Seventh Circle Audio

I just finished my first J99 (sounds GREAT), and was installing it in my new-model CH01 along with my N72, and noticed - the N72 won't fit in the rightmost slot without surgery to the chassis. The input tranny, which is about flush with the top of the board, is a teeny bit too high.

For me, no big problem, I'll just load a J99 in that slot.

Tim, have you loaded up the new chassis with N72's?

I'm also wondering how difficult it is to get 8 cards in, it takes some wiggling to get the XLR connectors in the holes, and there wouldn't be much wiggle room when you're installing the last couple cards.

I noticed the tight fit as well. All I did was notch out just enough of the PCB in the areas that were interfering with the chassis to squeeze it in place. I have an N72 in the far right position.

Is yours the new CH01 chassis?

On mine, I did have to file the board a little at the front bottom edge, but the input transformer sits all the way at the top of the board - I didn't see any way that trimming could adjust for that.

Yes, I believe it is the new chassis since I just got it about a month ago.

Yep, it's a tight fit, especially with previous revs of the boards. In just the past couple of weeks I've made a number of small changes to the PS02 and N72 boards to make installation easier. The boards are notched a little deeper on the front bottom corner, there's a slight relief along the rear top edge, and the bottom rear corner has a much bigger miter that allows the module to be inserted straight into the chassis with much less side to side wiggling. (Before anyone asks, the A12 boards started life with these features, and the PS01 and J99 will get them soon.) Even so, the input transformer on the N72 might bump up against the top flange of the chassis if it's mounted on the extreme right. I've never had a problem squeezing one in, however. I have noticed a few chassis with flanges that actually dip down a little toward the inside edge. Don't be afraid to bend the flange up a bit if you're really having trouble getting an N72 in the rightmost position.