I have done quite a bit of searching on here and cant find what I am looking for and would appreciate some help.
I have a pair of 1983 Klipsch Cornwall speakers rated at 99 dB SP (I believe) and what I would like to do is a low budget DIY build of a SET amp between 2-10 watts. I can build the base, and use a schematic with some help. I would prefer point to point wiring but would consider using a PC board for this build.
I have moderate soldering skills (I have built a pair of speakers including the crossovers and a small SS amp).
I am aware of the high voltage of these amps and will look for some pointers from y'all in regards to that.
I listen to mainly Rock N Roll, Pink Floyd, Robin Trower, Iron Maiden, Grand Funk, and an occasionally classical music as well.
My listening room is about 15 ' X 15', wooden floor with furniture.
I have a pair of 1983 Klipsch Cornwall speakers rated at 99 dB SP (I believe) and what I would like to do is a low budget DIY build of a SET amp between 2-10 watts. I can build the base, and use a schematic with some help. I would prefer point to point wiring but would consider using a PC board for this build.
I have moderate soldering skills (I have built a pair of speakers including the crossovers and a small SS amp).
I am aware of the high voltage of these amps and will look for some pointers from y'all in regards to that.
I listen to mainly Rock N Roll, Pink Floyd, Robin Trower, Iron Maiden, Grand Funk, and an occasionally classical music as well.
My listening room is about 15 ' X 15', wooden floor with furniture.
Check out George Anderson's tubelab.com for quite popular SE & SET amps and he has a forum on this site.
Tubelab | Dedicated to advancing the state of the art in affordable high end audio.
Tubelab | Dedicated to advancing the state of the art in affordable high end audio.
I'll try to post the build I did for the 6BM8 soon (referred to by Eli above). I can also post a low cost Trioded 12AB5 amp as well.
I recommend going for a little more power than the 6BM8, having built it along with others.
6L6 or greater dissipation with UL, or possibly plate to grid feedback would better suited for your listening preference with the Cornwall's. ( I almost bought a set in 1978, but settled for Hersey instead because I couldn't imagine the Cornwall's in a trailer in college.)
6L6 or greater dissipation with UL, or possibly plate to grid feedback would better suited for your listening preference with the Cornwall's. ( I almost bought a set in 1978, but settled for Hersey instead because I couldn't imagine the Cornwall's in a trailer in college.)
i built one of georges tubelab SSE - very easy to build and to mod to suit your budget and skill level.
also it is easy to add choke/extra PS cap later on if thats what you want.
id say going with the PCB design probably gives it a higher chance of it all working and being safe for first time tube amp builders. obviously still lots of risk but it is minimised a great deal.
as for sound, im running my tube lab SSE with KT88s in triode mode into Klipsch KLF-10s and love it
good luck
also it is easy to add choke/extra PS cap later on if thats what you want.
id say going with the PCB design probably gives it a higher chance of it all working and being safe for first time tube amp builders. obviously still lots of risk but it is minimised a great deal.
as for sound, im running my tube lab SSE with KT88s in triode mode into Klipsch KLF-10s and love it
good luck
The Tubelab SSE with 6L6GC and the EDCOR GXSE15-8-5K would make a nice UL single ended amp which should drive those Klipsch speakers well.
See the SSE here:
Tubes and Applications | Tubelab
See the SSE here:
Tubes and Applications | Tubelab
A budget needs an amount attached to it. So, in order to make reccommendations you should tell us the amount of money you would like to spend. Do you have any parts already in hand? What about tubes do you have any tube that may be used in the amplifier?
Thanks for the replies everyone. I like the sound and options of the Tubelab SSE, but am concerned with some of the post on here regarding the parts list etc. and it being incorrect. I have also started looking up the parts from the list on the website and a few are obsolete? Can anyone who has done a recent build comment on this and post a link to the last and most up to date parts list?
