Thread: Dumb SSL questions

1st ...

You connect the 15v and CT/0v from the transformer at the 3 pin connector left of the TL074. If you look at the pdf file of the pcb's, the first page is an overall layout of components. The 3 pin connector is at the top left side of the page. This is also where you must install the bridge rectifier (P04 or W04). There's also some writing and 2 little arrows which indicate "Mount these only if external transformer".

2nd ...

A power switch is simple. 2 ways, either switch both poles before connecting to the mains input of the transformer or switch only the 'hot' pole before connecting to the transformer. Either way the switch is put in-between the power inlet (connector you plug into the wall outlet) and the input of your trasformer. Be sure that you use a switch that is rated to handle the voltage and current.

Hopes this helps a little.

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It is a centre tapped winding.
This could mean two 15 volt windings with one leg from each winding joind to create the centre tap. Watch your phases.

The centre tap goes to the centre connection which happens to be ground or 0 volts

The other two goe to each side of the bridge.

Look at the schematic cearfully. It's all there.

Continuing the thread on dumb SSL questions, I've got my own ones:

Has anyone built one with I / O trafos? Would a 1:1 ratio be ok? Do you need to change any following resistor values? I'm assuming you can just bypass the 5534s?

Also; I've got one (ironically) 202xt. If (a big if) I can find another, is worth subbing this for the 2150 sound-wise?

Thanks in advance for any comments.

Cheers Jakob!

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I've built 2 SSL's and used transformers on the input for both. 600/600 1:1 nothing fancy. I used 2 different types, 1 with hammonds which make the overall tone more 'rock and roll' ... that is a bit more saturation and distortion. This is simply because of the performance of the Hammonds themselves. The other I used some trannies from the BBC ... LL88ASC (you can find them in the Canford catalog) ... the sound from these is much cleaner, again because of the performance of the transformers. Both sound better to me than without, and both are different. I don't think I'd use any at the output and the input. Just 1 will make enough difference I'd say.

As for the 202 or 2150, I've also made 1 with 2150a's and the other with original 202's. There is a sound difference between the 2 but I don't think that 1 is better than the other but rather simply different. The 202 behaves a lot more like the real SSL compressor ... slightly smoother but I think it also introduces a bit more noise artifacts than the 2150.