Re: Byrns & Jute Plagiarize Magnequest Designs?


John Byrns wrote:

I am just pointing out that the design techniques that Andre uses are also
used by other audiophiles who aren't subject to the same criticism that
Andre receives.

John:

I don't think so. Please note the interpolations.

McCoy wants his 'adjustment' done with a capacitor. Not at all the same
proposition. AND he uses his 'ballasts' anyway. Do you read for content
or only for exception?

True, the resistor technique is used in Andre's potato amplifier, while
his KISS amplifier uses the capacitor technique you mention. While I
personally don't much care for the capacitor technique, it is widely used
by audiophiles, and I am sure if you do a web search you can find a few
examples, I believe I even stumbled across an example when I was looking
at the Magnequest site, it was probably on one of the "manufacturers"
sites that are linked to the Magnequest pages, not the Magnequest site
itself.


Bluntly, I could care less as to whether one uses caps, resistors or
little green men from mars. The point is that in the case of Mr. McCoy,
the tecnique he chooses is 'necessary' and 'standard', and the only way
to go. It is not a simple expedient to get from point A to point B.
Shrouded in esoteric crap vs. a straightforward design made for
straightforward reasons.

Now, starting at the transformer:

The B+ winding goes to SS diodes (CT to ground, notice, as well). THEN
a dropping resistor. One of them. One choke of 10H in the smoothing
string. One of them. Nifty little oil-filled 1000V cap at the end of
the string as well.

An interesting point about that Oil Cap is the 1 Ohm resistor in series
with it, I wonder what that is all about?

You want me to guess? I will. A 1000V oil-filled cap is both pretty
slow and pretty damned rugged. My suspicion is that it is as a
'snubber' for lack of a more precise term given that silicon instant-on
diodes are used. Keep in mind that I am NOT an engineer... I just fix
things.


This B+ supply would not even be the third cousin
twice removed of Mr. McCoy's cobbled up confabulation of spare parts.

The significant differences are that the Magnequest design uses a
capacitor input filter and also uses silicon rectifiers in place of a
vacuum rectifier.

Oh, much more significant than that. There are no 'necessary ballast
resistors' on the winding side of the diodes. There is only one choke
vs. two dual-winding chokes. There is only one dropping resistor. A
value is given for _all_ parts shown as well as the desired voltage at
_all_ significant points. Where there may be differences, that location
is also noted. The design shown *was* adjusted for the proper B+ based
on the value shown. Different locations will have different wallplate
voltages, likely different transformers, and so forth.

It is closely related to Andre's design in that it is also a "cobbled up
confabulation of spare parts" as you put it, and uses dropping/ballast
resistors in the same way and for the same purpose as Andre does. Notice
also the kludge for the heater supply to the 6H30-pi.

I see.... Anything made with spare parts = anything else made with
spare parts. That one works right out of the box and the other does
not... no matter.


Yes, they are 'alike' in that they produce DC power, but betcha if one
puts a scope on the Magnequest output and Mr. McCoy's output, the
former will be smoother than the latter. Likely more stable as well.
And a WHOLE BUNCH SIMPLER.... or has the entire concept of KISS gone
the way of all things?

I wouldn't be too sure about this without running the numbers. While the
first capacitor in Andre's design is only half the size of the input
capacitor in the Magnequest design, Andre's input choke would help make up
the difference to some extent. In any case it would be easy to double the
size of the first capacitor in Andre's design for an Apples to Apples
comparison.

Running the numbers.... That might be just one of your difficulties,
John, although given your history that seems unlikely. By 'running the
numbers', Bumblebees cannot fly. By 'running the numbers', a
hummingbird (or a Monarch Butterfly) hasn't the body mass to cross the
Gulf of Mexico. Build it. Put a scope on it, or even a good VOM.
Numbers are the place to start, truly. But the actual results may defy
the calculations.

As far as the KISS or size goes, notice that the Nagnequest design uses
two of everything.

Two of everything? How so? Two transformers? Sure. Take it as two
monoblocks on the same chassis. Not a bad thing, considering. But still
fewer parts overall-by-count.

Now, as the 45 is a fairly unusual tube given it has a 2.5V winding,
cutting the 5V winding to match makes sense... and no pretentions
otherwise. The alternative would be either finding an otherwise
suitable transformer w/a 2.5V winding, or having one made. Note that
the _rest_ of the filaments are getting just the 6.3V that they need.
Without ballast.

So why is it OK for the Magnequest design to make do with a transformer
ill suited to the purpose, while it is not OK for Andre to do so? I have
seen currently available standard transformers with 2.5 volt filament
windings, so there is no excuse for the use of this kludge in the
Magnequest circuit. Also it would have been easy enough to add a
dedicated 2.5 volt filament transformer to supply the filaments of the
45s.

Once again, there is no claim by Mag. that this design is necessary. It
is not handed out as 'received wisdom'. And I betcha that if the
designer were asked, he would state in _very few_ words: I made-do with
what I had to get to where I wanted. Not reams of drivel, smoke and
mirrors about why this design *just had* to be *just* that way. And,
for one more thing, it is a hand-drawn offering without fanfare,
trumpet blasts and claims of 'ultrafidelity'. I am not sure where you
are going, but as Mr. McCoy's press secretary, you are doing no better
than Scott is lately. The difference is that Mr. McClellan is being
paid to be a hack.

Exactly what are you trying to achieve, John? Showing that what Mr.
McCoy calls the "magnequest scum" are better at it than he is?

No, I am showing that Andre is roundly criticized by you and others for
using design techniques that don't engender any complaint when used by
other audiophiles and when presented by Magnequest.

What utter crap. And you know better. Mr. McCoy may use whatever
techniques he damned well pleases. The problem is when he foists them
onto the rest of the world as exercises in perfection. "Rumpole of the
Bailey" described his wife as 'she who must be obeyed'... Mr. McCoy
sees his authority here as similar. Unlike Mr. Rumpole who does hold
his wife in high affection, Mr. McCoy is a poseur, charlatan, liar and
more, and not so held... except, seemingly by you. And what is far
worse is that a goodly number of Mr. McCoys _published_ designs simply
do not work. So....

Your PA address is suspicious, it makes one wonder if you haven't been
recruited to carry on the fight here.

John, I am not hard to find. Were you ever to be at the Wyncote Post
Office, our house would be in sight. As to your implied point:

I have written on quite a number of occasions that this is no fight at
all, inasmuch as I take it far less seriously than my choice of socks
in the morning. I just find it endlessly amusing in a macabre sort of
way that Mr. McCoy has managed to gull someone with your obvious
expertise into being his water-carrier and apologist. This is one hair
that will not split for you.

But as two can play at this game, what is it with you and McCoy? Does
he have pictures that he shouldn't? Your idiot cousin? Did your mother
as her dying wish ask you to watch over him? "One" is quite
suspicious..... and so forth.

Peter Wieck
Wyncote, PA

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