I posted this in the main forum. Did not know
There was a tubelab forum subcatageory
I will need your guys help and a little confidence since
This is going to be my first build.
I'm going to need help
I have some questions before I source parts
I'm building the SE and will order the board
Tonight.
1) When the parts, I want to do
The 300b build. What additional or substitute
Parts do I need or is it just a matter of using different
Tubes and setting bias different ? How would
I go about making the 300b regarding parts
Is what I'm asking I think
2) I want a volume knob however I do not
See a volume knob or value on the parts list
3) I need some help choosing transformers.
I don't mind paying a little extra for good quality
Just as long as I can keep it under 250.00 per OT
And PT. Suggestions would help me.. I want to
Squeeze as many watts as I can
This is where I'm starting it's going to be a great
Project hopefully and I'll post pics along the way
Thank you so much I'm going to need your
Guys help to make this happen
You will have to talk to me like a 5th grader because
I'm still learning I have made a few guitar
Amps in the past but they were all kits and layouts
I'm not great at reading schematics but I'm
Learning
There was a tubelab forum subcatageory
I will need your guys help and a little confidence since
This is going to be my first build.
I'm going to need help
I have some questions before I source parts
I'm building the SE and will order the board
Tonight.
1) When the parts, I want to do
The 300b build. What additional or substitute
Parts do I need or is it just a matter of using different
Tubes and setting bias different ? How would
I go about making the 300b regarding parts
Is what I'm asking I think
2) I want a volume knob however I do not
See a volume knob or value on the parts list
3) I need some help choosing transformers.
I don't mind paying a little extra for good quality
Just as long as I can keep it under 250.00 per OT
And PT. Suggestions would help me.. I want to
Squeeze as many watts as I can
This is where I'm starting it's going to be a great
Project hopefully and I'll post pics along the way
Thank you so much I'm going to need your
Guys help to make this happen
You will have to talk to me like a 5th grader because
I'm still learning
I have made a few guitar Amps in the past but they were all kits and layouts
I'm not great at reading schematics but I'm
Learning
Indigoblue14,
Member Sodacose has already responded with some good inputs to your other post:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/tubes-valves/260574-my-first-build-tubelab-se.html
Mods can maybe merge this into one thread?
On your question #3 on OPT choices, One Electron can also be considered:
Transformer - One Electron, Output, 4800 to 16/8/4 | Antique Electronic Supply
Transformer - One Electron, Output, 3000 to 4/8/16 | Antique Electronic Supply
Both will work, but the UBT-2 will give you less distortion, more damping factor, and slightly lower watts vs the UBT-3.
James 6123-HS is another choice (around ~$265/pair from E-Bay last time I checked). Gives you the felxibility of 2.5k/3.5k/5k primaries and 4,8,16 Ohm secondaries, making it a very flexible solution. The James come potted and are nice looking too. Member Boywonder has a beautiful Tubelab SE with the James-6213HS.
For power the Edcor-131has been used in quite a few builds IIRC:
https://www.edcorusa.com/xpwr131
Another option I found is the Classictone 40-18096:
http://www.classictone.net/40-18096.pdf
You will also need a choke - George and other builders have used the Triad C-14x in their builds. It is an open frame unit, so you might have to place it under the top panel.
For volume potentiometer I am using this for my Tubelab Simple SE:
2 Pcs of Dact Type 21 Stepped Attenuator 50K 300B D | eBay
Have fun!
Member Sodacose has already responded with some good inputs to your other post:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/tubes-valves/260574-my-first-build-tubelab-se.html
Mods can maybe merge this into one thread?
On your question #3 on OPT choices, One Electron can also be considered:
Transformer - One Electron, Output, 4800 to 16/8/4 | Antique Electronic Supply
Transformer - One Electron, Output, 3000 to 4/8/16 | Antique Electronic Supply
Both will work, but the UBT-2 will give you less distortion, more damping factor, and slightly lower watts vs the UBT-3.
James 6123-HS is another choice (around ~$265/pair from E-Bay last time I checked). Gives you the felxibility of 2.5k/3.5k/5k primaries and 4,8,16 Ohm secondaries, making it a very flexible solution. The James come potted and are nice looking too. Member Boywonder has a beautiful Tubelab SE with the James-6213HS.
