• 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.

Driver for 810 SE

You don't want a coupling cap sitting there trying to charge and discharge as the grid current wanders around.

Now that you've run into the issue of oscillations (which will be worse when you have a reactive load connected to the amp), you can do some research on alternate methods of applying feedback. IMO, you have two primary choices:

1. Use a feedback resistor from the 810 plate to the plate of the first stage (what I do).
2. Use a feedback resistor from the 810 plate to the cathode of the first stage (also valid).

At this stage in the game, you ought to also start factoring in output impedance. I wouldn't want an output impedance on the 8 ohm tap that's any higher than about 2.5 ohms, but to some degree this is also a personal choice.
 
The oscillation is a problem. Even with no GNFB it oscillates with no source attached. I wonder if I need to lower the value of the first grid leak resistor? Normally there would be a 100K pot there instead.

I'll try your two approaches to feedback. I'd like to calculate the value of the resistor. Do I use the same approach as for GNFB? I measured the open loop gain with the OPT as being 144. I assume the gain at the plate of the 810 would be 144*SQRT(5000/8) = 3,600. That would mean -15dB of NFB would require a 370K resistor. Does that seem right to you? I will also need to make sure the phase is right. I think it is. The 5687 and 12HG7 stages invert, then the EL34 CF does not, and the 810 does. So that means the 810 plate is inverted wrt the 5687 plate. That sounds right. I guess I'll find out if not. What would I do if it wasn't the correct phase?
 
For feedback, start with the damping factor you want, then work backwards. Your grid leak resistor has nothing to do with your oscillation.

A 580V drop across a resistor calls for a high voltage resistor.. 9W of dissipation calls for a 3W resistor. Vishay PR03 resistors will work for this.
 
I tried the plate to plate feedback. The phase was wrong - got positive feedback. I moved it to the plate of the 12HG7 and it definitely made a difference though not as good as the GNFB. I didn't use a high voltage resistor since I don't have any. Oscillation still there with source not present.

My output impedance is 1.5 Ohms measured (with GNFB) - so not too bad.

I want to resolve the oscillation problem since it shouldn't be there. Not sure where to look next.
 
Here's the schematic again.


826517d1584743281-driver-810-se-810-el34-12hg7-5687-png
 
the auditorium have guest rooms in a manoir,beautyfull panorama and the finest withe wine
in France near Switzerland and Italy
i can offer you and your wife 3 days nights,
 

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Did you design the circuit? Did you measure its performance?
yes but i lost the final dossier, starting point;
anyway the 304TL its home and i'm building two GM70 monoblock with 1638SEA@1KV 100mA
in few days i can check with 1642SE if you want, i have two spare new
 

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