Ok, so the fact is I actually know about Nelson Pass's site, tube cad, other diyAudio threads and so on. The advice I seek is a little more specific.
I have been in audio for a long time and I have heard a ton of different amps at every price point you can imagine. I hate to say it, but solid state has never impressed me. I don't know what the deal is, but to me there is just always a certain amount of musicality that SS amps simply don't have compared to a good SET amp. A good number of SS amps are actually so bad they just give me headaches 5 minutes into listening.
However the other day I heard the luxman L-590AX and was FINALLY blown away. It might sound like an arrogant comment, but it was truly the first time I have heard a SS amp that I would be willing to spend money on. The bass was weighty, the mids were clear, warm and forward, and the highs were very smooth and well controlled. It sounded like a half decent tube amp but had the well behaved clarity of a SS amp.
Are there any schematics out there that might result in an amp that has the same characteristics/sound quality?
I know that the question is practically impossible to accurately answer, but hopefully you guys might be able to at least give me some insight.
I don't need a lot of power (5 watt per channel or more is perfectly fine). I have been building tube amps for a while, so I am not a total neophyte. And my budget can be as high or low as it needs to be, but if I can keep my first SS attempt below 200 bucks, that would probably be nice.
If you guys can give me any guidance, it would be appreciated.
I have been in audio for a long time and I have heard a ton of different amps at every price point you can imagine. I hate to say it, but solid state has never impressed me. I don't know what the deal is, but to me there is just always a certain amount of musicality that SS amps simply don't have compared to a good SET amp. A good number of SS amps are actually so bad they just give me headaches 5 minutes into listening.
However the other day I heard the luxman L-590AX and was FINALLY blown away. It might sound like an arrogant comment, but it was truly the first time I have heard a SS amp that I would be willing to spend money on. The bass was weighty, the mids were clear, warm and forward, and the highs were very smooth and well controlled. It sounded like a half decent tube amp but had the well behaved clarity of a SS amp.
Are there any schematics out there that might result in an amp that has the same characteristics/sound quality?
I know that the question is practically impossible to accurately answer, but hopefully you guys might be able to at least give me some insight.
I don't need a lot of power (5 watt per channel or more is perfectly fine). I have been building tube amps for a while, so I am not a total neophyte. And my budget can be as high or low as it needs to be, but if I can keep my first SS attempt below 200 bucks, that would probably be nice.
If you guys can give me any guidance, it would be appreciated.
I already do build tube amps. I have more amps than I know what to do with. But I have always been eager to expand my horizons.
Im all about the journey of audio. It just so happens that it took me this long to find my SS muse so to speak.
5W ?? I thought I was minimalist. 
It was not the 5W that impressed you with the Luxman , but instead it's cascoded
VAS driving a triple output stage. Lot's of headroom (and damping factor).
Similar to many of the projects in the last 4 years here in "solid state".
The luxman was one of the primary influences , along with old Sansui's and
HK SS amps.
OS
It was not the 5W that impressed you with the Luxman , but instead it's cascoded
VAS driving a triple output stage. Lot's of headroom (and damping factor).
Similar to many of the projects in the last 4 years here in "solid state".
The luxman was one of the primary influences , along with old Sansui's and
HK SS amps.
OS
There is no such thing as too many amps or speakers
I run out of rooms in the house but still building more. Its an obsession.
Frankly, your notion about ss amps sounding badly in first post is rather shallow. There is plenty of bad sounding tube amps out there. Old ones or new ones.
I got 3 working tube amps, an old Magnavox el84 modified, new kt88 amp, and 6H6P flea watt...all with its flavor. But I would never say they are superior to solid state.
When it comes to ss, I build numerous Pass circuits, from zen, son of zen, aca, f5, f4, m2. As well as JLH, from 10 watts to penultimate 45 watts JLH. Yet, I would never said they are inferior to tube amps. That's just BS.
I build dozens of chip amps, and guess what? When well executed, they can sound sublime.
Cheers!
I should have been more careful with my wording. 5 watts per channel is a design minimum...not a target
Here is one monster one I have been working on.
Here is one monster one I have been working on.
There is no such thing as too many amps or speakers
I run out of rooms in the house but still building more. Its an obsession.
Frankly, your notion about ss amps sounding badly in first post is rather shallow. There is plenty of bad sounding tube amps out there. Old ones or new ones.
I got 3 working tube amps, an old Magnavox el84 modified, new kt88 amp, and 6H6P flea watt...all with its flavor. But I would never say they are superior to solid state.
When it comes to ss, I build numerous Pass circuits, from zen, son of zen, aca, f5, f4, m2. As well as JLH, from 10 watts to penultimate 45 watts JLH. Yet, I would never said they are inferior to tube amps. That's just BS.
I build dozens of chip amps, and guess what? When well executed, they can sound sublime.
Cheers!
Im not saying that SS technology is inferior to tubes. Im simply saying that the specific SS amps I have heard up until the other day have been worse than any SET amp I have heard.
Believe me if I were pig headed enough to believe that one technology is superior to another, why would I be here asking for guidance? Why would I have even bothered listening to the luxman amp to begin with?
