• WARNING: Tube/Valve amplifiers use potentially LETHAL HIGH VOLTAGES.
    Building, troubleshooting and testing of these amplifiers should only be
    performed by someone who is thoroughly familiar with
    the safety precautions around high voltages.

SIMPLE tube amplifier for...dummy guy...

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tofkitaff

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Joined 2006
#1
Good afternoon all,


I am actually looking (for a few weeks, in fact) for DIY tubes amplifiers on the web... Amazing ! so many kind of tubes and of materials can be used, with so many variant of each amplifier, each schema, each single piece of the kit can be changed or adapted ! So, my question is extremely simple :

I am going to buy very (very, very) soon some speakers (JBL E80) with 91dB gain. I have been told by the seller that a 2*20W will be enough for such a gain. Can anybody advise me concerning a simple DIY KIT I could buy. I just would like to SEE the tubes turned red during I hear music and 2*20W... single specs, but will I get s imple response from you, specialists ? I am sure yes, as I have not really a electronic knowledge...


Many thanks in advance !
ToFKiTaFF!
 
#3
Hi,

r u sure about the jbl speakers for your tube amp
there are a lot of other speakers that will sound great on a 20 watts amp. But i dont know what your budget is
im form belgium so maybe u wanna some help

just let me know

i have a home built push pull el84 gives me about 5 watts in triode mode and the amp drives the klipsh rf-3 speakers 96dB and it a wonder what those 5 real ;-) watts can deliver

if u want to take a look just let me know

greetz

lukasz
 
#4
Hi Carondimonio I think your response was very harsh. :xeye: I think you would have served tofkitaff's interests and the interests of our community much better by referring him to the newbie and safety threads here:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=38278

and here:

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=30172

Tofkitaff you should familiarize yourself with the material in the two above threads and ask lots of questions. You will find many helpful people here. And expect to be careful, the hazards present when working on tube electronics are significant, and inappropriate technique can result in severe shock, burns, physical injury (involuntary muscle contractions can do a lot of damage) and even electrocution and death.. OTOH you could slip and fall in the shower and die that way too - so I say go for it.

Everyone has to start somewhere, and if I had taken that attitude with everyone who expressed interest in tube audio I would not be fortunate enough to be surrounded by the vibrant diy community I now enjoy both here at diyaudio and in my offline world. There is strength in numbers.. 😀

I have friends who had absolutely no background in electronics who have become quite proficient at building and modifying tube audio electronics, some have progressed to the point of being able to do original design work. None had any significant experience and many could not even solder when I first met them.

Hopefully tofkitaff can find someone local to him to help him get started and to tutor him in basic safe electrical practice, soldering, schematic reading and the like. I would recommend a kit as a first project, perhaps something by Velleman, WAD(UK) or one of the other complete kit vendors.

Incidentally 91dB is not that efficient, although arguably 20W per channel ought to be enough, more power up to 40W is also reasonable. There are a number of kit amplifiers in this power range.

Tofkitaff welcome to the world of tube audio, your life will never be the same...
😉
 
#9
Hi all,



Anyway, I have some links about electrocity and basis on electronics, I will read them first carefully, jus to understand wat I will build, it will be all benefits for me.

In fact, I have been told that for 91 dB I need 20 Watt. for sure, I can try less, but I would be glad to make it work with my Speakers. So, Is 1-2 or 5 Watt enough for This ?



ToFKiTaFF
 
#10
kevinkr said:
Hi Carondimonio I think your response was very harsh. :xeye: I think you would have served tofkitaff's interests and the interests of our community much better by referring him to the newbie and safety threads
Click to expand...

Thanx for that Kevin. We don't want to discourage anyone from building a tube amp. iEveryone has to start somewhere sometime or we don't have anyone building tube amps.

dave
 
#11
Szyderca said:
i have a home built push pull el84 gives me about 5 watts in triode mode and the amp drives the klipsh rf-3 speakers 96dB and it a wonder what those 5 real ;-) watts can deliver
Click to expand...

