@raysmtb1, many of us respect Bob and love what he’s done for hifi. He’s a legend in my book. Go read my posts about this amp. You’ll see we’ve given him the benefit of many doubts. But anyone saying the lack of proper grounding on this amp is not a problem, is incorrect. There’s no room for accepting this grounding scheme as acceptable in 2022.
I used to take electricity less seriously than I do today. I’ve incidentally rubbed up against a beefy Lundhal power transformer. I’ve touched a 120v AC line. I cannot imagine what 300, 400, 500 or more volts would feel like. If an amp design has issues with ground loops, this is not the way to handle it.
Paulbottlehead is spot on here.
Also, maybe it’s not so bad that the meter and the big electrolytic caps on the DC restorer circuit are literally held in place with glue--with no mechanical bond. But that method coupled with heat and a terrible, or shall we say non-existent grounding scheme, makes it utterly foreseeable that the amp could result in injury.
I think if anyone makes a post that says this isn’t an issue or it’s being exaggerated should have to take a basic electronics test before posting. If you’re reading this post, please make your decisions on the side of caution. The voltages in tube amps are seriously high. Some caps can hold super high voltages hours after power is shutdown.
On a lighter note...Maybe the shocks I have taken have caused my hifi Gear Acquisition Syndrome. :)
