New SET: JE labs simple 45 or tubelab SE?

[cwujek]

Contemplating building an SET for my Fostex FE166s in Austin 166 horns. Intend on getting James OPTs, but need to really establish which design to use. So what do you think? This:
http://www.tubelab.com/se_amp_pc.htm

...or this:
http://members.myactv.net/~je2a3/simple45.htm

plus a brief description on why you would choose one over the other if you wouldn't mind.... feel free to suggest other SETs. I've built many tube amps in the past, this is just my first SET so any advise appreciated. Thanks,

Chris

[Klimon]

I haven't heard either but would personally go for the tubelab, if only for the better driver option (single 5842 driver will give much less distortion than 6sn7 cascode, see e.g. pete milletts test of pentode drivers);

Simon

[arnoldc]

It would depend on the size of your room, how loud you listen, and type of music.

Would you mind posting?

[cwujek]

Originally posted by arnoldc
It would depend on the size of your room, how loud you listen, and type of music.

Would you mind posting?

Well, I have a mid sized room, but it is heavily acoustically treated with round bass traps against the walls and also mounted on the ceiling. I can get exact dimensions if that would be helpful. Listening level varies, usually at moderate levels, but turning stuff up once in awhile is fun. Music type also varies even more, lots of jazz and some classical.

[smbrown]

The JE Labs uses a single 6SL7, not a cascode 6SN7, right? At any rate, seems like the Tube Lab is rather more complicated than it needs to be. I have tried a bunch of SET designs for 300B and 2A3s and the one I like the best is a simple one tube driver, direct coupled to the grid of the 45 or 2A3. Sounds outstanding, very little to go wrong, no cap in the signal path, etc... sonic bliss!
Try this one...
http://www.dagogo.com/DIYHeartland/Simple45.html
You can skip the parafeed and go with James, which I've used and LOVE. You can also use a 2A3 but will need to rework the cathode resistor on the output a bit.

[limono]

Silk transformers (from Thailand) did a test of a few transformers (Tango X20 U808
Audio Note Trans 152, and James ) You have to take results with a grain of salt as James is their competition but James OPT tested poorly and they said it ain't any good.Lots of builders like this OPT -it surely look first class.

[wa4swj]

Hi,

Look here: www.diytube.com

and look at the GSG amp at the bottom of the forum. I've built one with James transformers and it sounds fantastic.

Good luck on your choice.

Regards,

[cwujek]

Originally posted by smbrown
The JE Labs uses a single 6SL7, not a cascode 6SN7, right? At any rate, seems like the Tube Lab is rather more complicated than it needs to be. I have tried a bunch of SET designs for 300B and 2A3s and the one I like the best is a simple one tube driver, direct coupled to the grid of the 45 or 2A3. Sounds outstanding, very little to go wrong, no cap in the signal path, etc... sonic bliss!
Try this one...
http://www.dagogo.com/DIYHeartland/Simple45.html
You can skip the parafeed and go with James, which I've used and LOVE. You can also use a 2A3 but will need to rework the cathode resistor on the output a bit.

Thank you very much for the link. Looks like a more tweaked version of what I had in mind.

Originally posted by limono
Silk transformers (from Thailand) did a test of a few transformers (Tango X20 U808
Audio Note Trans 152, and James ) You have to take results with a grain of salt as James is their competition but James OPT tested poorly and they said it ain't any good.Lots of builders like this OPT -it surely look first class.

Here's a link to the test:
http://www.sacthailand.com/Transformer_TestOutput.html

I don't think a big dip at 80khz is really going to bother me given that I can't hear it........

[limono]

For the price one can't go wrong with James that's for sure . A-Note charges more for copper frame brackets for their transformers (instead of steel ones) than a pair of James Opts
Anybody used Hashimoto transformers ?? They supposed to be first class but no reviews so far. Regards, L

[kmtang]

Don't waste the beauty of the 45. I bought two pairs of Lundahl's C-core OPT for building one new 45 amp and retrofit the 45 amp that I have.

I use Sun Audio's Cascode 6SN7 to drive the 45 with B+ of 400V. It sounds so good with Hammond's 1628SE OPT. Of course, it lacks of the airy highs as the OPT limits the high end frequencies.

I will put the Lundahl's OPT and hopefully it will give me the wideband frequencies.


Johnny