Potential Project - Need Advice

[Neil Rutman]

So many things scare me about building my own quality preamp - mostly that
I'll spend alot of time and money and end up with something crappy. Then I
realised that I have this 2 channel "tube warmer" in a 2 rack space chassis
with 2 controls (drive and output) for each channel. Has 2 VU meters, 1/4"
and xlr inputs on the back. It uses 2 tubes (forget which ones). It's called
the RSP Saturator and it added something to my lousy rig years ago when my
Mackie 1604 preamps were all I had.

Can I convert this unit into a quality, 2 channel tube preamp? What do I
need? Where can I find help? I'm pretty good with a soldering iron but a
novice at building electronics.

Neil R

[Paul Stamler]

"Neil Rutman" > wrote in message
...
> So many things scare me about building my own quality preamp - mostly that
> I'll spend alot of time and money and end up with something crappy. Then I
> realised that I have this 2 channel "tube warmer" in a 2 rack space
chassis
> with 2 controls (drive and output) for each channel. Has 2 VU meters, 1/4"
> and xlr inputs on the back. It uses 2 tubes (forget which ones). It's
called
> the RSP Saturator and it added something to my lousy rig years ago when my
> Mackie 1604 preamps were all I had.
>
> Can I convert this unit into a quality, 2 channel tube preamp? What do I
> need? Where can I find help? I'm pretty good with a soldering iron but a
> novice at building electronics.

Perhaps, if you're willing to design a high-voltage, regulated power supply
unit, install a couple of high quality transformers, replace most of the
coupling capacitors with higher-voltage units to go with the power supply,
change the bias on the tubes, change the feedback around them (if any), and
bypass the cheap solid-state circuitry at the input and/or output, which may
involve cutting circuit board traces. Otherwise, no.

It's a good deal more work than building your own preamp, and it's quite
possible, perhaps even likely, that you'll get poorer results.

Why not build a preamp from someone else's design? Several people, including
me, have published high-quality preamp designs, tubed or solid-state. If
you're not fussy about cosmetics, even a first project can perform nicely.

Peace,
Paul

[Paul Stamler]

"Neil Rutman" > wrote in message
...
> So many things scare me about building my own quality preamp - mostly that
> I'll spend alot of time and money and end up with something crappy. Then I
> realised that I have this 2 channel "tube warmer" in a 2 rack space
chassis
> with 2 controls (drive and output) for each channel. Has 2 VU meters, 1/4"
> and xlr inputs on the back. It uses 2 tubes (forget which ones). It's
called
> the RSP Saturator and it added something to my lousy rig years ago when my
> Mackie 1604 preamps were all I had.
>
> Can I convert this unit into a quality, 2 channel tube preamp? What do I
> need? Where can I find help? I'm pretty good with a soldering iron but a
> novice at building electronics.

Perhaps, if you're willing to design a high-voltage, regulated power supply
unit, install a couple of high quality transformers, replace most of the
coupling capacitors with higher-voltage units to go with the power supply,
change the bias on the tubes, change the feedback around them (if any), and
bypass the cheap solid-state circuitry at the input and/or output, which may
involve cutting circuit board traces. Otherwise, no.

It's a good deal more work than building your own preamp, and it's quite
possible, perhaps even likely, that you'll get poorer results.

Why not build a preamp from someone else's design? Several people, including
me, have published high-quality preamp designs, tubed or solid-state. If
you're not fussy about cosmetics, even a first project can perform nicely.

Peace,
Paul

[Mike Rivers]

In article > writes:

> So many things scare me about building my own quality preamp - mostly that
> I'll spend alot of time and money and end up with something crappy.

You will, unless you use someone else's proven design and buy all the
right parts. Kits are good for this. Do you want to end up with a nice
preamp for about the same price as you could buy one all ready to go
and guaranteed (but have the fun of putting it together with your own
hand) or do you want to learn about electronic design, mechanical
design, and how they interact?

> the RSP Saturator

> Can I convert this unit into a quality, 2 channel tube preamp? What do I
> need? Where can I find help? I'm pretty good with a soldering iron but a
> novice at building electronics.

You might be able to use the chassis. As I recall, the Saturator is
powered from a low voltage wall wart. If there's a DC-DC converter in
there that gives you real plate voltage, you might be able to use
that, but I wouldn't recommend it.

--
I'm really Mike Rivers )
However, until the spam goes away or Hell freezes over,
lots of IP addresses are blocked from this system. If
you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring
and reach me here: double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo

[Mike Rivers]

In article > writes:

> So many things scare me about building my own quality preamp - mostly that
> I'll spend alot of time and money and end up with something crappy.

You will, unless you use someone else's proven design and buy all the
right parts. Kits are good for this. Do you want to end up with a nice
preamp for about the same price as you could buy one all ready to go
and guaranteed (but have the fun of putting it together with your own
hand) or do you want to learn about electronic design, mechanical
design, and how they interact?

> the RSP Saturator

> Can I convert this unit into a quality, 2 channel tube preamp? What do I
> need? Where can I find help? I'm pretty good with a soldering iron but a
> novice at building electronics.

You might be able to use the chassis. As I recall, the Saturator is
powered from a low voltage wall wart. If there's a DC-DC converter in
there that gives you real plate voltage, you might be able to use
that, but I wouldn't recommend it.

