second build, recommendations , thoughts

[spgjmf]

hi all,
I have been very happy with my 6em7 se amp. running now into its second years driving foxtex, hivi and minimus pro7( mod'ed xover) speakers. everything sound great thru the amp.

I am looking for a second amp to build. I had a magnovox console amp, pp el34, but the sound never wow'ed me like the 6em7. hard to say why, it seemed shallow and without character(??).

I have my eye on the RH807 right now. looks simple enough and affordable to build. thinking of using motor run caps, just to add hardware to the chassie - love the look of iron and glass. plus 807 is like 6l6, mmm fender.

I am open to suggestions. anything similar to the sound of the 6em7? less than 10watts is fine. will be driving full range ( soon pioneer b20 in half chang).
what do u think?

thx,
Jeff

[Glowbug]

If you already have one amp, build something more powerful for a midbass amp, and you have the amps to actively bi-amp in the future Just IMHO...

Or for a full-range, I know it's recommended a lot here, but a Simple SE would be pretty straightfoward and be able to take a lot of tubes...

[vinylkid58]

Originally Posted by spgjmf

I had a magnovox console amp, pp el34,

Do you mean EL84?

Jeff

[spgjmf]

yes the maggie was el84...

[vinylkid58]

Originally Posted by spgjmf

yes the maggie was el84...

Sounds like you got rid of it? That's a shame, it probably would have made an interesting "El-Cheapo" variant.

I'm currently using an old HK PP EL84 amp to push my Fostex FX120's. It runs pentode mode, cathode biased.

Jeff

[spgjmf]

yeah, I sold the meggie ...easy come easy go....money goes toward mew diy.

glowpug,
tahnks for the suggestion of the simple se amp. I had seen it a number of times, but did not
realize you could use all the different tubes WITHOUT any changes to the pcb.
thanks looks like a lot of fun....plug and play. seems like a fun way to listen to dirretn tubes and get a taste of there "sounds".

best,
Jeff

[spgjmf]

fwiw,
I have order a simple se board from tueblab.
I plan on using 6l6 power tubes to start and edcor
OTP. the 40-18k ones.

the simple se looks like fun, can play with different tubes and
see what I like.

planning on choke, tube rectification as well. will add one or more motor run caps because I like the hardware on top. maybe paint them blue to match the edcors....also using steel chassie, lots O iron, so not diy case this time.

ptw- order up the pioneer bf20 speakers and dayton neo tweeter to build as well. losts of fun in the coming year. and I still have a job!

best wish to all,
Jeff

[nicoch58]

HI
for what I read the 6em7 SE is a very good sounding amp I thinks tubelab with 45 can be good candidate with good opt ,james at last or hashimoto....

[serph1nia]

If you like the sound, why build a new one?. Upgrade it!
Of course, building a new is always fun to do

Can you post a schematic of your amp and maybe tell a little bit more about your source and preamp?

A advise upgrading or going for a more expensive DHT SET or push pull.

I've been thinking about the following setup, maybe it's something for you:

first stage: 26 ccs/choke loaded, parafeed (se to balanced trafo)
Second stage: medium mu triode (e.g. 7044, e182cc) into trafo or cap.
Power stage: 2a3 push pull, fixed bias

A direct drive 300b with d3a/c3g would be a good one as well

[spgjmf]

hi serph1nia,
like you said its fun the build another amp. I like the sound of the 6em7 amp.
just looking for more, maybe DHT is a good answer.

here is the schematic I sued for the amp.
6EM7 DC Coupled Triode Tube Amplifier

I built a simpler PS, one choke. all voltage are within 5% of the ones listed.
Maybe a change in battery cathod setup? OT are the cheap edcore, 70-18k response.
source is either sony sacd/dvd player or computer with dddac 1543 dac with a nelson pass BOZ jfet preamp.

here is a 45 DHT amp, which is recommened for DIY.
Simple SE 45/2A3 Amp for First Time DIYers

looks doable. I'd be interested in your amp suggestion, transformer interstages would be interesting, never heard those!

again thank for your ideas,
Jeff