Picking tubes for SimpleSE-ish amplifier

[alexmoose]

Hey Guys,

Its been a really long time since the last time I posted here, and the website is totally different. However I have noticed that it is time for my to re-tube my amplifier. So questions come to mind.

some set up for you all.

The design is basically like the tubelab simple SE with a few differences. It is a Fixed Bias SE amplifier. I am driving some Fostex 127e drivers in a 16ohm configuration. The input to the amplifier is actively crossed at 100hz. I ask the audio community what brand/type of tube would do the best in this situation? EL34? KT88? I'm open to suggestions.

Thank you All
-Moose

[MellowTone]

Pictures of the amp? What did it have in it? Were you happy with the sound before?

[Ivey]

Can someone please inform me as to what is so good about SE amplifiers

When I grew up, everyone in America owned an SE in some form or another. They were in our radios, phonos, and a host of other items. I did not care for that sound back then the 1940's and 1950's.

What is the draw to them today?

Inform me.

Take Care

Ivey

[DougL]

Originally Posted by Ivey

Can someone please inform me as to what is so good about SE amplifiers

When I grew up, everyone in America owned an SE in some form or another. They were in our radios, phonos, and a host of other items. I did not care for that sound back then the 1940's and 1950's.

What is the draw to them today?

Inform me.

Take Care

Ivey

Everything has positives and negatives.

Push Pull Tube amps tend to have rising distortion at very low level because of transformer hysteresis and phase splitting errors. PP amps also cancel even order harmonics. For inefficient speakers, they are a good choice.

SE amps have different issues. Because of the transformer gap required to pass DC, and the DC present, they do not suffer zero crossing distortion.
The are by definition class A, the distortion spectrum is complete and falls with level. An SE amp can be a very good choice for very efficient speakers.

Both can be implemented well or badly. Personal choice of what sounds good is also valid.

HTH

Doug