Author: Graham Slee Subject: Tips for toroidal mounting Posted: 13 Sep 2023 at 9:32am Figure B is Self's illustration of an accident waiting to happen. Doug is good at dry humour - some call it sarcasm - but he makes the point. Your diagram shows you've covered that base even if the top got squashed in, as the bottom of the bolt is not electrically connected to the case ..read more

Author: physios Subject: Tips for toroidal mounting Posted: 13 Sep 2023 at 9:26am Thanks Graham for your response. In my case, the toroid bolt is electric insulated both top and bottom. However, figure B is not clear to me: in the upper part the bolt is close to the case cover, but does not touch it... does this cause problems anyway? I was convinced that there had to be contact with the top bolt and the case.. Anyway, I send a drawing of my situation ..read more

Author: Graham Slee Subject: Tips for toroidal mounting Posted: 13 Sep 2023 at 8:41am Hi Luca, as long as you don't electrocute yourself then give what you say a try. I can't see it doing any damage. You understand the shorted turn, see below on how NOT to do it. From Doug Self's book on amplifier design ..read more

Author: physios Subject: Tips for toroidal mounting Posted: 13 Sep 2023 at 7:51am Thank you Mr. Slee for your kind response. Clearly I am not an electrical engineer; I know how to use a soldering iron, do small electrical jobs, but obviously I need help understanding some things.. The previous transformer actually works very well (small, with laminations) but I had some free time and I just wanted to do some experiments to see what changes the new transformer could make to the sound :-) Yes, I had read up on the short circuit of the bolt that touches the case in the upper part; Precisely for ..read more

Author: Graham Slee Subject: Tips for toroidal mounting Posted: 13 Sep 2023 at 1:05am The fixing bolt doesn't cause any interference problem I've ever heard about, but I'm sure there will be many imagined ones. I'm assuming you understand about the single shorted turn caused by grounding the top of the bolt to the case? Destruction is usually instantaneous, if the fuse doesn't blow in time. There is no need to isolate the bolt from the case (except for the above warning). And there is no need to use a stainless steel bolt - a plated steel bolt is just as good. I assume it has a dimpled top ..read more

Author: physios Subject: Tips for toroidal mounting Posted: 12 Sep 2023 at 10:14pm Good evening. I recently signed up and would like to ask you for advice. I'm building a transformer for the P******t Phono Box II SE. This phono preamp is powered with an external 230vac - 16vac transformer, so the rectifier components are inside the phono preamp, and the wallwart is just a small 230/16v 1A transformer. I purchased a 16v 2A toroidal transformer that I would like to put inside an aluminum box. The bolt that fixes the toroidal (made of non-magnetic steel) is glued into the aluminum, so there is ..read more

Author: patientot Subject: cartridge advice + any comments Posted: 24 Feb 2023 at 5:47pm The AT95 and it's replacement, the VM95, is a good all rounder cartridge. The basic stylus is a bonded elliptical diamond but it can be upgraded. In the UK, a very popular upgrade would be the Expert Stylus Paratrace for the old AT95. If you have a newer VM95, I would suggest the AT OEM nude elliptical "VM95EN" or the nude microridge/microline "VM95ML", depending on record condition. I agree the very extreme stylus profiles will tend to be a double edged sword with some records. If you are lucky they ca ..read more

Author: CageyH Subject: cartridge advice + any comments Posted: 24 Feb 2023 at 3:38pm I am currently using an AT95 with a Shibata stylus. Sounds wonderful.  I think the VM95ML is possibly a very good option, but so is the MP110 ..read more

Author: Cyreg Subject: cartridge advice + any comments Posted: 24 Feb 2023 at 11:47am VR, I would advice:  1. Do use a PSU1 with your Gramamp 2 Communicator (big approvement) 2. a Nagaoka MP110 MI cart with your RB250/TechnoW Very good results in my experience with both options :-) (see my signature ..read more

Author: Graham Slee Subject: cartridge advice + any comments Posted: 24 Feb 2023 at 10:03am I've been thinking recently about using an AT95E (again) with my Accession M because my record collection is so old and a lot of my rock records are badly mastered. EG "Speed King" by Deep Purple. We bought half a tray of the OEM version from AT yonks ago and I may have a good one left. The Ortofon 2M Black is great on perfect records, but very edgy on some rock LPs, and other pricey cartridges tend to be the same, and that means I don't get to enjoy some of my favourite albums ..read more