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Projects => Build Reports => Topic started by: Marshall Arts on March 21, 2020, 07:14:36 PM

Title: Aion L5 LabSeries
Post by: Marshall Arts on March 21, 2020, 07:14:36 PM
Awesome, my BOTY 2020 price - thanks, Kevin!

I like it better as a preamp than as a pedal. First shot is my preset in stompbox mode, second one in preamp mode (less compression required, higher master volume).

(https://i.postimg.cc/T1s9Ss0J/IMG-20200321-154131-1.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/wjXXcMCV/IMG-20200321-163504-1-2.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/7Z8120Wh/IMG-20200321-193821-1-2.jpg)

Some comments:
- Mouser ran out of the recommended Nichicon power caps - Try the Panasonic FP series for an equivalent ripple!
- Substitutions: OPA134 for LF356N, NJM2068 for RC4558P
- First time I orderded at Mouser: Shame on you, Mouser, what a waste of bags (giant plastic bags, often with second bags inside for a single resistor). Other suppliers use less than the half plastic waste.
Title: Re: Aion L5 LabSeries
Post by: tcpoint on March 21, 2020, 08:00:22 PM
Nice build.  Maybe that will be my next build.
Title: Re: Aion L5 LabSeries
Post by: dawson on March 21, 2020, 08:39:05 PM
Wow- the attention to detail with your aesthetics here is superb- the controls are all clearly labeled, the LED scheme looks great, but what I'm really impressed by is your nameplate with the 2 different colored screws to match the graphic- now that's classy.

I'll bet the circuit sounds great too!
Title: Re: Aion L5 LabSeries
Post by: Marshall Arts on March 21, 2020, 08:43:12 PM
I Take No credits for the design. That's Kevin! The Screws, the enclosure, the Name Plate ... I just Chose the knobs and the leds :-)
Title: Re: Aion L5 LabSeries
Post by: Timko on March 21, 2020, 08:43:25 PM
Fantastic work.  And a fantastic sounding pedal to boot.
Title: Re: Aion L5 LabSeries
Post by: TGP39 on March 21, 2020, 09:13:43 PM
Beautiful job!
I agree with you regarding Mouser's unnecessary waste.
Even Arrow Electronics has gotten better. 
~Steve
Title: Re: Aion L5 LabSeries
Post by: Thewintersoldier on March 21, 2020, 09:37:43 PM
Very clean and impressive build. Must sound really nice!
Title: Re: Aion L5 LabSeries
Post by: skyled on March 21, 2020, 11:18:10 PM
Have you had this laying around for a while or is there a new run of the enclosures?

Can you explain what the multifilter sounds like?
Title: Re: Aion L5 LabSeries
Post by: Drew Hallenbeck on March 21, 2020, 11:52:31 PM
Very nice! You got that done pretty quick if it was your BOTY prize!
Did you have any issues with setup/biasing etc.? I've seen a few threads in various places where folks were running into trouble.
I have two of these on my bench right now that are both very nearly completed. I bought the boards shortly after the project was first released. Definitely been slacking on getting them done......
The enclosures are great and I was lucky enough to be paying attention at the right time to snag a couple.
Would be nice if he were to offer another batch for sale. I'd likely grab a couple more.
Title: Re: Aion L5 LabSeries
Post by: gordo on March 22, 2020, 01:16:28 AM
I have a pair and of them and they're a lot of work. Nicely done!  I think Aion's been fiddling with doing a +9/-9vdc conversion which would be very nice to drive it with normal power. I don't want to speak for him though. My biggest issue was finding an AC power supply that didn't give it fits.
Title: Re: Aion L5 LabSeries
Post by: Drew Hallenbeck on March 22, 2020, 02:20:00 AM
Quote from: gordo on March 22, 2020, 01:16:28 AM
I have a pair and of them and they're a lot of work. Nicely done!  I think Aion's been fiddling with doing a +9/-9vdc conversion which would be very nice to drive it with normal power. I don't want to speak for him though. My biggest issue was finding an AC power supply that didn't give it fits.

What supply did you end up using? I've got a couple of the Line 6 supplies that I think he said would work.....
Title: Re: Aion L5 LabSeries
Post by: cooder on March 22, 2020, 06:20:17 AM
Top notch! 8)
Title: Re: Aion L5 LabSeries
Post by: Marshall Arts on March 22, 2020, 07:58:48 AM
Quote from: skyled on March 21, 2020, 11:18:10 PM
Have you had this laying around for a while or is there a new run of the enclosures?
Can you explain what the multifilter sounds like?
I got this early 2020 - I thought that the price was "only" the PCB and was very surprised, that Kevin obviously meant to give away the enclosure as well. What a treat!
For the multifilter, I would say that it sounds like a presence control, but more effective (less effective and less artificial than an exciter, though). It adds narrow peaks at 1kHz, 1.37kHz, 1.9kHz, 2.63kHz, 3.63kHz and 5kHz, if I read the schematic and the patent correctly.
Interesting reading: https://patents.google.com/patent/US4117413A/en

Quote from: Drew Hallenbeck on March 21, 2020, 11:52:31 PM
Very nice! You got that done pretty quick if it was your BOTY prize!
Thanks. Corona crisis gets me back to the soldering iron.

Quote from: Drew Hallenbeck on March 21, 2020, 11:52:31 PM
Did you have any issues with setup/biasing etc.? I've seen a few threads in various places where folks were running into trouble.
Not at all - I did it with the iOS app "signal generator", as recommended by Kevin. My DMM does not measure AC mV, so I had to take a very old analog device for that. Don't know about the precision of my setup, but it surely sounds nice to me. For the compression, I ended up maxing the trim pot (fully CW). It's in series with the limit pot on the front panel, which you will keep below 12:00 'o' clock anyway.

Quote from: Drew Hallenbeck on March 22, 2020, 02:20:00 AM
Quote from: gordo on March 22, 2020, 01:16:28 AM
My biggest issue was finding an AC power supply that didn't give it fits.
What supply did you end up using? I've got a couple of the Line 6 supplies that I think he said would work.....
I used an old 9.5 V AC adapter rated for 400 mA I had lying around. The regulators get hot, but not too hot to touch them.