Hi all. I am really happy as I am starting my first (real) diy project. Been trying to make a el84 pp tube amp but failed from my lack of know-how in the world of electronics. Didn't have the money for a nice kit and time and ... anyway... I just got a good pair of Fostex FE206E, very good shape, and I am looking for a matching discrete amp, somewhere in the 40-70W per channel range with very good sound quality that matches the sensitive speakers. As well I am looking for a good functional speaker box to build. Is the one recommended by Fostex any good compared with the more advanced designs out there? I must say that my listening room is about 4x10 meters with a 2.5 meters height. I am looking for an amp kit, or pcb only and a good list of parts as I will source them in time. My soldering skills are decent to say at best 🙂 So any info on amp and speaker box is welcome. I would not incline towards a chip amp, at least not yet, maybe later. Thank you in advance
The 206e has a light cone, a lot of motor, and a very low Q. To me, it implies a horn loaded enclosure, though I think the Fostex factory enclosures are typically not highly recommended. Maybe try looking through Planet 10's "spawn" plans, and see if any of them look within your woodworking capabilities.
I'd encourage you not to give up on the EL84 amp. Look to the Dynaco Stereo 35 schematics for inspiration. Consider replacing the awkward 12DW7 (7247) tube with half a 12AX7 and half a 12AU7. Suitable transformers can be purchased for well under $200, at least in the US. If you can afford a pair of 206e, a Stereo 35 clone should be within your reach.
edit: I just looked through Planet 10's site, and the only suitable box I found for the 206e was Sachiko. Somehow I thought there were more. Anyway, Sachiko is quite a formidable piece of cabinetry. However, if you are up to it I doubt you will be disappointed with the results.
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Thank you for the reply
I will eventually build a tube amp, but I'd do it now only with a kit. Something like the ones here:
http://www.enovaz.it/categorie-1453/Kit-Valvolari-Hi-Fi.aspx
Eventually with a chassis as well included in the kit. Dangerous voltages there, and had about 5-6 shocks while working on my initial project, 300V is not very motivational 😀 so I prefer to leave tubes for later on.
First I'd build some chassis tinkering experience with safe voltages.
Would something like this work?
Lm60 - Lateral Mosfet Power Amplifier Kit by AmpsLab
Seems like a good project, even better if I could source the parts myself. I am waiting on your experience on the quality of these diy kits, I searched the forum for a couple of days but I see many examples and different opinions so I am asking for my current speaker/room size setup, an easy diy kit with easy obtainable quality and not so expensive parts. Power range 50-70W or so. Not more
I will eventually build a tube amp, but I'd do it now only with a kit. Something like the ones here:
http://www.enovaz.it/categorie-1453/Kit-Valvolari-Hi-Fi.aspx
Eventually with a chassis as well included in the kit. Dangerous voltages there, and had about 5-6 shocks while working on my initial project, 300V is not very motivational 😀 so I prefer to leave tubes for later on.
First I'd build some chassis tinkering experience with safe voltages.
Would something like this work?
Lm60 - Lateral Mosfet Power Amplifier Kit by AmpsLab
Seems like a good project, even better if I could source the parts myself. I am waiting on your experience on the quality of these diy kits, I searched the forum for a couple of days but I see many examples and different opinions so I am asking for my current speaker/room size setup, an easy diy kit with easy obtainable quality and not so expensive parts. Power range 50-70W or so. Not more
40-70 watts is WAY more power than needed. The most synergetic amps tend to be single-ended, and run 2-10W for tubes or SS.
dave
dave
To keep cab net Vb reasonable, this driver 'wants' a very high output impedance tube amp [preferably in the form of a variable DF bass tone control] to allow an Fs tuning with a cab net Vb around 38 L. Otherwise it takes a significant amount of EQ which eats up efficiency if not corner loaded.
GM
GM
Can you recommend a kit for that? At least an obtainable pcb with a complete part list? I lost interest in my first project as I had to struggle to get the schematic right, let alone begin to build it. Did a lot of tries and utterly abandoned it.
About the box, I really like the Dallas 2 design, seems to fit perfectly in my room. I can do that box, especially if it doesn't require rounded wood. Can anyone tell me if the attached plans has the notations in cm or inches? In inches seems to be way too large.
Hi, in my opinion EL84 tube is too much " forward " sounding - especially in combination with raw driver such as FE206E. I think only good box for this speaker is good big horn to gain as much as possible low-end to balance rest of the freq. spectrum properly.
FE206E is not a good match with bass-reflex box ( VERY thin sounding in 45L. BR box ) - maybe a bit better with MLTL...
