Introducing Quickie 1.1

[Doc B]

With the periodic price increases from our suppliers and the relative scarcity of the power switch used in the original Quickie, we were faced with having to raise the price of the kit and deal with continual back orders. So PJ and PB revisited the original design looking at all possible areas for improvement. The goals were to maintain the $99 price point, to find a better arrangement for switching power, and to make any improvements that were learned over the past four years.

The most visible change was to use a single switch to heat the tubes and select the inputs. This makes wiring the preamp quite a bit easier, and phases out that pesky power switch.  While we were at it, we replaced all the resistors in the kit with higher quality Vishay-Dale parts, and even used audio-grade cathode bypass capacitors that appear in our top of the line BeePre 300B preamp. Additional tweaks to the chassis eliminated several holes and one entire tool from production, helping to keep the price unchanged. 

The result is the same exceptional sound quality with fewer parts, easier construction, and more room for upgraded parts.

All outstanding orders will be filled with this new version.

http://www.bottlehead.com/store.php/products/quickie-battery-tube-preamplifier

 

[denti alligator]

Looks great! So those differently colored plates are a thing of the past? What happens to the extra stock, if you have any? I wouldn't mind switching out my yellow one for a different shade...

 

[balancedtriode]

will the plates be metal 
one can only hope.
I should order one soon

 

[Wanderer]

Too bad you can't add a voice chip that shouts; HEY!!! HEY !!!! TURN ME OFF DAMNIT! BATTERIES COST MONEY YA KNOW!! 

Amazed at keeping the $99 price.

Any of the resistor and cap changes make an audible improvement? 

 

[Doc B]

The plates will still be randomly colored acrylic, as it says in the product description. They will never be metal in a $99 kit. I like Dales so I would say yeah, this version maybe sounds a tiny bit better than the original. Or maybe I can just talk myself into that notion easily.

 

[Paul Birkeland]

The random plate colors will indeed continue, as that is actually part of how the price is kept low (I take the odd bits and pieces that would otherwise be scrap).

With the new Quickie, it's much easier to look at the kit and know that the power is on or off.  For mine, I have the volume knob pointing up for no volume, and the power/input switch pointing up for no power.  I can see them across the room and know that both need to be pointing up to be off.

As an added bonus, a Goldpoint selector switch will now integrate nicely into this kit. 

The sonic impacts of the changes are noticeable, but not night and day (like the PJCCS). It's difficult to say which one made the greatest impact, as they were all done at once. 

 

[Wormwood]

So do both upgrades (there are two, right?) work with the 1.1?


Stephen

 

[jrebman]

Just have to smile -- you guys are just amazing!  Has it really been 4 years already?

-- Jim

 

[Paul Birkeland]

So do both upgrades (there are two, right?) work with the 1.1?

PJCCS works with the 1.1, but with a small tweak to the circuit.  Basically, the new Quickie does not shut off the B+ supply, and the PJCCS relies on this supply for biasing.  What PJ and I came up with was to use a current sensing transistor to turn on the PJCCS biasing automatically when the preamp is turned on.

It sounds really fancy, but it's two extra parts per channel.

The manual and the PJCCS kit will have instructions and parts for either Quickie.

-PB

 

[xcortes]

One day I'll build me a Quickie on a metal chassis. That will preclude me from canibalizing it as I did with my first two.

 

[4krow]

One day I'll build me a Quickie on a metal chassis. That will preclude me from canibalizing it as I did with my first two.

Make it brass. You won't regret it.

 

[balancedtriode]

Wow I like the pearl chassis when I first saw it I though it looked like a neat metal finish. that is really cool!

 

[mortron]

Doc, can one upgrade to this schematic from an existing Quickie? I want better too! Haha

Glad to see continued development of a great little kit. Thanks

 

[Paul Birkeland]

Doc, can one upgrade to this schematic from an existing Quickie? I want better too! Haha

This would involve additional machining of the original chassis plate (which is really tough with parts mounted) and another layout to accommodate the different parts.  All things considered, replacing the Quickie all together would be less expensive and easier.

 

[Natural Sound]

Doc, can one upgrade to this schematic from an existing Quickie? I want better too! Haha

This would involve additional machining of the original chassis plate (which is really tough with parts mounted) and another layout to accommodate the different parts.  All things considered, replacing the Quickie all together would be less expensive and easier.

Especially with the crazy low price of the quickie!

 

[aragorn723]

As an added bonus, a Goldpoint selector switch will now integrate nicely into this kit. 

The sonic impacts of the changes are noticeable, but not night and day (like the PJCCS). It's difficult to say which one made the greatest impact, as they were all done at once.

Has anyone with the Quickie 1.1 thought about upgrading any of the new components (bypass caps and resistors) ?  They sound more high-end but i wonder if there is still more room to squeeze a little more performance out?  Maybe with an upgraded volume control too?

 

[Paul Birkeland]

The volume control and selector switch are a good place to start, but they also cost the most money to upgrade.

There are plenty of ~150uF small voltage electrolytics out there, I'd recommend buying 10-20 different pairs and trying them all.

 

[jrebman]

PB,

What would be a good goldpoint switch, and what if one wanted to have 3 or 4 inputs, could that still work?

Thanks,

Jim

 

[Paul Birkeland]

What would be a good goldpoint switch, and what if one wanted to have 3 or 4 inputs, could that still work?

You'd want a single deck, 4 pole, 3 position Goldpoint switch.

If you want more inputs, you'd need a 2 deck goldpoint with 2 poles and six positions per deck.

 

[jrebman]

You'd want a single deck, 4 pole, 3 position Goldpoint switch...

Oh good, I just happen to have one of those.