For power the Edcor-131has been used in quite a few builds IIRC:
https://www.edcorusa.com/xpwr131
Another option I found is the Classictone 40-18096:
http://www.classictone.net/40-18096.pdf
You will also need a choke - George and other builders have used the Triad C-14x in their builds. It is an open frame unit, so you might have to place it under the top panel.
For volume potentiometer I am using this for my Tubelab Simple SE:
2 Pcs of Dact Type 21 Stepped Attenuator 50K 300B D | eBay
Have fun!
A lot of good info for a 300b build can be found on the Tubelab tubes and application page....
Tubes And Applications
You'll find answers to your OPT and PT questions.... Depending on how you build it, you'll probably get 7-9 watts/channel. This brings up the question of what are the speakers you plan on hooking up.... the more efficient, the better.
Tubes And Applications
You'll find answers to your OPT and PT questions.... Depending on how you build it, you'll probably get 7-9 watts/channel. This brings up the question of what are the speakers you plan on hooking up.... the more efficient, the better.
I breadboarded my tse with 300b tubes year ago, James iron. Chassis is still not finished (my sse sounded great, so I was not in hurry), but I am listening to it at the moment (less than 20 hours of listening time) and will post photos after it is finally finished.
Volume pot value should be 50k or less, depending on your source. On breadboard I was using alps 50k, in chassis I put TOCOS cosmos 10k - it seems to work ok with both of my sources.
Search forum for "Annotated TSE Parts List" - it was helpful for me. However values of some parts must be adjusted depending to you PT - in my case C4 is 8,2uF 600V, C5 -330uF 450V with 2x30uF mundorf film caps in parallel, B+ is 385 V with tubes biased at 68 mA. It is ok for standard 300b without pushing them to limit, but I plan someday to install EML 300BXLS with B+ 450 V (400V pt secondary) biased at 80-90 mA for more power output and probably will have to use 500V cap in C5 to have some safety margin.
Read everything related to TSE on tubelab.com.
Volume pot value should be 50k or less, depending on your source. On breadboard I was using alps 50k, in chassis I put TOCOS cosmos 10k - it seems to work ok with both of my sources.
Search forum for "Annotated TSE Parts List" - it was helpful for me. However values of some parts must be adjusted depending to you PT - in my case C4 is 8,2uF 600V, C5 -330uF 450V with 2x30uF mundorf film caps in parallel, B+ is 385 V with tubes biased at 68 mA. It is ok for standard 300b without pushing them to limit, but I plan someday to install EML 300BXLS with B+ 450 V (400V pt secondary) biased at 80-90 mA for more power output and probably will have to use 500V cap in C5 to have some safety margin.
Read everything related to TSE on tubelab.com.
Holy cow.. That is over my head lol.. Wow I hope
I can do this ...
I'm not skilled enough to know what parts
Will have to be changed according to transformer
Yikes.... I figured I could get the parts list off
The tubelab site, order what's on the list and
Hook up PT and OT and toss in 300b tubes and
Bias and done ...
If I make a selection of my PT and OT and
Post what I'm using here can someone tell
Me what values I may have to change..
I'm afraid I'll screw something up .
Thank you so much..
I'll choose some transformers
I can do this ...
I'm not skilled enough to know what parts
Will have to be changed according to transformer
Yikes.... I figured I could get the parts list off
The tubelab site, order what's on the list and
Hook up PT and OT and toss in 300b tubes and
Bias and done ...
If I make a selection of my PT and OT and
Post what I'm using here can someone tell
Me what values I may have to change..
I'm afraid I'll screw something up .
Thank you so much..
I'll choose some transformers
Ok I'm going to order the
Edcor XPWR131 for my PT
As for output Transformers
I will order the Electra-Print
Output transformers
I need 2 of the OT right?
Is there a product number for the
Electra-Print I should use?
On the tubelab page they suggest a TM3kb
With 3.4k no voltage specified though..
With the 300b tubes I want to get as much
Watts as I can ...
I think this is what I'll order ... If im missing
Something let me know remember I'm a green
Horn
Edcor XPWR131 for my PT
As for output Transformers
I will order the Electra-Print
Output transformers
I need 2 of the OT right?
Is there a product number for the
Electra-Print I should use?
On the tubelab page they suggest a TM3kb
With 3.4k no voltage specified though..
