Help with deciding to build or buy Tube amp.

[bigaudioscotto]

Hey Guys
I am trying to decide between building the Tubelab Simple Se
or buying a Jolida JD202brc I like big warm punchy bass
and thick syrupy mids and large soundstage well that sounds like the perfect amp but you guys know what I mean. thanks for the input


Scott

[Miles Prower]

Originally Posted by bigaudioscotto

Hey Guys
I am trying to decide between building the Tubelab Simple Se
or buying a Jolida JD202brc I like big warm punchy bass
and thick syrupy mids and large soundstage well that sounds like the perfect amp but you guys know what I mean. thanks for the input

"Big warm punchy bass"
"Thick syrupy mids"

This is pure audiophoolery that means next to nothing, like Marketing Dept nonsense that attempts to describe distortion as though it were a good thing.

From what you're describing, you don't want an amp, you want an FX box. I doubt that the Tubelab Simple SE is going to do that, and I don't know anything about the Jolida at all.

[kevinkr]

Not my idea of the ideal tube amp, but perhaps a vintage amp restoration project might fit your tastes better.

It is near impossible to advise without knowing the size of your room, musical preferences, and some significant detail about the speakers you propose to use with the amplifier. We need to know about the basic speaker design, is it Multi-Way, Full Range, ESL, OB, etc - what is the impedance, and efficiency, and if a multi-way how many speakers it has and relative XO complexity.

Some choices will dictate higher power PP amps, others may be suitable for low to moderate power SE amps.

Some sense of budget would be helpful.

[Alastair E]

Have to agree with Miles....

'Big warm punchy bass'....

Bass is either reproduced properly or not, and being Bass, a LOT will depend on the speakers used, and the amplifier's control over them....

If not, then it'll appear 'attenuated' in some way or other or distorted.

Same applies to the other audiophoolery statements like 'Soundstage' etc! It either sounds Good or not!

Load of old crap! How can a sound be syrupy??

From the statements, it looks as though a SE project would not suit you, but LOTS more info needed such as speaker choice, even music choice must be considered...

[bigaudioscotto]

I am running Wild Burro Audio Betsy Open baffle
single driver full range 95.5db I only
ask because my only memory of a single ended amp
was an Antique Sound Lab 15 watt I had was very clean
but not enough bottom end for me ,would the Simple Se be more of the same.

[Alastair E]

SE amps by their nature tend IMHO to lack bass control due to their damping-factor....

My advice--For what little its worth-- would be to audition a PP amp or two of say 10-20W per channel and go from there, maybe compare with the odd SE for comparison before committing yourself to any huge expense...

Trouble with valve-amps, a mediocre O/P Transformer will compromise Bass response and damping-factor.....
--For this reason, I'm a prob considered a heretic by many as I prefer OTL's....

[bigaudioscotto]

That is exactly the response that is was looking for.
It pretty much echos what I remembered about Single ended amps
lack of bass.
Thanks for the help.

[M Gregg]

Originally Posted by bigaudioscotto

Hey Guys
I am trying to decide between building the Tubelab Simple Se
or buying a Jolida JD202brc I like big warm punchy bass
and thick syrupy mids and large soundstage well that sounds like the perfect amp but you guys know what I mean. thanks for the input


Scott

Scott,

Here is a thought for you...

Punch ....power = PP amp.

syrupy mids....smooth sound with good clarity.

Soundstage....good High frequency response ... not distorted..

My advice is a full range speaker and something like a Quad Classic II.

The type of sound you describe is classic old tube sound...or very expensive modern..

Have you listened to modern tube amps ?

I think you need to let us know your budget..and if you have experience building electronics with 400V DC..

Regards
M. Gregg

[bigaudioscotto]

I am running Full Range driver,
and I have no experience working with 400v,
I remember going from the SE Antique Sound Lab
to the PP ASL EL34 based amp and that was more to my
liking back then.more punch & power with tighter fatter bottom end
my budget is around $800.

[M Gregg]

Originally Posted by bigaudioscotto

I am running Full Range driver,
and I have no experience working with 400v,
I remember going from the SE Antique Sound Lab
to the PP ASL EL34 based amp and that was more to my
liking back then.more punch & power with tighter fatter bottom end
my budget is around $800.

If you have no experience buy an amp or buy a kit<<<remember this can be very dangerous. Have you done any electronics before?
What electrical experience do you have?

You need tools like a Decent multi meter<<this is all cost added to the project....What will you do if it dosen't work after you build it?

Regards
M. Gregg