Yes but the fets (TO-3's) are metal encased, which is a heatsink in itself...thus the reason why they are considered superior. In all the equipment I work on at work, the TO-3's are pressed into the heat sink on the underside to aid in cooling, I would be willing to bet those are the same. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Oh and by the way, your amp looks spectacular, good job! :cool:

[ June 24, 2003, 10:36 AM: Message edited by: kilowatt ]

WOW! Amazing job, must have taken a while, but, maybe, if the black was in a pewter, or like a machiened finish, i just think it would bring it up into 2004 a little more, but good job none the less!

kilo if you look at the pick you will see a white ring around the to-3 casing and the power supply transistors have a tan colored insulator
usually all transistors are insulated
because the casing or tab have power to it
if they were allowed to make contact to the heatsink it would never turn on or if it did not for very long

Speaking of the power supply transistors..

Now I know people like Mmats amps and for sure they make a good amp but the minute I see a manufacturer using the hole in the transistor tab as a hold down I have to shudder.

Motorola says don't do that - the hole is there for handling only.

kilo if you look at the pick you will see a white ring around the to-3 casing and the power supply transistors have a tan colored insulator
usually all transistors are insulated
because the casing or tab have power to it
if they were allowed to make contact to the heatsink it would never turn on or if it did not for very long </font>[/QUOTE]Pinhead-The screws holding down the fets are screwed directly to the heatsink!! [img]graemlins/freak.gif[/img]

usually there is a plastic insert under the screw to isolate it
trust me almost 100% of all amps are made this way

http://www.germainesystems.co.uk/dow...es/capflow.pdf
heres a link to a diagram of how it works kilo
scroll down to page 11

I have 2 amps sitting in front of me, a PPI and an MTX, both have the transistors screwed directly to the heatsink with a dab of heatsink grease under them (also on your Matts amp under the copper piece). If I can find somewhere to host the pics I will post them.

some times the transistor is full plastic encased
some of them the hole is full plastic encased

these amps you dissassembled them to make sure the insulator dosn't run the full lenght of the amp

second last paragraph of this link

http://members.tripod.com/valveaudio/Membuatsendiri.htm

[ June 24, 2003, 08:09 PM: Message edited by: pinhead ]

And here is a post with pics of the transitors mounted directly to the circut board with a little heatsink grease.


http://www.canadiancaraudio.com/cgi/...=006245#000002