Don,
Yes it is the year of the horns!
I just finished my Fostex 127e folded HORN (need finishing pa, but I already sampled Stacy Kent on it, and the sound is good, have potential) and within the year, another HORNY tube will be singing my 832s.
YES, EDREL IS THE MAN! The heart of any tube preamp/amp are the irons! He winds mean power transformers, chokes (smoothing and plate) and OPT (single ended and push pull). And he just uses the best core available, unlike some ventures that uses recycled cores not meant for audio (some used for step down transformers, etc). And he has the equipment to wind them and measure them accurately unlike some winders who just copy existing trannys. And since he is using high quality parts, his price might be higher than most, but QUALITY AND RELIABILITY is there, plus his personal guarantee that as long as his company exist, he can support your product. I had my shares of transformers that has mediocre performance, I have a power transformer secondary tap that is rated at 1A, after loading 100ma, the voltage sags, and this was wound maybe by somebody on the sidewalk of Raon.
Both my KT88 amp and 7193 preamp, the power transformers are wound by Edrel, and both barely gets warm on extended use.
My SE OPT is so good, that I got rid of my Audiospace Mk 3 8i integrated amp (a push pull KT88 amp that retails new for more than 60K).
Edrel also have the knack of sourcing inexpensive but high quality parts. Though I believe a little bit on some boutique parts, Edrel introduced me to capacitors that cost less than 100 pesos that sounds better than some caps that cost more than a thousand pesos.
If you want to do a DIY tube project, approach Edrel and you are half-way done! But just to warn, you Edrel loves power, a parallel push pull is his favorite design.
You should see his parallel push pull KT88 monoblocks...
But he is also good with Single Ended amps and line stages, plus he likes exotic tubes.
Don, I was texting with him last night, and he finished the new cathode biasing on your 7193 preamp, our text exchange (he was still at his audio lab past 7:00 pm last night):
Edrel: "For test na"
AlexG: "so hindi ako nanaginip when i think that the highs and vocals has more details?"
Edrel: "Hindi. Really better. Konting hilot pa ok nato"
Don, you need a Single Ended Amp to pair with your 7193, you have the Iron Winder and parts source (Edrel), I will give you the final schematic of my SE KT88.
So if anybody wants to DIY this preamp or any tube projects, contact Edrel for your transformer and choke need, and for advice on how to do it. You can also PM me if I can be of any help.
DIY RULES!
