This will be my first attempt, on build anything with a tube in it! I hope to build a 12AX7 Valve Preamp Kit and a 5751 SRPP / EL84 (6BQ5) Push-Pull Tube Amplifier. If someone could put me on the right track, I cannot find any up to date info on these units. I am looking for a parts list, art work, and wiring circuit for these units.
If anyone has any suggestions on what I should build given these specs, that would be great! In the meantime, I'll keep searching the site for more ideas.
Thanks in advance!
If anyone has any suggestions on what I should build given these specs, that would be great! In the meantime, I'll keep searching the site for more ideas.
Thanks in advance!
The preamp includes lots of gNFB, and that requires the open loop gain. Still, the 12AX7 doesn't have much drive capability, and so you can't use it with excessively long cable runs.
I would like to building the units my self
A friend suggested having a looking for is a valve per amp and power amp. I would like to listen to my music through a valve amp etc.
Plus I would like to building the units my self ?
A friend suggested having a looking for is a valve per amp and power amp. I would like to listen to my music through a valve amp etc.
Plus I would like to building the units my self ?
I can only encourage you to build yourself tube pre amp and power amp.
Only, there are better choices than a pre amp based on 12AX7. There are kits which are based on different tubes. If you don't absolutely need a kit and can build from a scratch, there are even better choices.
What would be advice, can suggest the design with various tubes that are available to me. I would expect there to be a fairly good reason why the designer chose specific tubes for specific applications?
Not all loudspeakers sound equal, though all were designed.
Not all amps sound equal, though all were designed.
Are you looking for a kit only, or would you consider building from a scratch?
building from scratch
I don’t mind the extra work and time, building from scratch and I can save money on materials if you careful shopping around for the right parts etc, no doubt but it would be the assembly of the units that would be the draw back for me, in build my own units from scratch I would not get the step by step assembly to following or wiring diagrams. With a kit I hope I would get step by step assembly and diagrams to follow etc?
I don’t mind the extra work and time, building from scratch and I can save money on materials if you careful shopping around for the right parts etc, no doubt but it would be the assembly of the units that would be the draw back for me, in build my own units from scratch I would not get the step by step assembly to following or wiring diagrams. With a kit I hope I would get step by step assembly and diagrams to follow etc?
If you are willing to go the extra mile in order to build the amps from scratch, you can build the best possible amps to which there are published schematics.
Look at Allan Wright's Vacuum State website, on the schematics page: Schematics .
For pre amp I'd go for FVP5, or better still, for FVP5A – in either one of those cases without the phono stage part, if you don't need a phono stage. It will be worth you while to purchase from Allan his SuperReg.
For a power amp, you have the PP-1C and its' power supply.
Those pre amp and power amp most probably sound better than most commercial amps, at any price (excluding Allan Wright's commercial amps, which are fairly expansive).
Look at Allan Wright's Vacuum State website, on the schematics page: Schematics .
For pre amp I'd go for FVP5, or better still, for FVP5A – in either one of those cases without the phono stage part, if you don't need a phono stage. It will be worth you while to purchase from Allan his SuperReg.
For a power amp, you have the PP-1C and its' power supply.
Those pre amp and power amp most probably sound better than most commercial amps, at any price (excluding Allan Wright's commercial amps, which are fairly expansive).
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I assume the amp you are considering is the Oddwatt. TBH, although the Oddwatt would be a simpler build, the performance of the Baby Huey or Red Light District would likely blow the Oddwatt out of the water. Thats not to say the Oddwatt is bad, just that the others are better.
You can find both the Baby Huey and the RLD on this site - be prepared for a long night's reading!
If your source is a CDP or similar, none of these options would need a pre-amp.
You can find both the Baby Huey and the RLD on this site - be prepared for a long night's reading!
If your source is a CDP or similar, none of these options would need a pre-amp.
