The Robb Collections

Have I Finally Invented THE Squirrel Baffle Which They Can't Get Past?

May 17, 2024

#479

Gentle reader,

Like many folks around the world, we like to feed the local birds. Some people think that we should not. I have been told by my older sister, "There is plenty of food out there for them to find and eat!"

However, it gives us pleasure watching so many MORE birds coming into our yard than would normally show up. All kinds and colors. Even a Coopers Hawk. Sadly, it lays in wait in the branches above, to swoop down and grab an unsuspecting little bird who just took off after filling it's tiny stomach with yummy seeds. The circle of life.

Then, there are the squirrels. Cute and funny though they are, they are also smart! I have tried many ways to keep them from getting to the bird feeders. But, eventually that really determined squirrel finds a way! Then the others copy the leader.

I mean, just look at all these Goldfinches! One morning, I opened the living room vertical blinds to look out the front window. What do I see? A squirrel happily munching on the seeds of this feeder. I tapped on the window, it looked at me, panicked and jumped off the feeder! Yeah, you BETTER run!

I've always been handy, and I've invented a few things in the past which helped my coworkers do certain tasks more safely. Nothing worth patenting, however. Therefore, it occurred to me, that if I had a large flat disc of metal, perhaps with a slit from the edge to a small hole in the center. I could slide it onto the line (seen above) and the squirrels could not get past it! I looked and looked for a flat squirrel baffle, to no avail. Plus, how would this disc stay vertical?

I tried adapting a cone shaped squirrel baffle to the line, but there was no way to make it stay the way I wanted it to. Gravity wins every time.

Then, I thought, "How about a trash can lid!" With a hole through it's center AND through the handle, it should stay vertical.

During an online search, (not Amazon!) I found these galvanized steel lids made to fit 30 gallon steel drums. I deemed ones for 55 gallon barrels would be overkill. They are 25 inches in diameter. However, the low cost pressed sheet steel handles which they came with are quite flimsy. I needed something stiffer. Off to the hardware store!

I also needed some kind of metal tubes to run through the lid and the handle with a way to tighten everything together.

Home electric lamps and fixtures of many kinds have threaded tubes which are used to feed the AC cord through the middle of the lamp and often, depending upon design and construction, to the secure all the pieces of the lamp together.

The hardware store also had these six inch long threaded tubes and the heavy duty door hinges. Some large black wire ties do the trick to keep the baffles in place on the line.

Having been handy all my life (I'm 67 now) I tended to save things which, "Might come in handy someday." The pieces seen threaded onto the two tubes can be seen in the two photos are saved items. I also bought two brackets threaded for these electrical tubes and riveted them on the bottoms of the lids located where the original handles protruded through the lids and were flattened. The lid-mounted door handles, I placed at a 90 degree angle to those brackets for added strength. They are also riveted to the lids.

Between the tops of the large can lids are birds-only feeders. If a squirrel manages to get on top of one of the baffles, it will roll it right off and drop safely to the ground. Today, I saw a cardinal land on the closest baffle seen in the photo above. It quickly realized the baffle was rotating and flew off in alarm.

The photo above shows the sacrificial feeder placed to the outside of the baffle. I added the orange platform to allow blue jays and doves to be able to land on the feeder. The squirrels found it a wonderful thing to sit on while they feast! Now birds who land on it, so far blue jays and grackles, have dined there as well. Later in the day, I noticed that the weight of a squirrel on that feeder had caused it to slide down to and against the baffle. I added the unused long empty hook to the top of the feeder. It can no longer slide.

And lastly, this feeder platform is the sacrificial one at the other end of the line. So, you see, I still provide food for the squirrels and yet, (hopefully) the squirrels will not be able to defeat my efforts again. Not a better mousetrap, but hopefully and better baffle.

Thank you for taking the time to read my humble blog. This still counts as a collection since we have so many different bird feeders.

Feel free to comment below or via Facebook.

Scott Robb

#479

May 17, 2024

2024 Yamaha A-S301 Integrated Amplifier replaces dying 1987 Yamaha Yamaha AX-500U.

May 14, 2024

#478

Gentle reader,

Since I first began the quest to have the best sounding music I could afford on my budget in the mid-1970's, I can count very few components which I bought new. Certainly the kits to build a Dynaco PAT-5 preamplifier and a pair of SWTPC Tiger 0.1 mono block power amplifiers, and the B.I.C. 940 turntable were purchased new. But, the Dynaco A-25 speakers were "floor models" and a bargain at half price.

