• 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.

2A3 Amplifier with interstage Tango NC-15

Hello to everybody, I came across with couple of Tango NC-15 input trans, so I am thinking to use them for an 300A or 2A3 amplifier, I find a schematic but I don't know if is a good idea, please advise

Thank you
Acky
 

Attachments

  • Screen Shot 2025-02-23 at 3.38.39 PM.png
    Screen Shot 2025-02-23 at 3.38.39 PM.png
    50.6 KB · Views: 253
  • IMG_0247.jpg
    IMG_0247.jpg
    476.9 KB · Views: 225
The specs of the NC-15 of DC current, primary impedance, and inductance are the key factors that will determine if paralleling the 6SN7 triodes will work better or not.
If you parallel, I recommend using separate self bias resistors and bypass caps.

The article Parallel Tubes Effects in Glass Audio, Volume 12, Number 5 2000 addresses the reason for individual self bias, or use a 6SN7 that has extremely well matched triodes.

Example for a transformer that is rated at 12 mA.
Using a 6SN7 at 10 ma is fine. but paralleling the triodes and running each one at 5mA will raise the plate resistance, rp. look at the plate curves to see if that is true, a lower slope indicates higher plate resistance, rp. There is not always a gain by paralleling, it depends.

I try to be slightly conservative in the DC current, example output transformer: I use 60mA on a 65mA transformer.

I try to teach the concept.
Someone might want to use a 12AT7 and an NC-20, the answers are different, might work with parallel triodes. The high transconductance of the 12AT7 requires individual self bias RC for the cathodes.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: artosalo