Where do I begin..?
So I have a plan to build a 1KW PA system in the next few years. I have been apart of the rave scene in England for years, and also run my own events and I am determined to build my own valve sound system.
So obviously a number of questions arise..
Can I build a 1KW valve sound system?
Well I can but is it worth it? Is it worth having 80 EL84s with transformers the size of a house, or big valves with very high HT? Im not convinced.
There is a 'supposedly' 100KW valve sound system in the UK, which I believe only uses valves in the small signal stage. Now im not sure that this is what im looking for. Would you really notice the difference of sound quality with valves only at the input? Im also not convinced...
So in my eyes ive only got one route to go down, bi-amping. So my suggestion is to use a solid state amp for bass, lets say up to 600Hz, and then valves running the middle and top. Would say, 200W per channel be enough for a venue for 1000 people? Maybe.... maybe if im running horns?
Anyway, I guess thats it for the moment. If anyone has any ideas, or if any one can help I would be very grateful.
Cheers guys
Charlie
So I have a plan to build a 1KW PA system in the next few years. I have been apart of the rave scene in England for years, and also run my own events and I am determined to build my own valve sound system.
So obviously a number of questions arise..
Can I build a 1KW valve sound system?
Well I can but is it worth it? Is it worth having 80 EL84s with transformers the size of a house, or big valves with very high HT? Im not convinced.
There is a 'supposedly' 100KW valve sound system in the UK, which I believe only uses valves in the small signal stage. Now im not sure that this is what im looking for. Would you really notice the difference of sound quality with valves only at the input? Im also not convinced...
So in my eyes ive only got one route to go down, bi-amping. So my suggestion is to use a solid state amp for bass, lets say up to 600Hz, and then valves running the middle and top. Would say, 200W per channel be enough for a venue for 1000 people? Maybe.... maybe if im running horns?
Anyway, I guess thats it for the moment. If anyone has any ideas, or if any one can help I would be very grateful.
Cheers guys
Charlie
you need to look into larger transmitting tubes like the sv572. a pair can put out 200watts. for a 1k watt amp you'd need custom wound transformers but totally do-able. you're not likely to find a schematic for the amp you envision so you're going to have to pick your power tube, find the load lines and break out a slide ruler.
approach this idea with caution though. tweeters and compression drivers will ruthlessly show off any and all noise in an amplifier and a dedicated midrange driver will make a loud clicking noise if your power amp clips at all.
approach this idea with caution though. tweeters and compression drivers will ruthlessly show off any and all noise in an amplifier and a dedicated midrange driver will make a loud clicking noise if your power amp clips at all.
IMO, you're better off with 5 x 200 watters than one big 1KW unit for reliability and portability reasons.
Cheers!
Cheers!
1KW using 4 x 813 Transmitter tubes and a 2.5KV power supply.
Death in a glass bottle 🙂
Champ 1000 Watt Tube Amp
Death in a glass bottle 🙂
Champ 1000 Watt Tube Amp
Get a solid state amplifier to address that 1000 people... and get yourself a 8W or 1W tube amplifier for yourself to enjoy.
Thanks to all for your responses.
Do you mean 5 amps each dedicated to a certain frequency range?
Cheers
You mean that a 1000 watt solid state amp would not be enough of a challenge?
I'm seeing the trifecta: cheaper, more reliable and better.
😉
A 1000 watt solid state amp would be a great challenge, but when your on a mission for a 1000 watt valve amp....
Everything can (or has already been) done with tubes, but the question is: Would it be practical?
The amplifier project in which I'm working (independent single channel modules) plays up to 10KW peak of music into 2 ohms producing so little heat that a fan is barely required, and is not bigger or heavier than two times an ATX PC power supply. This is achieved with solid state class D and the latest generation of switching transistors.
It's easily transportable and wastes no electricity at all, and yes, I have tested it in raves where electricity supply is not usually good or abundant.
How much would something similar done with tubes weight? How much electricity would be wasted? Would a car be enough to move several amplifier channels from rave to rave? 😀
The amplifier project in which I'm working (independent single channel modules) plays up to 10KW peak of music into 2 ohms producing so little heat that a fan is barely required, and is not bigger or heavier than two times an ATX PC power supply. This is achieved with solid state class D and the latest generation of switching transistors.
It's easily transportable and wastes no electricity at all, and yes, I have tested it in raves where electricity supply is not usually good or abundant.
How much would something similar done with tubes weight? How much electricity would be wasted? Would a car be enough to move several amplifier channels from rave to rave? 😀
AM radio transmitters used to use plate modulation which meant the RF output included the modulation audio power. The audio amp had to be at least half the RF rating. Now for a 50,000 watt transmitter ..... Look up radio station WLW which was 500 KW. Now THAT's an audio amp that was done in the 1930s - before transistors.
G²
Very interesting points Eva, all of which i have thought about. My dream for the 1KW valve amp is really just for me. I would love to build it and use it at my events. Of course it wouldnt always be practical to take it everywhere with me. But in hired venues where I wouldnt be paying the electricity bills I think it would sound great...
Do it like they did in "the good old days" !!
1 100w Head and a bank of 100w slaves with a mountain of 4 x 12" full-stacks and bass bins.
Andy
.
1 100w Head and a bank of 100w slaves with a mountain of 4 x 12" full-stacks and bass bins.
Andy
.
Easier with SS. Several articles in 1980's Elektor magazine had these as projects.
11.20 What is amplifier "bridging" or "monoblocking"? How do I do it?
This site explains when tube amps are bridged. I've done it even though anticipated power is less than for SS.
Make sure that the correct impedance matching is done otherwise as article mentions, output stage will get hammered and current will rocket.
richy
11.20 What is amplifier "bridging" or "monoblocking"? How do I do it?
This site explains when tube amps are bridged. I've done it even though anticipated power is less than for SS.
Make sure that the correct impedance matching is done otherwise as article mentions, output stage will get hammered and current will rocket.
richy
More like one for each speaker... unless you have a single 1KW speaker... if you do, then you're better off with 1 x 200W amp and 5 speakers 🙂
No bong joke made yet? 😕
Cheers!
If you don't insist on getting the 1kW all in one go, 200W bricks would be doable. I was thinking of PPP screen driven sweep tubes, ~600V B+, and 3k primaries.
That was exactly where I was going to direct Charlie.
I'm not sure If I'd trust that much voltage near ravers (although I guess they manage to not destroy anything when there are wall sockets in abundance...)
Ignoring the expense and weight issues, the thing I would be wanting to know is, can you get a good enough power supply where you're going to power these? I would assume you would be wanting stereo for this, and that would be taking a whole lot of power, more than my GPO can supply at least (I don't think many rave locations have 3-phase handy?)
Just my 2c.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.