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Joined 2009
Paid Member
I've spent years learning about transistors, Spice simulations, pcbs layout, how to drill holes in a chassis, prepare a BOM and order parts. I've measured and tweaked and listened. I've a room full of stuff now, wires, parts, equipment, tools. I've read the books, the magazines and opened up my brain to the internet.
But today, I'm just listening to a single tube, a small little cheap pentode, a few cheap bits of iron and related parts. Connected up to just a single full range driver in a big box (Audio Nirvana 15). That's it.
It sounds amazing - a pity I had to go through so much exploration and work to discover that this is enough. I'm sure that if I had made this my first project I would have headed off in search for the next one. Well I have other projects to finish - since I've started them I will see them through.
My advice - get yourself one little pentode and a big paper cone.
But today, I'm just listening to a single tube, a small little cheap pentode, a few cheap bits of iron and related parts. Connected up to just a single full range driver in a big box (Audio Nirvana 15). That's it.
It sounds amazing - a pity I had to go through so much exploration and work to discover that this is enough. I'm sure that if I had made this my first project I would have headed off in search for the next one. Well I have other projects to finish - since I've started them I will see them through.
My advice - get yourself one little pentode and a big paper cone.
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May be I will but not before I qualify for a free hearing aid.
Until then I stick to active multiways driven by a few hundred clean transistor watts.
Until then I stick to active multiways driven by a few hundred clean transistor watts.
Now that your search for audio nirvana is complete, maybe you can take up a new hobby.
Here is one possibility
And here is another
Third idea here
Of course there are thousands more. Many of them are taught as introductory courses in community education centers; pick up a catalog and take a look.
Here is one possibility
And here is another
Third idea here
Of course there are thousands more. Many of them are taught as introductory courses in community education centers; pick up a catalog and take a look.
That feeling will wear off shortly I suspect, you might just end up changing direction as I did nearly 20 yrs ago when I discovered SE amplification.
I completely agree with you, this reviewer too:
Audio Refinement The Complete integrated amplifier | Stereophile.com
'You have to spend a lot of money only to discover that you didn't have to spend a lot of money'
Perhaps this can serve as inspiration for the next step. The single-ended triodes and full-ranges in open baffle are absolutely glorious:
http://www.classicaudio.ru/articles/esmilla.pdf
I are in audio from 40 years, I listen and try almost all type of stuff, from very cheap to extremely expensive, with the cost of some of the systems that I listen can be buy two houses.
My conclusions, for if serve to somebody, are: as source vinyl, always vinyl, perhaps in the future the digital audio can match, but not yet.
Amplification: valves, the solid state cannot equal the highs of the SET, no the dinamics of no-feedback SET.
Speakers: no box speakers, electrostatics, dinamics, so on, but without box, the box is a great problem. With box perhaps the more close is the BBC type speakers.
I have amplifiers as Deltec, that are used as references in magazines as HiFi Choice; the measures are almost perfects, but my absolutely best sound amp be a no-feedback SET Audio Innovations (now Audio Note), the measures are of a defect amp, 2% distortion to 5W and 5% distortion to the maximun 7,5W, but the sound much, much better than the Deltec.
One other of the best, best, best listening that I remenber: Pink Triangle PT-TOO with battery supply, SME V, I think that a Glodring as cartridge, but perhaps a Micro Benz, dont remember correctly; Pink Triangle PIP also with battery supply, a impressive Lectron JH-50 from Jean Hiraga (I love EL34 until then) and a pair of LS3/5a. Simply one of the best sounds in this 40 years. As can be see: vinyl, valves and no-box (or almost) speakers.
Audio Refinement The Complete integrated amplifier | Stereophile.com
'You have to spend a lot of money only to discover that you didn't have to spend a lot of money'
Perhaps this can serve as inspiration for the next step. The single-ended triodes and full-ranges in open baffle are absolutely glorious:
http://www.classicaudio.ru/articles/esmilla.pdf
I are in audio from 40 years, I listen and try almost all type of stuff, from very cheap to extremely expensive, with the cost of some of the systems that I listen can be buy two houses.
My conclusions, for if serve to somebody, are: as source vinyl, always vinyl, perhaps in the future the digital audio can match, but not yet.
Amplification: valves, the solid state cannot equal the highs of the SET, no the dinamics of no-feedback SET.
Speakers: no box speakers, electrostatics, dinamics, so on, but without box, the box is a great problem. With box perhaps the more close is the BBC type speakers.
I have amplifiers as Deltec, that are used as references in magazines as HiFi Choice; the measures are almost perfects, but my absolutely best sound amp be a no-feedback SET Audio Innovations (now Audio Note), the measures are of a defect amp, 2% distortion to 5W and 5% distortion to the maximun 7,5W, but the sound much, much better than the Deltec.
One other of the best, best, best listening that I remenber: Pink Triangle PT-TOO with battery supply, SME V, I think that a Glodring as cartridge, but perhaps a Micro Benz, dont remember correctly; Pink Triangle PIP also with battery supply, a impressive Lectron JH-50 from Jean Hiraga (I love EL34 until then) and a pair of LS3/5a. Simply one of the best sounds in this 40 years. As can be see: vinyl, valves and no-box (or almost) speakers.
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Impressive, back then.
A couple of decades later, one meets up with Guido Tent's Centi-Are SET and a JH-50 is very old news.
Whether you make it out alive, or not, either way you'll get what you asked for.
Win-Win, good choice.
Win-Win, good choice.
My advice - get yourself one little pentode and a big paper cone.
Would you mind giving its circuit diagram ?
🙂
Member
Joined 2009
Paid Member
here's the amplifier with the simple, single pentode:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/tubes-valves/280167-yukon-gold-spud-amp.html
here's the big paper cone:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/full-range/217893-bigun-audio-nirvana-super-15-a.html
fyi - I am in the process of building a 2A3 amplifier, the spud amp was just a bit of fun, but it was a pleasant surprise.
that's just what I'm talking about
cats vs cucumbers ! - Classic 🙂
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I would not go back to PP,
I used to use PP and PPP in quite a few amps in the past.
I could never get the level of detail for some reason even with 200W amps.
So I like SE..😀
Regards
M. Gregg
I used to use PP and PPP in quite a few amps in the past.
I could never get the level of detail for some reason even with 200W amps.
So I like SE..😀
Regards
M. Gregg
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