Fatter sound from KEL84?

[robaustralia]

I have a KEL84 that had the R38/220nF mod and it sounded great. I fitted an ALPS Blue and the sound lost it's 'edge' so I removed the mod.
Now the space and transparency is superb but it sounds a bit 'harsh' and 'thin' on some CD's. Live CD's are breathtaking. In fact I have the Herbie Hancock Possibilities CD with a duet and the two voices are totally separated and so focussed you could put a ruler between them.
Is there a fix to 'fatten' the sound without losing the subtle edge or am I just dealing with some bad CD's?
Thanks.
Cheers,
Rob

[pete_b]

Originally Posted by robaustralia

I have a KEL84 that had the R38/220nF mod and it sounded great.

Hello Rob,

can you tell me what the R38/220nF is, please?

Pete

[Rob042]

Pete
you could replace two of your four de-coupling caps with pio's ( coppers).
and then replace the pot with the shunt mod and use say rikens or kiames.
the second idea is cheaper,the first will fill the mid and upper bass while adding a silkiness to the upper frequencies.( all imho).

Rob

[andrew ivimey]

G'day Rob in australia,

if you want a decent upgrade to KEL84 (and it is interesting that you found ALps not that good - all I find with Alps os that it guarantees the same resistance on both channels but OTOH, input impedance is a hugely huge subject and worth messing with - if only people would realise - sigh, despairs)

but, I'd search out a quad of reflektor (russian) el84Ms; they are dead cheap if you search on ebay. NOw, maybe Mullard el84s are better - I haven't the foggiest because they are sillly money but these reflektors are the business and very cheap too ( I tried quite a few makes of EL84s, believe me).

I ought to get another KEL84 just to play again - anyone want to sell their's?

OTOH that PCB was a nasty thing to 'modify'.

[robaustralia]

Hi Pete.
A 220nF/630V poly cap is connected in parallel with R38 in the power supply.
Cheers,
Rob

[robaustralia]

Thanks all.

We are very deprived over here when it comes to a good supply of quality components, so I'll have to do some hunting around.

Cheers,
Rob

[NickG]

Actually, I think you are dealing with bad CD's, and are fixing something that isn't broke. Have you considered vinyl?

[jimangus]

Hi rob in oz,
i have just replaced my kel84 pcb and populated it with new components, so i have a few bits of componants i could send to you in oz,
i have 4 x copper jensen p10's
4 elna silmic cathode caps for el84's
2 bg standard for the ecf80 cathods. This should warm your sound up a bit but still give great detail.
I have a spare quad of russian reflectors and a quad of phillips el84's that are very nice.

On the other hand you could try parts connextions, i goT BG N and NX and dynamicaps in my kel, and i have to say it is sounding very good.

That is an unusual comment about the alps pot, i always considered it quite a sweet sounding vol pot, i always used to use them on my tranny amps to sweeten them up a bit.

Send a pm if any of that gear any value to you.

regards
jim