Gerry E.
Member
Hi:
I finally pulled the trigger and ordered a BeePre to go along with my Paramount 300B amps. My friend Boulos, who has built a S.E.X. amp and then added the C4S upgrade, will be doing the build for me. He has additional electronic/soldering experience including replacing my stock Paramount transformers with the Magnequest full-nickel upgrade transformer set.
I have been in the passive attenuator camp for a while (most recently with a LDR-based unit) but recently heard what an active preamp can do for my system. Before Boulos gets started, I would like to ask some questions:
1. We will go with the stock volume controls instead of the BeeQuiet which we can always add later. I just want to confirm that if you add the BeeQuiet, you lose the balance control functionality, correct?
2. I purchased the BeePre without tubes and was thinking of purchasing a pair of JJ 300Bs for it. They JJ 300Bs appear to be both a good choice and good value for the BeePre - any thoughts on this?
3. I know the BeePre comes with excellent parts but are there any must-have part upgrades you can suggest? I assume capacitors would be the most likely but which ones?
4. I'm a single input guy. Um, I mean I only want/need a single input and two sets of outputs. How difficult would it be to build with just a single input vs. the stock multiple inputs? Would it actually be easier to build and possibly sound better? I'm more curious about those last two questions than either mattering that much.
5. Excluding the 300Bs, what is the full tube compliment and quantity of each tube?
6. Any other advice or tips about the build that you can think of?
Any information or thoughts would be very much appreciated - thanks!
Gerry
I finally pulled the trigger and ordered a BeePre to go along with my Paramount 300B amps. My friend Boulos, who has built a S.E.X. amp and then added the C4S upgrade, will be doing the build for me. He has additional electronic/soldering experience including replacing my stock Paramount transformers with the Magnequest full-nickel upgrade transformer set.
I have been in the passive attenuator camp for a while (most recently with a LDR-based unit) but recently heard what an active preamp can do for my system. Before Boulos gets started, I would like to ask some questions:
1. We will go with the stock volume controls instead of the BeeQuiet which we can always add later. I just want to confirm that if you add the BeeQuiet, you lose the balance control functionality, correct?
2. I purchased the BeePre without tubes and was thinking of purchasing a pair of JJ 300Bs for it. They JJ 300Bs appear to be both a good choice and good value for the BeePre - any thoughts on this?
3. I know the BeePre comes with excellent parts but are there any must-have part upgrades you can suggest? I assume capacitors would be the most likely but which ones?
4. I'm a single input guy. Um, I mean I only want/need a single input and two sets of outputs. How difficult would it be to build with just a single input vs. the stock multiple inputs? Would it actually be easier to build and possibly sound better? I'm more curious about those last two questions than either mattering that much.
5. Excluding the 300Bs, what is the full tube compliment and quantity of each tube?
6. Any other advice or tips about the build that you can think of?
Any information or thoughts would be very much appreciated - thanks!
Gerry