• WARNING: Tube/Valve amplifiers use potentially LETHAL HIGH VOLTAGES.
    Building, troubleshooting and testing of these amplifiers should only be
    performed by someone who is thoroughly familiar with
    the safety precautions around high voltages.

Recommended inexpensive tube amp to build?

iron for our EL84 SE monobloks.
This is the only case where it's interesting, I have a few and some telefunken as well, but apart from that, from my point of view, there's not even a photo.
Most of the "high-end" chassis that I have here are all phenolic PCBs, complex schematics, difficult keyboards, the rest is interesting (PT, OPT and sometimes speakers) Normende is no exception to the rule.
The only one that is really acceptable in PP is the Grundig NF2 and the Ribet Desjardin Allegro in SE is really nice but it has nothing to do with US console amps or even certain jukebox amps.
I had 100,000 times more fun with my spaghetti dishes and my AMI-Rowe multiple output opts than on any European console.
@ hooman
Me yes and in any other thing capable of receiving everything it takes to make an amp, it's fun and it's a form of challenge.
I assembled a nice Class D in an SMPS welding station body, I assembled a PC in a wooden wine case because why not.
As soon as the amp deserves something more noble, I offer it a real box and the implementation that goes with it.
Tastes and colors ...
 
I ragher liked this one, ELL80 SE, the second tube is a rectifier:

ell80-spud-side.JPG


He is lookinhg for an entry levekl oroject to keep his feet wet.

dave
 
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I'd just buy a Dynaco or similar, but they're out of the budget for this application. I have a few transformers and a pile of vac tubes plus some other parts, but it seems to me by the time I buy a chassis and the missing filler parts, I'll easily be at what a decent Chinese amp kit costs. There's a Class AB push pull amp there on Ebay for $219 complete with everything, ready to solder together. Just seems like it's the way to go in the interests of time sourcing/scrounging all the parts. Any thoughts on this as a good home music amp?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/133481896420
I don't see the point in building a substandard tube amp. Better use some existing transistor amp and save money to build a good tubeamp later. A cheap or bad tubeamp is a waste of resources.
 
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Oops, lost an L, ELL80.

Twin pentode, no need for a gain stage with modern sources.

Why Peter? Practise. Like a loudspeaker first build, always a good idea to start will something modest.

Iron/soclers/tubes/cages all free.

Spud Ampchallenge?

dave
Practice and education is one thing. Build a cheap amp BUT DON't expect it to be world class.
Thus by all means, build something, preferably on a large chassies with space for changes. But when it comes
to sound reproduction of music, stays with current devices possibly intervened by testing the build.
 
Build a cheap amp BUT DON't expect it to be world class.

World beaters are rare — i would put our Class A PP EL84 triode amp based on HH Scott iron. That one cost $400-500 in parts. Not a whole lot of power thou.

These little amps can be very enjoyable and a lot of fun; this little (current) amplifier for instance. Cost of parts, likely less than $20,

5B_fr_size.jpg


https://www.t-linespeakers.org/tubes/SEP_50EH5.html

dave