Brown Audio Labs

08/28/2026

Many don't know I had a loudspeaker company before I ventured into audio electronics,The pictures shown are the model Piano Forte floor standing speaker system, a reflex enclosure system, using a 6" Planar Magnetic Tweeter paired with the infamous 6 1/2" Dynavox woofer, a really great combination! I sold 3 or 4 pair of these with great results!!

08/23/2026

Some MC-3 action, and just some laid back music. It's hard to tell it's in the mix, no noise, hum or hiss at the moment.

08/21/2026

I want to give my current assessment of tube based audio gear right now! I don't know of any main stream company that still does all tube designs, maybe Jadis? But much of this downturn is do to the loss of many great tube gear designers, in the last 20 years or so, William Johnson of ARC, David Hafler, Gary Dodd, Roger Modjeski, I don't know if Mike Elliott of Counterpoint is still with us.

The company I really want to highlight is Audio Research, when William Johnson had the helm, they made some phenomenal products, He of course was working off David Haflers designs at Dynaco, mainly perfecting the Dynaco PAS-3 and the infamous ST-70, the SP-3 was the first endeavour, perfecting the PAS3, it was a great design, David Wilson converted the phono stage into a microphone preamp, by bypassing the RIAA, and made some fabulous recordings!! But after Johnson passed away the company went way off course on it's products, sacraficing the sound of tubes for a more solid state approach to audio, wanting perfect low noise curcuits instead! I hope to revive what is being lost in tube audio,please help Me in that endeavour.

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08/20/2026

The MC-3 is up and running, it sounds great and is quiet for an all tube pre-pre, except for the MOSFET source follower outputs. The big take away is Mr. John Broskie's Aikido Cascode in the audio stages I believe. I'll post a video DEMO fairly soon!!

Tube Compliment:

3 - Apex tested JJ Gold Pin 6922, audio stages
1 - 12AT7 Voltage Amplifier(power supply)
1 - 12BH7 Pass Tube(power supply)

08/10/2026

The MC-3 is being assembled now, it's a classy looking piece of gear, it should sound great! the basic topology is an Akido style cascode of 6922's, I am using JJ Apex tested gold pin tubes, there is a primary and secondary ps regulator, all tube heaters are regulated including PS tubes, dual channel coupling buffers. This preamp is for both low level MC cartridges(.25mV) and high level MC(.5mV), it has front panel load and gain adjustments.

07/27/2026

My MC-3 is just about ready for assembly, boards will be in soon, I thought I would share my topology, and I'm using the MCP-33 by AR for comparison, one main change is that instead of taking feedback from the cathode follower, like in AR's schematic, for the cascode, I'm using an Aikido style setup, Mr. John Broskie revelutionized tube audio with this setup. Its basically a noise cancelling arrangement in a typical cascode configuration, I also did away with the cathode follower and used this amazing MOSFET for my output device, it comes in a TO-92 package but has over a 2W rating, and comes with all the safe guards that a MOSFET needs. I'm doing a little more gain with this setup also for lower output MC's, I'm using very heavy regulation and ripple killers. and a good grounding setup.

07/27/2026

Here's a 3D of my newest amp board, I've basically taken the ST-70 to a whole new level, going all toroidals with great specs, this will be named the ST-80, nearly a full 40watts per channel, fully regulated front end, extra current to spare. The output transformer specs are below.

Output power 100 Watt
Turn Ratio 25:1
Ultra Linear tap 40%
Primary impedance 5.0K ohm
Primary DC resistance 112 ohm
Output impedance 4 & 8 ohm
Output DC resistance 0.3 & 0.5 ohm
Max DC plate current 300mA
Frequency response 10Hz - 20KHz
Weight 7.3lb.
Dimensions 5" d x 2.8" h

07/22/2026

Would anyone like some tone controls(defeatable) to go with Their preamp? Many of You probably remember the Dynaco PAS preamp, and when Hafler quit building tube gear, Audio Research Corp, pickup where Dynaco left off, with Their signature product the SP-3, it was good enough that Wilson Audio Loudspeakers, took the preamp bypassed the RIAA, and made a microphone pre, from the phono stage, My preamp will have that same ability, to use as both a phono stage or microphone pre. The line preamp is a two stage triode, that employs bootstrapping for greater linearity. The preamp will have both primary and secondary voltage regulators, for the lowest possible noise, and improved specs. I Need some input from You folks, good or bad idea?

07/19/2026

https://positive-feedback.com/show-reports/lone-star-audio-fest-2018/

This event didn't seem long ago, like yesterday, I've been too busy with my other work to make it to any other shows in the past, I hope that will change. There aren't many brick-n-mortar stores left around anymore, the internet changed that. It was a great time, and met some really great people, lots of fun!

Lone Star Audio Fest 2018 Show Report

07/18/2026

Well folks, I started my 3rd build of a moving coil headamp, but this one is a bold one and over the top on ps regulation, it very well could be compared to a few in the past, like Modjeski's RM-4, or a Audio Research product from the 80's the MCP-33, a very limited number were made. I am doing a cascoded input using the 6922's like the 33's, but instead of getting feedback on the top triode, it will be an Aikido type setup, which helps to remove any remaining noise or ripple from power supply, but with 2 regulators giving Us our B+, I don't think that will be an issue, the primary regulator is a hybrid variety like the 33, except the pass tube is the 12BH7, which is similar to the 7044, which is hard to source. The secondary regulator is decoupling buffers using op amps in a floating configuration.

These are just some of the highlights of this pre-pre, I will be using Apex tested tubes for this build in the signal stages, Ill post more as things progress.

BTW, on the aesthetics of the build the front will be white with gold k***s, Ill have the mock ups for that later, but black and natural will also be available. The k***s will control mc cartridge loads and the other is gain settings, which will 20dB, 25dB and 32dB gain, also components on 3D shot of PCB, aren't representative of actual components used.