Fast-forward fifty years and only the Audio-Technica AT-LP120USB turntable to replace my long-in-the-tooth Denon 'table in the listening room, was my most recent new component. Several cartridges over the decades (some things, like socks and underwear must be purchased new) of course were new. OK, and the pair of AIYIMA T2 6K4 Tube Preamplifiers, which were the subject of my previous article (linked below) are about it. Until last Friday, that is.

(Image courtesy of Yamaha)

A few days ago, I was streaming a live performance from Vienna, Austria of a performance of Beethoven's 9th Symphony. The day was the 200th anniversary of it's first performance. I had started watching/listening to in the living room, but my wife got home ready to relax after a hard day at work.

Ever supportive husband, as I am, I helped her get settled and told her what was happening in Vienna. I repaired to this room, which we have always referred to as "The Office", to watch the concert on my PC and listen to it via the 1980's vintage matching Yamaha component stack which sits within arm's reach of me. The left channel kept cutting out, I would turn off the amp, then turn it back on and it kept happening. So, I turned off the system altogether and plugged my headphones into the PC to listen to it.

Since everything in the stack above, including the OPPO universal player, was purchased "previously enjoyed" it was no surprise to me that something was dying. I originally had the matching Yamaha CD player in addition to the OPPO, but it had "issues" and I sold it some time ago.

Here is a photo I found online of one in much better condition than my "beater" AX-500U integrated amp to show to you.

If you have been in this hobby for many years, like me, you are likely aware of this thing called "Home Theater" which, like crossovers and SUVs have taken over from sedans and station wagons (which we have one of each!) in the automotive world, OK, we have a crossover too, which my wife picked out back in 2017. ANYway, the point I am trying to make is that many electronics manufacturers seem to have mostly forgotten all about STEREO, except High End makers, of course.

Our sleepers. No one would suspect a humble Volvo wagon or Cadillac sedan to be hiding performance engines, drivelines and suspensions! But these two do.

And, had we bought them new in 2005 and 2013, both would be red. But, both being used, I mean, previously enjoyed, cars which have rare features like these have, body color was the least of my concerns. Plus, they blend with all the other white, grey, silver and black vehicles out there.

BACK to my story. Since I have been happy with the Yamaha stack and many other Yamaha components over the decades, I started looking at vintage ones to replace my ailing 500U. Holy Mackerel, sellers are asking crazy money! Plus, what is the guarantee that they will also not break down? None whatsoever. To my delight, Yamaha makes three new ones!

Don't you just love an unboxing?

All three are virtually identical. The '301 puts out 60 WPC, the '501: 85 WPC and top-of-the-line 701 puts out 105 WPC and has one more circuit and switch.

(Images courtesy of Yamaha)

We live in northern Virginia. In Charlottesville (Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, is nearby) which is in the middle of the state, is a company called Crutchfield. My wife surprised me many years ago by buying a pair of BOSE 301 speakers which she purchased from Crutchfield. She was hoping that I would use them rather than the large speakers with 15" woofers I was using in the living room. I did not, but have been using them in this room for many years in this room. They sound surprisingly good in concert with my Klipsch KG4 speakers. The Bose' are mounted up by the ceiling. Directly above the KG4s. I wrote an article about that: The Robb Collections: A GREAT way to mount your BOSE 301 speakers for excellent sound!

I have to apologize for my going off on tangents. I have some OCD tendencies and maybe a little ADHD as well. "Look! A chicken!"

So, anyway, Crutchfield, which does NOT sell crutches, had the Yamaha A-S301 units for fifty dollars below retail at $349 with free shipping. To my delight, it arrived the next day! Take THAT, Jeff Bezos!

Cameras and stereo components, whether silver or black, are difficult to photograph because their surfaces are so susceptible to reflections of light sources. This is the best of many attempts to capture the stack.

This is what the vintage Yamaha TX-500U tuner looks like when it is on and receiving. It is THE best tuner I have ever tried. On that subject, the remote which accompanies this Yamaha series of integrated amplifier also controls their matching tuner and CD player. I could not find even a photo of said tuner! This is the first integrated amplifier I have owned which can use a remote control. My 1990's Dynaco PAT-6 Preamp/Tuner is also the first preamplifier I have ever owned with a remote controller. It comes in handy since I can't reach it without getting up and walking across the room.

