Making a muscular triode monoblock amplifier using P-P Eimac 450TH's

[rcavictim]

As my component gathering and preliminary testing of the output xfmer has more or less reached 'critical mass' it now appears likely that this almost life long dreamt about monster power tube amplifier will actually become a hardware reality.

This high powered (about 1.5 kW RMS output) all valve amplifier will have all the power needed to supply low frequency energy for the finest home reference system or to power the electric monorail at Disneyworld. It will have a 'glow in the dark' quality that is capable of competing with the best fireplace, and will be a comfort on those chilly northern winter nights.

Why am I going to build such an outrageous tube amplifier? Because after decades of collecting parts, I finally have all the parts. These are now getting really hard to find and very expensive. Lemme ask you. If you had all the parts, and the tools, the place, and the time to do it, wouldn't you?

This thread will document my progress and I hope might inspire others to push the corner of the envelope in their own tube audio worlds as well. This is not about a power contest. If I wanted to make a 25 kW ouptut amp I could do that too as I have some pretty big components and tubes stashed away salvaged from retired AM broadcast radio transmitters. That is not the point at all. I want an amp that will look fantastic in a living room, be capable of operating on the power available in the house already, not having to pour concrete and put up chain link fencing in the front yard for a dedicated power substation, and the 1.5 kW output power range is not untypical of what many audio enthusiasts are using presently with sand amps providing the push, since tube amplifiers of this power class are virtually nonexistant in the marketplace. That is the beauty of DIY. You can make almost anything you want that you cannot otherwise obtain.

I hereby declare the 2006 Tube Amp High Power DIY Olympic Sized Passtime Games (timeline unimportant) OPEN!

[beamnet]

I will be at the sideline cheering

I am a big power fan too.

There's no bragging to your friends with 400mW triode amps!

i still have a "ceramic puck" amp up my sleeve...

[Giaime]

Could you post WHAT components you have at hand? Maybe even photos

I assume you've find pretty BIG power transformers. But those are easy... what about the output ones? I understand that they don't need to pass DC but... some specs of them?

[mod_evil]

I wanna see this!

WE NEED SOME PHOTOS!

Oh yeah! 1k5w isn't for anybody... Can you post in here the schematic?

Thanks!
Felipe

[ethermion]

This is nuts. What will you do for a tranny? How much does it weigh? Won't you need to pour a concrete slab to install it? More details? Can I come visit for the smoke test? I have a Fender Twin you can use as a driver if that speeds up the prototype, assuming that 100 watts is enough drive...

[Peter M.]

I wanna see this too.
This is totally insane, I love insanity.
Please post pictures as you progress.
Looking forward to see your results

[Gluca]

0.5MW is not enough

Gianluca

[Brian Donaldson]

No balls....no blue chips


Let the games begin. I'm working on 200W SET 833 based amp.

[mod_evil]

What do you will drive with this 25kw amplifier?

[anatech]

Hey Rob,
This I'm going to have to see! It's a cinch it won't be stolen with anything less than a flatbed and crane!!

Assuming you survive, we can use it to heat coffee. Tech's run on coffee. And sadly, I don't doubt for a second that you are more than serious.

Guys, look for ball lightning in Ontario.

-Chris