DaVa FC-A1 a field coil contender

Hi Stephan,

Excuse the ignorance of this question. The bit I don’t get. If you turn the switch to charge then your fuse will be rated for the incoming AC say 3 amps max. But when you flick the switch to supply the dc, this same fuse is in circuit - will that not be pointless cos you need a much lower fuse on the dc side? Therefore you need a 2nd fuse say post the last 2200uf cap?
I don't know what the maximum current is needed for the fieldcoil cart. the fuse is only a protection in the event of a short circuit, it is advisable to select the potentiometer with low resistance. In the event of a short circuit, the potentiometer will be destroyed and not the expensive cartridge. if you know the maximum current of the field coil, I would add a second fuse after the 2200uf. better safe than sorry.
if you have time to measure the current in the operating state, then you can set the circuit better.
 
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I haven’t tried the Sanyo Oscon, but for low voltage apps I use BG FK series. They’re the best sounding of the ones I have tried.
When ask the best,old siemens &halske 1000uf /16Vdc no better low voltage cap out there.
very rare to find you would have to switch in parallel to get larger values.20220106_144614.jpg20220106_144626.jpg
P.S Black gates are really good, expensive like gold today
 
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I don't know what the maximum current is needed for the fieldcoil cart. the fuse is only a protection in the event of a short circuit, it is advisable to select the potentiometer with low resistance. In the event of a short circuit, the potentiometer will be destroyed and not the expensive cartridge. if you know the maximum current of the field coil, I would add a second fuse after the 2200uf. better safe than sorry.
if you have time to measure the current in the operating state, then you can set the circuit better.
I can ask Darius. Assume the required current is very low tbh.
 
I think about 100mA max
add a 125mA fuse fast or medium blow
what is the maximum voltage? we can add overvoltage protection with the help of a zener diode in case the potentiometer should fail or user error.
 
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add a 125mA fuse fast or medium blow
what is the maximum voltage? we can add overvoltage protection with the help of a zener diode in case the potentiometer should fail or user error.
I am not sure of the maximum dangerous voltage. 12v will just heat up the cart body too much over time. There will clearly be a voltage that could cause immediate damage if failure occurs. Might be worth doing 15v just for critical risk but will try to find out.
 
add a 125mA fuse fast or medium blow
what is the maximum voltage? we can add overvoltage protection with the help of a zener diode in case the potentiometer should fail or user error.
A bird just whispered 145mA in alu headshell that dissapates heat well
otherwise in eg wood or graphite headshell 135mA is safer
 
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ok. 200ma fast blow is not a dynamic unit, and 11 Volt zener diode with 15 ohm ressistor 2 watt. i will paint a shematic next days
 
ok. 200ma fast blow is not a dynamic unit, and 11 Volt zener diode with 15 ohm ressistor 2 watt. i will paint a shematic next days

Non mad people please cover your eyes and ears.

Any difference in battery? Lithium vs lead acid vs NiCAD etc.
 
all your effort and someone might feel obliged to build this little creation
that is my hobby besides listening to music, building and repairing devices. for me is relaxation.;)I will then insert a link for parts and the shematic.
Li-ion no recovery effect,higher number of charging cycles.
Li-ion battery reacts disadvantageously to deep charging and overcharging and therefore requires electronic protection circuits.good charging unit
 
that is my hobby besides listening to music, building and repairing devices. for me is relaxation.;)I will then insert a link for parts and the shematic.
Li-ion no recovery effect,higher number of charging cycles.
Li-ion battery reacts disadvantageously to deep charging and overcharging and therefore requires electronic protection circuits.good charging unit

What about a massive lead acid? I can charge it once per 3 months then
 
Bill have you ever, or would you care to post some thoughts on the Red Sparrow vs Dava?

I don’t believe I have written a specific comparison but will happily do so later today. Best.
 
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shematic fieldcoilAccu Fieldcoil.png
amazon link imprtant things to build
Display

zener diode

potentiometer

Switch 2 poles three settings

The battery is protected against short circuit, overcharging, deep discharge and overload. the fuse in the shematic opontional 6Ampere slow blow.around 40 hours music before charging


You can choose any other part. is just a suggestion from me. Please try everything Potentiometer maximum voltage. before you connect the cartridge.
 
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Here we go:


Red Sparrow.

The red sparrow in an optimised context is a stunning cartridge with great poise, refinement, crystalline transparency / neutrality to recordings, and inner micro-nuance. In the wrong arm or system it can reveal itself as thin, flat, bright / hot, and rather hifi sounding. Indeed many audiophiles including some on wbf have experienced this “schizophrenic” personality. I can personally verify this being the case as I have seen both presentations in multiple different arms. For some reason, it has worked best in linear tracking arms - whether this is merely coincidence in my case series or a true finding as a result of exceptional sensitivity to azimuth or another variable I don’t know. What I do know is that there isn’t really a middle ground - get it right in the right arm and it is terrific. In the wrong arm, it is miserable. I know one can argue this is similar for many carts but it really isn’t to this degree - here it is very much more pronounced.

DaVa.

