Stands to reason you'd have less discrepancy as your test points and meters are a lot shorter wiring runs than mine, and they're also closer together. Even 5mV is certainly enough to make a difference though. Difference is night and day here on grunt running the KT120's at 60mV instead of 55mV.

    Adding a couple test points looks like it'd be easy enough somewhere down the road, and then you could add the fine tuning VRs to adjust the meter circuit for each tube socket while you're at it. Mine isn't "done" yet, as I still plan to replace the existing bias pots with some multi-turn units as the one's I'm using are kinda twitchy to dial in tight. Rock steady one I get them set properly, so no great rush.




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    Post by Dogstar Sun Nov 02, 2014 8:35 pm

    This is a really nice cabinet that the standard VTA-120 pretty much drops right into.
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    Post by n3ikq Mon Nov 03, 2014 10:43 am

    1. Beautiful work.

    2. Ever think about providing the pieces in kit form? Perhaps finished or unfinished? Hint Hint!

    3. In lieu of analog meters for bias, how would one go about wiring up some form of analog vu meter? Read the output voltage across 600 ohms or maybe some other more appropriate point?
    baddog1946
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    Post by baddog1946 Mon Nov 03, 2014 11:34 am

    Just a thought on the resistance issue in those analog meters changing the readings:
    Using digital meters would likely solve this problem as they only sample the bias voltage. That's of course if you don't mind the digital aesthetic of them.
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    Post by sKiZo Mon Nov 03, 2014 7:24 pm

    Use nixie tubes for the readout? clown

    What's strange is the scarcity of decent analog meters at a decent price. Anyone into that sort of thing ... might be time to stock up!

    The ones I used are doing a bang up job for $10 each. Picked up a spare set while I was at it, but if I'm lucky, I won't need them. I like em because they're big and easy to read. Us old farts like that kind of stuff.

    Custom Base For VTA ST-120 Hopesun-meter

    Custom Base For VTA ST-120 Velleman-meter-cu

    Just a reminder for anyone thinking of using them ... they ARE mA meters, so you have to clip an internal shunt for mV readings. I also added trimmer pots to each to match the offset the aforementioned resistance issue. That would vary with each installation depending on wire length, gauge, etc ... mine were a good 6mV off when compared to the bias test points at the tubes. I also used center off switches so they're not in line during play. Not necessary, but less wear and tear on the meters that way.

    PS ... if you look close, the "55mV" tick isn't ... each tick is actually 4mV. Just works better visually to have the needle fall on a mark for quick peeks. That's all I use the meters for ... I still use the VOM for actual adjustments.
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    Post by Alan-14 Tue Nov 04, 2014 2:05 am

    Hoffsgarage wrote:Hi Guys, I am new to the forum and thought I would post a couple pictures of my recent ST-120 build with a custom walnut base. I designed this base to allow the amp to slide in without any modifications other than attaching a ground lug to one of the front octal socket screws.

    Very creative way to incorporate a custom base to your ST-120 ... nicely done and it looks great Very Happy
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    Post by bluerondo Tue Nov 04, 2014 11:10 am

    Very nice work. I'm trying to improve my woodworking skills and on the hunt for nice VU meters myself.

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