The Newton 300B

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Thermionic Idler
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#1 The Newton 300B

Post by Thermionic Idler »

I thought I'd start a new thread for the build. Here's where I'm at so far.

To recap, here's the schematic. It's a version of Lynn Olson's "Symmetric Reichert" which I don't think has actually been built. The coupling cap values have been increased and the driver valve stage swapped out for 6V6's in triode mode.

Image

Here is an initial artists impression of how it's expected to look when built (note there will be some ventilation slots but I'm anticipating no visible screws other than those around the edge. Ant is going to do the wood surrounds and transformer covers for me, although I've yet to clear the latest design version with him! :oops:

Image

Here's the same with the wood casing stripped away showing the position of the transformers on top, and some of what's underneath

Image

And here's a more detailed view of the inside. The main issue was figuring out how to fit everything around all those motor run capacitors. Each monoblock is about 2' wide by 1' deep and pretty much all the interior space is used.

Image

Yes I know I have octal sockets in the 300B locations. The Teflon UX4 sockets I'm using however, have the same dimensions as a standard octal so it was easier for modelling purposes to use the octal socket I'd drawn out before.

I have all the transformers and chokes except for one back-ordered mains transformer, due to arrive in a few days. The HiFiCollective order is here too. Sent orders in to RS and Mouser today.

Next step, I need to drill out all the holes and figure out what spacers, screws and nuts I need.
Deck: Garrard 301 - Audio Origami PU7 - NW Analogue DH3S
Phono: Pete Millett LR, Lundahl SUT, AMB σ22 PSU
Linestage: Bruno Putzeys Balanced Pre + Hans Polak relay mod, LCDuino control
Power amps: 300B PP 'Symmetric Reichert'
Speakers: FF225WK Big Mets
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Thermionic Idler
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#2 Re: The Newton 300B

Post by Thermionic Idler »

A PDF of the schematic (which is slightly better resolution than the JPEG I posted above) can be viewed by following this link.
Deck: Garrard 301 - Audio Origami PU7 - NW Analogue DH3S
Phono: Pete Millett LR, Lundahl SUT, AMB σ22 PSU
Linestage: Bruno Putzeys Balanced Pre + Hans Polak relay mod, LCDuino control
Power amps: 300B PP 'Symmetric Reichert'
Speakers: FF225WK Big Mets
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Thermionic Idler
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#3 Re: The Newton 300B

Post by Thermionic Idler »

Now that's a proper capacitor.

Image
Deck: Garrard 301 - Audio Origami PU7 - NW Analogue DH3S
Phono: Pete Millett LR, Lundahl SUT, AMB σ22 PSU
Linestage: Bruno Putzeys Balanced Pre + Hans Polak relay mod, LCDuino control
Power amps: 300B PP 'Symmetric Reichert'
Speakers: FF225WK Big Mets
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pre65
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#4 Re: The Newton 300B

Post by pre65 »

Big enough, how are you going to mount it ?
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#5 Re: The Newton 300B

Post by Ant »

Its a bolt in one, ive got some of those somewhere
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#6 Re: The Newton 300B

Post by Greg »

pre65 wrote: Mon Sep 21, 2020 7:35 pm Big enough, how are you going to mount it ?
Are you talking about the capacitor? :roll:
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#7 Re: The Newton 300B

Post by pre65 »

Greg wrote: Mon Sep 21, 2020 9:05 pm
pre65 wrote: Mon Sep 21, 2020 7:35 pm Big enough, how are you going to mount it ?
Are you talking about the capacitor? :roll:
Do I detect a touch of innuendo there Greg ? :lol:
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Thermionic Idler
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#8 Re: The Newton 300B

Post by Thermionic Idler »

pre65 wrote: Mon Sep 21, 2020 7:35 pm Big enough, how are you going to mount it ?
See third picture, post 1. There’s a threaded stud on each one, that goes through the rear panel and they’ll sit horizontally.. Half the interior space is taken up with these. The hours of Tetris/cad work that’s gone into these has been figuring out how to fit everything around them and still have a build that fits on top of a bookshelf.
Deck: Garrard 301 - Audio Origami PU7 - NW Analogue DH3S
Phono: Pete Millett LR, Lundahl SUT, AMB σ22 PSU
Linestage: Bruno Putzeys Balanced Pre + Hans Polak relay mod, LCDuino control
Power amps: 300B PP 'Symmetric Reichert'
Speakers: FF225WK Big Mets
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#9 Re: The Newton 300B

Post by pre65 »

You might be OK if they are not electrolytic capacitors, but I got caught out once by not realising the stud was coupled to the negative terminal.

