[rmouser]

Hello fellow Head-fiers. I have just finished building the first kit version of the new Project Starlight for Garage1217. The serial number is 00001.
 
What separates this Jewel (which is the name I gave her...the guys at Garage1217 refer their products as HER) is that the output stage FETs have been replaced with ROLLABLE opamps. The tubes are still rollable like the PS2.
 
I am listening to her as I type. A full review will posted later this weekend. I am currently running a 12AU7 and will test some 6 volt tubes plus various opamps also.
 
So far...INCREDIBLE!!! Imagine rolling tubes and opamps....very exciting and fun!!
 
More to come

 

[cheaphifi]

I'm waiting for pics

 

[Kizu]

its too exciting, pls share pics

 

[rmouser]

The pics will be posted Saturday, 3/30. For now, think of it as a PS2 with four opamps instead of the output FETS
 
It is getting some burn time now and tomorrow i will post pictures and some tube and opamp rolling results along with Grado and AKG combinations
 
(Two 12AU7, two 6922) X (four opamps) X (four Grado/Allessandro) X (two AKG) = the "work" I have to do.

 

[rmouser]

 
 
Happy Saturday,
 
As promised, here are some Starlight pics.
 
One is the PS2 (right) and the Starlight next to each other.
 
 
If the sockets look strange, that is because I insert the opamps in a separate socket and the insert that one into the mounted socket. Yeah, I know, not good practice--extra capacitance, but I can't tell any difference and it reduces the chance of damaging the opamp and the mounted socket. Then later, the opamp can be inserted directly.
 
You will also notice that one socket on each side is missing an opamp. That is because you can run just one. That cuts cost while rolling, then another pair can be bought.

 
One is a closeup of what I call the "rolling section". As you can see, the opamp sockets are next to the tube bias pots. Yeah, I know JRC 4556--EEEWWW!! The idea is demonstrate the various types of opamps that can be rolled. Actually, they sound pretty darn good when out of a Cmoy!
 

 

 

 
Currently, I am testing the tube and opamp rolling, voltage measurements some Grado and AKG headphones and such. More details to come there.
 
So far everything works as expected. The sound, well......................INCREDIBLE!!!!!!

 

[rmouser]

[size=medium]NOTE: You can go to [/size][size=medium]www.garage1217.com[/size][size=medium] and download the manual (PDF) for the Starlight and the PS2 for free.[/size]
 
[size=medium]NOTE: A complete review of assembling the Starlight is not necessary here. For that, go the PS2 kit review. The Starlight is just the same. There were a couple of anomalies, which Jeremy responded to post haste. After the serial number of this kit is 00001. [/size]
 
[size=medium]Soldering:  [/size]
 
[size=medium]On a whim, I picked some LEAD FREE solder try out. LET ME SAVE YOU SOME PAIN. It takes more heat and does not flow as well as 60/40 LEAD/TIN ROSIN CORE. Plus, you do not get that shiny finish to let you know that the joint is good (not cold). I feared that this might impact the performance of the amp but it did not.[/size]
 
[size=medium]The SILVER BEARING solder I looked at is only 2%--hardly worth the extra $$$.[/size]
 
[size=medium]I use the Weller WLC100 solder station with a conical tip. Just adjust the temp control (slightly below 4 on mine). Adjust until the solder flows through the pad to the other side. The price is this station runs around $40. If you plan to do much DIY, it’s worth the $$. The amp has 4 DIP sockets and the pins are fairly close to each other. The conical tip makes pinpoint soldering easy.[/size]
 
 
[size=medium]Opamp Rolling:[/size]
 
[size=medium]Each channel has four opamps driving the phones. I have not verified if all four are stacked (parallel) or a combination of series/parallel. I’m certain that Franz (Solderdude at the RockGrotto European forum) got it right. I will find out.[/size]
 
[size=medium]Rolling with just one on each side to verify rolling can be done with one to lower $$.[/size]
[size=medium]I am using a spare DIP socket to plug the opamp into and then plugging that in the PCB mounted socket. Purists may say extra capacitance, but that goes away after deciding which ones to use and it beats breaking and bending pins. I couldn’t really hear any difference.[/size]
 
[size=medium]With each one tested, I measured the DC OFFSET VOLTAGE. For those that don’t know what that is: any stray voltage at the input of an opamp will be increased at the output. That voltage goes to the voice coil of the driver and extends the diaphragm away from the neutral position. Over time that can damage the phones. An “acceptable” level is 20 millivolts. The average voltages ran from .5 to 5 millivolts—way below the upper limit.[/size]
 
[size=medium]Opamps tested: What I have on hand.[/size]
 
[size=medium]LM4562 (stock-comes with the kit)[/size]
 
[size=medium]BURR-BROWN OPA 2227, OPA2132, OPA2134: These have the “Burr Brown laid back sound kind of tube like sound.[/size]
 
[size=medium]JRC 4556: Yeah I know, the 50 cent Grado RA1 opamp. The idea is to test different brands. Suprisingly, it sounds pretty good when fed a better signal than a Cmoy. And considering that this one will output 70 milliamps and there are four in each channel, there is some considerable power there.[/size]
 
