Glad this kit is coming back!

[Natural Sound]

I'm in. You have my pre-order and I threw in a Stereomour II shunt regulator upgrade for good measure. 

When people come over to my house and they hear the S.E.X. amp they want one (and a set of Orca's). I've purchased two S.E.X. amps directly from Bottlehead and two used, unassembled kits from private parties in the past. I only have one left. Thats gotta tell you something. Keep up the good work, Bottlehead! You guys rock.

Tom AKA "Natural Sound" in Albuquerque.

 

[Doc B]

Thanks Tom, and thanks to everyone who has preordered!

 

[Adrian]

Given the similarity of the circuit to the 2.1 version, will the output (parafeed) capacitor for the 3.0 also be rated as a 1.5 uF?

 

[Paul Joppa]

Given the similarity of the circuit to the 2.1 version, will the output (parafeed) capacitor for the 3.0 also be rated as a 1.5 uF?

Yes.

The calculated nominal is 1.25uF so 1.0uF is as good as 1.5uF. You could experiment, going as low as 0.625uF, or as high as 2.5uF. The smaller values will give better deep-bass power with less extension, but there is substantial interaction with the speaker and the listening room.

 

[ZenAudio]

Yes.

The calculated nominal is 1.25uF so 1.0uF is as good as 1.5uF. You could experiment, going as low as 0.625uF, or as high as 2.5uF. The smaller values will give better deep-bass power with less extension, but there is substantial interaction with the speaker and the listening room.

PJ, I've seen you discuss this before.  Does that mean the bass will have more oomph but not go as low with the smaller values (taking the speaker/room variables out of the equation)?

 

[Paul Joppa]

That would be a reasonable paraphrase of my post. But you can't really take the speaker/room out of consideration; the possible interactions are too complex to trust analyses. Listen and learn.

 

[crizq0]

Just placed my order. 8)
Now I just need to look into some affordable speakers to go with it. Wish I could afford orcas.

 

[BNAL]

For speakers you can look at the Madisound Fostex kits. They look interesting and reasonably priced.

 

[Paul Birkeland]

FYI - I have used 1.0uF with wonderful success, and it seems that a greater selection of capacitors with sufficient voltage rating is available in this capacitance value.

 

[Adrian]

Thanks, P.B.
I used some Mundorf 1.5 uf in my S.E.S. 2.1 because that is what came with the kit.
I'll try using the same caps in 1.0uf in my 3.0 when it arrives, probably in January.

Also, I plan to install the C4S for the S.E.X. 3.0 when it is available.  For those of us that will be assemblying the kit before the availability of the C4S, can we be told where it will be mounted, the individual components that will be removed (if any), etc.? This informtion can help us during the initial assembly to be prepared for the C4S upgrade.

 

[Paul Birkeland]

I would strongly recommend installing the C4S before changing out the 0.1uF interstage coupling caps. 

-PB

 

[Natural Sound]

I would strongly recommend installing the C4S before changing out the 0.1uF interstage coupling caps. 

-PB

I'm a little bit confused. Can you expand on that a little please?

 

[Adrian]

I would strongly recommend installing the C4S before changing out the 0.1uF interstage coupling caps. 

-PB

I do not currently have plans to touch the interstage 0.1 uf cap only the 1.5uf parafeed output cap.  So, I'm assuming changing the parafeed cap before the installation of the C4S when it becomes available is OK (I'm thinking positioning/location, considering I don't choose some gigantic size cap!).

 

[bernieclub]

Quick question about the new SEX, and BH amps in general...is it OK to operate the amp long term with the chassis plate in a vertical position?
 

 

[Doc B]

Yes to the SEX kit. Indirectly heated tubes can be oriented on their side.

Maybe to the DHT amps. It depends upon how the tube filament is oriented. It needs to be vertical. If it is horizontal there is a slight possibility of it sagging and hitting the grid.

 

[bernieclub]

Thanks Doc!

 

[physicsmajor]

(asking about recommending install of C4s before changing out caps)
I'm a little bit confused. Can you expand on that a little please?

The reason is that the C4s provides a material upgrade to the sound, so you should strongly consider applying the upgrade(s) to the stock kit, hearing the differences, and then if you still want to tweak go after the caps/resistors.

 

[Paul Birkeland]

While there is plenty of room in the new kit for cap upgrades, the C4S kit will occupy a little bit of space that you might be tempted to use for larger interstage coupling caps. 

 

[Natural Sound]

While there is plenty of room in the new kit for cap upgrades, the C4S kit will occupy a little bit of space that you might be tempted to use for larger interstage coupling caps.

Ah, OK, that makes more sense. Thanks.

 

[Natural Sound]

I'm in. You have my pre-order and I threw in a Stereomour II shunt regulator upgrade for good measure. 

When people come over to my house and they hear the S.E.X. amp they want one (and a set of Orca's). I've purchased two S.E.X. amps directly from Bottlehead and two used, unassembled kits from private parties in the past. I only have one left. Thats gotta tell you something. Keep up the good work, Bottlehead! You guys rock.

Tom AKA "Natural Sound" in Albuquerque.

Just got UPS tracking info.  ;D