[DougD]

So Paladin79, are you cool with head-fi members sending you their Melz for repairs, who are not even remotely handy with soldering? Just wanted to know for future reference.

That's a lot to ask.

BUT .... for a regional show or local get-together .... a demo by someone who's done tube re-soldering would be FANTABULOUS.

Bookmark this if it has ever crossed your mind to organize or host such an event.

 

[Paladin79]

That's a lot to ask.

BUT .... for a regional show or local get-together .... a demo by someone who's done tube re-soldering would be FANTABULOUS.

Bookmark this if it has ever crossed your mind to organize or host such an event.

For a while it may be easier to repair them. In a month I travel to see my son and buy a cargo van load of audio gear to fill out my dream audio system. I will be building more audio racks as well as building mini radial speakers, custom knives, and assorted wood products for local friends. I can work on a few tubes when I get a break in other action.

I am also working with a friend on a tube amp for tiny speakers.

 

[Paladin79]

Nice easy to follow write-up and glad to hear this resolved your issues! I have done this exact same process with a few tubes to mostly great success. Flux helps a lot. There is one 1961 Melz 1587 I’ve done this 3 times to and it still has a low level hum, so may not be a one size fits all fix for all tube noise, but definitely worth the effort if an initial pin cleaning doesn’t help.

Russian tubes can be tricky, I have soldered over 100 Melz and maybe 50 Fotons. Put any Russian tube in a stock DarkVoice and you should be prepared for a lot of hum.

 

[khashmi]

For a while it may be easier to repair them. In a month I travel to see my son and buy a cargo van load of audio gear to fill out my dream audio system. I will be building more audio racks as well as building mini radial speakers, custom knives, and assorted wood products for local friends. I can work on a few tubes when I get a break in other action.

I am also working with a friend on a tube amp for tiny speakers.

That sounds awesome. Please make sure to keep us updated as you build your dream audio system! Btw, that looks like a Decware Tiny Radial speaker?

Also thanks for acknowledging the repair question. Not in that position yet (thankfully), but happy to have an expert help me out. Ready to pay up for any such service if and when needed.

For DIY folks, I’m not arguing that it’s not easy, I’m just not a DIY guy and rather send it to someone who knows what they are doing. Let’s just hope that day is far off!

 

[Paladin79]

That sounds awesome. Please make sure to keep us updated as you build your dream audio system! Btw, that looks like a Decware Tiny Radial speaker?

Also thanks for acknowledging the repair question. Not in that position yet (thankfully), but happy to have an expert help me out. Ready to pay up for any such service if and when needed.

For DIY folks, I’m not arguing that it’s not easy, I’m just not a DIY guy and rather send it to someone who knows what they are doing. Let’s just hope that day is far off!

That is my take on the Decware mini-radials. Decware is kind enough to offer BOM and diagrams in case you want to DIY a pair. I made some changes in the overall shape and cut a few steps out of their build process, they offer build videos. Someone on another thread asked me if I thought I could make them so I was curious to see if I could match all the angles.

I will say upfront I will be getting a PrimaLuna EVO 400 integrated amp as well as some Sonus Faber speakers plus other goodies.

I try to help other folks and of course I designed my own amp to do a study on 6sn7's and equivalents so I have quite a bit of experience with those.

More photos of my work. I stay busy with small projects.

 

[bcowen]

Don't use this?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004DEUYBY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

That's exactly what I use. Works great. The .020" diameter is correct as shown in the title (ignore the .031" in the description).

 

[Paladin79]

That's exactly what I use. Works great. The .020" diameter is correct as shown in the title (ignore the .031" in the description).

From whom did you learn the technique, hmmmmm??

 

[jonathan c]

From whom did you learn the technique, hmmmmm??

Finnegan

 

[bcowen]

From whom did you learn the technique, hmmmmm??

You mean the technique of buying stuff on Amazon? Not sure honestly, I just kind of woke up with it one morning.

Wait...did you mean the tube pin soldering? Well from you, of course, master Tom. But it was only 100 hours on the Fotons, not 200. After 100 hours everyone knows they don't change much.

 

[Paladin79]

You mean the technique of buying stuff on Amazon? Not sure honestly, I just kind of woke up with it one morning.

Wait...did you mean the tube pin soldering? Well from you, of course, master Tom. But it was only 100 hours on the Fotons, not 200. After 100 hours everyone knows they don't change much.

Numbers change with time, cause they are numbers. When you tell the story you can make up your own.

 

[Paladin79]

Finnegan

Finnegan could have taught him as well but since then he has moved on to knives.

.

Tubes are so 2021.

 

[jonathan c]

From whom did you learn the technique, hmmmmm??

Act I, Scene II: I taught myself the art of the accumulation of Fotons. Call me Hoardini…I make Fotons disappear…

 

[Paladin79]

I taught myself the art of the accumulation of Fotons. Call me Hoardini…I make Fotons disappear…

Fotons are what I give away so I do not have to diminish my serious tube stash. I believe they are a Cowen fetish along with cardboard, go figure.

 

[jonathan c]

Fotons are what I give away so I do not have to diminish my serious tube stash. I believe they are a Cowen fetish along with cardboard, go figure.

Or…the ‘Foton Flow’ is another manifestation of entropy: matter going from a ‘high-energy state’ to a ‘low-energy state’……

 

[Galapac]

How I have missed this jovial banter from you guys, you have made my day.