After weeks/months of trying to get my Cornell Dubilier BF-50 cap analyzer to show what is expected for a good cap vs. a known bad cap, I reached out to Cornell Dubilier. Well Cornell Dubilier didn’t have any more information to offer me besides what I already knew from the BF-50 owner’s and service manuals. […]
“Help”: My Cornell Dubilier BF-50 Is Testing Open Circuit as Good | Note : Treble Bleeds Halted
I was using my Cornell Dubilier BF-50 (vintage) capacitor analyzer with all of the right things showing on the “Magic Eye” 6E5 (Philips JAN (Mil-Spec)) electron tube’s eye for leakage, short, and open tests. By the way, the BF-50 uses a 12A7 (Tungsol) electron tube for both rectification of the AC input and amplification. Both […]
Apologies to the Neighbors (Burson Audio’s DAC Testing Reached 100.00dB max!!)
Well I currently have about 8 pages written of notes, thoughts on head to head Burson Play vs my custom ES9038Pro DAC. In the end it ended up being very close, which is why I was volume matching. One time I forgot to match the power amp back down and we got a […]
The ES9038Pro DAC Returns! Expect Part 1 of Discrete Op-Amp Review by 3/10/18 (Saturday night)
Here is a sneak peak at my reference DAC for all of the upcoming op-amp reviews. The Asian holiday really put a delay in this, but as always the hardware companies are patient and even tried to help me troubleshoot a product that isn’t even their design! I hope to post part 1 of the […]
Time Lapsed GM328 Transistor/ESR Tester + More Build Video
Below is the 3rd official video from Hallman Labs. This is a time lapsed build-log/video for the common GM328 Transistor/ESR Testers. This one uses a more compact design with how the screen is laid and I upgraded all the parts I could possibly find that matched the stock ratings. Mostly Sprague and Panasonic capacitors, along […]
Replacement ES9038Pro DAC Now In Route!
I had to wait for the Asian holiday to end (Feb 22nd) for the seller to ship out a replacement ES9038Pro completed DAC, in the enclosure with dual toroidal transformers. I decided to go with a completed DAC for a few reasons, but mainly to save time while still getting reliability and ensure I am […]
Houston, We Have Lost Contact: ES9038P DAC Troubleshooting
Below is the original thread post I made over on ComputerAudiophile.com forums. I am posting it here in the chance someone reading knows what is going on and how to fix it or knows somebody who can. As not to repeat myself I am going to start the description of the problem and the symptoms […]
DAC Accessory: XLR In -> RCA Out (Ckt Based on D. Self Design) Updated 1/22
Update 1/21/18: I wanted to let everyone know how impressed I have been with this unit by just using the stock 5532 op-amps with this Douglas Self based circuit design. I am using a rectifier supplied by Audio Sector (Peter Daniel) The parts are explained further below. It uses MOSPEC U08A60 ultra fast recovery diodes with a […]
Discrete Op-Amp Review, Prelude: Photos of Review Hardware (Burson V6-OPA-D “Vivid” Unskirted)
In the photo below we have 4x Burson Audio V5-OPA-D, 4x Burson Audio V5-OPA-S, 3x V6-OPA-D “Vivid” along with two Orange Amplification discrete (Dual-DIP). Two of the V6-OPA-D casings lifted right off when I was rolling op-amps so I got us some pictures of the exposed boards! Note: the end letter on Burson Audio op-amp […]
DAC Accessories Showdown! Part 1
A quick look at Hallman Labs collection of DAC accessories or add-ons. Part 1