Anyone here have experience with the current generation of the TriodeUSA TWE kits? Never mind the fact that It took weeks for all the parts to arrive (shipped at different times). THey were gracious about that and communicated reasonably well. So, i'll forgive them the logistical challenges...
But now that all the parts are here, I tried to do a simple pre-fit on the chassis. The standoff holes for the tone stack board in the chassis don't line up with the spacing of the holes in the turret board. Although there are a bunch of small holes scattered about where the transformers mound, there are NO holes in the chassis that are placed in such a way as to be usable for standoffs for the power section board.
When i started to wrap the tone stack, i promptly learned that the distance between the top row turrets and the bottom ones are about 1/4" too far apart to wrap a 1/4watt resistor.
I've written to Triode half a dozen times asking for a schematic (for validation of interpretation of the pictorial)... despite their reasonably timely replies to missing and incorrect parts, all i get on the schematic question is crickets.
How could they not have a schematic? Lastly, the transformers are supposed to be "usa made". But there's not a single mark on them and no spec sheets provided. What USA maker would NOT mark something like this? ANd they came all beat to hell despite being wrapped in several inches of cardboard; so they were mangled before being shipped to me...
I'm wring here mostly to try to determine if this is typical of all of their kits or did i just happen to pull the short straw this time around.
All in all, for nearly 1300 bucks, this kit is looking more and more like a complete waste of funds given that it's going to take me hours to deal with the design/fabrication flaws.
I'm on the verge of asking for an RMA... thanks for listening.
-Mark
TriodeUSA TWE Kit
Moderators: pompeiisneaks, Colossal
-
Colossal
- Posts: 5205
- Joined: Sat Oct 20, 2007 9:04 pm
- Location: Moving through Kashmir
2 others liked this
Re: TriodeUSA TWE Kit
Mark,
If I were in your shoes, I would return it all and get a refund. We (this forum) can help you source quality components from reputable vendors. Triode has a less than spotless reputation and I have been personally burned by them in the past.
If I were in your shoes, I would return it all and get a refund. We (this forum) can help you source quality components from reputable vendors. Triode has a less than spotless reputation and I have been personally burned by them in the past.
Re: TriodeUSA TWE Kit
After talking with Triode and thinking about the hassle of packing and shipping this back, I decided to move forward with the build despite the KNOWN challenges... and I keep finding more 'fun'
The potentiometer holes are indexed; bravo! this is good. and the index holes are actually placed almost perfectly... that's where the good new stops...
Unfortunately, the hole for the ONE control really LIKELY to spin when it gets loose is not indexed. the one control of them all that really SHOULD be indexed, the impedance selector. this one actually SHOULD have been indexed and it was not. as a result, the control will want to spin unless it's tightened REALLY tight which is not a good idea, and also not an easy task given hole for it is too large...
But wait, it gets better... They DID index the holes for the power and standby switches (we'll not really index but cut a 'positive' tab in the hole to match the slot in the switch barrel). Bravo! Or, maybe not...
THE INDEXE TABS on the toggle switch holes ARE UPSIDE DOWN. These SHOULD be on the bottom of the holes but they are on the top. This position of the index tabs forces the power and standby switches to be inserted into the chassis such that when the power is ON the switch toggle is in the DOWN position rather than UP. Same thing for the standby switch. When the standby switch is ON the toggle is in the DOWN position rather than the UP position. This is backwards from convention. Normally the switch would be flipped UP to turn it on NOT DOWN. Yes, i can (and will) cut the index tabs out of the holes so i can orient the switches properly... but now they'll want to spin... ffs....
The chassis hole (and grommet) for the secondary windings of the POWER transformer is WAY TOO SMALL a diameter. It's nearly impossible to get all the secondary windings through with the grommet in place (and unsafe to do it without the grommet). This hole should be larger. In fact, just they should just make one oval for the entire PT instead of two smaller holes since all the leads are on one side of the tranny anyway.
How do issues like this make their way in to a retail product? The OTL kit I purchased from Transcendent Sound a few years ago was absolutely flawless... it was a pleasure to build.
I can't wait to see what else i'll find as this progresses....
'In for a penny...'
The potentiometer holes are indexed; bravo! this is good. and the index holes are actually placed almost perfectly... that's where the good new stops...
Unfortunately, the hole for the ONE control really LIKELY to spin when it gets loose is not indexed. the one control of them all that really SHOULD be indexed, the impedance selector. this one actually SHOULD have been indexed and it was not. as a result, the control will want to spin unless it's tightened REALLY tight which is not a good idea, and also not an easy task given hole for it is too large...
But wait, it gets better... They DID index the holes for the power and standby switches (we'll not really index but cut a 'positive' tab in the hole to match the slot in the switch barrel). Bravo! Or, maybe not...
THE INDEXE TABS on the toggle switch holes ARE UPSIDE DOWN. These SHOULD be on the bottom of the holes but they are on the top. This position of the index tabs forces the power and standby switches to be inserted into the chassis such that when the power is ON the switch toggle is in the DOWN position rather than UP. Same thing for the standby switch. When the standby switch is ON the toggle is in the DOWN position rather than the UP position. This is backwards from convention. Normally the switch would be flipped UP to turn it on NOT DOWN. Yes, i can (and will) cut the index tabs out of the holes so i can orient the switches properly... but now they'll want to spin... ffs....
The chassis hole (and grommet) for the secondary windings of the POWER transformer is WAY TOO SMALL a diameter. It's nearly impossible to get all the secondary windings through with the grommet in place (and unsafe to do it without the grommet). This hole should be larger. In fact, just they should just make one oval for the entire PT instead of two smaller holes since all the leads are on one side of the tranny anyway.
How do issues like this make their way in to a retail product? The OTL kit I purchased from Transcendent Sound a few years ago was absolutely flawless... it was a pleasure to build.
I can't wait to see what else i'll find as this progresses....
'In for a penny...'