Millenium 4-20 (Maplin Electronics)

[Ianm2]

fascinating stuff, I have a mullard 5-10 amp,

and just acquired a maplin 5-20, picking up tonite, so will be interesting to a/b them, only differences will tell here...tx's, valves

[pre65]

Looks like Mike's site is up and running again.

http://livinginthepast-audioweb.co.uk/valveaudio.html



Philip

[Mike H]

Thanks for the mention!

Only just starting to show up in google too

[colin.hepburn]

Originally Posted by Mike H

Thanks for the mention!

Only just starting to show up in google too

Hi Mike
Hadn’t realised you had joined this forum so a late welcome to you nice too see your website is up and running again
Cheers
Colin

[Chopsaw]

I have a pair of Millenium 4/20 monoblocks if anyone's interested. I also have all the build manuals if anyone wants copies. I fitted them with the larger OP trannies courtesy of Mike just before I laid them up so I could use them with KT88s. I have moved one OP valve further in so I could get two coke bottles in which wasn't possible before. This leaves a small crescent shaped hole behind the valve base but it's not noticeable.



Si.

[Mike H]

Originally Posted by alnewall

I quite fancy hardwiring my Maplin amp one of these days. I think the original output TXs were the weakest link here, do we know of anyone who's bothered to fit something better?

Yes I have ~ or will do shortly as part of making up my prototype chassis fairly soon I hope. Maplin dumped all these TX's and now stock Chinese versions. I now sell the originals plus bigger ones.

The problem with the Maplin Millennium was it was cheap cheap cheap cheap ~ plus, none of us really knew what we were doing anyway!

I'm currently in correspondence with two bods with Millenniums, one's got weird faults after being left 'in storage' all summer (the Millenniums, not him!), the other's just built one, so obviously the project refuses to die... I'd lost all the bumf for it but the second guy gave me copies, so I spent yesterday 'improving' the cct as below:

He used all Maplin comps so I'm currently trying to persuade him to upgrade them to something better ~ f'rinstance I've tried Maplin's 'audio grade' and while they're very clear I find them flat and boring to listen to, also the bass is right off, which is weird given the largish values I tested (?)

Note the original kit amps used mains filter type polypropylenes which would have sounded terrible anyway, also C8 was way too small given the smallish value of R7, which is probably mainly why it suddenly sounds a whole lot better if V1 is rewired as triode

[Dave Ed]

Small world innit?! I'm the 'other guy' as Mike refers to me above!
Cop these pictures of my amp. through slow but steady progress:

Then it grew!

Into this

And a special dispensation from the missus for it to grace the lounge!

All cheap as chips Maplin's components except Mike's mains t/x and choke-sounds ok too-good bass,nice mid but treble can be a bit 'gritty',valves from Chelmer-Total cost up to now £390.

[Mike H]

Arrrgh, it's him! Hello Dave!

Yes that's the beastie...

Could be your 'gritty sound' might be the Maplin 'min-res' resistors? Just a wild guess on my part y'understand

[Ianm2]

Mike, do you know anything about the maplin 2 watt metal films, I heard they were philips or some good brand?

[prince of darkness]

Originally Posted by Mike H

Could be your 'gritty sound' might be the Maplin 'min-res' resistors? Just a wild guess on my part y'understand

Can't say I have ever found these to be "gritty", having used them for various applications including a Pre II clone and stepped attenuator. Cheap doesn't necessarily mean rubbish.