Hi all. I have started purchasing the bits required to build a set of powerful full range active speakers using a mono IRS2092 board. I would like to implement a tube pre stage on each speaker for tube flavour as well as extra gain (will use the gain for amping instruments in a different active speaker)
Would like to run a tube preamp type stage before the input of this board so that the audio signal coming to the active speaker picks up tube flavour and not sure whether to fit a stereo preamp board with channel one feeding into channel two via a pot or to instead build a mono channel from a tube headphone amp and use the output from the output transformer to feed the class D board input. I am not sure which approach would best for tube flavouring and would appreciate some help with this
I can see some attractive preamp options using 6N3/5670 and 6N8P tubes as well as 6P1
Need help starting out with which tube approach please
Thanks and regards
Randy
Would like to run a tube preamp type stage before the input of this board so that the audio signal coming to the active speaker picks up tube flavour and not sure whether to fit a stereo preamp board with channel one feeding into channel two via a pot or to instead build a mono channel from a tube headphone amp and use the output from the output transformer to feed the class D board input. I am not sure which approach would best for tube flavouring and would appreciate some help with this
I can see some attractive preamp options using 6N3/5670 and 6N8P tubes as well as 6P1
Need help starting out with which tube approach please
Thanks and regards
Randy
Before you worry about your gain stage, think carefully about your overall topology and your buffer.
For topology think stages (e.g. volume control --> gain stage --> buffer) and their order. You can move things around just so long as your buffer is after your gain stage. Each option has advantages and disadvantages.
For the buffer, it needs low output impedance, high input impedance, and needs to be able to handle the input voltage swing coming out of your gain stage. Some of these things will depend on your topology.
Also think about how much gain you want and why. Most class-D amps have a fairly high input sensitivity so your problem may be too much gain rather than too little.
All of this comes before looking at tubes.
For topology think stages (e.g. volume control --> gain stage --> buffer) and their order. You can move things around just so long as your buffer is after your gain stage. Each option has advantages and disadvantages.
For the buffer, it needs low output impedance, high input impedance, and needs to be able to handle the input voltage swing coming out of your gain stage. Some of these things will depend on your topology.
Also think about how much gain you want and why. Most class-D amps have a fairly high input sensitivity so your problem may be too much gain rather than too little.
All of this comes before looking at tubes.
HT Decoder
In my setup, I will select front speakers as large and route sub information to them and disable the .1 sub output
Topology at active speaker
I have ordered this decoder as it had comprehensive digital inputs and good reviews. This will be feeding the input of each IRS2092 board
At active speaker input: 6.5mm TR mono socket - tube preamp channel 1 - tube effect gain knob - tube preamp channel 2 - equaliser with high or low pass filter - main volume knob - Class D amp input
or
At active speaker input: 6.5mm TR mono socket - equaliser with high or low pass filter - tube headphone mono channel - Class D amp input
Topology at source
Laptop USB/HDMI/SPIDF - Decoder front left and front right channel - Yamaha MG12UX mixer - main/sub filter - active speakers
Gain
I love the over driven tube effected sound in my music
I would like to use the same pre tubes and schematic and be able to mod to enough gain for a bass guitar or mic in a different project. This helps me streamline the power supply components and pre parts to a smaller and less confounding parts list
Buffer
I am embarrassed to say that I currently do not understand the buffer part, could you please explain in simple terms what the buffer is and does?
Thanks and regards
Randy
In my setup, I will select front speakers as large and route sub information to them and disable the .1 sub output
Topology at active speaker
I have ordered this decoder as it had comprehensive digital inputs and good reviews. This will be feeding the input of each IRS2092 board
At active speaker input: 6.5mm TR mono socket - tube preamp channel 1 - tube effect gain knob - tube preamp channel 2 - equaliser with high or low pass filter - main volume knob - Class D amp input
or
At active speaker input: 6.5mm TR mono socket - equaliser with high or low pass filter - tube headphone mono channel - Class D amp input
Topology at source
Laptop USB/HDMI/SPIDF - Decoder front left and front right channel - Yamaha MG12UX mixer - main/sub filter - active speakers
Gain
I love the over driven tube effected sound in my music
I would like to use the same pre tubes and schematic and be able to mod to enough gain for a bass guitar or mic in a different project. This helps me streamline the power supply components and pre parts to a smaller and less confounding parts list
Buffer
I am embarrassed to say that I currently do not understand the buffer part, could you please explain in simple terms what the buffer is and does?
Thanks and regards
Randy
6N8P shortlisted board
I want to order this board, hoping it will do what I am after. Can I feed one channel into the other via a pot? The PSU option with this board makes it very simple and attractive
Thanks and regards
Randy
I want to order this board, hoping it will do what I am after. Can I feed one channel into the other via a pot? The PSU option with this board makes it very simple and attractive
Thanks and regards
Randy
Keep the main routing as you wrote, then conned a "tube overdrive" with unity overall gain to the mixer and blend it to the original sound.
This way you connect the bass and mike directly to the mixer (that is supposed to amplify) and you can have each channel with its own "tube overdriven wet" amount already set.
I'd suggest to move this topic to instrument amplification subforum.
Thank you for the suggestion. I originally wanted to connect that tube effect board to the mixers FX loop, but I would really like the active speaker to have its own voice. This is for 5 active speakers for HT and general music and they would double up as house PA on karaoke and jam nights around once a week
I just want to stick to the same 'colour' preamp/power supply in an amp head that I am working on too. A case of learning 'one' design as well as I can instead of all over the shop as I am currently with when it comes to the variety of available tubes, transformers and stuff
The reason I suggested that is because a mike for karaoke, a bass instrument amplifier and an hi-fi have very different needs in terms of amplification.
On top of that, you'll need no extra gain with that configuration, and what you'll do is just add some noise.
But, if you really want to try it, give that preamp a try and then attenuate the output.
On top of that, you'll need no extra gain with that configuration, and what you'll do is just add some noise.
But, if you really want to try it, give that preamp a try and then attenuate the output.
Do you know where I can find more about that preamp, not many details posted regarding gain ability and such in the item description. I would love to find out if that psu daughter board is available separately so I can make the pre part point to point
From this thread I have learnt quite a bit. I know what types of items to research now
Anyway, my process so far has been a jumble of ideas and thots. I am clearer now on the results that I am after and the approach to take. Let's scrap all the above, I'll try to organise my approach again
Thanks to all for contributing, and I hope I can look towards you folks for future interaction
Randy
Anyway, my process so far has been a jumble of ideas and thots. I am clearer now on the results that I am after and the approach to take. Let's scrap all the above, I'll try to organise my approach again
Thanks to all for contributing, and I hope I can look towards you folks for future interaction
Randy