Current line stage employs one 5842 RF triode p/c > Magnequest "DS 050/600” OPT w/5K primary/600R secondary, three secondary outputs provide various gain/impedance.
I loved my preamp till a friend let me borrow his $6k commercial preamp with two each 12AU7 and 6SN7 (no output trans.) Conversely my 5842 outperformed a commercial 300B line stage and ditto another 6SN7 line stage. British Icon's LA5 TX employs one 6SN7 p/c > proprietary output trans.
I respectfully request schematics for the highest performing tube line stages, including circuits suitable for the above described output transformers.
Tx!
I loved my preamp till a friend let me borrow his $6k commercial preamp with two each 12AU7 and 6SN7 (no output trans.) Conversely my 5842 outperformed a commercial 300B line stage and ditto another 6SN7 line stage. British Icon's LA5 TX employs one 6SN7 p/c > proprietary output trans.
I respectfully request schematics for the highest performing tube line stages, including circuits suitable for the above described output transformers.
Tx!
Last edited:
"Outperformed"?
A meaningless term outside your specific system and taste. If you mean that objectively, then it's easy, just use the cheapest opamp circuit 🙂
Coming back to your pre i certainly have some thoughts, biased as they may be.
5842 is a line stage? Why on earth? Microphonic, not so musical, excessive gain, hard to match a good pair. And really, why amplify a lot and then use a transformer with a large step down ratio? How would that be better than using a low mu triode and a step down 2:1 - 4:1?
Have you reached this recipe through experimentation or following someone's advice?
You are in the extremely lucky position of someone who actually knows how to improve their sound, as you seem to really like your friends pre. Why don't you just clone it instead of starting a new, unknown project based on internet advice? Few things are easier than cloning a tube preamp. The vast majority are based on textbook circuits anyway.
A meaningless term outside your specific system and taste. If you mean that objectively, then it's easy, just use the cheapest opamp circuit 🙂
Coming back to your pre i certainly have some thoughts, biased as they may be.
5842 is a line stage? Why on earth? Microphonic, not so musical, excessive gain, hard to match a good pair. And really, why amplify a lot and then use a transformer with a large step down ratio? How would that be better than using a low mu triode and a step down 2:1 - 4:1?
Have you reached this recipe through experimentation or following someone's advice?
You are in the extremely lucky position of someone who actually knows how to improve their sound, as you seem to really like your friends pre. Why don't you just clone it instead of starting a new, unknown project based on internet advice? Few things are easier than cloning a tube preamp. The vast majority are based on textbook circuits anyway.