Sony Tube Pre SRA-3
Sony Tube Pre SRA-3
acquired one of these recently. I love the thing except for there is very little headroom on the input before distortion. I have heard of folks modding these. Anyone have any info on how to increase the headroom? Or who may have the knowledge to mod it?
Thanks,
Justin
Thanks,
Justin
I said 12AX7 before, but it's actually a 12AT7.
What I stepped down to was a 12AU7.
I put old RCA tubes in one side, and old GE's in the other.
The line tube is a 6AU6 and the mic tube is a 12AU7.
Those are the only 2 tubes you have to change out, if you so desire.
Tubes don't make that much of a difference in my book, but I definitely don't like the NEC brand that are in the unit. It's all about the transformers!!!!
You could change out one side of tubes in the unit, so that you could do a comparison.
What I stepped down to was a 12AU7.
I put old RCA tubes in one side, and old GE's in the other.
The line tube is a 6AU6 and the mic tube is a 12AU7.
Those are the only 2 tubes you have to change out, if you so desire.
Tubes don't make that much of a difference in my book, but I definitely don't like the NEC brand that are in the unit. It's all about the transformers!!!!
You could change out one side of tubes in the unit, so that you could do a comparison.
- infiniteposse
- alignin' 24-trk
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Just a voyeur on this topic, but one thought. Have you tried a pad before hitting the front end to lower the input gain? I have Shures I use around here all of the time that seem like they might help your problem...
Congrats on the find. Sounds great!
Congrats on the find. Sounds great!
Lee
www.mysterymachinestudio.com
??It doesn't matter if you can play a scale. It doesn't matter if your technique is good. If you have feelings that you want to get out through music, that's what matters.? Neil Young
www.mysterymachinestudio.com
??It doesn't matter if you can play a scale. It doesn't matter if your technique is good. If you have feelings that you want to get out through music, that's what matters.? Neil Young
- infiniteposse
- alignin' 24-trk
- Posts: 54
- Joined: Thu Jun 05, 2003 5:05 pm
- Location: Portland, OR
- Contact:
Interesting. If you've got a good tech in your area perhaps they can play with pot values or perhaps changing something on the front end to offer more sweep range from the pot.
You've totally got me on the hunt for these now. I had no idea they were still so cheap when you could find them.
You've totally got me on the hunt for these now. I had no idea they were still so cheap when you could find them.
Lee
www.mysterymachinestudio.com
??It doesn't matter if you can play a scale. It doesn't matter if your technique is good. If you have feelings that you want to get out through music, that's what matters.? Neil Young
www.mysterymachinestudio.com
??It doesn't matter if you can play a scale. It doesn't matter if your technique is good. If you have feelings that you want to get out through music, that's what matters.? Neil Young
I've collected a few of these over the last couple years. They seem to go for about $120 on evilBay these days. I find that mine have a bit of a midrange accent compared to the Sebatron vmp-4000, makes for a nice compliment tonally. At some point I will have them modded to add phantom, phase, pad, and balanced inputs.
Wait...why are we in this handbasket? And where are we going?
Sounds like a ground loop. For some background on the subject, google "eliminate ground loops". Try placing the unit on a wood table (or other non-conductive surface) by itself, connect it and see if it still hums. If so, attach one end of a wire to the sra-3 chassis and the other end to an equipment ground. If you are not proficient in single phase ac electrical systems, then just stick the other end of the wire into the ground...the actual dirt outside. Also try touching it to the chassis of whatever amp you have connected to the sra-3, don't be afraid to investigate as identifying ground loops can be elusive. Whatever you do, though, do not come in contact with or allow your equipment to come in contact with a "hot" or "live" 120v ac wire. This will destroy your equipment and possibly kill you. But connecting chassis to chassis or to ground plugs is perfectly safe.
Wait...why are we in this handbasket? And where are we going?
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