Here's a very interesting buffer worth building.
Circuit diagram from the webpage of the designer keantoken:
fidelityforce.com/keantoken/content/Kuartlotron.php
Here's the diyaudio build thread:
The Kuartlotron - keantoken's simple error-correction superbuffer - diyAudio
Photo of my point to point wired build:
Parts are easily and cheaply available from regular electronics parts stores. The heart of the buffer are BC 550C and BC 560C transistors. The rest are all passive parts. I used 1% metal film resistors, Bourns trimmers, Keltron electrolytic capacitors. The only part that may be a bit hard to source is the 2 uH inductor. But it is easy to wind such a small value. You just need 20 AWG transformer/magnet wire, wound about 15 times around an AA sized battery.
I used a general purpose board to assemble both the left and right channels on a 4' x 6' board. There is enough room to spare on the board. I'm doing a point to point wiring for the first time. I made so many mistakes while wiring it up, I lost count
Luckily for me, baswamin had successfully built this buffer and patiently hand held me in troubleshooting my mistakes. He skilfully simmed to figure out what could be causing my observations, and guided me to solutions. Thank you, baswamin :thumbsup:
Currently it is powered through the OPS supply of my DCB1. Like the DCB1, this circuit happens to be using +/-10 Volts. I haven't made a cabinet for it yet. Nor a proper source selection mechanism. Potentiometer is a 10k log, CITEC UK make.
Once I could get it to sing, sing it does. There is no doubt it is a very fine buffer. From the first notes, it has already equalled or surpassed the DCB1. It clearly betters DCB1 in airiness and has a delicateness of presentation when called for. It is very refined. I have used common garden variety parts. No exotics anywhere. I wonder what audio grade parts could do to voice the sound.
It was a difficult build for me due to my inexperience using general purpose boards, but it would be a breeze for the more experienced builder. Go try this at home. You won't regret it.
Circuit diagram from the webpage of the designer keantoken:
fidelityforce.com/keantoken/content/Kuartlotron.php
Here's the diyaudio build thread:
The Kuartlotron - keantoken's simple error-correction superbuffer - diyAudio
Photo of my point to point wired build:
Parts are easily and cheaply available from regular electronics parts stores. The heart of the buffer are BC 550C and BC 560C transistors. The rest are all passive parts. I used 1% metal film resistors, Bourns trimmers, Keltron electrolytic capacitors. The only part that may be a bit hard to source is the 2 uH inductor. But it is easy to wind such a small value. You just need 20 AWG transformer/magnet wire, wound about 15 times around an AA sized battery.
I used a general purpose board to assemble both the left and right channels on a 4' x 6' board. There is enough room to spare on the board. I'm doing a point to point wiring for the first time. I made so many mistakes while wiring it up, I lost count
Luckily for me, baswamin had successfully built this buffer and patiently hand held me in troubleshooting my mistakes. He skilfully simmed to figure out what could be causing my observations, and guided me to solutions. Thank you, baswamin :thumbsup:Currently it is powered through the OPS supply of my DCB1. Like the DCB1, this circuit happens to be using +/-10 Volts. I haven't made a cabinet for it yet. Nor a proper source selection mechanism. Potentiometer is a 10k log, CITEC UK make.
Once I could get it to sing, sing it does. There is no doubt it is a very fine buffer. From the first notes, it has already equalled or surpassed the DCB1. It clearly betters DCB1 in airiness and has a delicateness of presentation when called for. It is very refined. I have used common garden variety parts. No exotics anywhere. I wonder what audio grade parts could do to voice the sound.
It was a difficult build for me due to my inexperience using general purpose boards, but it would be a breeze for the more experienced builder. Go try this at home. You won't regret it.
