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How would you drive an EL509 in enhanced triode mode.

Something like this:
 

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Aikido is great in a preamp, but in a power amp the noise is not your main concern. Here you need current. A mu follower with a pentode as follower can give you the current you need if you choose the appropriate tubes. Using a cathode follower is ok but then also use pentodes or 2 triodes in parallel. The problem with triodes is that they deliver less current with lower voltages (dynamics). Pentodes can still deliver even when the voltage drops, that’s why they do a better job as followers then triodes.

Imagine... the voltage on the grid of the follower goes up, so does the cathode (hence follower) but the power supply voltage doesn’t, so less voltage for the follower and therefore less current! But the screen grid voltage of the output tube also increases and more current will flow (but it’s not available) and here you have it....
 
I've seen the late Tim's 859. And he uses a cathode follower. I'm not sure he would do it the same if he were to design it today.

For the historical record, he originally thought of using solid state for the driver etc, the 509s would have been the only tubes in the amplifier. I found that idea upsetting a the time, and I think he made the right choice, although I am sure the performance of the design could be "improved" with a little bit of ss.
 
Improvement can be made with tubes ... if it could be improved .
For now all I can see is the desire for improvement without somebody actually doing some measurements , calculations . Sticking a transistor is not necesary improvement . Like this all drivers for tubes could be made from silicon 😀
 
For now all I can see is the desire for improvement without somebody actually doing some measurements , calculations .
You can blame me for a vague question. I gathered that driving an EL509 in enhanced triode mode needed more attention than driving say an EL84. Hence my question...but ofcourse also interested in the advances made in mosfets..since Tim designed his amp.

Plus asking how would YOU do it.

In essence I just wanted some food for thought. And as usual I'll build something the way I think is best...and listen....tweak...listen...ask questions...etc.
 
Then be my guest and start measuring, then you know first hand how to improve it. If you then found that 8.34mA is required, would you know what tube to use? I guess not. Tubes specifications are never exact and even between brands differ. Therefore use tubes that you know can deliver. Many cases the tubes needed you have lying arround or are not expensive at all. Only if you insist of using unobtainable tubes.
I have build amps using 18 tubes because i could improve linearity and it cost me nothing at all.
 

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Hi Bas,

Any further development in your effort to build the UBT-1 “enhanced mode” EL509 amp?

As Bas mentioned elsewhere in this thread, the UBT-1 fact sheet has the following:
“A 13 watt amplifier has been successfully built using a 6KG6/EL509 running 270 volts on the plate, running at 150 ma, in “enhanced-triode” mode”.

My question - has anyone seen this build and could you provide the schematic?
 
I recall using 12B4A as cathode followers in the first version of my G2-driven PL519 SE amp fifteen years ago. Worked fine as far as I can remember, but the next version used Mosfet followers. 6E5P should be an excellent choice due to it´s high gm, I´ve used it sucessfully to push some smallish output tubes into class A2.
 
Bas, looking real good! But do you know what you are building yet? 😀

You mentioned B+ adequate to put 270 Vdc between cathode and plates, and UBT-1 with 1.6k primary. What are the other operating point and drive parameters?

I’m eagerly waiting for your to show the way 😉