Massdrop x Eddie Current ZDT Jr. (Official Thread)

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by Hands, Nov 15, 2017.

  1. RAZRr1275

    RAZRr1275 Facebook Friend

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    Looks like issues is just a stabilizer that got loose. I'm getting an extra with a my SW51 so hopefully it'll be an easy fix and I can compare :) Big ups to @Zampotech for identifying the problem and sending the part with the SW51. I'm not sure if I can repair it for myself since I don't know how to solder but I'm sure someone I know can.
     
    Last edited: Apr 19, 2020
  2. NonpractisingEE

    NonpractisingEE New

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    If you have a multimeter (and promise not to electrocute yourself), I'll help you try to get it working.

    This thread has saved mine 2x. Depending on where you are, I could try some basic troubleshooting too. This thing is a tank and it has been fun to break and fix it.
     
  3. dumbo

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    I just had the same issue. Thanks for the info!
     
  4. NonpractisingEE

    NonpractisingEE New

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    I did the replacement too and the front tubes seem brighter/hotter. Is there a voltage or temperature that I should worry about?
     
  5. Zampotech

    Zampotech Friend

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    You need to remove one tube and measure the heater voltage. If measured from above, it will be 4 and 5 pin (count clockwise)
    The constant voltage should be 6.0..6.4 volts.
     
  6. RAZRr1275

    RAZRr1275 Facebook Friend

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    Hey! Sorry it took so long to get back I don't log into my account here super often. I'm located in NYC
     
  7. farbinator

    farbinator Facebook Friend

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    Wanted to share a modification I recently added to my ZDT Jr. Unfortunately when I first got mine, I discovered that the volume potentiometer was faulty, cutting out at various portions of the sweep range on the left channel. It was usable to a degree so I let it be for awhile, but vowed to do something about it.

    Recently I replaced the stock one for an ALPS RK27, link at the bottom for ~$20. The version I bought came soldered to a screw terminal PCB so all that I needed to do was snip the leads on the old pot off, remove and replace. I did have to drill another hole for the retaining nub on this pot, but that was easy.

    [​IMG]

    I've been enjoying my ZDT Jr. for a few months now, picked up brand new along with the widely recommended GE JAN 5654W tubes for the drivers, and Procomm ECC89s for the power tubes. This is a great tube amp, especially given the price I got it for.

    * https://www.amazon.com/ALPS-Round-shaft-amplifer-potentiometer/dp/B07J9KYQV2/
     
    Last edited: Jul 3, 2020
  8. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    @Zampotech I saw you received some PCBs for your new amp. Any chance the boards for the "hard rock adapter" also arrived?
     
  9. Zampotech

    Zampotech Friend

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    Yes, I got the circuit boards. But the logistics of delivering these boards were not quite traditional. The adapter boards are still in storage somewhere.
    The situation is that the factory has already sent it, but I haven't received it yet.

    I will probably re-order a new set of boards and send them via a different route.
     
  10. goreshade

    goreshade New

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    Is the ZDT jr a rebranded Laconic Night Blues MINI ? Is there any internal difference ?
    Since the ZDT jr is no longer available. Now the NBM is the only choice. I want to make sure of it before i pull the trigger on the purchase.
     
  11. Lyander

    Lyander Official SBAF Equitable Empathizer

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    Some slightly different parts, but as mentioned elsewhere in the thread it's essentially the same experience barring cosmetics. Not gotten ears on the NBM myself, just regurgitating what's in the first two posts of this thread.
     
  12. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    After @Lyander's post above, I went back and reread the beginning of this thread and found this.

    Which prompted me to try Stellia with my NBM. To my surprise, the bass didn't sound like crap like it does with Clears and HD800. Maybe it's due to Stellia's impedance curve being much flatter.

    I then tried HE5xx for the hell of it and sure enough it didn't sound like ass either, actually pretty decent.

    Seems strange, but I'm glad to have found two unlikely low Z pairings for NBM that has been sitting idle, waiting for @Zampotech's adapter.

    Edit: both from low Z out
     
    Last edited: Dec 9, 2020
  13. HotRatSalad

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    I recently picked one of these up from @yotacowboy . Ironically I moved from SW51 cuz IT hummed. I was wondering if anyone has any of them sexy time GE tubes available ?
     
  14. BrokeSkoolBoi

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    I just left home but I have some if no one else gets back to you in a week.
     
  15. wabibito

    wabibito New

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    Any one know where I can buy the shielding material? Recently I bought two used amp and they both has hum issues. I plan to shield all three transformers for each amp. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
     
  16. jaker782

    jaker782 Friend

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    I owned a unit exhibiting hum in the past and wrapped the transformers with the following shielding film, which completely eliminated the hum. The package should contain enough material for two amps, especially if only using one layer. I found wrapping the center transformer to be the most important, but number of layers required will depend upon the level of hum.

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HDL0M8S/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_7?smid=A17YV0793ULSSE&psc=1
     
  17. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

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    That's exactly the stuff I used on my old amp and it worked perfectly. Easy to cut/trim with kitchen shears then fix the coiled shielding around the trafo with a zip tie..
     
  18. wabibito

    wabibito New

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    thank you much. I will order some to try.
     
  19. wabibito

    wabibito New

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    I got the material, seems like it laminated both side with plastic, Do i just use as is or do i need to peal it off? Thank you.
     
  20. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

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    No peeling, just cut to size and fit it around the transformer, iirc.
     

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