Hi. This my first post.
I have a TVA1 that I used to run with GE 6550s with no problems. It took out a few MO KT88s until I switched to the US tube.
Anyhow, in all the photos I have ever seen, there is one small circuit board for the triodes with the octal bases visible. The amp I have has a large board that covers all tube bases. It is marked Soundlease Services Issue B. I will try post a photo. Does anyone know anything about this version? I have just bought 4 matched EH KT88s for the beast and a variac to help recharge the caps as it has been in storage for 11 years. Thanks.
I have a TVA1 that I used to run with GE 6550s with no problems. It took out a few MO KT88s until I switched to the US tube.
Anyhow, in all the photos I have ever seen, there is one small circuit board for the triodes with the octal bases visible. The amp I have has a large board that covers all tube bases. It is marked Soundlease Services Issue B. I will try post a photo. Does anyone know anything about this version? I have just bought 4 matched EH KT88s for the beast and a variac to help recharge the caps as it has been in storage for 11 years. Thanks.
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TVA1 running at half voltage
OK, so I have brought it up to half voltage - full on the variac but still config for 220V. I have yet to change the tags to 120V. I need some help with the bias. I have read that the bias resistors should be decreased in value to stop runaway with newer KT88s. Does anyone have specific info on which resistors? I assume they are on the bias board.
Thanks
OK, so I have brought it up to half voltage - full on the variac but still config for 220V. I have yet to change the tags to 120V. I need some help with the bias. I have read that the bias resistors should be decreased in value to stop runaway with newer KT88s. Does anyone have specific info on which resistors? I assume they are on the bias board.
Thanks
Up and running
This might help someone else. The bias resistors in question are the 4 220k ones on the bias board. They are the orange ones visible in the photo. They need to be dropped to 100k to raise the -V on the grid to limit current thru the tube.
I haven't done that yet but I did replace the old black plate Brimar ECC83s and ECC81s with a new set of Sovtek 12AX7LPS (I know the drivers should be 12AT7s but I have run it before with ECC83s and it sounds leaner and more transparent in this config) and brought it up to 85V on the variac. It sounds astonishingly good.
This might help someone else. The bias resistors in question are the 4 220k ones on the bias board. They are the orange ones visible in the photo. They need to be dropped to 100k to raise the -V on the grid to limit current thru the tube.
I haven't done that yet but I did replace the old black plate Brimar ECC83s and ECC81s with a new set of Sovtek 12AX7LPS (I know the drivers should be 12AT7s but I have run it before with ECC83s and it sounds leaner and more transparent in this config) and brought it up to 85V on the variac. It sounds astonishingly good.
M&A TVA-1
Hi,
Saw your questions on the TVA-1. I've got one a week ago to start up (w variac) just like yours with the big ckt board in the bottom. I haven't found much info on this one. I've seen a later version?? without the big ckt bd and a number of what apparently are copies by some Japanese Audiophiles. This apparently was a highly thought of Amp.
Wondered if you have found any more data such as cathode current, rated power out, correct ckt diag,etc. The Ckt Diagram that I've seen only generally represents this amp. Most values are different.
It has taken some time to actually get the amp running stably. At first all the outputs glowed bright red (obviously suggested a bias problem). I finally determined that the main problem was the 47uf/100v caps on the bias board. They would not reform and therefore were dragging the bias voltages down. You do not need (or want) to reduce the 220Ks. I strongly suspect you caps are bad also.
Based on the tube data, I selected 60 ma cathode current. The bias voltage needed is about -58Volts with 33ohm cathode resistors in my amp. With the caps replaced, the bias controls give a nice range and readily give the -58V. (the amp will run without the caps)
It looks like the amp may be able to handle much more cathode current.
At the 60ma, the output swings roughly 60W into 8ohms but rounded on the Positive swing.Thinking the 2 pots on the monster ckt board might adjust symmetry but they didn't do anything. Do you know how the pots are hooked into the circuit - what they are supposed to do?? It would be a major project to raise the ckt board to see how the pots are hooked in - I started but gave up!!
John
Hi,
Saw your questions on the TVA-1. I've got one a week ago to start up (w variac) just like yours with the big ckt board in the bottom. I haven't found much info on this one. I've seen a later version?? without the big ckt bd and a number of what apparently are copies by some Japanese Audiophiles. This apparently was a highly thought of Amp.
Wondered if you have found any more data such as cathode current, rated power out, correct ckt diag,etc. The Ckt Diagram that I've seen only generally represents this amp. Most values are different.
It has taken some time to actually get the amp running stably. At first all the outputs glowed bright red (obviously suggested a bias problem). I finally determined that the main problem was the 47uf/100v caps on the bias board. They would not reform and therefore were dragging the bias voltages down. You do not need (or want) to reduce the 220Ks. I strongly suspect you caps are bad also.
Based on the tube data, I selected 60 ma cathode current. The bias voltage needed is about -58Volts with 33ohm cathode resistors in my amp. With the caps replaced, the bias controls give a nice range and readily give the -58V. (the amp will run without the caps)
It looks like the amp may be able to handle much more cathode current.
At the 60ma, the output swings roughly 60W into 8ohms but rounded on the Positive swing.Thinking the 2 pots on the monster ckt board might adjust symmetry but they didn't do anything. Do you know how the pots are hooked into the circuit - what they are supposed to do?? It would be a major project to raise the ckt board to see how the pots are hooked in - I started but gave up!!
John
Rev B on Ebay
one for sale on Ebay, same version as mine.
This is not mine however.
Michaelson Austin TVA 1 Tube Power Amplifier Serviced Tested Works Great Clean | eBay
one for sale on Ebay, same version as mine.
This is not mine however.
Michaelson Austin TVA 1 Tube Power Amplifier Serviced Tested Works Great Clean | eBay
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