With the 300b tubes I want to get as much
Watts as I can ...
I think this is what I'll order ... If im missing
Something let me know
remember I'm a greenHorn
Last edited:
Your output transformers will depend on your speakers impedance (value of secondary winding) and operating point of 300b of your choice for primary winding.
For more power you can use opt with primary in range 2k-3.6k. But power comes at cost of increased distortion and decreased damping factor.
For more power you can use opt with primary in range 2k-3.6k. But power comes at cost of increased distortion and decreased damping factor.
Ok thank you... So with 3k I'll get the wattage
But my sound will be sacrificed. I am starting
To understand. I have never heard a tube amp
That was in the 6 to 7 watt range ..
Do these amps put out decent volume even
With a 5k? I know better not to let the
Wattage rate fool me because it's a tube.
I'm running 8ohm speakers ...
With the primary for the 300b tubes what's
The sweet spot. Is it better to push as much
Voltage as I can ?
I would love to hear some suggestions of
What you guys think/opinions on the
Operating point
I read the tube data sheet for a 300b
But I would love to hear your opinions
Thanks this has been great ..
Thank you...
I ordered my board yesterday and I'll order
Irons and parts on parts list on the tubelab
Website today ..
If anyone has some upgraded parts or a high end
Brand cap or resistors or anything on the list let me know
I'm also going to get a Hammond enclosure and I assume
I can get aluminum or steel with out any issues
Not sure on size though but I hope to take a educated guess
On the amount if space I'll need to mount PT and
OTs
Thanks everyone I'm hoping to hear back from
Electro-print today.. If the OTs are super expensive
I'll opt for the UBT-2 or UBT-3.
I looked at the James transformers but I would have to
Order from china it looks like on ebAy . They look
Real nice but I have never worked with that type of
TrNsformer ..
But my sound will be sacrificed. I am starting
To understand. I have never heard a tube amp
That was in the 6 to 7 watt range ..
Do these amps put out decent volume even
With a 5k? I know better not to let the
Wattage rate fool me because it's a tube.
I'm running 8ohm speakers ...
With the primary for the 300b tubes what's
The sweet spot. Is it better to push as much
Voltage as I can ?
I would love to hear some suggestions of
What you guys think/opinions on the
Operating point
I read the tube data sheet for a 300b
But I would love to hear your opinions
Thanks
this has been great ..Thank you...
I ordered my board yesterday and I'll order
Irons and parts on parts list on the tubelab
Website today ..
If anyone has some upgraded parts or a high end
Brand cap or resistors or anything on the list let me know
I'm also going to get a Hammond enclosure and I assume
I can get aluminum or steel with out any issues
Not sure on size though but I hope to take a educated guess
On the amount if space I'll need to mount PT and
OTs
Thanks everyone I'm hoping to hear back from
Electro-print today.. If the OTs are super expensive
I'll opt for the UBT-2 or UBT-3.
I looked at the James transformers but I would have to
Order from china it looks like on ebAy . They look
Real nice but I have never worked with that type of
TrNsformer ..
Last edited:
My amp uses 45 output tubes..even less power then the 300b. How loud the system plays will depend on how sensitive the speakers are.
The electra print transformers were not too pricey. lead time was very reasonable for a made too order part. As the owner operator of a one man business I like to give my money to the little guy.
The choke added to the power supply at the r4 position is nice. less ripple and the ability to adjust the voltage by changing the value of c4. check out PSUD2 cool program dealing with power supplies.
Have fun...be careful.
Evan
The electra print transformers were not too pricey. lead time was very reasonable for a made too order part. As the owner operator of a one man business I like to give my money to the little guy.
The choke added to the power supply at the r4 position is nice. less ripple and the ability to adjust the voltage by changing the value of c4. check out PSUD2 cool program dealing with power supplies.
Have fun...be careful.
Evan
It's not the impedance (8 ohm) of your speakers that's important, but how efficient they are... What is the db rating for them? The higher the db rating of your speakers, the easier it is for the amp to drive them. I listen to Klipsch speakers with a 94db rating, 5 watts will play ear ringing loud (Just ask my neighbors). Let's say your speakers are in the mid to upper 80's for db, then your 7 watt amp is going to have to work that much harder to get you the volume you'd like. I hope this makes sense to you...
