Novice - ordered Novo kit
Printed From: Graham Slee Hifi System Components
Category: DIY AUDIO
Forum Name: DIY Audio questions and answers
Forum Description: www.diy-audio-kits.com ... superb audio kits for experienced constructors
URL: https://www.hifisystemcomponents.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=462
Printed Date: 27 Mar 2026 at 12:15am
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Topic: Novice - ordered Novo kit
Posted By: cattle prod
Subject: Novice - ordered Novo kit
Date Posted: 24 Apr 2009 at 9:45am
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Hi
Just ordered the Novo kit 
I'm a novice when it comes to building but I have help from an electronics engineer who is very experience though not with hifi. A couple of questions. Firstly which is the best solder to use? Secondly, can I burn-in the Novo by hooking it up to iTunes via my Mac and so I need to have headphones connected during the burn-in period? Thanks in advance. ------------- cheers Ian |
Replies:
Posted By: mrarroyo
Date Posted: 24 Apr 2009 at 11:25pm
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Yes, always present the amp with a load (in this case headphones). You can use the computer as a source, but perhaps an old radio w/ stereo output would be better (less wear and tear to your Mac). Do not use the newer lead free solder, instead get something like 60/40 solder. ------------- Miguel |
Posted By: jonclancy
Date Posted: 25 Apr 2009 at 5:59pm
| Concur with Miguel about the solder. New, lead-free stuff is generally more difficult to use. Plain Jane 60/40 (or better some nice Cardas Quad Eutectic) flows better and makes a much nicer job IME. |
Posted By: less
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2009 at 8:33pm
Glad I saw this post before starting work on my kit. I wonder if this information could be made a sticky? Just ordered a roll, taint cheap  but If that's what the man says to use then why use anything else Regards Les ------------- I don't do mediocrity! Les Sutherland |
jonclancy wrote:Posted By: less
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2009 at 8:43pm
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Just found this http://www.soniccraft.com/products/connections/solder/cardas.htm link, which is worth reading, I think. Les ------------- I don't do mediocrity! Les Sutherland |
Posted By: jonclancy
Date Posted: 12 Aug 2009 at 10:54am
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Yup, it's the best I've come across so far!
A 1lb roll will last forever. I'm going to get one more and that will last me a lifetime of DIYA.
Jon
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Posted By: Fatmangolf
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2011 at 9:21pm
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Did anyone else experiment with the 33R resistors in the DAK Novo?
------------- Jon Open mind and ears whilst owning GSP Genera, Accession M, Accession MC, Elevator EXP, Solo ULDE, Proprius amps, Cusat50 cables, Lautus digital cable, Spatia cables and links, and a Majestic DAC. |
Posted By: Putalan
Date Posted: 14 Apr 2015 at 5:22pm
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Hi all, new member here. Sorry to bump an old thread (please feel free to point me in the direction of a more helpful/relevant thread). I was looking around the forum on information of mods or upgrades to the Novo and Genera. I am very interested in DIY audio and I love the aspect of being able to swap different components to customize or match the sound to the rest of your set-up (as I am sure you all are). I have a little bit of soldering experience and I am hoping the more projects I undertake, coupled with a lot of research, I may start to understand and build audio circuitry. My plan is to start with the genera and move on to the novo. Any tips, tricks, mods or encouragement is greatly appreciated. Thanks, Nick My current set up is: P******t Debut Carbon w/ Speedbox SE, Audio Technica
AT440MLa
Yaquin MC-10L w/ Mullard el34, Sovteks, Upgraded Caps and
Pots TriTrix MTM TL Floor standing speakers from Parts Express,
Velodyne MiniVee 8” Sub Sennheiser HD 558 |
Posted By: morris_minor
Date Posted: 14 Apr 2015 at 5:36pm
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Welcome to the forum, Nick! My own DIY skills are non-existent, but I'm sure some of our more adventurous folk will be along soon to help out! ------------- Bob Majestic DAC/pre-amp Accession MC/Enigma, Accession MM, Reflex M, Elevator EXP, Era Gold V Solo ULDE, Novo, Lautus USB and digital, Libran balanced, CuSat50 2 x Proprius + Spatia/Spatia Links |
Posted By: BackinBlack
Date Posted: 14 Apr 2015 at 6:27pm
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Hi Nick and welcome. If you build the Genera, the only mod you should contemplate is the PSU1 power supply. Just because it's a kit at a bargain price don't be fooled into thinking that it's sound is compromised; Graham has spent a lot of time getting the blend of components right, the opamp in particular. As you have read the Genera thread which gives a lot of background to the development, I'm sure you understand the time and effort that has gone into the Genera. Anyway, you'll be too busy listening to beautiful music to try modifying it. In my opinion it blows away many phono stages costing 5 or 6 times as much. ------------- Just listen, if it sounds good to you, enjoy it. |
Posted By: Putalan
Date Posted: 14 Apr 2015 at 6:36pm
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Thanks Bob and Ian, I will certainly rest assured in the components that have been selected by Graham. Do you think this pre is a good match to run with a push-pull tube amp? I have been looking for a very straight forward pre without any coloration and this seems to be a good place to start. ------------- Nick Traverse City, Michigan, USA Debut Carbon w/ Speedbox SE, Audio Technica AT440MLa Yaquin MC-10L w/ Mullard el34, Sovteks |
Posted By: tg [RIP]
Date Posted: 14 Apr 2015 at 6:51pm
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Hi Nick and another welcome from me, seems a little odd to be answering a question about the Genera in a Novo thread, but for what it is worth, I have run nearly all of the phono stages with a variety of valve amps over the last 8 or 9 years and am aware of at least one other member here who also has used a number of them with various valve amps over the last 5 or 6 years. The fact that we continue to do so, should provide some reassurance that you should not find any incompatibilities, nor is there any reason why there should be, given competent design and construction of the valve amp. Short answer, this is a good phono pre to run with any amp and speakers, the better they are, the better you will appreciate it. ------------- Tony G |