DAK808, my initial budget will be between 2-3 hundred. Then modding it further down the line as I get used to it and have the money to play. I can make my own base and save some money that way.
DAK808, my initial budget will be between 2-3 hundred. Then modding it further down the line as I get used to it and have the money to play. I can make my own base and save some money that way.
As I understand it the parts list has been corrected on the site. The tubelab SSE is a great project and there is great support from the DIY tubelab forum.
good luck
good luck
I think for $300 you could potentially build a 2A3 amp, which would be my strongest recommendation.
It would be easy enough to upgrade the amp later if more budget was available.
It would be easy enough to upgrade the amp later if more budget was available.
Even at $300 you will be 'stretched' if you have nothing in your 'junk bin', IMO.
Just paying shipping charges if you end up using several suppliers will cost a fair bit.
Check George anderson's (Tubelab) ideas on building cheaply - he has some good ideas on transformers and components.
Finding an old stereo tube console at the dump or 'Free' on CList would be a good start at a simple amp.
I don't think you will fit a 2A3 amp into a '$300 max for everything' budget....but you might manage it.
At least $100 + shipping for transformers for any SE amp, so you want to try relatively cheap tubes, IMO.
www.thetubestore.com - 2A3 Tube Types
I built Thomas Mayer's 6GE5 amp a while ago. The Lundahl output transformers are a little over $200 if I recall correctly. Tubes are dirt cheap.
VinylSavor: 6GE5 Stereo Amplifier, Part 1 : Circuit
VinylSavor: 6GE5 Stereo Amplifier, Part 1 : Circuit
Danconway327,
As promised, here is the implementation of a 6BM8 amp that Eli, me and some others worked on. It sounds pretty good, very easy to listen to. Loud enough to fill a room pleasantly (it doesn't crank to party levels).
And inexpensive, to boot.
Jeff
As promised, here is the implementation of a 6BM8 amp that Eli, me and some others worked on. It sounds pretty good, very easy to listen to. Loud enough to fill a room pleasantly (it doesn't crank to party levels).
And inexpensive, to boot.
Jeff
Attachments
Danconway327,
Here is the 12AB5 amp I mentioned earlier. Eli intended this to be a cheap SE84 knockoff. It sounds very detailed and the trioded 12AB5s produce good bass and treble. This one is capable of higher volumes than the 6BM8.
Note: The amp schematic says "Draft" but it is the final build I implemented.
Here is the 12AB5 amp I mentioned earlier. Eli intended this to be a cheap SE84 knockoff. It sounds very detailed and the trioded 12AB5s produce good bass and treble. This one is capable of higher volumes than the 6BM8.
Note: The amp schematic says "Draft" but it is the final build I implemented.
Attachments
The remarks about the base cost of magnetics and the cost to ship them are spot on.
The 6BM8 amp takes a pair of $29.84 Edcor GXSE10-5K O/P transformers. The B+ supply uses a $16.37 Triad N-68X isolation transformer energizing a SS diode "full wave" voltage doubler arrangement. Include a filament trafo and (possibly) a B+ filter choke, to round the package out, and magnetics base costs are remarkably low. 😉
A build of the 6BM8 amp will not exceed budget. 😀 Less than $300 is a realistic expectation.
The 6BM8 amp takes a pair of $29.84 Edcor GXSE10-5K O/P transformers. The B+ supply uses a $16.37 Triad N-68X isolation transformer energizing a SS diode "full wave" voltage doubler arrangement. Include a filament trafo and (possibly) a B+ filter choke, to round the package out, and magnetics base costs are remarkably low. 😉
A build of the 6BM8 amp will not exceed budget. 😀 Less than $300 is a realistic expectation.
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Thanks for those schematics, Jeff.
Is that a knockoff or the Decware Zen SE84,or just a generic SE EL84?
Where were the savings mostly? (iron, tubes, caps, etc...)
Thanks.
Those tubes seem kinda pricey, maybe they or the 300b could be an upgrade down the road
Thanks Dan
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