Here's a quick explanation....
Speaker Efficiency
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Yes that makes perfect sense
Mine are 90db at 8ohms
Thank you..
I'll start sourcing my parts
I run my 300b with the James, have a Canton speakers that are also 90db.
Believe me, They can be very loud
Enjoy the journey
Thank you ....
I got sidetracked on this project and still need
To source my parts..
Does anyone know if there is another parts
List floating around out there other than the one
On the tube lab site??
I'm assuming I can just send that list to mouser
And be done with it but I guess I'm a tad picky
And I was going through each piece and looking to
Purchase higher end items.. However I'm sure the list
On tubelab is fine I'll just work with the mouser parts list.
The only thing I need some further advice on is the
Output transformer...
Do people prefer the "one electric" UBT-2
or UBT-3 ?
I got sidetracked on this project and still need
To source my parts..
Does anyone know if there is another parts
List floating around out there other than the one
On the tube lab site??
I'm assuming I can just send that list to mouser
And be done with it but I guess I'm a tad picky
And I was going through each piece and looking to
Purchase higher end items.. However I'm sure the list
On tubelab is fine
I'll just work with the mouser parts list.The only thing I need some further advice on is the
Output transformer...
Do people prefer the "one electric" UBT-2
or UBT-3 ?
Here's what George says on the tubes and applications page...
"Most 300B amplifiers operate at 350 to 370 volts and use a 2.5 K, 3 K or 3.6 K ohm load. This is the sweet spot for most 300B tubes, and provides about 7 to 9 watts. It is also possible to use a 5K ohm load for reduced power with better distortion and damping factor. 6 or 7 watts will result. Most users go for a 3K ohm OPT and about 360 volts of B+. Some also use a 5K ohm OPT and a B+ nearing 400 volts, this is my preference." You should be able to make a decision from that... decide what you want out of your speakers. I prefer Edcor OPT's myself. I've used them on several projects, no complaints. My Klipsch speakers have a secondary impedance of 6 ohms which Edcor offers on various OPT's... Also, I don't mind the wait while the xfmrs are made.
Half the fun, for me anyway, is going thru the parts list and shopping on Mouser's, as well as other sites, web catalogs... I get side tracked a lot and easily, but it's a good time and you just never know what you'll come across. I usually opt for the best parts I can find, because why spend the time building something and not have the final product be the best it can be.. I don't worry about whether it'll work or not, because after 50+ yrs. of experience, I know it'll work and I don't want to take it apart later to upgrade parts. So take your time, look up each part... it's all part of the diy experience.
Patience, Grasshopper....
"Most 300B amplifiers operate at 350 to 370 volts and use a 2.5 K, 3 K or 3.6 K ohm load. This is the sweet spot for most 300B tubes, and provides about 7 to 9 watts. It is also possible to use a 5K ohm load for reduced power with better distortion and damping factor. 6 or 7 watts will result. Most users go for a 3K ohm OPT and about 360 volts of B+. Some also use a 5K ohm OPT and a B+ nearing 400 volts, this is my preference." You should be able to make a decision from that... decide what you want out of your speakers. I prefer Edcor OPT's myself. I've used them on several projects, no complaints. My Klipsch speakers have a secondary impedance of 6 ohms which Edcor offers on various OPT's... Also, I don't mind the wait while the xfmrs are made.
Half the fun, for me anyway, is going thru the parts list and shopping on Mouser's, as well as other sites, web catalogs... I get side tracked a lot and easily, but it's a good time and you just never know what you'll come across. I usually opt for the best parts I can find, because why spend the time building something and not have the final product be the best it can be.. I don't worry about whether it'll work or not, because after 50+ yrs. of experience, I know it'll work and I don't want to take it apart later to upgrade parts. So take your time, look up each part... it's all part of the diy experience.
Patience, Grasshopper....
Here's the link to Edcor... there are many choices available, depends what you want to spend. I used the GXSE15-6-5K for my SSE... they were a great match for my Klipsch speakers...
Edcor Single Ended OPT
The One Electron xfmrs you are looking at don't have UL taps, so if you're planning on using UL with your amp...
Edcor Single Ended OPT
The One Electron xfmrs you are looking at don't have UL taps, so if you're planning on using UL with your amp...
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