Recommendations for a valve amp kit

[Fivetide]

Hi, I’m looking at buying a valve amplifier kit, I have seen many on eBay but I was wondering if anyone has ever bought one and what the sound quality was like?
Also a preamp kit with about 3 – 4 inputs

[ttan98]

Hi,

There too many choices to pick from, you must us what you want:

1. Push pull or single ended
2. Power output
3. Any particular output tube you prefer
4. what speakers you have? how efficient?

to name a few, I recently bought a 12 watt single ended(based on EL34) from China waiting to be delivered. Very cheap, $200 plus $100 postage, fully built and I will modify it once I am bored with the sound. If you do not want to modify it then stay away from those that are cheap. Go for the more established brand.

[Fivetide]

Hi ttan99 thanks for the reply, could you recommend a kit for modding ?
I was thinking before about buying something like this :Sweet Peach EL34B Class A - Intergrated Tube Amp 2X 15W | eBay

and then tinkering with like you said..

[ttan98]

Originally Posted by Fivetide

Hi ttan99 thanks for the reply, could you recommend a kit for modding ?
I was thinking before about buying something like this :Sweet Peach EL34B Class A - Intergrated Tube Amp 2X 15W | eBay

and then tinkering with like you said..

Looks like a good deal with so many features which my amp does not provide. Having said that for that price you should not expect too much from the output transformer, if there is no feedback the freq response may not that good compared to the more expensive units.

Try listening to it for a while then you can:

1. if no feedback apply feedback to it.
2. modify circuit, to make your job easier get the original cct diagram from the seller
3. The o/p trans can easily accepts KT88 tube which will give you better bass(I was told)

There are so many KT88 ccts on the net you can try many different options.

Cheers

[toprepairman]

I can't help thinking they're rather optimistic about the power outputs. i wouldn't expect more than 10 W in pentode and 5 in triode modes.

[tinitus]

I was thinking like 8-12watt
not sure it makes much difference tho
more important how those watts are

pre/driver tubes are not mentioned ?

[Fivetide]

Thanks for the replys , I have my dads old .. and I say old lol QED P300 to tinker with , I will do a full swap out on it to get my brain around electronics and then tackle the Valve.Saves me buying a kit I suppose
heres a quote on the QED from 2004 .. the forums gone now but :

"10-26-04: oldcar63@comcast.net
I have owned several brands all SS If you can find one QED P300 looks crappie sounds great very dynamic open fast with almost tube like warmth. No other amp even double the price I have heard and I have heard MANY sound as good. Another good If you can get a good used price is McCormack dna 125"

So I think the project will be worth it..

Although I've hit a snag already the 470 uf 40v cd 's are like huge on the board and when I search for the replacement they are tiny .. is it the wrong part or progress ? lol

[Globulator]

Originally Posted by Fivetide

Hi ttan99 thanks for the reply, could you recommend a kit for modding ?
I was thinking before about buying something like this :Sweet Peach EL34B Class A - Intergrated Tube Amp 2X 15W | eBay

and then tinkering with like you said..

I bought the FU50 version of that, and converted it into a SEP with GU50s, info here: Trying to make sense of the Sweet Peach

It sounded poor when bought, 6-8 new coupling capacitors later it sounded much better, the real transformation of quality and power was going to SEP however. It now sounds fantastic, much bigger than you'd expect of an SE and I really can't fault it.

If you get one, get the FU50 version.

[denny9167]

Originally Posted by Fivetide

Hi, I’m looking at buying a valve amplifier kit, I have seen many on eBay but I was wondering if anyone has ever bought one and what the sound quality was like?
Also a preamp kit with about 3 – 4 inputs

I just recently constructed a Dynakit Mark IV PP using two EL34's. I was just blown away by the sound,they may not have the dynamics and liquidity of an Audio Research,but with the speaakers I'm using they sound awfully nice to me. Check out Welcome to DYNAKITPARTS.com. Highly recommended!!

[Alastair E]

I personally would recommend a Tublab kit, summit like the Tubelab SE or Simple SE if you're into single-ended amps that is...

They can be modded to use a variety of valves and the maker/supplier posts here regularly.
These are thought of very highly.

I think there's even a Tubelab section on the forum somewhere....