departure and tube slop

[infobot]

Can anyone suggest a tube amp, ideally along cheap simple lines ? A kit would be nice but already built is okay too.

The one must have is tube slop -dripping with the stuff, tons if possible, fidelity not important.


I've got a nice little starter kit tube amp built, have a low-mid range one on the way, that I'm saving for. So all set for clean sound. However this is for something else, more for experimentation, kind of A-B compare with other amps.

Know this sounds contrary. It's for a learning thing, and to check out some ideas.

Any suggestions much appreciated and thanks.


PS
So far all I'd found is PAiA 's HiFi Tube Preamp (http://www.paia.com/tubestuff.asp if curious)

[aardvarkash10]

define "slop". SE harmonic signature? Slow rise into soft clipping? PP crossover distortion? 32db of gFB via an underspecced OPT?

If you want just a poor design that lacks fidelity , there are plenty out there.

Alternatively, start with a GOOD basic design and build in the error you are seeking

[infobot]

Hmm thanks good point sorry thought it was much more characteristic, identifiable.

I guess sort of a bloatish liquidy kind of thing, maybe sometimes grainy but more a liquid bloat kind, very syrupy extra overlay to the sound. I guessed hard to miss but hearing what you said, now I second guess myself.

[aardvarkash10]

... so the aural equivalent of a supersized Macca's thickshake?

[infobot]

Yup like underwater listening.

Used to be common, hear about it some anyhow. Probably before tubes reappeared and we all relearned many more ins and outs of them.

Of course then again I could be very way totally wrong there, but pretty sure I'd heard it about and heard the phenomena so to speak.

[nigelwright7557]

I have seen a ready built hybrid tube amp module on ebay.
The heaters are dropped off the dc rail so a complicated and expensive transformer isnt needed.

[Cassiel]

A 12AU7 in the preamp section might get you that sound...chocolaty tube.
For some reasons that I don't understand a NOS 12AU7 sounds GREAT in a mu follower configuration.
I have the suspicion that the reason why that tube is often used in PP pentode amps is to soften the edgy sound of pentodes but I might be wrong. In theory feedback solves that problem.

[Cassiel]

OK, I've found this for you. Owner says it sounds like a drunken Frenchman, slow and slurry. Sweet, dark euphonic sound.

[infobot]

Much thanks.
The idea of a hybrid's, any idea what they sound like? Was thinking all tube but that's just because anything else hadn't occured to me.

That schematic sounds like just the thing. Is that a Jadis ? (picture's tagged Jadis) Just surprised but hadn't read up on their stuff in ages, used to hear about them in audio mags.


******
I'd 'inherited' a couple of old console stereos a long while back, someone cleaning out their cellar. Nothing valuable, budget line models. Anyway not very hifi but between the amp and speakers got some weird results. Huge open sound but wasn't just the tubes.

One had two small cabs, the amp was in one. The other had 3 channels, 2 stereo and a mono 18" speaker. All had open back cabs. I'd long since gotten rid of them-grabbed them for the wood didn't expect them to fire up.

Anyway just intrigued me that lofi setup (they sounded it) could sound that good, well so deep and wide. Both sounded much like the Jadis description, probably same or more exaggerated.

[Cassiel]

Is that a Jadis ?

Yes, Jadis DPL preamp. Use old carbon comp resistors and leaky paper in oil coupling caps and connect this preamp to your clean amp...it won't sound clean anymore.

All had open back cabs.

Just like mine, deep and wide sound.