My First Tube Amp

[Roulston]

Mods, if this in the wrong place, please relocate it.

Firstly, while what I am talking about is a DIY amp, I did not build it, but had it built for me.

Long story short I wanted to get into valve technology and I bought a chinese kit and had a worlds of trouble with it, I should have started with point to point so some ripped of PCB, and gave up and wanted to go back to first principles.

I found this local, to Australia (Sydney) bloke selling guitar and audio amps built to order and every thing I could find out about him seemed positive, and my trust was proven correct.

Mr Eric Chan states he has been a hobbyist for decades and enjoys building very basic, simple amps (few different grades) of his own design from the 60's. All point to point, very cost effective, conservative (bullet proof design) so I bought one.

He proved consultive and knowledgeable, discussed what I wanted, took time to teach me how these things work, and my operating perimeters, output impedance etc. Al;most daily emails, between his other builds.

I ordered the cheapest (all I could afford) and every day, or so, he would send me a new picture of his progress, discuss stuff, he fully described his circuit and sent me diagrams etc of what he was doing and why. Two weeks later I was in Sydney (I live in Canberra about 3hours drive away) and he handed it over, offers auditions, instruction, and few spare valves to allow some rolling and comparison. Provided guidance on better valves I could try when I could find / afford them.

In evry regard a totally enjoyable transaction and great sounding amp. I true gentleman.

Very simple. 2 inputs, selectable, output mode switch selectable between Triode and Pentode configuration. I can't describe it sufficiently well for most of you.

While including his burn in, it has only had now about 5hours run time, is sounds wonderful and I guess will only get better. I put my CRO on the outputs and ran a few 1khz and 450hz tones and they looked very linear, better than I could measure. I am too tired from driving to do any more tests, but they will come as I learn, by measurement, more about the circuit, without killing myself of the amp I hope.

For those that care he used a 6V4 rectifier in a soft start configuration. a pair of 654P/EC86's driving a pair of 6BQ5's.

All beautifully cased and configured.

I have no commercial or other relationship with Eric other than to be a very satisfied and now a little more educated customer and I will be back for either assistance to build or buy one of his 300B but with my tin ear, I can't fault the SQ on the Eric McChanson Junior.

The one I bought and am very happy with is the one in the following link The two top switches are the input selector and the Ultralinear (Pentode) or Triode configuration.

I am driving it currently with a FiiO D3 dAc form my MacPro with 24 bit files, and sounds great, to me, into a pair of Paridigm bookshelf wide range speakers. This is my home office not lounge. It is only the baby of his range after all.

I have the pictures of the entire build, but will ask his permission before posting.

(Particularly with the stupid damn US SOPA campaign)

http://http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Eric-McChansons-Junior-Amp-6BQ5-EL84-UL-Triode-SE-Stereo-Valve-Tube-Amp-/120844623242?pt=AU_Amplifiers&hash=item1c22e69d8a# ht_1339wt_1413

Thank you for taking the time to get this far if you did. And if you didn't.. It matters not.

Tony

[tinitus]

I have moved you to 'swap meet', as I understand it like your are selling this amp


moderation

[Roulston]

Thats fine, but I am not selling. Happy to promote and am happy to recommend, yes.

But this location is perfectly fine.

Tony