[size=medium]This offers a lot of rolling for little $$. And even if you make a mistake, the only thing that will blow is the opamp. The surrounding circuitry is very durable. Replace the opamp and move on.[/size]
 
[size=medium]Tube Rolling:[/size]
 
[size=medium]I used a 12 volt 12AU7 for the first turn on (flawless-no smoke!) and then a then a 6 volt 6922. There is a 6/12 volt jumper next to the tube socket.[/size]
 
[size=medium]NOTE: The bias can be adjusted using the installed LEDs to display a high and low range setting for both channels. In this case, I am a purist and connected a DMM to the provided holes in the PCB and monitored the actual voltages while watching the LEDs. The HIGH LED bright is around 12.5 volts and the LOW LED bright is around 8V. This will be great for tuning discussions for biasing with different tubes!![/size]
 
[size=medium]LED Under tube:[/size]
 
[size=medium]Unlike the PS2, this led is a single color. Colors available are white, orange, blue, red and green. It is BRIGHT, but there is a jumper next to it that allows turning it off. I went with blue.[/size]
 
[size=medium]I built both of these amps in the pictures, the PS2 and the Starlight:[/size]
 
[size=medium] You can save $35 by ordering the built unit. I am a seasoned electronic tech ranging from radio and TV broadcasting to computer networking. I took my time and verified everything twice (measured every resistor and electrolytic capacitor orienting) before soldering. Every bag was correct. The result was that BOTH amps only required tube biasing and the result was total success. There is a great gratification sipping your favorite celebration beverage (single malt scotch in my case) staring at the amp while running it through its paces.[/size]
 
[size=medium]Using EQ:[/size]
 
[size=medium]Yeah, I know to the purists, that’s cheating. But consider this: The amp can handle ANYTHING I send to it in spades. Also, I can tune out headphone and recording variation deficiencies. In my case it is a 31 bands per channel.[/size]
 
[size=medium]Headphones:[/size]
 
[size=medium]Grado SR80i, SR225i, fully vented SR225 with Canare cable, Allessandro MS1,AKG K702 and 240 Sextetts-660 ohm. Both known to be finicky with amps.[/size]
 
[size=medium]I don’t presume to discuss SQ terms here. The point I am making is that everything works well and it’s a lot of fun experimenting.[/size]
 
 
 
[size=medium]Final comments on sound quality:[/size]
 
[size=medium]FANTASTIC!! Better than the PS2? I say no. Equal to yet different with a HIGH degree of tuning. With the high output resistance setting, running the 600 ohm Sextetts sounded great. They like power and the amp brought out their outstanding mids and soundstage.[/size]
 
[size=medium]AH-SO! Now the careful stuff is complete and I did not blow up the amp. Now is time for laid back listening, sipping Scotch and smoking the Easter ham and turkey.[/size]
 
[size=medium]Cheers![/size]

 

[cheaphifi]

can you find the power ouput charts of the Starlight ?
 
how is the sound with the K240? the Starlight can handle 600 Ohm headphones easily ?
 

 

[rmouser]

Quote:

can you find the power ouput charts of the Starlight ?
 
how is the sound with the K240? the Starlight can handle 600 Ohm headphones easily ?
 

I can do better than that. Go to www.garage1217.com and you can download the manual that includes that, a list of tubes and more. I ran the Sextetts for two hours and the opamps were barely warm. The amp brought out the mids and soundstage very well.

 

[rmouser]

Quote:

Quote:

can you find the power ouput charts of the Starlight ?
 
how is the sound with the K240? the Starlight can handle 600 Ohm headphones easily ?
 

I can do better than that. Go to www/garage1217.com and you can download the manual that includes that, a list of tubes and more. I ran the Sextetts for two hours and the opamps were barely warm. The amp brought out the mids and soundstage very well.

That is  http://www.garage1217.com/MANUALS/STARLIGHT%20MANUAL%203-10-13.pdf
 

 

[rmouser]

Here is the revised power chart that reflects the Starlights correct output resistance. The power figures are the same.
 
 

 

[cheaphifi]

Quote:

Here is the power chart
 

 
Thanks it seems to be tailored for Grados and recents AKG i can't wait for your review !
What kind of op-amp can you install on the Starlight?  only dual op-amps ?  it works with opa604 ?

 

[rmouser]

Quote:

Quote:

Here is the power chart
 

 
Thanks it seems to be tailored for Grados and recents AKG i can't wait for your review !
What kind of op-amp can you install on the Starlight?  only dual op-amps ?  it works with opa604 ?

The OPA604 is not a dual and therefore the pins configuration are not compatible. I ran it for two hours on AKG Sextetts (which are 600 ohm) to levels that hurt and then backed it down so as to not damage them.
 
One interesting fact that I overlooked earlier is that one type of opamp can run on one channel and another on the other. That makes an easy way to compare them. The opamps CANNOT be mixed on the same channel though.

 

[DefQon]

Nice stuff had a look at the new lineup of there tube amps beside the Sunrise, looks promising might order 1 of each and play around with it again.

 

[rmouser]

That's what I did in the beginning

 

[rahulsharma]

it's a awesome stuff 

 i will order as soon as possible.