We've just built up a similar amp. Seems to have more power than the 5W RH84s and except for a tiny bit in the midrange is better sounding (that could come down to iron quality). Plays the 92/93 dB Fostex boxes just fine, and even the 87 dB CSS if not attempting to party.

The same config could easily be wired pentode Class AB for close to 20 watts. You should check out Eli Dutton's El Cheapo project & SYs Red Light District for inspiration.

dave
 
#14
12Won 93dB speakers... isn't that like saying 20W ish on 91dB speakers. I would say there's a big difference between 5W and 20W, particularly into a 91dB/W speaker, but granted I do listen quite loud generally. 5W would be fine I know, I used my headphone amp to drive my main speakers for a few weeks while I was building mymain amp, and it was fine so long as you didn't get too ambitious with the volume control.
Steve
 
#15
baggystevo82 said:
I'm not so sure I'd feel that way, but if a small lower powered project was wanted how about a headphone amp?
Steve
Click to expand...

A bit off topic but if it's tofkitaff's aim to eventually develop circuits to his personal taste I can'tt agree more highly with your recommendation. Headphones load the OPT lightly and are far less demanding on the power supply, number of stages, required voltage swings, etc.. I would also say that a good set of 'phones will let you effortlessly hear changes better than any but the best room setup and speakers.

I started playing around with an SE HP amp - based on a 6C45 and a grungy NOS 5k Hammond OPT - just out curioustity with no intent to do a final build. It's easily doubled my knowledge of LC power supplies and various biasing schemes, knowledge already being applied to my other amps. I found the sound quality so exceptional as to warrant a pair of James OPTs, (soon) a permanent build and AKG 701's. It's been a delightful surprise. If you're into iPods and want to learn tube circuits I highly recommend building a headphone amp as a first project.
 
#17
kevinkr said:
Hi Carondimonio I think your response was very harsh. :xeye: I think you would have served tofkitaff's interests and the interests of our community much better by referring him to the newbie and safety threads here:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=38278

and here:

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=30172

Tofkitaff you should familiarize yourself with the material in the two above threads and ask lots of questions. You will find many helpful people here. And expect to be careful, the hazards present when working on tube electronics are significant, and inappropriate technique can result in severe shock, burns, physical injury (involuntary muscle contractions can do a lot of damage) and even electrocution and death.. OTOH you could slip and fall in the shower and die that way too - so I say go for it.

Everyone has to start somewhere, and if I had taken that attitude with everyone who expressed interest in tube audio I would not be fortunate enough to be surrounded by the vibrant diy community I now enjoy both here at diyaudio and in my offline world. There is strength in numbers.. 😀

I have friends who had absolutely no background in electronics who have become quite proficient at building and modifying tube audio electronics, some have progressed to the point of being able to do original design work. None had any significant experience and many could not even solder when I first met them.

Hopefully tofkitaff can find someone local to him to help him get started and to tutor him in basic safe electrical practice, soldering, schematic reading and the like. I would recommend a kit as a first project, perhaps something by Velleman, WAD(UK) or one of the other complete kit vendors.

Incidentally 91dB is not that efficient, although arguably 20W per channel ought to be enough, more power up to 40W is also reasonable. There are a number of kit amplifiers in this power range.

Tofkitaff welcome to the world of tube audio, your life will never be the same...
😉
Click to expand...


Hi,


I had a look at the website given by
kevinkr and I have seen 2 interesting Kits, but I can not say the difference.... unfortunately.. :-/

I have Kel84 Single Input Amplifier Kit and Kel84 Valve Integrated Amplifier
 
#18
...Sorry, I sent it before asking what is the difference with the Valve amplifier, as there is a price difference. I must say that 1 single input would be enough for me, I have just a CD /dVD reader (a HK DVD 22)..phono will may be come later...


Thanks a lot to all of you for your (precious) advice.
ToFKitaFF
 
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