Follow Up: Puffin Phono DSP Preamp

[scott wurcer]

"Audio Amateur" magazine, later became "AudioXpress" sold books, CD's, LP's and stuff thru it's "Old Colony Sound Lab" department.

Our trim engineer was a friend of Ed Dell, apparently he had a professional bowling lane('s ?) in his basement.

 

[JP]

I've only ever been able to find one.

 

[scott wurcer]

I've only ever been able to find one.

View attachment 67397View attachment 67399View attachment 67400View attachment 67401

Are you sure these are taken from new recordings? They still mention the gear driven chart recorders.

 

[JP]

No idea. Track lists don't seem to follow the STR series, at least for the CTC-310 I have.

 

[Speedskater]

Those are the CBS test records that Old Colony sold in 1987.

 

[Speedskater]

Going back to 1978, I see:
STR 100 : Stereophonic Frequencies $10
STR 101 : Seven Steps to Better Listening $6.98
STR 112 : Square Wave Tracking and IM $15
STR 120 : Wide Range Pickup Response $15
STR 130 : RIAA Frequency Response $15
STR 140 : RIAA Pink Noise Acoustical $15
STR 151 : Broadcast Test 15
STR 170 : 318 Microsecond Frequency Response $15
STR 1100 : Quadraphonic Test $15

 

[watchnerd]

If I don't have at time machine, how do I get these old test disks?

Discogs?

 

[scott wurcer]

If I don't have at time machine, how do I get these old test disks?

Discogs?

Yes they are covered there, but rarely the ones that are not intended for consumer use. You have to remember several of the most interesting ones do not have RIAA and require a flat, or in one case, a custom one time constant pre-amp.

 

[watchnerd]

Yes they are covered there, but rarely the ones that are not intended for consumer use. You have to remember several of the most interesting ones do not have RIAA and require a flat, or in one case, a custom one time constant pre-amp.

Errrr...what was the purpose of these non-standard EQ settings?

If one wanted a recorded test signal back in the day that didn't use RIAA, why not use a reel to reel tape?

 

[scott wurcer]

Errrr...what was the purpose of these non-standard EQ settings?

If one wanted a recorded test signal back in the day that didn't use RIAA, why not use a reel to reel tape?

RIAA adds two sources of error the pre-emphasis and de-emphasis, an ideal cartridge (conventional ) is a constant velocity transducer as is the cutting head. They are (in the ideal case) exact complements so a flat with frequency input yields a flat with frequency output the error is almost entirely due to the cartridge/TT/arm without the component errors of two equalizers.

 

[Balle Clorin]

...

I did try grounding the Puffin to the AP, and the cartridge shell to that ground, and the mains pickup improved quite a bit. Still more than I'd like to see, and I have a pretty good idea of the grounding issues that cause this. You would too, if you could look at the innards...

View attachment 67048

can you please explain,,,?

 

[JP]

BTW, who has my Puffin, anyway?

 

[SIY]

BTW, who has my Puffin, anyway?

Me. PM me your current addy and I’ll het it back to you.

 

[Bigpond]

Anyone care to comment on how it sounds relative to an all analog phono?

 

[JP]

Me. PM me your current addy and I’ll het it back to you.

I thought @scott wurcer wanted to play with it next?

 

[SIY]

I thought @scott wurcer wanted to play with it next?

I'll check with him. My bad.

 

[SIY]

can you please explain,,,?

Several basic rules of low noise grounding were flouted. Surprising given that, otherwise, the engineering seems quite good.

 

[scott wurcer]

If you guy's don't mind, I might want to at least take a look at it before passing it back to JP. You have my email.

 

[watchnerd]

Anyone care to comment on how it sounds relative to an all analog phono?

LPs sound like LPs through the Puffin.

 

[Bigpond]

LPs sound like LPs through the Puffin.

Thank you.