On other hand, a 6V6, 6L6 or even ECL86 tube in triode mode will do a better job being softer sounding than EL84.
Max
FE206E is not a good match with bass-reflex box ( VERY thin sounding in 45L. BR box ) - maybe a bit better with MLTL...
On other hand, a 6V6, 6L6 or even ECL86 tube in triode mode will do a better job being softer sounding than EL84.
Max
thx, but still looking for a solid state. I will consider this after I build what I'm looking for right now.
Probably because your EL84 amp is PP and relatively low Z. Actually, the FE206E works quite well in a 45L BR. But, as GM said, it requires series resistance and a lot of BSC. As long as efficiency is not an issue, this works.
Bob
Hi,
The Dallas plans are metric, similar to : http://www.humblehomemadehifi.com/download/Humble Homemade Hifi_Solo-206_copy.pdf
rgds, sreten.
The Dallas plans are metric, similar to : http://www.humblehomemadehifi.com/download/Humble Homemade Hifi_Solo-206_copy.pdf
rgds, sreten.
For the 206E, maybe these enclosures?
The Metronome
I have a pair of metronomes and they do sound very nice combined with a RH84 tube amp (EL84 SE amp).
If you want to pursue a SS amp.. the PassDIY F5 is a good project to start with. Fairly simple circuit with lots of power to spare if you need to place a BSC for your Fostex. The advantage of the amp, NO CAPACITORS at all in the signal path. Boards are readily available (Cviller or peter daniel).
The Metronome
I have a pair of metronomes and they do sound very nice combined with a RH84 tube amp (EL84 SE amp).
If you want to pursue a SS amp.. the PassDIY F5 is a good project to start with. Fairly simple circuit with lots of power to spare if you need to place a BSC for your Fostex. The advantage of the amp, NO CAPACITORS at all in the signal path. Boards are readily available (Cviller or peter daniel).
>>> I'd encourage you not to give up on the EL84 amp.
I wish i never sold my Cary SLI-30
http://www.hometheatershack.com/for...lp-30-separate-lpp-1-phono-stage-dsc_0146.jpg
I wish i never sold my Cary SLI-30
http://www.hometheatershack.com/for...lp-30-separate-lpp-1-phono-stage-dsc_0146.jpg
Sorry, no, I lost interest in tube based systems back in '69. Back then, we would get such systems out of old mono radios, consoles since they were scrapped by the thousands as folks embraced stereo and/or early SS systems to drive their 'little' sealed AS 'boomboxes'. Anyway, there's enough tube centric forums around with kind of 'up to the minute' knowledge.
It has to be in 'cm' as you can put the number of folks on this forum on the 'head of a pin' that would tolerate the size of a low tuned '50s era BLH, so this design is more of a mid-bass horn, ergo will require a separate sub system if you want to reproduce all of the music recorded on some CDs. Should be adequate for most music, especially on FM, vinyl/cassette tape though.
GM
Hmm, 40 W doesn't go very far when needing a high output impedance to 'pump up' the lows. No experience with any of 1st Watt's products, but it seems like the F2J was designed specifically to satisfy both the desire for SE and sufficient built in BSC to come closest to what passed for high power SET 'FR' systems of days gone by.
GM
I am not giving it up, I really want a tube amp, just I don't want to start with it now, I will do it after SS amp 🙂 I will put much thought into it, searching and saving for good output transformers etc... So I figured I'd go for a couple of hundred max on an SS amp without ps and radiators or case.
As for the box, Dallas II seems to squeeze without separate sw. I will look into the presented designs and I will make my mind up soon regarding the box. All it's left is finding the right amp.
I have a pair of Fostex 206e's in Vulcan horns which I drive with Audio Note Conquest monoblocks, they sound fantastic. Recently I built a pair of mk1 Frugal-Horns which I gave to my nephew along with a T-amp USB dac as a birthday present, I was amazed at the sound quality, even more so when I hooked up the T-amp to my Vulcans. The moral of the story is, I'd either have beautifull valve amps or go the other end of the scale and use a T-amp which everyone should have anyway, just because they're so cheap and not far behind any SS amp out there.
Yes I am considering a T-amp as well, good to have around anyway 🙂 But I'm in for some good ol' DIY for weeks at a time 🙂 so just buying something doesn't quite do for me. Need to see something made by me, drill holes and stuff 😀
to make the F5 I see that there is a PCB kit on the forum store:
P-F5-2V20e - Pair of F-5 boards (Makes 2 channels; Rev 2.0)
Is there a PS pcb kit as well?
P-F5-2V20e - Pair of F-5 boards (Makes 2 channels; Rev 2.0)
Is there a PS pcb kit as well?
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