Torpedo III Build Thread

[Dithyrambes]

If Anyone has one they are willing to let go, Please send me a PM!

 

[HiGHFLYiN9]

Someone is selling one on ebay right now (no affiliation). Has the Cinemags but no other upgrades.

 

[cspirou]

If Anyone has one they are willing to let go, Please send me a PM!

There's one in the classifieds

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/fs-ecp-torpedo-3.871369/

I know the seller. Hes a good guy and this is a good build

 

[ColtMrFire]

Getting ready to join the T3 club soon. Very excited. It will be fed by my CD Player/Gumby. Headphones are Beyerdynamic T90.

At 250ohm (my T90s), I am reading the 12AZ7 tubes are best. So I am on the hunt for a pair of GE's.

 

[tomb]

Getting ready to join the T3 club soon. Very excited. It will be fed by my CD Player/Gumby. Headphones are Beyerdynamic T90.

At 250ohm (my T90s), I am reading the 12AZ7 tubes are best. So I am on the hunt for a pair of GE's.

Actually, the latest info on tubes came to the conclusion that the Mullard 12AT7WA (CV4024) was best:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/12AT7WA-CV...211738?hash=item4836deba9a:g:WQQAAOSwHnFVrhHZ

Their response is as good as the 12AZ7s. Plus, they have the best sound stage of most tubes that have been tried in the T3. Downside? They're expensive. Also, while the ebay seller referenced above seems to have the lowest reliable price, his "matching" is really a manufacture-lot matching, not tube output. Thankfully, the Mullards are very high quality and seem to be closely matched in output anyway. You'll probably find a pair that match well if you purchase a quad and your odds are pretty good even by purchasing a pair.

The 12AZ7s are outstanding for the price, but they are hard on the amp. The heater current runs much higher than the 12AY7 or 12AT7 (including the Mullard 4024 above). So, the amp will run pretty hot. I would not recommend leaving it on for extended periods with the 12AZ7s.

 

[ColtMrFire]

Thanks for the info Tom.

 

[Dithyrambes]

Have a torpedo III for sale if anyone is interested. Just leaving a note.

 

[JImmye00]

Can someone please provide a nice concise link to all of the parts i need to order for this and what would be available upgrades? Could a novice build this?

 

[cspirou]

Can someone please provide a nice concise link to all of the parts i need to order for this and what would be available upgrades? Could a novice build this?

This has all the information you need, including parts.

http://www.diyforums.org/Torpedo-III/TorpedoIII-overview.php

 

[tomb]

I don't know if this is allowed anymore, but I'm retired, trying to clear out a lot of stuff, so will give it a shot anyway.

There are several Torpedoes available now at Beezar Audio, among a couple of Millett Maxes, some nice Senn cabling plugs, and even a few NOS Black Gate NX capacitors I found in the bottom of a file cabinet drawer.

I'm referring to the Torpedoes as STEALTH Torpedoes, because they are four (4) tested prototypes whose bare, populated PCBs have been in storage (AC-conditioned Beezar space) for almost a decade. I purchased new, custom-machined, black-anodized Context Engineering enclosures with no labeling whatsoever (hence, "STEALTH") and cased them up as fully functioning headphone amplifiers. STEALTH Torpedo 1 is the first production Torpedo 1 prototype, STEALTH Torpedo 1B is a production prototype Torpedo 1 using a toroid power transformer, STEALTH Torpedo 2 is the second of only two prototypes of the Torpedo 2 using 6922 tubes. Finally, STEALTH Torpedo 3 is the very first and only T3 prototype. Except for the toroid PT in the STEALTH Torpedo 2, all of these amplifiers are true high-voltage output transformer-coupled tuber amplifiers using Edcor PTs and OTs. The STEALTH Torpedo 3 uses a combination of electrolytic and film bypasses in the interstage capacitor section, but uses the 12AT7 tube basis and DSHA buffer (tube hybrid) that the production T3s used.

 

[revolink24]

For what it is worth, and this is obviously super late, but I picked up the 1B. Can't believe these have been available for so long given the builder reputation and value here. Curious to see how the SumR toroid holds up, rocky past but I am still excited to give it a good home. That T2 looks awesome too, someone would be lucky to have it.

 

[HiGHFLYiN9]

For what it is worth, and this is obviously super late, but I picked up the 1B. Can't believe these have been available for so long given the builder reputation and value here. Curious to see how the SumR toroid holds up, rocky past but I am still excited to give it a good home. That T2 looks awesome too, someone would be lucky to have it.

I'm glad you made the investment. These are great amps for the money and the design is fun too.

 

[JamieMcC]

Always fancied building a torpedo. I'm not sure if I rember correctly but think there was a nickel output transformer version at one point.

 

[HiGHFLYiN9]

Always fancied building a torpedo. I'm not sure if I rember correctly but think there was a nickel output transformer version at one point.

Wow was there? Cinemag and Jensen are the only ones that make them now that I know of. I miss MQ.

 

[JamieMcC]

Wow was there? Cinemag and Jensen are the only ones that make them now that I know of. I miss MQ.

I asked Google looks like Cinemag

https://ecp-consolidated-production...afeed-transformers-pair-/5?cs=true&cst=custom


Solid high nickel core output transformers for headphone amplifiers. These transformers are made for us by Cinemag and feature a 10K Ohm primary (~120H of inductance) and a 300 Ohm secondary with a 32 Ohm tap. They were designed for the Torpedo 3 project, but they will also work with the Torpedo 1 and L2 PCBs and various other DIY projects. EI-625 cores, and pin compatible with the Edcor PCW10K-7K/300-32 OPTs (https://www.edcorusa.com/pcw10k-7k_300-32).

* Note, these transformers are not designed to block high DC voltages. They must be AC (capacitor) coupled to a high voltage circuit.