I recently completed an SSE and love it. Now a friend would like me to build an amp, and rather than build another SSE I think if like to do the SE this time, most likely configured for 300bs. Budget is somewhat important. My question: is a "budget" SE significantly more expensive than a budget SSE? I know the tubes are going to cost more, but are there any other expensive "gotchas" to look out for?
--TWH
--TWH
I built my 300B SE (budget build, but not super cheap either) over the course of a year (buying stuff when the budget allowed). I built it for something between $800 and $900. Actually, my spreadsheet says $725.29 but that doesn't include some things (like panel meters, wire, etc...) I used an Edcor XPWR131 power transformer, and Transcendar choke and OPT (20W SE -the only thing I felt I blew my budget on -although they do sound good!) My original 300B tubes were Guigang and $100 for the pair. These sounded awful, but were suitable for testing and check out. If I were doing it again, I would start with better tubes. I've since used Valve Art 300B tubes and currently have Sovtek 300Bs (which I prefer). Good luck!
Well Transcendar OPT is listed for 250$ per pair ^^ I am sure they sound great
I am thinking about getting JS-6123HS 85$ for each.
But i am not the sure what to get for PT, because in Turkey, we have 230v comes from wall
I'm REALLY happy with the SSE. I think I spent about $400 plus the wood for the chassis. Then I purchased a second set of (more expensive) output tubes. I'm using Edcor power and output transformers and an Edcor choke. I do have a supplemental motor run cap. My amp is wired for triode mode only. I only use tube rectification.
--TWH
400$ sounds fantastic for a tube amp. I am not sure now if i should go for SSE or SE
I have a noobie question, can I drive any of those amps with any kind of cd player?
Should be possible with "standard" CD players with anywhere around 2V RMS output. I have tried my Tubelab SSE with an entry level Philips DVD player - it works fine.
However to really enjoy the amp, you might consider a better quality source like a good quality DAC... and then you need good speakers too, right?
Haha no problems there I am gonna buy one of those entry level marantz cd player.
Do I really a DAC?
And I have no idea what kind of speakers i am gonna get
BTW any suggestions for multimeter? Shouldn't be an expensive one
I am gonna buy one of those entry level marantz cd player. Do I really a DAC?
And I have no idea what kind of speakers i am gonna get
BTW any suggestions for multimeter? Shouldn't be an expensive one
Should be possible with "standard" CD players with anywhere around 2V RMS output. I have tried my Tubelab SSE with an entry level Philips DVD player - it works fine.
However to really enjoy the amp, you might consider a better quality source like a good quality DAC... and then you need good speakers too, right?
I tried running mine straight thru just a CD player in to the SSE and it sounded terrible. You need to understand how the CD players output impedance along with the input impedance of your volume pot on the SSE interact with each other AND the input impedance of the amp.
Probably what happened in my case was when I turned the volume pot up (decreasing the impedance) I got to the point where my CD Player was happy (10k or less impedance) but the voltage going out was too high over driving my amp.
You need to read up on output/input impedance and how they interact with both the CD Payer and the SSE amp.
Also I want to add once you go passive with just a pot in the signal path, the quality of the pot becomes very important which is why you see folks building passive preamps with expensive pots in them. That could be another reason mine sounded crappy too because I was using a $10 volume pot ....
Cheers,
Bob
Probably what happened in my case was when I turned the volume pot up (decreasing the impedance) I got to the point where my CD Player was happy (10k or less impedance) but the voltage going out was too high over driving my amp.
You need to read up on output/input impedance and how they interact with both the CD Payer and the SSE amp.
Also I want to add once you go passive with just a pot in the signal path, the quality of the pot becomes very important which is why you see folks building passive preamps with expensive pots in them. That could be another reason mine sounded crappy too because I was using a $10 volume pot ....
Cheers,
Bob
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