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View Full Version : All Dressed up Accurian

MillerLiteScott
12-18-2008, 10:25 PM
I spent some time a couple of months ago modding the Accurian amp with a tube pre-amp designed by FredVu. Fred also supplied me with almost all of the parts and pieces to do the mod. I did the breadboard thing and after several attempts it worked but was as ugly as they come.

I decided to build a chassis for it out of some spare ipe mahogany and mdf I had. Last Saturday I drug out a bunch of my tools and started the build. I got everything cut Saturday and then Sunday I started soldiering. Monday night it made music again but I still had not installed the power switch, volume and selector switch in the front panel.

Tuesday night I drilled the front panel of the amp with several different sized forsner bits to get the switches and pot to sit right. Ipe is as hard as it comes and is very hard to work with so I was a little tentative but I am pretty pleased with the way it turned out. I put a few coats of Watco on it for a little sheen. I have been using the amp in my job site trailer with the matching pair of semi DIY monitors I put together a couple of years ago.

I learned a lot doing this project. The first thing I learned was, Don't make a thin and deep chassis that does not match up with any other components. I hope my next project will be an all tube integrated amp and I will make sure it is less than 18" wide and 14"-16" deep.

Thanks again to Fred for all of his help and parts and pieces.

Scott
ben62670
12-18-2008, 10:32 PM
That looks awesome! You wouldn't happen to have another Accurian around for parts. I don't need one, but I have some more mod Ideas for you :D
Ben
MillerLiteScott
12-18-2008, 10:40 PM
Thanks Ben.

I have 2 more but my daughter is using one and the other runs my garage rig when the weather is better.

Scott
ben62670
12-18-2008, 10:51 PM
What I did was use the transformer, rectifier, and caps from the Accurian for a gainclone chip. The Accurian tranny can only power one LM3886 chip, but with 2 separate power supplies you have a true dual mono amp setup that is 50wpc clean conservatively at 8ohms;) The amps section of each channel would only cost less than $25. Please ignore me. I can't leave good enough alone. I am a freak:o
Face
12-18-2008, 10:55 PM
Very nice Scott.
engtaz
12-19-2008, 07:08 AM
Great job. Fred is a great guy.

engtaz
hearingimpared
12-19-2008, 07:16 AM
Looks great Scott. Kudos Fred.
george daniel
12-19-2008, 07:46 AM
Very nice work indeed,,Sir. :)
Ricardo
12-19-2008, 08:08 AM
Congrats Scott; things always sound better if you have messed with them.
strider
12-19-2008, 11:30 AM
That thing looks really cool, how does it sound?

That ipe is some ridiculously hard wood, I think I've come the closest to loosing a digit when I was trying to cut some. It also makes good footers, kinda like those myrtlewood blocks that Cardas sells.

Room looks good, too. Haven't seen it since you've gotten rid of the built in.

You'll have to bring that thing over so we can do a mini amp shoout out. :D
MillerLiteScott
12-19-2008, 04:54 PM
Ben that would be cool to do a little shoot out. I could also bring some power cords and speaker wire for a shoot out. Lets set it up. I am having TT issues and have not been listening to vinyl at all. I may need some of your expertise.

Scott
fredv
12-19-2008, 06:50 PM
This looks much better than the original Accurian. I love wood cabinet. Good job!!! Scott, you said too many nice thing about me, I really didn't do much except dropping a bunch of junk into a bag and mailed it out :-)
ben62670
12-19-2008, 08:42 PM
Ben that would be cool to do a little shoot out. I could also bring some power cords and speaker wire for a shoot out. Lets set it up. I am having TT issues and have not been listening to vinyl at all. I may need some of your expertise.

Scott

This may if you could make it to Charlette NC you might be able to buddy up for our get together:)
beardog03
12-19-2008, 09:01 PM
Great job. Fred is a great guy.

engtaz

well said !

My thought exzACTLY !!

Fred is a great guy, and you did a great job...

does she sound as well as you expected ?
MillerLiteScott
12-19-2008, 09:45 PM
It sounds pretty nice but I am still struggling with the lack of gain. I don't think I am getting more than 1/3 power, but it is better than it was in the breadboard stage. I really have not listened to it yet through a decent pair of speakers.

Scott
ben62670
12-19-2008, 09:47 PM
I thought the tube buffer gave it too much gain?
MillerLiteScott
12-21-2008, 01:15 PM
I pulled out my Musical Fidelity to do some cleaning and put my little Accurian in its place. When connected to a decent source with decent cables it does sound pretty good for what it is and cost. I have it connected to my 2B's and it gets loud enough for some decent listening. There is plenty of bass and the top end is smooth enough to make for easy listening. A good volume is @ 12 o'clock and it is pretty loud at 2 o'clock. But that is about the same volume as the stock unit at like 9 and 11 o'clock.

All in all a fun project. Now I want to do all tubes.:D

Scott