--
I'm really Mike Rivers )
However, until the spam goes away or Hell freezes over,
lots of IP addresses are blocked from this system. If
you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring
and reach me here: double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo

[GKB]

I think what the others have said in less words , is that the RSP may be a
start as a case
with the right holes & hardware and in it , but gutting it and starting from
scratch would likely
be easier . Harder & more work to half use and design with it .
Paul's article's for preamps were quite good with decent amount of
background and
design rational info [ nice to see why some choices are made ] you will
learn whether you like
it or not , but it looks like you're on your way . Keep researching !

I will be marketing a Regulated tube power supply with 12 filament and two
different B+ values [ 320v ]
allready deisgned with p.c.b. s , if you are stuck i could get one for you
stuffed & tested , price tba

Good luck , regards Greg



"Neil Rutman" > wrote in message
...
> So many things scare me about building my own quality preamp - mostly that
> I'll spend alot of time and money and end up with something crappy. Then I
> realised that I have this 2 channel "tube warmer" in a 2 rack space
chassis
> with 2 controls (drive and output) for each channel. Has 2 VU meters, 1/4"
> and xlr inputs on the back. It uses 2 tubes (forget which ones). It's
called
> the RSP Saturator and it added something to my lousy rig years ago when my
> Mackie 1604 preamps were all I had.
>
> Can I convert this unit into a quality, 2 channel tube preamp? What do I
> need? Where can I find help? I'm pretty good with a soldering iron but a
> novice at building electronics.
>
> Neil R
>
>

[GKB]

I think what the others have said in less words , is that the RSP may be a
start as a case
with the right holes & hardware and in it , but gutting it and starting from
scratch would likely
be easier . Harder & more work to half use and design with it .
Paul's article's for preamps were quite good with decent amount of
background and
design rational info [ nice to see why some choices are made ] you will
learn whether you like
it or not , but it looks like you're on your way . Keep researching !

I will be marketing a Regulated tube power supply with 12 filament and two
different B+ values [ 320v ]
allready deisgned with p.c.b. s , if you are stuck i could get one for you
stuffed & tested , price tba

Good luck , regards Greg



"Neil Rutman" > wrote in message
...
> So many things scare me about building my own quality preamp - mostly that
> I'll spend alot of time and money and end up with something crappy. Then I
> realised that I have this 2 channel "tube warmer" in a 2 rack space
chassis
> with 2 controls (drive and output) for each channel. Has 2 VU meters, 1/4"
> and xlr inputs on the back. It uses 2 tubes (forget which ones). It's
called
> the RSP Saturator and it added something to my lousy rig years ago when my
> Mackie 1604 preamps were all I had.
>
> Can I convert this unit into a quality, 2 channel tube preamp? What do I
> need? Where can I find help? I'm pretty good with a soldering iron but a
> novice at building electronics.
>
> Neil R
>
>

[Paul Stamler]

"GKB" > wrote in message
news:iwF3d.59360$%S.20745@pd7tw2no...

> I will be marketing a Regulated tube power supply with 12 filament and two
> different B+ values [ 320v ]
> allready deisgned with p.c.b. s , if you are stuck i could get one for you
> stuffed & tested , price tba

Greg: Do let us know when this is available!

Peace,
Paul

[Paul Stamler]

"GKB" > wrote in message
news:iwF3d.59360$%S.20745@pd7tw2no...

> I will be marketing a Regulated tube power supply with 12 filament and two
> different B+ values [ 320v ]
> allready deisgned with p.c.b. s , if you are stuck i could get one for you
> stuffed & tested , price tba

Greg: Do let us know when this is available!

Peace,
Paul

[Mark]

"Neil Rutman" > wrote in message >...
> So many things scare me about building my own quality preamp - mostly that
> I'll spend alot of time and money and end up with something crappy. Then I
> realised that I have this 2 channel "tube warmer" in a 2 rack space chassis
> with 2 controls (drive and output) for each channel. Has 2 VU meters, 1/4"
> and xlr inputs on the back. It uses 2 tubes (forget which ones). It's called
> the RSP Saturator and it added something to my lousy rig years ago when my
> Mackie 1604 preamps were all I had.
>
> Can I convert this unit into a quality, 2 channel tube preamp? What do I
> need? Where can I find help? I'm pretty good with a soldering iron but a
> novice at building electronics.
>
> Neil R

What is it exactly about your present preamp that you hear that you
don't like that you think will be improved by a different design?

Mark

[Mark]

"Neil Rutman" > wrote in message >...
> So many things scare me about building my own quality preamp - mostly that
> I'll spend alot of time and money and end up with something crappy. Then I
> realised that I have this 2 channel "tube warmer" in a 2 rack space chassis
> with 2 controls (drive and output) for each channel. Has 2 VU meters, 1/4"
> and xlr inputs on the back. It uses 2 tubes (forget which ones). It's called
> the RSP Saturator and it added something to my lousy rig years ago when my
> Mackie 1604 preamps were all I had.
>
> Can I convert this unit into a quality, 2 channel tube preamp? What do I
> need? Where can I find help? I'm pretty good with a soldering iron but a
> novice at building electronics.
>
> Neil R

What is it exactly about your present preamp that you hear that you
don't like that you think will be improved by a different design?

Mark