I have to start out by saying that I currently have a 26 line stage and are pretty happy with it. I remember a long time ago I tried a 10 and liked it but could not deal with the hum. Something about a thoriated tungsten filament that appealed to me. So now looking for my next fix. Thinking 01a or even a 101d (not thoriated). May even go back to the 10? I don't need a lot of gain. Anyone try either of these?
Some years ago I regularly use #26 preamp (filament biased, CCS loaded, parafeed output to S&B TVC) and very satisfied with it....but IMHO TT (thoriated tungsten) filament is the another world. I'm in love it. 🙂
I tried #01 (UX201). It has wonderful tone, but (for me) driving capacity (I use TVC) is problematic (see Ale's site Slew Rate (Part 2) | Bartola Valves ).
I continuously use 841, 10/10Y/VT-25, 801/801a/VT-62 tubes in my VAS, CF and output stages with excellent results.
The topology is usually simple, but no free lunch. Separated (filament transformer, raw DC PSU and -I use Rod Coleman' type- regulator) filaments, optionally filament bias, significant - 20-30mA -anode currents, silent HT PSU(s), large heatsinks etc.
My humble rule: every 1 kg amplifier needs 10kg PSU. 🙂
I'm on the finishing state of 801 (or 10 and variants) preamplifier.
Filament biased (Rod Coleman V7 regulator), gyrator loaded (Ale's design), capacitor (V-Cap CuTF) coupled. The volume control is one TKD potmeter in the input.
The PSUs is in the other box: two raw filament supplies, one common HT (300-320V, cLCLC).
I will try it with graphite anode 801 tubes.
I tried #01 (UX201). It has wonderful tone, but (for me) driving capacity (I use TVC) is problematic (see Ale's site Slew Rate (Part 2) | Bartola Valves ).
I continuously use 841, 10/10Y/VT-25, 801/801a/VT-62 tubes in my VAS, CF and output stages with excellent results.
The topology is usually simple, but no free lunch. Separated (filament transformer, raw DC PSU and -I use Rod Coleman' type- regulator) filaments, optionally filament bias, significant - 20-30mA -anode currents, silent HT PSU(s), large heatsinks etc.
My humble rule: every 1 kg amplifier needs 10kg PSU. 🙂
I'm on the finishing state of 801 (or 10 and variants) preamplifier.
Filament biased (Rod Coleman V7 regulator), gyrator loaded (Ale's design), capacitor (V-Cap CuTF) coupled. The volume control is one TKD potmeter in the input.
The PSUs is in the other box: two raw filament supplies, one common HT (300-320V, cLCLC).
I will try it with graphite anode 801 tubes.
I built my 10 linestage after I saw an article in Sound Practices issue 16 (a log time ago). DC heater. 4:1 transformer coupled. Although I could never get all the hum out of it, it really did sing. I may have to revisit that now, with Coleman reg and FET CCS.
I also recommend 112A - with outputtransformer - very detailed, clean and sweet sound - see 112A Triodes and Hashimoto Transformer Tube Preammplifier Schematic
I had no problems with hum from my "simple" PSU but the amp needs the cage to shield the tubes.
I had no problems with hum from my "simple" PSU but the amp needs the cage to shield the tubes.
10Y, 4P1L, 112a, 30sp, 26 etc are all great options but for me best tone is 01a. You can add an output follower to ensure you can drive more demanding loads. Sound isn't degraded in my experience. Good luck
Ale
Ale
Anybody tried a maxed out 3A5 DHT linestage? Due to its rather low filament current, it would be a very good candiadate for filament bias. With the two halves in parallel the internal resistance is approx 4k, and Mu is 16 if I remember correctly.
Can anyone comment on the 101d? I heard a set of FM WE101d in the output stage of a DAC and found it interesting.
I agree with Ale about the tonality of the 01A. And thanks to Rod you can built now DHTamps/preamps hum free, but most important with no sound degradation. Also thanks to Ale, one can built them at lower cost and great sound using his gen2 gyrator.
I recently built a switchable preamp between 01A and 26. Little mod and 10Y can be used too. The trick is to find the operating point that have the same Ua and switch the Rk and R sense of Coleman.
