45 Tube amp project

[Joel]

Originally posted by analog_sa
If i'm not mistaken you tried some better caps and liked them.

You are mistaken actually. I have no idea what you're talking about.

[analog_sa]

The-Planet

I will really appreciate if you share the conclusions of your transformer test. After all this kind of opinion is the primary reason for me reading this board and probably for others too.


Thanks

peter

[fdegrove]

Hi,

Peter:

If i'm not mistaken you tried some better caps and liked them.

I think that was a little prank he tried to fool us with.

Joel doesn't listen, he doesn't measure, he just builds...and builds.
Don't know why though, maybe he doesn't either?

OPTS: who cares, as long as they're the cheapest Hammonds.

CHOKES: same thing, really.

Resistors: what the hell, they all sound the same, don't they?

Coupling caps: since they're all the same, let's use the cheapest ones or a coupling xformer.

PSU caps: who needs them?

Wires: as long as they conduct, who cares?

Monoblocks: nah, I listen to mono, so why bother about channel separation?

Just some excerpts form the diary of a person advancing the current state of the art.

And surely I must have forgotten some lesser important parts like "used tubes".

Cheers,

[Joel]

Originally posted by The-Planet
On another note, what does your 71A circuit look like?

[analog_sa]

I think that was a little prank he tried to fool us with.

Sorry Frank my mistake. I meant better resistors. Nothing gets past you, does it?

[Joel]

Originally posted by fdegrove
...Just some excerpts form the diary of a person advancing the current state of the art.

Frank, I seem to be doing a lot more designing and building than you are. In fact, have we EVER seen one of your amps? Have we ever seen an original thought come out of your mouth that made any sense whatsoever? You do a lot of critiqueing of other people's ideas, and seem to like poking fun at everyone - but yet you never put yourself on the line. Hmmmm... is this just entertainment for you?

I enjoy finding good sounding and working alternatives for people to use who are on a budget. If this annoys you, or is offensive to you in any way - I suggest you don't read my posts anymore. In fact, I've already suggested that to you twice before, but for some reason you keep on coming back. Why?

[fdegrove]

Hi,

Frank, I seem to be doing a lot more designing and building than you are.

Tacking example stages from the RDH is not what I consider designing.

In fact, have we EVER seen one of your amps?

Joel, it's not a requirement on this forum as far as I can tell.
Secondly, since I am probably at least fifteen years older than yourself has it ever occurred to you that I've done more to advance audio than you'll ever will?
And no, it is not a requirement either.

You do a lot of critiqueing of other people's ideas, and seem to like poking fun at everyone - but yet you never put yourself on the line. Hmmmm... is this just entertainment for you?

As far as I am aware I critique your gross generalisations, not yous "designs", although I could do so.

Obviously your goals are about making acceptable gear at an acceptable price.

It should be worth noting that the people you reply to don't neccesarily have that objective in mind.

Some of us just want to get the best out their listening experience even when constrained by a budget.
From that POV, I still try to give good advise so they know where and how to cut corners.

You, OTOH seem to want to cut corners on everything possible.
This is fine with me for your own use, just don't pretend it is the nec plus ultra as you seem to consistently do since in that case you're not only deceiving yourself but fellow members as well.
And that is where I object.

If this annoys you, or is offensive to you in any way - I suggest you don't read my posts anymore. In fact, I've already suggested that to you twice before, but for some reason you keep on coming back. Why?

As said above, don't pass your experience on as if nothing else matters to other people.
What you're building doesn't annoy me at all, the way you present your views to the outside world annoys me enormously since it shows a lack of respect for people having dedicated most of their live to advance the reproduction of music at home.

BTW, I'd like to hear other people's view on all I claimed in post
#23 since IMO it really sums up all the false truths you've been spouting here.

And rest assured I'll keep on defending my POV for I know I'm right from within my context, you disregard all context however and just make your claims as if they were the bible itself.

Hope I made myself clear?

[The-Planet]

Gosh, I'd hardly call a 01A-->01A-->71A a budget design! The above 6EM7 amp was my attempt at a lower cost design - hey, aren't those Hammond 125ESE's

FWIW, a good "pissy" discussion about what should or shouldn't sound good is always fun. In the end most audio decisions are based on some combination of sonics and the desire to be unique. I prefer using less common tubes, and have built around 6EM7, 6S4, 46, 826, 407A and others. Some of my projects are on my website at the-planet.org

If budget is an issue, the TV triodes (6BL7, 6BX7, 6EM7, 6DN7, 6S4 etc) are hard to beat. Great sounding and very inexpensive.

A short answer about the output transformers... I've played with a handful of SE types. I've had more experience with US products, as the shipping from overseas makes others relatively expensive. If you're looking for an easy answer, order from Magnequest or Electraprint. Both Mike and Jack make fantastic products, and support the hobby.

Hammond fills in a valuable niche in the price conscious portion of the line, and the 125ESE and larger 162_SE series present good values for many projects. I also used the One Electron UBT-1 for an 826 design and was pleased.

The Tango U808 wasn't bad, but at least on one particular 2A3 design I liked the MQ DS025 better. I have some future plans for the U808's at lower current. I haven't had the pleasure of trying the more expensive Tango or Tamura products.

Nice thing about transformers is that unless you do something rash they can be recycled or resold.

I have only one transformer I found to be a poor, and I'm currently corresponding with the manufacturer. Before I post a public comment about their quality I'd like to give them ample time to rectify the problem.

= Gary

[Brett]

Originally posted by Joel
Sorry, I just don't buy that a dB or two difference at 20Hz is even noticable.

Joel

Joel, I have to disagree with you here. My personal experience tells me otherwise (with PP trans), and it's not just from the amplitude roll off. Apart from the tubes, the OPT is the biggest determinant in the sound of a (well designed) amplifier. I've spent much of the last week rolling OPTs in and out of my bench amps, and there is a hell of a difference in the sound between them. As I already own all of the trans used in testing, and most I bought cheap surplus, the cost issue is moot. The most expensive trans are my new Lundahls, and in one circuit, they were comprehensively beaten by some vintage Partridges. In the big amp they were the best, but the Partridges were excluded as they couldn't take the current. But the Part's were outstanding and expensive transformers in their day.

VoltSecond did a Spice analysis of SE transformer properties here, using a 211 as an example.

Cheers

[Brett]

Thomas,

Out of curiousity, what are the big Lowther enclosures you posted a picture of in post # 11, and what drivers do they contain?

Chees
Brett