[Chops]

Just to start off, I already tried the search and the results were not what I was expecting. I was hoping to avoid creating a new thread for this, but here it is anyway...

As some of you may or may not know, I have a Xiang Sheng 708B tube amp that I have been modifying extensively. With the extra huge Mundorf output capacitors already installed, I plan on adding two more, along with upgrading the already upgraded ALPS Blue Velvet pot to an even better and larger TKD.

I'm also planning on adding a couple of Mills MRC50 power resistors, a total of 3, maybe even 4 inputs, possibly a crossfeed circuit and a few other goodies, I'm just plain slap running out of room in the OEM case, let alone the stock case is cheap and flimsy anyway.

What I'm looking for is a case that's well built, sturdy, is 17" wide, at least 4" to 5" tall, and depth 10" or deeper. I would really prefer a solid aluminum face, the thicker the better.

Are there any online stores and/or comapnies out there that sell the kind of enclosure I'm looking for?

Where do you guys/gals go to buy these kind of enclosures? I know they're out there because I have seen a number of them in the "Post pics of your builds...." thread

Any information you could provide me with would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
-Charles

 

[Uncle Erik]

Chops-

Try here:

http://www.par-metal.com/

Their 20 Series cases should be what you're looking for. If you dig around the site a little, you'll find even thicker solid aluminum faceplates for the cases. I've purchased five cases from Par-Metal so far and am very happy with them. Only thing is that shipping takes 2-3 weeks, but if I order at the beginning of a project, they usually arrive around the time I'm ready to build.

 

[picklgreen]

Can you post a pic of your modded amp? What type of Mundorf caps did you use? The silver/gold supreme caps are amazing.

 

[Chops]

Quote:

"Chops- Try here: http://www.par-metal.com/ Their 20 Series cases should be what you're looking for. If you dig around the site a little, you'll find even thicker solid aluminum faceplates for the cases. I've purchased five cases from Par-Metal so far and am very happy with them. Only thing is that shipping takes 2-3 weeks, but if I order at the beginning of a project, they usually arrive around the time I'm ready to build."

Thanks Uncle Erik! I'll go check them out.

Quote:

"Can you post a pic of your modded amp? What type of Mundorf caps did you use? The silver/gold supreme caps are amazing."

Actually, I'm using the M-Lytic HV 100+100uF - 400V caps. They took about a solid week of burn-in to really start sounding good. But I would like to try adding two more for a total of 400uF per channel just to see if it will help anymore in the bass area.

Stock:

Modded:

 

[Chops]

I think Par-Metal is goingto be the ticket! Nice stuff there. Thanks!


Also, one more question... What about really nice, aluminum and wood knobs? I can't fine anything on Google.

Thanks again in advance!

 

[regal]

You should seriously consider selling what you have and start from scratch. The only reason I can see buying a 708B is for the professional enclosure, if you are going to get rid of that you might as well build a MJ amp which the 708B is designed after. A MJ is a reversed engineered MT EAR+ which you could almost buy for what you are sinking into this 708B. You have already replaced nearly every component in it.

This is a real well laid out plan:

http://mysite.verizon.net/vze22yzp/id25.html

Something to think about at least.

 

[Chops]

Quote:

Originally Posted by regal /img/forum/go_quote.gif You should seriously consider selling what you have and start from scratch. The only reason I can see buying a 708B is for the professional enclosure, if you are going to get rid of that you might as well build a MJ amp which the 708B is designed after. A MJ is a reversed engineered MT EAR+ which you could almost buy for what you are sinking into this 708B. You have already replaced nearly every component in it. This is a real well laid out plan: http://mysite.verizon.net/vze22yzp/id25.html Something to think about at least.

To be honest with you, the enclosure isn't all that "professional". Other than the transformer, PS caps and wiring, I HAVE replaced every component in it. And don't knock the 708B if you haven't tried it, especially with all of the mods. This truely is a great little amp for the money, and for the extra money spent on its upgrades. I don't mind spending a little more on it just to see how far I can take it either.

But anywho, we're not here to talk about the amp, but a new enclosure for it and some nice knobs, wood or aluminum. So back to my second question...

What about some really nice, aluminum and wood knobs? Anyone know where to go for these online?

 

[macm75]

I believe the Hammond 1444-33 nails your desired dimensions. I think you can get these in black too.
http://www.hammondmfg.com/dwg21.htm

Of course make it nicer with stained wood side panels.

 

[picklgreen]

I would have a look at the context enginnering cases also. They are very nice cases and nicer to use than hammonds because you can take the top off without having to take off one of the end panels first! You can get them at Frys.com or direct from their website.

 

[Chops]

Well here's what I plan to do as far as a new chassis is concerned. I just whipped this up in AutoCAD 2002. The actual dimentions will probably be something like 16-17"W x 4"H x 10-12"D. Of course, nothing is written in stone yet.

If I can find them, I'd really like the input selector and volume knob to be solid wood, about 2" diameter. The mini-toggle would be for a defeatable crossfeed circuit. The power button would be one of those nice all-metal ones that has the blue lit ring around them (unless I can get them in a different color). The 3 LEDs for the input selector and crossfeed switch would be those small orange ones that came in the 708B window unit. The entire chassis would be aluminum with a dual layered front panel. The middle section of the front panel would be a piece of brushed gold anodized aluminum mounted behind the main brushed clear anodized one so it would be recessed. It would kind of look like the front panel of Sonic Frontiers equipment!

I would have both the selector switch and volume pot all the way towards the back of the chassis, right in front of the 3 RCA inputs. The audio PCB would be rotated 180 degree from stock and centered right between the rods going to the selector switch and vol pot. I'll have a copper divider panel 6" in from the left side of the chassis to conceal the entire PS section on that side. The whole center section of the chassis would be completely open to the very small crossfeed circuit and a bank of large output capacitors (up to 494uF of Mundorf M-Lytic HV caps per channel). Of course, I would finally upgrade all of the wiring durring this time.

Also, using this chassis would allow me the room to eventually move up to a better amplifier circuit design as well as a much better PS transformer and circuit.

So what do you all think?

 

[randytsuch]

At some point, I was going to build a tube amp from scratch, with a custom made top that I would design, and these guys would build. Prices are reasonable
http://www.frontpanelexpress.com/

The rest of the chassis was probably going to be wood.

An option for you might be to use frontpanel to make the face plate, and then buy a par metal or a hammond chassis for the rest of the box.

These guys make nice looking chassis, no idea about price
http://www.atiresearch-anodized.com/index.html

Another source for a box
http://www.lansing-enclosures.com/ma...yle/index.html

This place might have boxes too
http://www.lmbheeger.com/product_categories.asp


Randy

 

[Chops]

Quote:

Originally Posted by randytsuch /img/forum/go_quote.gif At some point, I was going to build a tube amp from scratch, with a custom made top that I would design, and these guys would build. Prices are reasonable http://www.frontpanelexpress.com/ The rest of the chassis was probably going to be wood. An option for you might be to use frontpanel to make the face plate, and then buy a par metal or a hammond chassis for the rest of the box. These guys make nice looking chassis, no idea about price http://www.atiresearch-anodized.com/index.html Another source for a box http://www.lansing-enclosures.com/ma...yle/index.html This place might have boxes too http://www.lmbheeger.com/product_categories.asp Randy

Hi Randy,

Wow! Those are some nice links. Thanks!

Now I gotta go check them out a little better.

I'm also still looking for a good source for quality knobs. The ones that dcheming linked to were pretty nice, but not excatly what I was looking for.

Thanks again!