Bumped into this thread today:
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/sse-as-single-stage-power-amp.222253/
I also have an aikido line stage I built using 12sn7s and have been thinking about an SSE build for a while.
I'm presuming it would be OK to just leave the driver stage unpopulated if I wanted to wire the inputs direct to the grid stopper? Between the driver tube and coupling caps, that's a nice bit of cost savings. Is this a safe presumption?
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/sse-as-single-stage-power-amp.222253/
I also have an aikido line stage I built using 12sn7s and have been thinking about an SSE build for a while.
I'm presuming it would be OK to just leave the driver stage unpopulated if I wanted to wire the inputs direct to the grid stopper? Between the driver tube and coupling caps, that's a nice bit of cost savings. Is this a safe presumption?
There is no reason why you can't do this. Be sure to populate R15 and R25 as well as the stoppers to prevent a floating grid if anything gets disconnected. Be sure that your driver has no DC on its output. I don't know if an Aikido has enough output to push a KT88 or similar to clipping, but there is no harm in trying.
I have been known to lift the plate end of the coupling caps, yank the 12AT7 and drive the board from an external source, usually a guitar preamp with a PI for making a P-P SSE.
I have been known to lift the plate end of the coupling caps, yank the 12AT7 and drive the board from an external source, usually a guitar preamp with a PI for making a P-P SSE.