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GMI-6 / GMI-6-1

GMI-6 amp

This was posted by Vikt0r as a single end stereo amp.🙂
 

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When looking at the size of GMI-6 I would say that 15 W / tube ( 7,5 W/ anode) is quite gentle dissipation for such tube.

Anyhow, I built a PP-prototype with GMI-6-1 a couple years ago.
It is easy to get 25...28 W with this tube.

Below is the schematic I used:

An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.


Technical details:

Transformer Edcor CXPP50-MS-6.6k (6k6 to 8), Ub = 400 V, Ug2 = 250 V, Ia(q) = 35 mA,
Pout(max) = 28 W, THD = 1,1 % (no GNBF), Zout = 50 ohms (no GNFB)
 
Thanks all for the input.

I'd like to try something like this, do you see errors on the schematic ? because of common shared cathode, 1 ohm resistor on each plate and all grids #1 individually biased, to avoid red plating.

I don't need a lot of power as speakers are quite sensitive (97dB), 10W most class A preferably - should be plentiful.

What I already have:

- input phase splitter transformer
- 4200/8 PP OPT
- tubes..

These little GMI-6 are really cool looking 🙂
 

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4200/8 OPT is just fine if you only need 10 W.

Why class A ?
Class A does not automatically mean "better sound" or better linearity.
With class AB1 and given voltages/current the distortion is smaller (with GMI-1).
In general class A is stressing tubes more than AB1 because of higher quiescent power.
Also the efficiency is worse in class A.
 
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Why class A ? I tought it is better, but it seems to be a little bit more complicated..

Anyway, I also have less sensitive speakers, why not try AB.

Other option, input pentode LTP, is it going to work like this ? GMI-6 / GU-29 seems to be easy to drive (30-40Vpp).

Suggestions welcome.

Thanks.
 

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artosalo,

The way you got that single dual beam power tube to put out 25 to 28 Watts, is the fact that it is push pull. Nice!
That illustrates a very good application of that tube.

But the original poster wants single ended dual channels from a single dual beam power tube. Lots different.

The same single dual beam power tube when used as two single ended amplifier channels will not put out 25W/2 = 12.5W per channel, and not 25 Watts total, unless you like red-plating that tube, and listening to it for a few minutes until the glass melts, or the screen shorts to another element.
 
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emk2,

I did not even notice the Schade negative feedback in your schematics until now.
That could be pretty sweet.

I seem to remember Gary Pimm doing something like that over 2 decades ago with old type 47 tubes.

One thing to think about the schematic that has the input splitter transformer.
The most important part in that circuit is not even the output transformer (which is usually the case).
The most important part in that circuit is the Input splitter transformer.
The quality and performance of that part is paramount.
Then, after that, the output transformer quality and performance comes next.

I like the idea of using an LTP phase splitter.

I build phase splitter/drivers that use a current sink in the connected cathodes of that stage. That is just my preference.
Using a resistor there requires the resistor to be returned to a very large voltage.
Even with that, the balance is not perfect. Instead a current sink with an order of magnitude higher impedance (required to be across the audio band), will have a more perfect balance of the two outputs from the phase splitter.