I can vouch for that, the Baby Huey thread is such a good read I printed it out and lives on my bedside table! The RLD is very good as well. Even if you don't build either it's a great way to learn how to build amps. ( and a lot easier than Morgan Jones 😀 )
Brgds Bill
I don't think you'll need a preamp, since most valve amps connected to modern sources (CD player/tuner/video whatever) simply do not need a preamp to play your music and sound good. All you need is a source selector switch and volume control either before the amp, or build it into the amp (making it an "integrated amp"). The only thing you would want a preamp for since 1980 is a microphone or turntable.
There's a couple other amps to look at, the El Cheapo which uses 6AQ5, and the Simple PP by Tubelab (EL84). The Simple PP is a PCB with good documentation and parts list, so it is a bit like half-way between a scratch built amp and a full kit amp, in that you fill the PCB and then connect the transformers and input/output sockets. There's also a full kit from Triode Electronics for a Dynaco ST-35, that might be more the way you want to go, you get the chassis, all the parts, manual, the whole lot. Price looks OK too.
There's a couple other amps to look at, the El Cheapo which uses 6AQ5, and the Simple PP by Tubelab (EL84). The Simple PP is a PCB with good documentation and parts list, so it is a bit like half-way between a scratch built amp and a full kit amp, in that you fill the PCB and then connect the transformers and input/output sockets. There's also a full kit from Triode Electronics for a Dynaco ST-35, that might be more the way you want to go, you get the chassis, all the parts, manual, the whole lot. Price looks OK too.
Allan Wright's Vacuum State Systems?
So let's get this straight, I am going for a FVP5 for the power amp and the super-reg for the per-amp this in for CD Player etc and for the power supply PP-1C?
And that’s it! I have my system?
So let's get this straight, I am going for a FVP5 for the power amp and the super-reg for the per-amp this in for CD Player etc and for the power supply PP-1C?
And that’s it! I have my system?
you might want some speakers and cable... 😉
Actually, no. THE FVP is a pre-amp specifically designed for a turntable (note the R1 position is not specified but is stated that it needs to match cartridge loading)
The super-reg is part of the power supply and is designed to tightly regulate the power supply. It ain't no pre-amp.
The PP-1C is a power amp which is NOT a power supply unless you are a speaker.
With all due respect, if you can't figure that out from the schematics yet, you should stick with building the Oddwatt as per the plans. It'll be a great learning curve and you cant get too far lost.
Actually, no. THE FVP is a pre-amp specifically designed for a turntable (note the R1 position is not specified but is stated that it needs to match cartridge loading)
The super-reg is part of the power supply and is designed to tightly regulate the power supply. It ain't no pre-amp.
The PP-1C is a power amp which is NOT a power supply unless you are a speaker.
With all due respect, if you can't figure that out from the schematics yet, you should stick with building the Oddwatt as per the plans. It'll be a great learning curve and you cant get too far lost.
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The FVP5 is a pre amp and the SuperReg is used for it.
If your source is CD, you can skip the pre amp and use only power amp with added volume control and may be source selector, if you have more than 1 source. The power amp is PP-1C and its' power supple schematic is posted below it.
If your source is CD, you can skip the pre amp and use only power amp with added volume control and may be source selector, if you have more than 1 source. The power amp is PP-1C and its' power supple schematic is posted below it.
I get the impression gaffer wants something simple, that has not much to do with RIAA, antitriode, antiphase, blumlein garters, Schaded feedback, dominant poles, zeroes, UL, cross-coupled feedback, or negative plate voltages. Something he can build as a first amp that sounds good. Sometimes Simple works really well. Good luck Gaffer.
PP-1C as almost as simple as PP power amp can be and with a good OPT it sounds excellent, probably better than most commercial amps.
Gaffer - The k12G is a very easy build if you want to go down the kit route. It has potential for upgrading later.
Available from Tube Depot Stereo Tube Amplifier Kit
Available from Tube Depot Stereo Tube Amplifier Kit
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