Are you OK for the stud mounting nuts ? If not measure the size and let me know. Could possibly be M10 or M12.
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

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G-Popz THE easy listening connoisseur. (Philip)
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Thermionic Idler
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#10 Re: The Newton 300B

Post by Thermionic Idler »

pre65 wrote: Tue Sep 22, 2020 2:41 am You might be OK if they are not electrolytic capacitors, but I got caught out once by not realising the stud was coupled to the negative terminal.

Are you OK for the stud mounting nuts ? If not measure the size and let me know. Could possibly be M10 or M12.
Interesting! :shock: I don't think that's a problem here, nothing in the datasheet suggests the can is connected.

I'm also good for the mounting nuts thanks, Mouser supplied the correct ones along with anti-shake washers. They are M8 for the 20 and 40 uf values, and M12 for the 80 uf. The chassis will have a circular section ground out on the rear side around each hole, to ensure the can is properly grounded when attached.
Deck: Garrard 301 - Audio Origami PU7 - NW Analogue DH3S
Phono: Pete Millett LR, Lundahl SUT, AMB σ22 PSU
Linestage: Bruno Putzeys Balanced Pre + Hans Polak relay mod, LCDuino control
Power amps: 300B PP 'Symmetric Reichert'
Speakers: FF225WK Big Mets
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Thermionic Idler
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#11 Re: The Newton 300B

Post by Thermionic Idler »

Modelling is now completed, down to literally evey nut and bolt. The inside is expected to look something like this, but with a few more wires and resistors obviously.

Image
Deck: Garrard 301 - Audio Origami PU7 - NW Analogue DH3S
Phono: Pete Millett LR, Lundahl SUT, AMB σ22 PSU
Linestage: Bruno Putzeys Balanced Pre + Hans Polak relay mod, LCDuino control
Power amps: 300B PP 'Symmetric Reichert'
Speakers: FF225WK Big Mets
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Thermionic Idler
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#12 Re: The Newton 300B

Post by Thermionic Idler »

The panels have been manufactured and shipped from Schaeffer, they are due here next Monday. Assuming no manufacturing defects (I did have issues last time around with the "bend notch") they will have the 90 degree bend applied and then over to Ant to do the wood frames and tx covers.

There's always a moment of anxiety around the panels arriving. This time around, because I was using an updated version of TurboCAD, I was able to export a DXF file which included all the 2D cutouts without FrontPanel rejecting it. That reduced the amount of manual data entry I had to do in the FrontPanel software, I mostly only had to worry about the 3D elements (blind holes, standoffs etc). I then exported a DXF from Frontpanel and re-imported it to TurboCAD, overlaying my original panel design, to sanity-check that nothing had been missed or was out of place (I did find, and correct, one error).

Even with all that checking, it still doesn't stop the worry! I occasionally have a moment of panic and have to open a file to check I haven't missed something.

The wiring layout has also been (roughly) planned, along with the build order. As always, this has consumed a lot more of my time than expected, but the design is one of those that has largely "fallen into place". I'm hoping this portends good things.
Deck: Garrard 301 - Audio Origami PU7 - NW Analogue DH3S
Phono: Pete Millett LR, Lundahl SUT, AMB σ22 PSU
Linestage: Bruno Putzeys Balanced Pre + Hans Polak relay mod, LCDuino control
Power amps: 300B PP 'Symmetric Reichert'
Speakers: FF225WK Big Mets
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Thermionic Idler
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#13 Re: The Newton 300B

Post by Thermionic Idler »

Panels arrived from Schaeffer, all looking good:

Image

And the reverse side, showing the various studs and standoffs.

Image

The other panel is identical, except for the mirror-imaging.
Deck: Garrard 301 - Audio Origami PU7 - NW Analogue DH3S
Phono: Pete Millett LR, Lundahl SUT, AMB σ22 PSU
Linestage: Bruno Putzeys Balanced Pre + Hans Polak relay mod, LCDuino control
Power amps: 300B PP 'Symmetric Reichert'
Speakers: FF225WK Big Mets
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#14 Re: The Newton 300B

Post by Michael L »

[quote="Thermionic Idler" post_id=181165 time=1603471083 user_id=1056]
The panels have been manufactured and shipped from Schaeffer,

Is this a USA based company? Was it very expensive to get the panels made and shipped here?
Are there any firms in the UK or Europe who do the same work?

Thanks
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#15 Re: The Newton 300B

Post by IslandPink »

Phwoarr !
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