The angle at which this photo was taken exaggerates the size difference. New one is atop the old.

AS you can see here, they are the same size, except the '301 is deeper. Now, let's compare the business ends of both units. I put the '301 underneath the 500U, this time.

They both have the same number and types of inputs and outputs. Just different names. The exception being that the 500U has terminals titled: ACCESSORY for an equalizer or other such device. I used them with a tube buffer. The funny looking silver things in the phono inputs of the 500U are called "Shorting Plugs". In said inputs, they prevent RFI signals from being picked up by the much more sensitive (and open) phono inputs. I moved them to the '301's phono inputs, since I do not have a place (or need) for a turntable in this room. The listening room is right next door...

Both units have well made three-way binding/banana plug speaker terminals. There is an Ohms setting switch on the '301. The new unit lacks AC plugs which the 500U does have. Fortunately, the vintage tuner stores the saved stations for a while when unplugged.

Also, the '301 has a USB 5 volt DC outlet (not used for digital inputs) and a toslink optical input and RCA digital input which I could use with the OPPO player, should I chose to. It would be interesting to hear if there is an audible difference...

For the final comparison, the insides of new verses old. The photo above is of a silver unit and is courtesy of Yamaha.

The 37-year-old Yamaha is quite nasty inside. Not surprising at all. It is also quite simple compared to the 21st Century unit. Both do the same job well, however. Note the size difference of the heatsinks for the power transistors.

I don't see any type of temperature sensor on the 500U's heatsink, unless this is it (below).

See the folded piece of copper holding two tiny objects against the heatsink? They look more like transistors to me.

So, the REAL question which I am certain is in your mind, "How does the new one sound compared to the old?" Why, I am glad you asked. Night and Day!

Immediately, as the first tune began to play, I was stunned and pleased to hear JUST how much better the new one sounded! The sound is more open, airy and it's easier to pick out each instrument or voice on the audible soundstage. I could NOT be happier!

One one little nitpick is the LEDs around the Source knob are very tiny and not very bright. I have to be looking straight at it to see what I am selecting. A good thing is that Yamaha has kept the same font and size of the lettering over the many decades. So, aside from it being SO clean compared to all the other equipment, it looks right at home.

Were I not SO happy with the components in the listening room system (above) and I wanted to spend a lot of money (which I do not!) I would look into Yamaha preamplifiers and power amps, if they make them.

I just went through my list of integrated amps and receivers to see how many I have owned: One integrated amp: A-700. And seven receivers of various sizes and abilities. likely nothing made in this Century.

Oh, I just remembered, here is the link to my previous article about upgrading the cheap Chinese DIY tube buffer to an AIYIMA preamp which uses "better" tubes. The Robb Collections: Review of AIYIMA T2 6K4 Tube Preamplifier Can this Solid Little Asian Beauty Sing?

Thank you SO much for taking the time to read this lengthy article. I no longer belong to any Facebook audio/stereo groups except Dynaco ones. So, I don't know how many of you will see this. My most popular article by far, is this one: The Robb Collections: PROTON Audio, NAD and Dynaco are Cousins. Inventor of Dynamic Power on Demand Amplifiers.

Feel free to leave a comment below or on Facebook.

Scott Robb

May 14, 2024

#478

Review of AIYIMA T2 6K4 Tube Preamplifier Can this Solid Little Asian Beauty Sing?

March 20, 2024

#477

Gentle reader,

This video takes over from the previous one here: The Robb Collections: UPDATE Inexpensive Chinese-Made TUBE BUFFER amplifiers. A Review of One using 6J1 Tubes Upgraded to GE JAN 5654W Tubes

The Chinese people have invented many things and were far ahead of much of the Earth's peoples in many ways for many centuries. Today, they are known as the world's factory and have an infrastructure that is the world's envy.

Sure, there are a lot of cheap items that come out of China and land in dollar stores all around the US. But, they are an industrious people and have created items that are designed to attract the West's collective eyes.

My interest in Tube electronics was mainly in the 1970's, starting with Dad's old Hallicrafters multi-band radio. It predated FM, so all I could bring in was AM radio. Later, my little brother found a Bogen Tube integrated amplifier.

I have found a tube radio or two over the years in thrift stores. None of them, including this find from a year or two ago, did anything more than hum or hiss.

