[TV MAN]

I've done some reading and I don't know that I am any wiser I've also been studying the pictures of the chifi kits assembled and I have noted several things. One things I've noted is that it looks like they are tidying up things present day over their builds several years ago. I see them using terminal strips rather than open air like before. I really only see anything special on their preamps, like a ground bus, which those are a lot more sensitive. It looks like the power amps use the chassis. One possible mistake I've probably made is tying the B- to chassis ground right on a transformer bolt. That may not be a good choice. They talk about stars, but I don't know if they are talking about those connectors with the teeth or if it's running the grounds to a common point. Another mistake I could possibly have made is tying the grounds to different points in a single stage rather than all to the exact same point. I've also grounded the input jack at the level control rather than the jack. They mention tying the jack to chassis ground rather than at the control. Anyway, maybe I'm overthinking things again. I've reordered my resistors, the itty-bitty ones anyway, and some decent coupling caps.  Rich, maybe you can learn from my mistakes so hopefully your amp build will go more smoothly.

On a different subject, I was listening to my last kit amp and things were sounding awful. I really thought it was my speakers or amp clipping. One speaker sounded really bassy and bumpy, the other had no bass. I began switching R&L inputs, playing with the balance, and it followed the inputs. I determined it was not in the speakers or amp. It's the preamp messing up. It just sounds flat, like it has no depth, lackluster. Sooo, I pulled the cover and looked things over. It's a Dyna Pat 4, and I had changed the Q4 driver output (due to noise/static) with the Darlington kit from "Upgrade my Dynaco". I really couldn't remember doing that but it's my work. I also replaced the output coupler cap. None of the others, so I suspect the others have died. It happened gradually, so I really didn't notice until it got so bad. It's on the driver board because it doesn't matter what input I use. Just sounds ... uh, yah, blah.