Looking for "tube-like" Gainclone

[Jay]

It is my believe that the same 2 amps do not always sound the same.
The gain, the component, the path/cabling, the matched impedance
(input z to pre-amp, output z to speaker).

Some believe the Gainclone is good, some don't. IMO it is not just
about Gainclone or not Gainclone. It is hard to explain, for example,
by formula how a 1000uF Black Gate sounds better (may be) than 10000uF
in that "Gainclone". I have experienced for example how a cheap axial
blue Nichicon give a wonderful sound to the system, compared to many
exotic caps when used as bootstrap cap in certain setup.

Now I'm building a certain "Gainclone" setup to achieve what I have
ever liked better than my tube amps (sound like a tube but fast like SS).

Here is my plan:

1) The speaker may be the most important contributor. With sensitive
or fullrange speaker I guess it is easier to produce "tube-like"
sound with SS. But I think I will tailor my 3rd order to sound like
tube amp (), eg. sweet at vocal or mid to high.

2) Bride Of Zen. Single supply 60V. IRF610 is the sweetest (cleanest),
but IRL510 has wonderful lows when things are ok. Clean supply will be
the biggest problem.

3) LM3875 or LM3886. Capacitor at output. Single supply (30V or 60V).
The supply is chosen such that it will feed the BOZ and LM3875 working
as a single integrated amp (I'm not sure if I would try to use 30V
for the amp and 60V for the amp, that is using 2x30V secondaries)

4) Then I will play around with:
a) Gain or feedback. The worse the oscillation problem, the better.
b) 2 or 3 output capacitor setups (one with Black Gates std, one with
big caps from UPS)
c) Impedance "between" BOZ and LM3875. The resistor quality is not
important, but there must be a magical value

Whatever the result, I believe this setup will be a success.
Especially if I could get away with the distortion from the BOZ.

[carlosfm]

What do you mean with "tube-like"?
How would you describe a "tube-like" sound?
From what I read on your post it seams more practical to put a blanket on your speakers.

Oh, BTW, a trafo with 2x30v secondaries?
That voltage is too high for these chips.

[joensd]

Oh, BTW, a trafo with 2x30v secondaries?
That voltage is too high for these chips.

I´ve got this 330VA 2*30V still lying around which I wanted to use with my 4-channel biamp-GC.
With 4 chips the DC droops to 41.X almost 42V which is indeed not very safe. I didn´t have the baXXs to test it on heavy duty so far.
I recall having read cases here in the forums where it worked OK and where the chip died so you have to decide.
National engineers also recommend +-35V max which might be a bit too conservative...

What I personally was thinking about to do with my transformer was to regulate it down.
If you have the transformer already you could consider that otherwise buy one with ~25AC secondaries max.(unless you wanna regulate anyway)

[Jay]

The "tube-like" came from another thread in solid state forum. But honestly I didn't know if a blanket can do the job.

Yes 60V seems too high for an IC but I had a quick glance on the pdf and I read 90 something as the max voltage. But if 60V is not possible then I will use the center tap to get a 30V. I have a lot of transformers about this value.

Joensd, I think 42V is okay with good heatsinking. I always paid extra good attention on putting transistors on heatsinks. Besides, who's gonna rock the neighbours with too much power

[moreismore]

Use a tube amp, try a Decware Zen.

[karma]

what if i put a chipamp in a tube would that work
would it sound tube like

[Steve Eddy]

The way I look at it, if you want butter-like, use butter. If you want tube-like, use tubes.

se

[JojoD818]

Originally posted by Steve Eddy
The way I look at it, if you want butter-like, use butter. If you want tube-like, use tubes.

se

You took the words right out of my mouth.

[Steve Eddy]

Originally posted by JojoD818
You took the words right out of my mouth.

Yeah? I was wondering why they tasted funny. What you been eating?

se

[dhaen]

I'm looking for a cheap Ford that drives like a Porsche.
Any ideas