That all changed when one of my readers, who became a real friend, came up with the idea of us three (including another reader / friend) should all build a DIY tube buffer kit. He provided the kits and PCB soldering kit. I found the needed 12 volt AC transformers and knobs.

This is an image from an eBay seller's auction page. He supplied the transformer and case (which is clear plastic, that one still has the protective paper on it) and knob.

Well, none of us got around to actually building one. I bought a couple completed ones via eBay. The link below is to an article I wrote about finding a major flaw in the ten-dollars-or-so kits. At least when using the massive AC transformers I found: 60 Hertz hum. The Robb Collections: UPDATE Inexpensive Chinese-Made TUBE BUFFER amplifiers. A Review of One using 6J1 Tubes Upgraded to GE JAN 5654W Tubes

Which leads me to this article in which I gave up on cheap Chinese tube buffer kits and bought a pair of REAL tube preamplifiers with solid engineering behind them and real electronics and DC (not AC!) transformers.

This is an image of the inside of the T2 Pro. The standard T2 can also be had in silver. I was looking for a photograph of the inside of the unit. This the closest I could find. A whole lot more "guts" than the ten dollar plastic cased tube buffer. But, these do offer tone controls and Bluetooth input and it's associated electronics.

Some of the images above are from the Amazon page, others were found by doing an image search for the unit. from which one can purchase the AIYIMA T2 6K4 Tube Preamplifier for (at least in my case) less than sixty bucks US. I ordered them on Monday and Tuesday morning, early, the box was on my front porch. Inside were these two boxes.

While "un-boxing" is usually reserved for YouTube videos, I am old school and prefer still images.

While there is an "op-amp" inside, I don't think any digital effects are happening inside. But, I could be wrong. No transmitting either, only receiving. Bluetooth, that is.

Another thing the Chinese are really good at is packing their wares really well.

I'm not sure what I am supposed to do with the stickers.

6K4 tubes are taller than the 6J1 tubes I have been fiddling with previously. Are they "better"? I don't know. Let me know in the comments area below.

The metal case is very well made and the whole unit is heavy for it's size.

Volume control is nicely detented and all knobs are solid metal. All the controls seem to be of good quality.

I was hoping to get the case off to see what the internals look like. Sadly, more than just the two side screws hold it on. I did not want to break something, so the "guts" will have to remain a mystery.

There could be screws hidden beneath the rubber feet which seem to be made of Sorbothane.

Comparing the two units is like comparing "cheap Chinese crap" and well made precision equipment.

The fact that the DIY kits and preassembled 6J1 tube buffers are being sold for less than fifteen bucks (ten when I bought the first built pair) after being manufactured, shipped from China, bought from the warehouse should be a clear indicator that they are cheap Chinese crap and not to be trusted.

I have two stereo systems, plus a nice home theater system, in the house. The listening room uses 1990's Panor-era Dynaco equipment and the stack of vintage Yamaha 500U equipment with an OPPO universal player taking the place of a finicky Yamaha 500U CD player.

Right now, I am listening to a SACD of Herbert von Karajan conducting the Berlin Philharmonic performing Beethoven's 9th symphony way back in 1963 on the DG label through the AIYIMA T2 6K4 and my outstanding Audio-Technica AIR ATH-AD700 headphones. And, let me tell you, it sound's FANTASTIC!

Here are some more images of this amazing little gem in the listening room system. In order of my trying one of them out first, then moving it down to it's final destination, sitting atop the Dynaco PAT-6 preamp/tuner where it is safe from being bumped.

The system above is the culmination of almost fifty years buying and trying literally hundreds of components and speakers. This AIYIMA T2 is the first change I have made to it in many years.

NOTE: The unit I added to the Yamaha stack (next to my PC) seemed to have failed the next day! The left channel was weak, then gone altogether. I tried swapping tubes (again) and found it was still limited to the left Channel. Removing the unit and using double-female RCA connectors resulted in both channels working. Similar to below, but mine are Monster Cable units.

Amazon quickly sent a replacement T2 preamp, and took the back one back with free shipping. The new one did the same thing! I thought, "Wait a minute, what if I unplug the transformer rather than using the unit's on/off/input selector switch? Let's see if that helps." THAT did the trick!
So, in both systems (both rooms) I remove the transformer from the AC source and plug it back in each time I turn on the system. Both channels come on every time. Yay!

