Both units worked on the first try, which we attribute to the clearly labeled PCB, non-crowded component layout, and the well-written instructions. Marisa put the second unit together in under 2 hours, so some efficiencies were gained with repeated builds. (Immediately, I stole the metering PCB from her and got to work on that section.) Taking our time, assembly for the first unit took under 2.5 hours, including calibrating the meters. I tried to assemble it one day but Marisa Falatovich, a visiting engineer, had the first unit nearly completed before I knew what was up.
Super nice-to-haves include a signal generator and bench power supply (for calibrating the LED meters).
Nice-to-haves include de-soldering wick (for mistakes), and a vice or clamp to hold the PCB. In the most minimal sense, all you need is a soldering iron, solder, and some wire cutters. The main PCB is professionally manufactured with crisp, white silk-screening against a bright red surface. The first thing is to check the included parts against the shipping manifest to make sure you have the type and quantity necessary for the job. Opening up the box reveals every component shipped in its own, labeled plastic bag. This allows the company to make any updates or revisions to the instructions and provide everyone with the most recent version.
Diy 500 series tube pre pdf#
Additionally, well-written, fully-illustrated assembly guides are available in PDF format from the FiveFish Studios website. Nice quality knobs and a first-rate, milled-aluminum front plate round out the kit. We tested both types for this review.Īll PCBs, electronic parts, and schematics are provided in the package. The SC-1 comes in two configurations, transformerless or with a Cinemag input transformer. For this review, I'm covering the SC-1 mk500, a preamp designed to fit in 500-series racks and lunchboxes. FiveFish Studios is a Tennessee-based company that offers pre-packaged DIY audio kits.