I'm a DIY guy that'll build an amp for someone who can't do it themselves... I've sold two such amps...
Nice 🙂 I've yet to build an SE amp. I did build a PP 6AS7 amp, but I didn't like it all that much. I mainly stick to triode connected sweep tubes these days, but I'll build line and phono amps, too. It'd be an interesting test to see if some of these designs will withstand a hot summer day with no A/C 🙂 Inside the chassis is usually around 75c with a 23c room temp.
No business card rules apply? 🙂
Man, that is a lot of work to build a tube amp, at least you do not have to drill/tap out heatsinks, as with a SS amp.
Cheers
Man, that is a lot of work to build a tube amp, at least you do not have to drill/tap out heatsinks, as with a SS amp.
Cheers
Member
Joined 2009
Paid Member
I run a pair of tube monoblocs all summer long. They each have 4 6C33C power tubes. Even my DAC has 4 tubes.
My listening room is in the basement and my wife usually has AC cranked so low that the room is like a meat locker. The dissipated heat keeps me from freezing to death.
My listening room is in the basement and my wife usually has AC cranked so low that the room is like a meat locker. The dissipated heat keeps me from freezing to death.
Funny you say this but it's true. When the A/C is making 70db of noise, I switch to a Yorkville AP1200. Even my preamp/line amp/DAC/bluetooth/relay volume takes 70W from the wall 🙂 The monoblocs both use about 250W at idle LOL
I live in a 380 sqft apartment on the 24th floor and if I turn off everything in the summer and try without A/C, it will reach 50c in here LOL I have 17000 BTU just to keep it under 27c in here.
Bigun - theres a pair of 100db/1watt/4ohm bastardized set of 4 way 1970’s JBL studio monitors which just about anything can drive. Chris’s tube amp last meet sounded pretty nice on them.
We might have the first public showing of Bob Cordell's new DH 200C rebuild of the Hafler DH 200 if testing goes well
We might have the first public showing of Bob Cordell's new DH 200C rebuild of the Hafler DH 200 if testing goes well
Last edited:
Quantity 16 6550 in the monoblocs plus an additional 10 signal tubes between pre amp and phono stage
Adult beverages help to keep from becoming dehydrated
Adult beverages help to keep from becoming dehydrated
I’ve been there, the real thing that overheats and glows is DDzStereo after the third scotch
Last edited:
WE barely even glow after 3, more like warming up. But it is time to turn off the TT and move to CDs
For our next meeting (June 22 BBQ?), I'd really like a tube versus SS shootout. Shouldn't be hard to get both amps quite precisely flat (which you have to do with A-B blind tests) and identical amp gain. And to drive speakers that don't care too much about damping factor.
And we'll keep score who can tell A from B (even without needing to know which is which or which is better) or if there's group ability to tell 'em apart or sound quality consensus.
Anybody able to wire a silent switch?
Ben
And we'll keep score who can tell A from B (even without needing to know which is which or which is better) or if there's group ability to tell 'em apart or sound quality consensus.
Anybody able to wire a silent switch?
Ben
Shoot out? Comparing what? Power outputs will be different, and levels would need a precision attenuation device, oscillator and meter setup. Then you also have chip amplifiers and class "D". The harmonics from the class "D" amp could cause reading errors. Not to mention differences between amplifiers of the same technology.
We already do an informal "shoot out" if you will.
Anyway, that's just my thoughts on the matter.
-Chris
We already do an informal "shoot out" if you will.
Anyway, that's just my thoughts on the matter.
-Chris
Whatever did you have for dinner? Seems to have caused bad indigestion and a case of advanced brain fog.
B.
Ben
Feel free to organize the test if your so inclined,
Me? I’ll be enjoying an adult beverage and a shish kabob. New Lightning Hopkins hi def download will have my attention. .
Feel free to organize the test if your so inclined,
Me? I’ll be enjoying an adult beverage and a shish kabob. New Lightning Hopkins hi def download will have my attention. .
Hi Ben,
When I think about testing, it reminds me at the optician, testing for glasses, is more focused with "1 or "2" lens, it seems to me you have to switch back and forth a few times for your brain to register.
One time I was stoned for the eye test/glasses, we went round and round, she got pissed at me when I gave her a different answer from before 🙂 "adult beverage and a shish kabob" might have the same effect, we can use Dave as the test subject, one drink, two drinks ...
I would think that the best would be to have two sets of identical speakers, so you are only switching the sources and not the speakers, but that would be a lab setting.
If you are testing using one set of speakers, best to be controlled by the person do the test, during the music being played at a constant volume, dpdt(2xspdt) power relay with remote switch is one idea. need to make a test jig. 4 sets of connectors, relay/ power supply etc.
Sounds like a fun thing to do, I have never really participated in a ABX type test for audio.
When I think about testing, it reminds me at the optician, testing for glasses, is more focused with "1 or "2" lens, it seems to me you have to switch back and forth a few times for your brain to register.
One time I was stoned for the eye test/glasses, we went round and round, she got pissed at me when I gave her a different answer from before 🙂 "adult beverage and a shish kabob" might have the same effect, we can use Dave as the test subject, one drink, two drinks ...
I would think that the best would be to have two sets of identical speakers, so you are only switching the sources and not the speakers, but that would be a lab setting.
If you are testing using one set of speakers, best to be controlled by the person do the test, during the music being played at a constant volume, dpdt(2xspdt) power relay with remote switch is one idea. need to make a test jig. 4 sets of connectors, relay/ power supply etc.
Sounds a lot more enjoyable to me than critical comparative listening😛
May be I'll bring some digital music files along. Dave, does your player handle DSD files (mostly 64)?
Regards,
tube vs ss
As interesting as it could be to experience the possible nuances of really good tube vs solid state, I don't think this is the venue.
You need a really quite room with good acoustics. And expect people to all be quiet and focused on and interested in that experience. Its not easy to have a meaningful test of the most subtle low level audio info IMHO.
I think we are here to chat, exchange ideas and comradery. And have a beverage, some food and listen to some tunes.
As interesting as it could be to experience the possible nuances of really good tube vs solid state, I don't think this is the venue.
You need a really quite room with good acoustics. And expect people to all be quiet and focused on and interested in that experience. Its not easy to have a meaningful test of the most subtle low level audio info IMHO.
I think we are here to chat, exchange ideas and comradery. And have a beverage, some food and listen to some tunes.