First tube project. Need advice.

[-=Zepplock=-]

So what's the total cost of el Cheapo?

p.s. PA774 Dyna ST35/SCA35 Power Transformer is $45 on sale.

[Eli Duttman]

Originally posted by -=Zepplock=-
So what's the total cost of el Cheapo?

p.s. PA774 Dyna ST35/SCA35 Power Transformer is $45 on sale.

Jim McShane has to finish up the parts kit. I'm not sure about the parts kit cost. For the 8 WPC triode wired amp, "iron" costs are under $100. Add $80 for the DynaClone O/P trafos instead of the guitar amp O/P trafos.

While the Dyna ST35 power trafo would save the expense of the R/S filament trafo, an additional trafo would still be needed for the B- supply. The Triad isolation trafo and the R/S filament trafo together are about $10 less than the PA774 sale price. Also, I think the doubler supply has more "muscle" than the ST35 PSU does.

FWIW, an 8 WPC "El Cheapo" would definitely be listenable with your speakers. However, you would lack realism when playing the ffff marked portions in the scores of List and Tchaikovsky "potboilers" (100+ players). Smaller ensembles should be OK.

[-=Zepplock=-]

Thank you for the information Eli Duttman.

Classical music is not on top of the list for me anyway.
Maybe only played by Jaque Loussier ;-)

Do you have any ideas how the sound would be compared to K12 kit?

[Eli Duttman]

Originally posted by -=Zepplock=-
Thank you for the information Eli Duttman.

Classical music is not on top of the list for me anyway.
Maybe only played by Jaque Loussier ;-)

Do you have any ideas how the sound would be compared to K12 kit?

A system that can play classical music well plays ALL music well.

For several reasons, I think an "El Cheapo" will sound better than a K12. The B+ PSU in "El Cheapo" is a robust 200 mA. "El Cheapo" uses triode wired "finals", while the K12 uses pentode mode. Pentode mode can sound good, but steps that increase costs, like regulated screen grid B+, have to be taken. "El Cheapo" is configured to operate in Class "A" most of the time, crossing into Class "B" only when peak power O/P is called for.

Rock lovers like to crank things up, at least occasionally. With 90 dB. speakers, a 15 WPC amp is indicated for loud listening.

[-=Zepplock=-]

Well then I guess I'll wait for a part list and final price.
I don't want to go higher than $150-200.

Thanks.

[motherone]

I've built (and tweaked) a K12. It's not a bad little amp, but I really think that I'll be more satisfied when I finally finish up a tube amp from scratch.The only reason I did wind up building/modifying the K12 is because I got it for about $60 on head-fi

These designs look interesting, and I'll definitely have to keep 'em in mind. Gotta watch the ol' wallet so I don't go dropping a bunch of money on iron right now!