I am looking for a tube int-amp kit, 8+ watts/ch, for my bedroom system.
The WAF is huge so it must look nice and have sweet sound. A few options I'm looking at are:
Elekit TU-879
World-designs WDKEL84
Any other good options?
I'm afraid that a DIY project is not what I need.
Thanks,
Rob
The WAF is huge so it must look nice and have sweet sound. A few options I'm looking at are:
Elekit TU-879
World-designs WDKEL84
Any other good options?
I'm afraid that a DIY project is not what I need.
Thanks,
Rob
How about the DIY Tube ST-35 clone? You can get a full kit for $499: Complete DIYTube Dynaco ST35 Tube Amplifier Kit Great Amp for iPod
Excellent iron, stainless chassis, proven circuit. If you get bored, you can always pull the ST-35 PCB out and use the chassis and iron for something more esoteric.
DIY HiFi Supply has pretty stuff for more $$:
Amplifier Kits | Diy HiFi Supply
If you have efficient speakers and only a small space, you might be able to get by with fewer watts. Then the Bottlehead S.E.X., upcoming Stereomour, and the Decware stuff become possibilities.
I think the difficult thing about 8+ watt kits is that there are so many nice commercial Chinese amps available for less money than a comparable kit would cost. You can get a used Onix SP3 for $500. It may not sound quite as good as some lower power amps (IMO) or more expensive scratch builds, but you'd be hard pressed to build anything that pretty for anywhere near the price. There too, if you get bored, you can always pull out the stock PCB and go for broke.
Paul
Wild Burro Audio Labs - DIY Full Range Speakers
Excellent iron, stainless chassis, proven circuit. If you get bored, you can always pull the ST-35 PCB out and use the chassis and iron for something more esoteric.
DIY HiFi Supply has pretty stuff for more $$:
Amplifier Kits | Diy HiFi Supply
If you have efficient speakers and only a small space, you might be able to get by with fewer watts. Then the Bottlehead S.E.X., upcoming Stereomour, and the Decware stuff become possibilities.
I think the difficult thing about 8+ watt kits is that there are so many nice commercial Chinese amps available for less money than a comparable kit would cost. You can get a used Onix SP3 for $500. It may not sound quite as good as some lower power amps (IMO) or more expensive scratch builds, but you'd be hard pressed to build anything that pretty for anywhere near the price. There too, if you get bored, you can always pull out the stock PCB and go for broke.
Paul
Wild Burro Audio Labs - DIY Full Range Speakers
To my mind, most kits always end up looking like kits.
I recommend looking for Chinese amps (as Paul mentioned), and doing some tidying of the details. Here's one that will probably feature on EBay as well:
MENG "X3 EL34" Integrated Amplifier - EL34 Tube Amp @ on9mart.com
Totally ignore the power claim for this. They have obviously cut-and-pasted specs from their other amps and haven't corrected them. It's likely to be around 8-10 watts/channel. I have a Meng Mini 6P1 (actual output 6W/ch) and after some tinkering, it sounds quite nice. The only thing you may NEED to do to Chinese amps is to add a chassis ground wire for safety.
Gary
I recommend looking for Chinese amps (as Paul mentioned), and doing some tidying of the details. Here's one that will probably feature on EBay as well:
MENG "X3 EL34" Integrated Amplifier - EL34 Tube Amp @ on9mart.com
Totally ignore the power claim for this. They have obviously cut-and-pasted specs from their other amps and haven't corrected them. It's likely to be around 8-10 watts/channel. I have a Meng Mini 6P1 (actual output 6W/ch) and after some tinkering, it sounds quite nice. The only thing you may NEED to do to Chinese amps is to add a chassis ground wire for safety.
Gary
The nice thing about this suggestion is that if you decide you want to experiment later, you can transfer the iron (the most expensive part of the amp) over to either a Baby Huey or Red Light District project, which both seem to be popular here.
I call those pre-built kits. Just screaming out for some attention, but usually at least passable performance out of the box.
dave
I really want to tear into my friends Onix/Melody SP3. It sounds good, but I know it wouldn't take much to take it to a whole new level. The only problem is that there isn't room for much of a power supply. An ST-70 style choke might not even fit.
Baby Huey, Red Light, or the El Cheapo could all be built from the basis of the ST-35 kit. Nice as the stainless chassis is, it doesn't compare to some of the Chinese amps (unless the stark vintage look appeals to you). Unlike the Chinese amps though, the iron is proven and known to be excellent. I'm sure some Sino amps have excellent transformers, but I would assume that some also have miserable iron (even if it looks fine).
Definitely different trade offs.
Paul
Wild Burro Audio Labs - DIY Full Range Speakers
Baby Huey, Red Light, or the El Cheapo could all be built from the basis of the ST-35 kit. Nice as the stainless chassis is, it doesn't compare to some of the Chinese amps (unless the stark vintage look appeals to you). Unlike the Chinese amps though, the iron is proven and known to be excellent. I'm sure some Sino amps have excellent transformers, but I would assume that some also have miserable iron (even if it looks fine).
Definitely different trade offs.
Paul
Wild Burro Audio Labs - DIY Full Range Speakers
most of the claim to use Z11 ( japanes ) material which is not bad. in fact i have measured some of them in different price ranges. surprisingly also some cheap performed well: in frequency response and leakage inductance. this ofcourse will change certainly somehow, when connected to the plate. others performed badly, that hard NFB must be applied.
when tested for high voltage, some failed at 800VRMS prim / sec already or prim to core
when tested for high voltage, some failed at 800VRMS prim / sec already or prim to core
How does the the ST-35 sound? It looks pretty basic but the sound is what's important.
The Meng looks cool.
Rob
The Meng looks cool.
Rob
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