Soldano X88 IR Inside

  • Thread starter Thread starter JohnnyGtar
  • Start date Start date
Board mounted tube sockets? On a single board PCB? Are they trying to compete with Bugera?

The board had better be thick AF. At least put the tube PCB on a daughter PCB assembly so it can be changed out or better yet chassis mounted.
 
glpg80 said:
Board mounted tube sockets? On a single board PCB? Are they trying to compete with Bugera?

The board had better be thick AF. At least put the tube PCB on a daughter PCB assembly so it can be changed out or better yet chassis mounted.
Click to expand...
I would say that there is almost everything that you criticize about Engl amps :D
 
glpg80 said:
Board mounted tube sockets? On a single board PCB? Are they trying to compete with Bugera?

The board had better be thick AF. At least put the tube PCB on a daughter PCB assembly so it can be changed out or better yet chassis mounted.
Click to expand...
Saw this a mile away.
Welcome to why it’s $2500.
I bet it’s cool for headphone jammin’.
 
What is wrong with the construction?
Three PCBs, 2.4mm, TG 135, 105µm copper.
Doing it this way is the way to go when achieving lowest possible noise levels.
The designer knows what he is doing.
I've made the video btw
 
duesentrieb said:
What is wrong with the construction?
Three PCBs, 2.4mm, TG 135, 105µm copper.
Doing it this way is the way to go when achieving lowest possible noise levels.
The designer knows what he is doing.
I've made the video btw
Click to expand...

The main single PCB all have tube mounted sockets. You’ll flex the board 2x for every tube change. Once for removal and again for placement. Even more if you’re tube rolling. 2.4mm is nothing - it should be much stiffer to not allow copper trace micro cracking.

You can get good noise from proper ground technique and shielded coax. The design is low cost and ease of assembly.
 
I'm sure it sounds great, but 2500$ is way too high for something built like this.

I'd literally grab a Myasnikov and another IR loader and have 1500$ leftover for a guitar, cabinet, and rack case for it all.
 
I don't get the issue with board mounted sockets. Not sure how it's that much different from other famous preamps?

VHT GP3 (Fryette is famous for board mounting tube sockets in all his designs)
1730749882503.jpeg


CAE 3+SE
1730749913652.webp


Bogner Fish
1730749979319.jpeg


Egnater IE4, old variant
1730750015419.jpeg


Mako Mak4
1730750067753.jpeg


Also don't get the issues some people are trying to imply with other aspects of it. Is it the digital backend portion and having to work with SMD components if that needs to be fixed? From what I see, the components look like high quality, it looks very simple to work on, nothing is obstructing another piece, most techs can easily service pretty much everything but the digital backend. But even that isn't impossible; it's just a different technique with some different tools.
 
Exo-metal said:
Board mounted tube sockets are my only issue.
Click to expand...
Board mounted sockets may only be a problem if you use the wrong spec'd board material, insufficient mechanical mounting and forget about proper ventilation. For preamp tubes normally not an issue at all. Different story in an upside down scenario (Fender, etc) and with PCB mounted power tubes or rectifier tubes.
 
duesentrieb said:
Board mounted sockets may only be a problem if you use the wrong spec'd board material, insufficient mechanical mounting and forget about proper ventilation. For preamp tubes normally not an issue at all. Different story in an upside down scenario (Fender, etc) and with PCB mounted power tubes or rectifier tubes.
Click to expand...

This is correct. The board should be made ultra stiff/thick and with ample mechanical support to prevent flexing of copper traces or even delamination due to repeated heat and physical fatigue from changing tubes.

It’s more on the board than the tube placement. James brown did it right with the 5150.
 
glpg80 said:
The main single PCB all have tube mounted sockets. You’ll flex the board 2x for every tube change. Once for removal and again for placement. Even more if you’re tube rolling. 2.4mm is nothing - it should be much stiffer to not allow copper trace micro cracking.

You can get good noise from proper ground technique and shielded coax. The design is low cost and ease of assembly.
Click to expand...
DanTravis62 said:
I'm sure it sounds great, but 2500$ is way too high for something built like this.

I'd literally grab a Myasnikov and another IR loader and have 1500$ leftover for a guitar, cabinet, and rack case for it all.
Click to expand...
Truth
 
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