some caruso news

[flozki]

hello
i did first tests with new drivecoils, systems today.
especially thermal tests, and mechanical excursion.

maximum was +/- 300 um. so in total 600 um of mechanical movement..
should be plenty of headroom for all of your needs.

i made a quick and dirty movie
the test was done with low frequency sinus and a brüel&kjaer amp.
onyl of importance because i can limit current to 1.6Amps on that.
for full excursion the amp was clipping...



a movie here

http://www.floka.com/caruso/caruso_mech_tests.AVI


i try under this thread to update you more frequently.. data whatever news.

[concretecowboy71]

I have never been able to tell from the other thread if this head will work on a VMS-70.

Can you tell more about that please. If it will work, then I will start saving for one!

Thanks

[Nickou]

this is the most amazing video I ever saw ...

[Nickou]

that is cool , really very very exiting !

[flozki]

it will be definitely fit on any neumann.
mechanically no problem.mechanical dimensions where choosen to fit on neumann lathe.

dc resistance will be the same or close range. 4.7 ohms

inductivity will be different because of different coil dimension, magnet
still not clear situation about comptatibility with feedback.
i havent decided 100 percent which solution i will use.
but i can make always a moving coil feedback , same used on neumann,westrex,sc99. this is no problem.

so as long as i havent attached to an SAL74 i can not tell you more.
i is not first priority to have a neumann replacemnt,clone. there are others out for that.
but as i use myself a neumann lathe and i will use the caruso on that.


but if i sorted out basic problems, for sure i will do a version which fits on a neumann amp

[Serif]

...and to work with the Ortofon GO741?


Nice coil, btw.





Andrew

[flozki]

you can match every amp to those heads. just need to optimise the control loop. i have seen many possible (or impossible) combinations of stereo heads & amplifier racks. if it makes sense and or sounds good is another question...
as long as your system has a feedback amp and a mixer it will work.

i guess with moving coil feedback it should work with minor or no adaption on:
Neumann SAL74b,SAL74,VG66,VG1
Ortofon GO741,G701
vinylium ultracut, minicut, vinylcut,
haeco sd240,
westrex 17xx, 15xx

thats what i have can test on. if you have a different one there is a way.

but at the moment this head is for the real sufferers..hehe.
the once using right now (a worn out westrex) a grampian, a VR or even more primitive...
kind of the "volkswagen" for disc mastering is the intention. if you want a porsche ask later.if you need a rolls royce save some more money..

[concretecowboy71]

Thanks for the info!

I am saving, believe me.

I am looking for a way to have a suitable backup head. I know I will have to spend a good deal of money but am always looking for the most bang for the buck.

I will keep reading your updates. Nice video.

[JayDC]

Didn't they use to make a volkswagon that looked like a porsche?

can't wait... whooot...

[GrobbingThistle]

Hey Flo, do you have any idea what the supply vs demand situation is going to be on the Caruso? I would really love to have one, but my financial situation is ever-changing and I really can't, say, get on a waiting list and guarantee that I'll have the $1500 or so when the time comes. Will you have these in production for a while or do you envision it as more of a limited production, one time offer type thing? I just want to know how to plan so that I can better put myself in a position to have one. The waiting list is just informal for now, right?

Thanks!

[flozki]

i will have a limitet zero series. around 10 pcs.
then if possible some redesigns. or optimisation.
but the critical parts like drivecoils, springs, and magnet system i already have for around 50 to 100 heads.
what i dont do is the expensive stuff like cutterhead main body, stylus holder there i will do batches of 10-20 depending on orders.
so this is why i will do first preorder as soon as i did sucessfull cuts with my proto.

for first order there will be waiting time 2-3month. but later i will have always 2-3 heads on stock. i need that otherwise a serious service and warranty service is not possible. i want old head in, new head out next day. if i can not deal that i wont do it.

so i guess if you dont need to be one of the first ones. wait and order whenever you got the money.

[Nickou]

about preamps , riaa etc

will we have to build the electronic ourself ?¿

[piaptk]

so i guess if you dont need to be one of the first ones. wait and order whenever you got the money.

I've got money. Just let me know when they are ready!

[flozki]

ok
design, layout of caruso preamp is almost finished.
at the moment i design it for moving coil feedback.
each board is for one channel. i drop in two pcbs with the head.
the boards will be available also seperately.

the idea is a simple straight forward , but still high quality preamp.
i reduced the schematics to the maximum.
the schematics is almost the same as used in vinyliums minicut and vinylcut which showed best performance.
i used consequently 6.3mm stereo jacks. no xlrs. and no balanced in,outs except for the feedback.
for the feedback preamp i use a high quality instrumentation preamp chip.

all parts are conventional solder parts (no smd) and easy to find parts.
you need a regulated +/- 15V power supply.

signal flow here:

http://www.floka.com/caruso/caruso_pre_block.pdf
http://www.floka.com/caruso/caruso_pre_parts.pdf

[JayDC]

is there a spot to tap in for vu meters? looks awesome.. smd would have made it so tiny..

[Nickou]

Hello Flo ,

what about protection of the head ? fuse ?
or it won t need protection ??? !



thanks

[flozki]

well. put a fuse. works fine..
maybe i will make a cutterhead protection box once.

and Jay. no tap for vu meters. but normally vu meters go to the fb monitor.
even on neumann rack there is no such point.
you put meter and monitoring there.

best is a monitoring desk. with listening points in, ouit, feedback and playback.
best is to have listening peak and vu meters in parallel.

[Nickou]

well. put a fuse. works fine..
maybe i will make a cutterhead protection box once.

and Jay. no tap for vu meters. but normally vu meters go to the fb monitor.
even on neumann rack there is no such point.
you put meter and monitoring there.

best is a monitoring desk. with listening points in, ouit, feedback and playback.
best is to have listening peak and vu meters in parallel.

what do you mean with peak metter and vu metter in parallel ?
they are connected to the same point , is it that ?

Another question , it is possible it is a very stupid question ... but....
I have the opportunity to buy a second hand class D power amp, and I like to use it later with the Caruso.
is there any problem with class D amplifier for you head ?
the power will be around 400 W per channel


and another question
at how much do you estimate the price of a rolls ?
I love the sal and sx system , but ... I have a strong feeling than all of that will become a bit obsolete when the mastering version of the Caruso will be ready , so ... I d like to prepare a move to a FK technologie

But have you any idea of the price of a head like that ? 5 k , 10 k , 15 k €
thanks

[JayDC]

what do you mean with peak metter and vu metter in parallel ?
they are connected to the same point , is it that ?

...

But have you any idea of the price of a head like that ? 5 k , 10 k , 15 k €
thanks

pro meters can switch between 2 modes.. vu and ppm.. I TINK he's saying get 2 pro meters, and use both ppm and vu at the same time..

I TINK 1500chf is the price.. correct me if I'm wrong...

[Nickou]

In my desk I have a pair of vu meter and a pair of peak meter
it is a " pro desk"
so I can read both together , which is the interest ...
and I can t switch between vu and peak , because they are dedicated to vu or peak ...


parallel means conected to the same point ? I think yes , but ...


about the price of the rolls version of the caruso , if it is 1500 sfr , it is a very good news