I choose my words fairly carefully and you might want to reread what I posted.
The first sentence sets the context for the second sentence. Im basically saying that within the realm of my personal experience, SS has usually disappointed me.
Now maybe I need to be more explicit, and that would probably be a fair point.
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Why not buy a Luxman amp? Sell all the other stuff and listen to music?
Oh, I know, audio gear is like any other hobby for a lot of people- you have to have more than one because each one has it's own strengths and weaknesses.
My first tube amp was a SET tube amp that had 2 watts/channel. It didn't get loud enough when I had a few beers and wanted my personal rock concert. Bought a McIntosh MC2205 and Klipsch Cornwalls to take care of that.
Ten amplifiers later- some homebuilt, most purchased homemade- I'm back to a homemade SET amp that's basically a 5 watt clone of my first tube amp. I'm back to listening to music.
The homebuilt and refurbished amps are my favorites. They may not sound like what you think a great amp should sound like, but it's my sound that I repaired/refurbished. Solid state and tube. Better than hanging out in a bar and paying $7 for a bottle of beer and listening to someone else's crappy sound system.
Oh, I know, audio gear is like any other hobby for a lot of people- you have to have more than one because each one has it's own strengths and weaknesses.
My first tube amp was a SET tube amp that had 2 watts/channel. It didn't get loud enough when I had a few beers and wanted my personal rock concert. Bought a McIntosh MC2205 and Klipsch Cornwalls to take care of that.
Ten amplifiers later- some homebuilt, most purchased homemade- I'm back to a homemade SET amp that's basically a 5 watt clone of my first tube amp. I'm back to listening to music.
The homebuilt and refurbished amps are my favorites. They may not sound like what you think a great amp should sound like, but it's my sound that I repaired/refurbished. Solid state and tube. Better than hanging out in a bar and paying $7 for a bottle of beer and listening to someone else's crappy sound system.
ODNF
Hi Tjj226 and all,
In fact, the key differentiator of Luxman L-590AX is its Only Distortion Negative Feedback (ODNF) arrangement. Attached is a simplified schematic - the "error signal detection" circuit is at the bottom left.
Inspired by L-590, I have designed my version of ODNF amplifier - Simpelstark. You can see the schematic and the board layout HERE (I have also attached a few pictures here).
The pictures of my build are HERE.
The current version of the design is V1.3, the boards and kits are available if you go down the link in my signature. Some more details, including the measurement results, are also there.
You will definitely like the way it sounds. Its harmonics profile is pretty similar to the tube one but lower in absolute values. It's also very low-noise, particularly suitable for low-volume listening. Incredibly natural sound of the voices and acoustic instruments with lots of micro-nuances.
My build is in Moscow right now, however, I will most likely exhibit it at the High-End Show in Munich (May 2019).
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Valery
Hi Tjj226 and all,
In fact, the key differentiator of Luxman L-590AX is its Only Distortion Negative Feedback (ODNF) arrangement. Attached is a simplified schematic - the "error signal detection" circuit is at the bottom left.
Inspired by L-590, I have designed my version of ODNF amplifier - Simpelstark. You can see the schematic and the board layout HERE (I have also attached a few pictures here).
The pictures of my build are HERE.
The current version of the design is V1.3, the boards and kits are available if you go down the link in my signature. Some more details, including the measurement results, are also there.
You will definitely like the way it sounds. Its harmonics profile is pretty similar to the tube one but lower in absolute values. It's also very low-noise, particularly suitable for low-volume listening. Incredibly natural sound of the voices and acoustic instruments with lots of micro-nuances.
My build is in Moscow right now, however, I will most likely exhibit it at the High-End Show in Munich (May 2019).
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Valery
Attachments
Come on guys. Why all the negative comments? Its clear from the opening post that Tjj would like to build an amp inspired by luxman solid state. I guess you dont know any but just have comment, telling him he should build a tubeamp or buy a Luxman. Maybe he knows he can geet luxman sound if he buys one. I can fully understand why he wants Luxman sound. I heard only l430 and have wished for the same sound ever since. If he could get help building luxman like circuit it wpuld be great for him and many others
I should have been more careful with my wording. 5 watts per channel is a design minimum...not a target
Here is one monster one I have been working on.
That looks quite a mess, to be honest. Other side I hope looks better. Any other tube amps, you have too many, so show us more.
Luxman L-590AX test, review
[Polish] LUXMAN L-590AX - Wzmacniacze stereo | Testy w Audio.com.pl
to English: Google Translate
[Polish] LUXMAN L-590AX - Wzmacniacze stereo | Testy w Audio.com.pl
to English: Google Translate
- Rated power (1% THD + N, 1 kHz) [W] 8 Ω, 2x 79
- Rated power (1% THD + N, 1 kHz) [W] 4 Ω, 2x 148
- Sensitivity (for maximum power) [V] 1x 0.16
- Signal-to-noise ratio (A-weighted filter, with reference to 1W) [dB] 88
- Dynamics [dB] 106
- Damping factor (in relation to 4 Ω) 74
- Status
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