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Community => The Lounge => Hardware/Software => Topic started by: Spanky on Thursday, September 23, 2010, 23:35:33 PM

Title: TubeMagic A1 Modding
Post by: Spanky on Thursday, September 23, 2010, 23:35:33 PM
I'm thinking of a few mods to perform just to change a few things up.

My list:
Remove Source switch and put in place a actual switch to enable/disable speaker output
Since Source will be removed, Line-In can now become a 2nd headphone jack (a feature I've seen a few people asking for)
Tidying up the wiring. I know Ryan spent time on this but I really don't think it's wise to run the speaker output lines like 1/4" away from the power transformer.
Cap replacing might be in order as well if I'm going to be doing major work.
Title: Re: TubeMagic A1 Modding
Post by: Spanky on Friday, October 15, 2010, 22:04:36 PM
I started:

Teaser: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Osk-CBpfu0

I will have a tutorial with pictures written up when I fully finish the mods

*EDIT*
Just went for the final mod (source knob is a on/off switch for speakers) and a screw connected with a partially charged capacitor and I got to see a lovely orange spark. I'm scared shitless since I let go of the screw about half a second before it did that and I know there's 200v caps in there. I'm going to let the unit set for a while, maybe overnight. Hopefully it didn't damage anything. It's a pretty simple circuit so I doubt it did. If my A1 is fubar, you got to see it's final moments in that video ^^ :P
Title: Re: TubeMagic A1 Modding
Post by: BlueBlaster on Saturday, October 16, 2010, 00:41:21 AM
Damn, well I hope its alright.
Title: Re: TubeMagic A1 Modding
Post by: Spanky on Saturday, October 16, 2010, 00:44:10 AM
Yea, I should have known better. You just don't mess with 200v caps...  I think it should be ok to plug in and turn on. Here's the resistor:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/464376/DSC08800.JPG

From what I read, they go open-circuit if they fail... I dunno.
Title: Re: TubeMagic A1 Modding
Post by: Spanky on Saturday, October 16, 2010, 16:26:09 PM
Muahahahah I tested the resistor and it still reads 472 ohms and it's rated for 470 ohms with +/- 5%  tolerance. Looks like it's still alive, I'm going to perform my other mods and button it up and see if it works.
Title: Re: TubeMagic A1 Modding
Post by: Spanky on Saturday, October 16, 2010, 22:48:31 PM
Well I attempted to finish the rest of the mods. I put everything back together and it all works. Only one problem, I used the wrong solder points so I have to disassemble again and switch some wires around but it works!
Title: Re: TubeMagic A1 Modding
Post by: Alex on Saturday, October 16, 2010, 23:05:53 PM
yay! Nice job.   :)
Title: Re: TubeMagic A1 Modding
Post by: Spanky on Saturday, October 16, 2010, 23:43:40 PM
Quote from: KiLLaMaN on Saturday, October 16, 2010, 23:05:53 PM
yay! Nice job.   :)
Thanks :)

I've added a small and basic tutorial with some pictures on my post here:
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/500259/maverick-audio-tubemagic-a1-hybrid-amp-condensed-faq-and-info-thread#post_6753700

Like I said, I fowled up the jumper wires for step 2 (using the wrong solder point) and once I change that, I'll put pictures up and finish the tutorial.

I've had the unit running a couple hours now after the spark and no problems yet :)
Title: Re: TubeMagic A1 Modding
Post by: Spanky on Sunday, October 17, 2010, 20:13:33 PM
Mod finished! Instructions and pictures here:
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/500259/maverick-audio-tubemagic-a1-hybrid-amp-condensed-faq-and-info-thread#post_6753700

Here's all the pictures I took while doing the mod since probably none of you will visit the link above :P

(https://aao25.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdl.dropbox.com%2Fu%2F464376%2Fhead-fi%2Fmav_a1_condensed%2Fsmod%2FDSC08782.JPG&hash=1a32ae283fd1c4820c9c58d545449074)

(https://aao25.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdl.dropbox.com%2Fu%2F464376%2Fhead-fi%2Fmav_a1_condensed%2Fsmod%2FDSC08786.JPG&hash=50d4f884566ab907c38be9b724d37437)

(https://aao25.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdl.dropbox.com%2Fu%2F464376%2Fhead-fi%2Fmav_a1_condensed%2Fsmod%2FDSC08787.JPG&hash=ca3e35065dc329fd1628b9727e4055df)

(https://aao25.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdl.dropbox.com%2Fu%2F464376%2Fhead-fi%2Fmav_a1_condensed%2Fsmod%2FDSC08811.JPG&hash=d5a0983db09d55afcc5c35a1b7438e2e)

These aren't shown on the link above, a Headshot! exclusive :P
(https://aao25.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdl.dropbox.com%2Fu%2F464376%2Fwebsite%2Faudio%2Fmav_a1%2Fmod%2FDSC08800.JPG&hash=116abfd3ab3c5c43fcdf07edbdc57d69)

(https://aao25.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdl.dropbox.com%2Fu%2F464376%2Fwebsite%2Faudio%2Fmav_a1%2Fmod%2FDSC08812.JPG&hash=9c53c8e7c3b1a216974e3005ea02f1bb)

(https://aao25.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdl.dropbox.com%2Fu%2F464376%2Fwebsite%2Faudio%2Fmav_a1%2Fmod%2FDSC08813.JPG&hash=152cbe505f18f364636ad964213cdd12)

(https://aao25.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdl.dropbox.com%2Fu%2F464376%2Fwebsite%2Faudio%2Fmav_a1%2Fmod%2FDSC08815.JPG&hash=e7713a4f92fcef581dd3da5a5112be0a)
Title: Re: TubeMagic A1 Modding
Post by: Knight on Sunday, October 17, 2010, 20:27:13 PM
Looks good, glad you didn't fry it.
Title: Re: TubeMagic A1 Modding
Post by: Spanky on Monday, October 18, 2010, 03:26:38 AM
No sir. Just adding hot glue so I don't rip out the wires :)