I recently built a switchable preamp between 01A and 26. Little mod and 10Y can be used too. The trick is to find the operating point that have the same Ua and switch the Rk and R sense of Coleman.
Hi vega65,
Very nice Tribute iron. Must be Finemet core...
Guys,
Has anyone here tried a line stage with 45's? Maybe even a line stage / headphone amp.. The reason I asked is I've got some spares I maybe can use if it can at least sound as good as a 26..
Regards
Very nice Tribute iron. Must be Finemet core...
Guys,
Has anyone here tried a line stage with 45's? Maybe even a line stage / headphone amp.. The reason I asked is I've got some spares I maybe can use if it can at least sound as good as a 26..
Regards
Ale and I have set up various listening tests to compare 4P1L, 26 and 01A line stages. we've both built several examples of all three.
Ale is quite right - if you want to build a damn near perfect line stage, it's his 01A Gen 2 design. He has some PCBs and I wouldn't hesitate to contact him and start the build. It's the current state of the art.
http://www.bartola.co.uk/valves/dht-pre-amplifier/01a-preamp-gen2/
Hi Radu,
Do you like it? 🙂
01-26 switchable preamp.jpg
I'm afraid it's a bit more than "little mod". 😛Abszero said:
I use my 10/801 preamp with 320-340V B+ (between 260-270V and 25-30mA operating points) and 8R bias resistor.
It's another animal than "low voltage/low current" preamps as 01a or 26.
Attachments
I do like that I can switch between two wonderful sounding tubes.
Regarding the mods for 10Y: I was thinking more of a lower operating point something like 180V, 15mA, -7V. Then need a little twitch to the Rsense, keep Rk at 7ish ohms and replace 2SK170 with J310. I never tried 10Y as a preamp, so I am not sure that the operating point that I proposed is a good one. Looks good on the paper though.
Cheers,
Radu
Regarding the mods for 10Y: I was thinking more of a lower operating point something like 180V, 15mA, -7V. Then need a little twitch to the Rsense, keep Rk at 7ish ohms and replace 2SK170 with J310. I never tried 10Y as a preamp, so I am not sure that the operating point that I proposed is a good one. Looks good on the paper though.
Cheers,
Radu
I also use in my 801 preamp J310 (and 1kV depletion MOSFET) in Ale's gyrator.
I prefer higher (25-30mA) anode current.
The tone -IMHO- "smoothens" about 25mA (I mainly use graphite anode 801s with moderate -7..8W- dissipation). The "steel" plate tubes (10, 10Y, 801 a etc.) "requires" higher anode current (in my 841-10Y-801a PSE amplifier I use this tubes at 30mA).
In this region -if the tube is in good working condition- the 3th distortion spectrum line is decreasing a little (according to my measurements), second is dominated (at line levels), so overall tone is become cleaner.
It's my experience, in my system, appropriate for my taste, so strongly subjective. 😛
I prefer higher (25-30mA) anode current.
The tone -IMHO- "smoothens" about 25mA (I mainly use graphite anode 801s with moderate -7..8W- dissipation). The "steel" plate tubes (10, 10Y, 801 a etc.) "requires" higher anode current (in my 841-10Y-801a PSE amplifier I use this tubes at 30mA).
In this region -if the tube is in good working condition- the 3th distortion spectrum line is decreasing a little (according to my measurements), second is dominated (at line levels), so overall tone is become cleaner.
It's my experience, in my system, appropriate for my taste, so strongly subjective. 😛
Nice information, euro21, thanks! Got a schematic to share? I assume it's somewhat like the 26 schematic you posted above, but with different operating points, etc.?
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Thanks Euro21,
I am about to start building a 10Y preamp so I will compare few operating points.
I am about to start building a 10Y preamp so I will compare few operating points.
Right.
I'm a lazy man, so rarely make changes in proven solutions. 🙂
It's a bit oldest schematic (only for simulations). In the reality the B+ and the anode current is a bit higher, so operating point is about 260V/30mA.
I will start soon separated topic as "10/801 preamplifier", where updated schematics -preamp, HT, LT supply etc. and pictures about the constructions) will be shown.
