| Tube amp kits [message #10025] |
Thu, 06 December 2007 08:58  |
Gilipsie
Messages: 77
Registered: May 2009
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Viscount |
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You guys have me thinking about tube amps and either arrays or horns. I'm getting the itch! What tube amps would you recommend as a starter? I am pretty decent with a soldering iron and want a kit that looks and sounds good. I'd rather have good quality than ease of build. Price is important but I'm not looking for the cheapest kit on the market. Again, quality is important.
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| Re: Tube amp kits [message #10028 is a reply to message #10027] |
Sun, 09 December 2007 03:57  |
Bill Epstein
Messages: 1088
Registered: May 2009
Location: Smoky Mts. USA
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Illuminati (2nd Degree) |
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The new AN Kit 1 mono blocks heard at LSAF had more bass weight than I remembered from the stereo Kit 1. Upgraded power supply. About $2500 IIRC. If you can work from a schematic, or have your very own Steve Brown, the Simple 45 has great bass definition and texture although more lightweight than solid state or valve push-pull. About $1200 the way we (okay, I mostly just watched) built it. I'm still so impressed with it in comparison to several much more expensive commercial amps, I just ordered upgrades for the plate chokes and output transformers from Magnequest: BCP-15 chokes gapped especially for the 45 tubes and EXO-45 ALL NICKEL(Yowza) OPTs.
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| Re: Tube amp kits [message #10029 is a reply to message #10025] |
Wed, 12 December 2007 14:50 |
steve f
Messages: 238
Registered: May 2009
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Master |
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I've built the Transcendent Grounded Grid preamp and the SE-OTL power amp. I've owned the GG for a few years now, and it's still my favorite tube preamp. The GG has worked well driving every power amp I have tried with it. The sound is neutral. No tube bloat, No ss glare. No hum. People have heard mine, and then ordered one for themselves the next day. (Ed Schilling for example) I have a pair of SE-OTL amps. I bought two because I didn't think one at a watt and a half would drive my Hornshoppe Horns or Theater 4 PI's. I was wrong. One SE-OTL easily drove them.(I STILL can't believe the volume I am getting out of such a small amp) The OTL isn't thin sounding like another famous brand. If you need more power there are 15, 40, 160 WPC units. Assembly instructions are good. The GG is an easy build too. No regrets at all.
Take care,Steve
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| Re: Tube amp kits [message #10046 is a reply to message #10025] |
Sun, 23 December 2007 01:56 |
metasonix
Messages: 103
Registered: May 2009
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Viscount |
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You need a basic kit. The lowest-cost, simplest kit I know of is the S-5 Electronics kit. http://diyaudioprojects.com/Tubes/index.htm It has no power transformer, I strongly suggest you get an isolation transformer to supply it with isolated 120v AC power. If you connect it directly to the AC mains, it becomes a shock hazard.
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| Re: Tube amp kits [message #10048 is a reply to message #10025] |
Tue, 25 December 2007 08:25 |
Norris Wilson
Messages: 361
Registered: May 2009
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Grand Master |
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Even though I am a little late in coming to this thread. Here is my suggestion, a Dynaco ST70 clone complete kit from Triode Electronics. This amplifier will give you a great platform to build several different circuits from, such as Steve has suggested. Or, possibly a direct coupled design using DHT output tubes as the 6B4G. Good luck! Norris Wilson
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| Re: Tube amp kits [message #10063 is a reply to message #10028] |
Wed, 16 January 2008 20:11 |
Alnicoman
Messages: 1
Registered: May 2009
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Esquire |
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My Audio Note Kit 4 was easy to build and there are some simple modifications that can be done to it during the building phase. With the right tubes installed it just floats the musical image in the room
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