Paddy Garcia
Active Member
Got to the integration-test part of my current project and couldn't resist posting a pic even though it's not finished.
Over the last couple of years, Ak's helped me to completely rework the system I bought in 1988. Good bones to work with: the B&W Matrix 2s, Adcom GFA-555 amp, and Denon DP-62L turntable have stood the test of time. The GTP-500 tuner/preamp, not so much, and the CD player and tape deck moved out long ago, replaced by an outboard DAC and a music server.
The GTP-500 isn't a great preamp, so I built a Pass B1. Very nice. But it needed an enclosure. My dad is an astronomer, and from a very young age I liked rackmounted equipment. A lot. Years ago I bought a full height computer rack at auction, and put the super heavy duty casters under my rolling workbench. The rack itself was way too big for audio but figured I could cut it down as needed, and it was full of great, high-quality hardware that I've used here and there. Once broken down the rails and other bits stored away easily. Til now.
I also like the look and feel of older lab equipment. Good hardware, nice switches, paint-filled machined lettering. A custom 19" full chassis with front panel is expensive, but Front Panel Express can deliver a custom panel for not too much, so I designed up a panel to use over a cheap 19" rack shelf.
The B1 and Boozehound phono stage are mounted to the shelf. I used Cat 5 wire, and may redo it at some point, as it's a bit fragile. This was my first analog build, and I now have even more respect for the kinds of super-clean wiring that I've seen around here and couldn't approach. Rotary switches are Russian surplus, from a nice Romanian fellow on ebag. Big volume knob is from Surplus Sales of Nebraska. The rear panel is a piece of the old computer rack conveniently pierced with round holes, cut to fit.
Hacked off two 14" sections of rack rail with an angle grinder, painted to match with semigloss black BBQ paint. These hold everything together. The middle shelf is for power supplies and the DAC, will cover that with some pierced metal.
Now listening while waiting on a few more components such as power jacks to replace the alligator clips, some wire-management thingies, and replacement caps for the 555. The phono stage may need noise shielding - haven't tested it yet - if so I'll fold some metal screen over the open box, and eventually build a flexy-rack to hold this stack under the turntable. I intended to remotely turn the amp on and off with the preamp's power switch and a contactor (hence the Standby and On positions), but that may not be worth the complication.
Wouldn't have ever done it without the inspiration and guidance here - thanks.
Over the last couple of years, Ak's helped me to completely rework the system I bought in 1988. Good bones to work with: the B&W Matrix 2s, Adcom GFA-555 amp, and Denon DP-62L turntable have stood the test of time. The GTP-500 tuner/preamp, not so much, and the CD player and tape deck moved out long ago, replaced by an outboard DAC and a music server.
The GTP-500 isn't a great preamp, so I built a Pass B1. Very nice. But it needed an enclosure. My dad is an astronomer, and from a very young age I liked rackmounted equipment. A lot. Years ago I bought a full height computer rack at auction, and put the super heavy duty casters under my rolling workbench. The rack itself was way too big for audio but figured I could cut it down as needed, and it was full of great, high-quality hardware that I've used here and there. Once broken down the rails and other bits stored away easily. Til now.
I also like the look and feel of older lab equipment. Good hardware, nice switches, paint-filled machined lettering. A custom 19" full chassis with front panel is expensive, but Front Panel Express can deliver a custom panel for not too much, so I designed up a panel to use over a cheap 19" rack shelf.
The B1 and Boozehound phono stage are mounted to the shelf. I used Cat 5 wire, and may redo it at some point, as it's a bit fragile. This was my first analog build, and I now have even more respect for the kinds of super-clean wiring that I've seen around here and couldn't approach. Rotary switches are Russian surplus, from a nice Romanian fellow on ebag. Big volume knob is from Surplus Sales of Nebraska. The rear panel is a piece of the old computer rack conveniently pierced with round holes, cut to fit.
Hacked off two 14" sections of rack rail with an angle grinder, painted to match with semigloss black BBQ paint. These hold everything together. The middle shelf is for power supplies and the DAC, will cover that with some pierced metal.
Now listening while waiting on a few more components such as power jacks to replace the alligator clips, some wire-management thingies, and replacement caps for the 555. The phono stage may need noise shielding - haven't tested it yet - if so I'll fold some metal screen over the open box, and eventually build a flexy-rack to hold this stack under the turntable. I intended to remotely turn the amp on and off with the preamp's power switch and a contactor (hence the Standby and On positions), but that may not be worth the complication.
Wouldn't have ever done it without the inspiration and guidance here - thanks.
