single stator esl.

[tade]

i have a pair of tube output transformers which i would like to use in a set of ES headphones. Problem is they are not center tapped. So i think my phones will be one stator and a resistive diaphram. How should i wire up a high voltage bias and a transformer to this scheme?

[Brian Beck]

Single-ended ESLs were the first type made early in the last century, but they suffer from significant distortion generation. With the advent of push-pull ESLs (and the realization that the diaphragm had to be provided with constant charge, not constant voltage), ESLs became the low distortion speakers we know today.

I think you can have your cake and eat it too. Make your headphones push-pull ESLs. Create a pseudo-center tap by placing a series pair of large value resistors, say 1MEG or even higher, across the secondary. Where the resistors meet in the middle is where you'd place one end of your bias supply. Remember to also include a large value resistor, say 22MEG, in series with your bias supply to ensure constant charge operation.

[tade]

awesome, thanks!