[bc184c]

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

What manufacturer are you using now for your transformers?... and how do you now that they're the same winding techniques as the original Marinairs...?

I and a long time transformer maker (who shall remain nameless) broke down several original Marinair LO1166 transformers and counted the windings, noted the sequence of coil interleaving, numbers of turns for each coil, direction of windings, details about the laminations, noted specifications about the thickness of the gap between the "E" and "I" laminations, wire gauges, etc.
We know through direct observation, ongoing supervision and electrical verification that the transformers are being made correctly.

Also do you have any documentation that the Carnhills had coil inductance values that differed with the Marinairs?

All you have to do is take an old Marinair LO1166 and one of the Carnhills and measure the inductance across the coils. You can also quite easily compare the in circuit distortion characterisitics between the two transformers. If you'd like me to print it out on an Audio Precision, let me know. I will repeat however that the difference between the Marinair and the Carnhill outputs is basically inaudible and doesn't become apparent in distortion tests until you reach an ouput level of about plus 20db at a frequency of about 25 hz.

I'm curious of the topic of L01166 transformers, and have done some testing of many of the different manufacturer's versions out there...

That's cool Tony. Since you've done some comparisons already, if you'd like to participate in some blind listening tests between our X73 and vintage 1073's, I'd be glad to try to set something up where you and other high profile engineers could participate as sort of "a panel of experts".

Thanks,
Dallas Upton
Vintech Audio