I acquired a DaVa initially out of morbid curiosity and because Leif whose opinion I value enormously had also acquired one and was enjoying it. The cost of investment was low with value high so I saw this as a path worth venturing down.
I didn’t know really what to expect. Again the DaVa is indeed also sensitive to setting up in particular for VTF and VTA. Once nailed you’ll know where you are because it layers and opens up a massive landscape of audio goodness. The DaVa is enormously tuneable - more so than any other cartridge I have yet heard. Depending on voltage and type of power fed to it you can tailor your chosen presentation quite radically.
Adjectives that would spring to mind are tonally saturated, weighty, organic, full, fast, and very musical.

Let me make some comparisons then. In the upper most registers there is a cleanliness and purity to the Red Sparrow on solo violin that is truly beguiling including micro nuance eclipsing all other carts except for say a Master Strad in the right system. The DaVa has the same level of extension but is sweeter in this register - arguably less neutral than the Sparrow perhaps. The DaVa is an easy bed partner here and doesn’t fatigue.

Into the midrange. Here the DaVa is tonally more colourful and harmonically dense. It digs deeper into the human voice and gets more texture out of instruments in this part of the register. The Sparrow is less vivid and palpable. More flat in feel whereas DaVa is 3D in presentation here.

Upper bass / mid bass. The Sparrow is poised and well balanced here. Some bass junkies might be disappointed and demand more oomph here. The quality of bass is extremely good though and always full of character and not overblown. The DaVa has more oomph and drive to the upper and mid bass. It is chunkier and beefier in delivery. Hearing the left hand of a grand piano makes this contract quite obvious - you will hear piano string resonance more easily off the DaVa.

Sub bass. The Sparrow digs deep in absolute terms. Bass is tight and controlled. Sub bass on the DaVa has more thunder and power.

In the end I sold my Red Sparrow mainly because I no longer had a linear tracking arm to get the best out of it. I would have kept it as another cartridge if it wasn’t for this. DaVa became my go to reference cartridge indeed I also acquired the mono DaVa too. Sparrow was more cerebral, DaVa is a heart string puller. Like all things analogue, both take fettling to get the best out of them. Be patient with setup and you’ll be rewarded.
 
Hi Bill, I really liked the Red Sparrow the first time I visited you, but overall felt it was a little ethereal, not quite nailing things in the lower mids and bass especially. When I returned to visit you, the DaVa was in, and I felt that greater texture and tone density sealed the deal. Getting to love your horns way more fully was effectively the end result.
I used to run a Lyra Parnassus some 15 years ago, and feel there's a strong common theme btwn that cart and the DaVa.
 
shematic fieldcoilView attachment 87664
amazon link imprtant things to build
Display

zener diode

potentiometer

Switch 2 poles three settings

The battery is protected against short circuit, overcharging, deep discharge and overload. the fuse in the shematic opontional 6Ampere slow blow.around 40 hours music before charging


You can choose any other part. is just a suggestion from me. Please try everything Potentiometer maximum voltage. before you connect the cartridge.

Just one detail - why using a zener diode, known to be noisy, in such application?
 
Here we go:


Red Sparrow.

The red sparrow in an optimised context is a stunning cartridge with great poise, refinement, crystalline transparency / neutrality to recordings, and inner micro-nuance. In the wrong arm or system it can reveal itself as thin, flat, bright / hot, and rather hifi sounding. Indeed many audiophiles including some on wbf have experienced this “schizophrenic” personality. I can personally verify this being the case as I have seen both presentations in multiple different arms. For some reason, it has worked best in linear tracking arms - whether this is merely coincidence in my case series or a true finding as a result of exceptional sensitivity to azimuth or another variable I don’t know. What I do know is that there isn’t really a middle ground - get it right in the right arm and it is terrific. In the wrong arm, it is miserable. I know one can argue this is similar for many carts but it really isn’t to this degree - here it is very much more pronounced.

It sounded the worst cart I have have heard in SME 3012r, Schroeder CB1, and Vertere arms. Tang and DDK separately heard it in 3012r and did not like it. On the Schroeder it was set up by Anamighty, who are very good at set up, so for some reason it just does not work on these arms. IIrc Bill also heard it on his Garrard with the 9 inch DaVinci arm and did not like it, and then on his current table with the SME V.

It sounded the best cart I have heard in Vyger in 2 different systems (one at Bill's) and with Bergmann Sindre at Bill's. What Bill said - crystalline transparency / neutrality to recordings, and inner micro-nuance - is matched by vdh but the Red Sparrow on linear tracker sounds even cleaner in the highs. Very unique and most natural. The qualities we heard in person were also present in the video of it with the Bergmann Galder/Odin arm uploaded by Stavros (aries Cerat) a couple of years or so ago. He chose the red sparrow over the Etsuro and given his tonearm I can guess why. The violin it does is unmatched in terms of timbre and texture.

Once I start travelling again I hope to hear the DaVa at Bill's, Leif's, Stefano Bertoncello (compare to his Neumann DSTs). Hopefully I can do Mike later this year too and compare to the Etsuro Gold.
 
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