Below are some information I have gleaned from the Amazon page as well as AIYIMA's own web site:

"AIYIMA T2 6K4 Tube Preamplifier Bluetooth 5.0 with Treble, Midrange & Bass Controls, Hi-fi Audio Preamp for Home Audio Amplifier System with DC12V Power Adapter.

Item Dimensions LxWxH 4.69 x 3.74 x 1.22 inches

Voltage 12 Volts

Manufacturer YIMA TECH

Mounting Type Surface Mount

Brand AIYIMA

This Bluetooth 5.0 equipped Vacuum Tube Preamplifier has Bass/Medium/Treble controls, has really sound good quality. (sic)

It lets you enjoy sweet and warm sound quality associated with Tube equipment.

1 pair Stereo RCA inputs and Bluetooth Audio input (includes antenna) with manual switch mode.

2 pairs Stereo RCA outputs can connect to two amplifier devices.

Equipped with DC12V/1A power supply.

Can be upgraded using the 6K4 tubes design for easy replacement. Designed so the tubes can be replaced to 6J1, 6J2, GE5654, 6J3, 6J4, 6J5, 6*1N, 6AK5, etc.

Build quality is very solid, the unit is surprisingly heavy.

The power circuit is completely separate from the audio circuit, minimizing interference for a clear sound.

This AIYIMA T2 is a preamplifier use for Audio Component Power Amplifiers.

And/or it can be connected to a pair of powered speakers and a rear amplifier.

Equipped with warm sounding 6K4 Vacuum tubes. These tubes can be replaced with: 6J1, 6J2, GE5654, 6J3, 6J4, 6J5, 6*1N, 6AK5, etc.

Because the design has current passing through the tubes, the tube must be fully inserted during use!

Both Bluetooth and RCA audio input modes are selectable.

Use Bluetooth 5.0 Version, it can offer high bit-rate transfer and supports AAC, SBC, APTX, APTX-LL, APTX-HD.

And the RCA input (red/white) is compatible with most audio devices, such as computers, tablets, laptops, phones, TV, CD player, etc.

Dual Channel RCA output.

This upgraded T2 tube preamplifier can use for most home audio amplifier (such as A07), or connect your active speakers directly. It provides you with clean and warm sound!

Dual Channel simultaneous output. This T2 tube Preamp is special, as it can directly output connected to 2 Amplifier devices.

Nice buttons design and knobs layout with: Treble, Medium, and Bass Control, it can achieve different sound style. This upgrade T2 is a perfect Tube preamp for your home Audio system. Use it to achieve purer music experience.

Use the NE5532 Dual Op Amp Chip. The op amp chip can be replaced to double op amp chip, such as OPA2604, OPA2314, LM4562, JRC5532, etc.

Note: If there is no soldering technology, it is not recommended to replace the op amp chip. Poor soldering will cause noise, which will damage the sound quality!

With DC 12V Power Adapter. This T2 Tube Preamplifier can not be used in cars, turntables, also it cannot be used directly for headphones or passive speakers. Please know it.

Note: To ensure sound quality, please use a good audio cable.

Thanks!

Specifications:

Tube Model 6K4(Can upgrade Replaceable)

Chipset 6K4+QCC3034+NE5532

Bluetooth Version 5.0supports AAC, SBC, APTX, APTX-LL, APTX-HD

Operational amplifier chip NE5532*2

Distortion =0.15%

Frequency response range 20hz-20khz (±1db)

Signal-to-noise ratio =100db

Volume adjustment range ±6db

Audio Input mode Bluetooth or RCA

Audio Output mode RCA

Input voltage DC12V

Product information:

Item Dimensions LxWxH 4.69 x 3.74 x 1.22 inches

Voltage 12 Volts

Manufacturer YIMA TECH

Mounting Type Surface Mount

Brand AIYIMA

Number of Channels 2

Product Dimensions 4.69 x 3.74 x 1.22 inches

Item Weight 1.15 pounds

ASIN B0BCKCDQR7

Item model number AIYIMA T2

Date First Available August 30, 2022

Country of Origin China"

It does come with a warranty, which is good. I downloaded the manual, such as it is. At this point, both are working perfectly. Whether they in fact adds "sweet and warm sound quality associated with Tube equipment", I don't know. It does NOT add anything negative, that is for sure!

Thank you for taking the time to read this rather long article. I tried to get all of the specifications columns aligned vertically with the Tab key, but, every time I rechecked in Preview mode, they were still misaligned. OCD sucks sometimes. I mainly use mine for good, not evil.