Hey group, first time post and relative newbie. Looking to do first large build modernizing a antique console that has been gutted.
Looking For totally open ended build ideas. The only real plan I have in place currently is use of an Arylic WiFi/BT module as source.
So I’d like the consul to be mono, loud and clean, simple DSP would be nice. As far as inputs and outputs I need to have a separate headphone amp and outs. RCA inns and outs, optical in and coax out.
I don’t know much about tube amps other than I’ve heard a couple lately, one of them an a early 50s Motorola three channel console and it was incredible. If possible to go the tube route it would be preferred. I’m attaching a picture of the consul as it stands currently (sexy shot yeah? I’m a photographer so this is the “before”)
Please ask questions if I haven’t given enough information or just feel free to think out loud with what you might do to it, thanks so much guys!

Looking For totally open ended build ideas. The only real plan I have in place currently is use of an Arylic WiFi/BT module as source.
So I’d like the consul to be mono, loud and clean, simple DSP would be nice. As far as inputs and outputs I need to have a separate headphone amp and outs. RCA inns and outs, optical in and coax out.
I don’t know much about tube amps other than I’ve heard a couple lately, one of them an a early 50s Motorola three channel console and it was incredible. If possible to go the tube route it would be preferred. I’m attaching a picture of the consul as it stands currently (sexy shot yeah? I’m a photographer so this is the “before”)
Please ask questions if I haven’t given enough information or just feel free to think out loud with what you might do to it, thanks so much guys!

I've just noticed your first time post of a couple of days ago.
Your console is aesthetically pleasing and I can see why you want to utilise it.
However, it would be a big ask for anyone to design a solution which satisfies your comprehensive requirements. Perhaps some baby steps first?
At least I've given your thread a nudge. Good luck with the project!
Your console is aesthetically pleasing and I can see why you want to utilise it.
However, it would be a big ask for anyone to design a solution which satisfies your comprehensive requirements. Perhaps some baby steps first?
At least I've given your thread a nudge. Good luck with the project!
Don't complicate things unnecessarily by going to mono. The close grouping and low height will sound like mono anyway. I would prefer some top end coming from a higher position.
Try a couple of Peerless TC9FD18 on a large baffle? Or try two pairs, a la NOLA Brio Trio!
Vifa TC9FD18-08, 3.5" Full Range
Try a couple of Peerless TC9FD18 on a large baffle? Or try two pairs, a la NOLA Brio Trio!
Vifa TC9FD18-08, 3.5" Full Range
I've been getting decent mid-fi sound out of Visaton BG17-8 6.5" Full-Range Speaker with Whizzer Cone 8 Ohm in a 7"x7"x12" box with a 1" port in the back to give some bass reflex action. This is a 40 W driver I bought from parts-express.
Visiton also makes an 8" version of the whizzer cone speaker if you have room.
For less power handling, I've been salvaging 6.5" whizzer cone speakers from projection TV's sitting out on the curb for the garbage. 13W rating out of the toshiba. Running on a 140 w/ch amp, haven't blown them up yet by keeping volume down. Okay sound for TV.
Since the sound would be mono anyway, I've picked up used working Peavey MMA-875 and MMA-81502 mono mixer amps for $70 each delivered off ebay. These are especially cheap because they are mono, and have weird inputs like balanced screw terminals or 3 pin mike jacks. The 2 suffix has a fan, the one without the 2 cool by sitting up on legs. Since my mma-875 is mounted sitting sideways in the back of an organ I put a fan on it externally, wired parallel to the power transformer. I can play AM/FM radio or the organ itself through the organ speaker without fiddling with an input switch. Just turn on the organ or radio power switch.
There are other PA mono mixer amps going for even more cheap on auction sites. .2% hd is fine for using with speakers.
The original organ amp was a pnp/pnp output 15 W job with germanium voltage regulators and input transistors that kept blowing up. Had a noisy refrigerator fan for cooling, too. Hilarious. Came with a cute white box of dead germanium transistors from the builder, shober.
Visiton also makes an 8" version of the whizzer cone speaker if you have room.
For less power handling, I've been salvaging 6.5" whizzer cone speakers from projection TV's sitting out on the curb for the garbage. 13W rating out of the toshiba. Running on a 140 w/ch amp, haven't blown them up yet by keeping volume down. Okay sound for TV.
Since the sound would be mono anyway, I've picked up used working Peavey MMA-875 and MMA-81502 mono mixer amps for $70 each delivered off ebay. These are especially cheap because they are mono, and have weird inputs like balanced screw terminals or 3 pin mike jacks. The 2 suffix has a fan, the one without the 2 cool by sitting up on legs. Since my mma-875 is mounted sitting sideways in the back of an organ I put a fan on it externally, wired parallel to the power transformer. I can play AM/FM radio or the organ itself through the organ speaker without fiddling with an input switch. Just turn on the organ or radio power switch.
There are other PA mono mixer amps going for even more cheap on auction sites. .2% hd is fine for using with speakers.
The original organ amp was a pnp/pnp output 15 W job with germanium voltage regulators and input transistors that kept blowing up. Had a noisy refrigerator fan for cooling, too. Hilarious. Came with a cute white box of dead germanium transistors from the builder, shober.
Last edited:
How big is the console, and is it closed or open back (like a lot used to be).
If you can fit a 12" in it, and inside there is at least 75L place or open back, a Fane 12-250TC can do the job, and goes very loud on a few watt (98dB/2.83V/1m). The driver is 80€ in europe (and something similar in the rest of the world) and does sound very good as low power fullrange driver (altough it's mainly build to be used as high power midtop driver in combination with a woofer).
If you can fit a 12" in it, and inside there is at least 75L place or open back, a Fane 12-250TC can do the job, and goes very loud on a few watt (98dB/2.83V/1m). The driver is 80€ in europe (and something similar in the rest of the world) and does sound very good as low power fullrange driver (altough it's mainly build to be used as high power midtop driver in combination with a woofer).