Turns out really simple to get a frequency response plot.
However, clearly I should have done this sooner, oops...
I spent some time trying to figure out what happened and not getting an answer. Maybe need to take a break and try again another day.
However, clearly I should have done this sooner, oops...
I spent some time trying to figure out what happened and not getting an answer. Maybe need to take a break and try again another day.
IIRC, Adriel said he is running XP. If so, and jc is Win 10 like most of us then...
He is back! Look at what trouble I have gotten into while you were gone. 😛
Windows 7. The XP machine was for Glassware and found LTSpice to be far easier and far more intuitive. Different strokes for different folks.
I realized there is two ways of going about increasing the voltage to the EF86, so started over and made a few changes, I think can live with this. 😛 Seriously, THD is way down, originally 6 percent.
Here is the EL84 without changing the bias, looks to be under the maximum. If not, please let me know.
Here is the EL84 without changing the bias, looks to be under the maximum. If not, please let me know.
Thank you! 😀
I didn't intend for them to be seen, rather, just showing the graphs. Don't mind others seeing, someone isn't going to make millions of the design change.😛 Instead, maybe others be as generous and have a look.
Hi Adriel,
We have come a long way in this thread. Could you summarise where we are now? Is your goal still to build something? If so what are the constraints on that build?
LtSpice is addictive, but it is also an excellent tool to induce 'analysis paralysis'. The plethora of options, and the idea that an improvement is just around the corner, can make it difficult to stop and pull the trigger on a solution.
There have been suggested to you lots of different solutions, probably too many, but they have all been offered as robust designs that are ideal to cut ones teeth on, and will give excellent results.
As you have discovered, everyone has an opinion and sometimes the number of possibilities of a solution expand rather than contract; I think you hoped for guidance, so a consolidated response, but that does not happen without specific questions.
You are clearly a gifted learner, it was impressive the way you have handled the multitude of options presented, and now you have a lot of new tools at your fingertips, Spice for one. It would be wonderful if you could set your sights on a straightforward build, perhaps a PCB and a breadboard so you do not get bogged down in chassis-fettling issues, and have that satisfaction of hearing music from something you built, and even better, that you understand. That is a launchpad for whatever project you really aspire to.
If you look at the breadboard approach, you will have to buy various bits of hardware that can be taken forward into future solutions. Decent OPTs, a power traffo, tubes - they can be carried forward into the next incarnation, and your sunk costs can be spread over many stages. (You could just lose the cost of a PCB and a few passive components, and maybe even recover that if you decide to sell it).
Hoping you are still on track, and wondering what are your priorities now.
Cheers, Richard
We have come a long way in this thread. Could you summarise where we are now? Is your goal still to build something? If so what are the constraints on that build?
LtSpice is addictive, but it is also an excellent tool to induce 'analysis paralysis'. The plethora of options, and the idea that an improvement is just around the corner, can make it difficult to stop and pull the trigger on a solution.
There have been suggested to you lots of different solutions, probably too many, but they have all been offered as robust designs that are ideal to cut ones teeth on, and will give excellent results.
As you have discovered, everyone has an opinion and sometimes the number of possibilities of a solution expand rather than contract; I think you hoped for guidance, so a consolidated response, but that does not happen without specific questions.
You are clearly a gifted learner, it was impressive the way you have handled the multitude of options presented, and now you have a lot of new tools at your fingertips, Spice for one. It would be wonderful if you could set your sights on a straightforward build, perhaps a PCB and a breadboard so you do not get bogged down in chassis-fettling issues, and have that satisfaction of hearing music from something you built, and even better, that you understand. That is a launchpad for whatever project you really aspire to.
If you look at the breadboard approach, you will have to buy various bits of hardware that can be taken forward into future solutions. Decent OPTs, a power traffo, tubes - they can be carried forward into the next incarnation, and your sunk costs can be spread over many stages. (You could just lose the cost of a PCB and a few passive components, and maybe even recover that if you decide to sell it).
Hoping you are still on track, and wondering what are your priorities now.
Cheers, Richard
How are you getting this? The method I found is saying 10,5W. I learned this so could be sure running at 10W, certainly no more than 12W, and been checking it every run. Clearly my instincts paid off, turns out the formula the program generates needs work.
Oh and I adjusted it before because it was 8W thinking my changes had made a difference...
Hey Richard(@OldHector ), I found this design from the link José provided and fell in love with the numbers. Because of this, need numbers just as good to move on, how my brain works. What I have found is very few designs this is known, especially those on the forum (those published have the numbers).
As for building numerous designs, I asked a question and got no answer, so assumed it was a no. Though if must, by accident looking the other day for information on a topic (been so many forget now what it was) happened on a one tube SE: https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/no-bang-no-flash-just-music.14694/. Solves having a big design taking up space and simpler than the previous first build recommendations by you and others. Hit me could use this in the garage, being I am working and casually listening in a terrible sound environment, doesn't have to be a fantastic sounding PP.
I was just about ready to check the BOM and order parts when the distortion numbers were found to be odd, so looked for another analysis method to hopefully see why. Turns out I totally messed up the amplifier design in my quest for academic distortion. Oops. So now why went back and this time trying to be quick about it.
As for breadboarding, just something else taking up space. Let me say a little background and where I am at, maybe then understand my concern. My grandmother back in 2012 bought a house for me to live in while studying at University (going for bachelor's and then master's). At the time, mortgage payments were less than rent. A few years later and having trouble holding employment (even got me a job at a property she was part owner of, later sold to cover cancer treatment), she seemed to have recognized my Autism's impact and said she was in process of making the house mine. Then her daughter sued her, Grandmother was diagnosed with cancer, so she compromised, and us grandchildren had to sign too. Sister asked for and got $40,000 for her signature, now kicking myself for trusting Grandmother, should have said not signing until in writing the house is for my use and benefit (understanding the issue with gifting outright and better to be in the trust I am not a beneficiary of). The reason is because without warning the trustee filed suit, providing false documents to the judge, and had me removed from the house. I was not allowed to fight it because didn't have legal representation, got about $500 government assistance so not like can afford a lawyer. Oh and my brother, the Co-Trustee barely did anything, he has thankfully ended the relationship (it was abusive and toxic, poor thing was raised by our bio "mother.") I got a 10'/3mx40'/12m storage unit to store what little I could rescue from the house (literally thousands of dollars were stolen including my classic Mercedes) and Dad's 1964 Beetle (I was literally was kicked to the curb and houseless for a couple of weeks). My Dad had storage units and swore I never have one, now I do and finding I have kept more than I should. Right now trying to downsize to a 10'/3mx10'/3m unit, not get more stuff to store, what else would I do with an amplifier and/or more tools (such as a breadboard) not being used? Is it now clear my hesitancy?
Instead, plan to use perf board, see no reason it can't itself be permanent and allow changes to be made if some reason needed or desired. I seen a wood board routed for the components, myself be concerned about heat rejection. Seems using perf board then shouldn't be an issue?
In summery, the plan is to soon build a amplifier on perf board (use "a" instead of "the" to allow for feedback regarding the SE)..
As for building numerous designs, I asked a question and got no answer, so assumed it was a no. Though if must, by accident looking the other day for information on a topic (been so many forget now what it was) happened on a one tube SE: https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/no-bang-no-flash-just-music.14694/. Solves having a big design taking up space and simpler than the previous first build recommendations by you and others. Hit me could use this in the garage, being I am working and casually listening in a terrible sound environment, doesn't have to be a fantastic sounding PP.
I was just about ready to check the BOM and order parts when the distortion numbers were found to be odd, so looked for another analysis method to hopefully see why. Turns out I totally messed up the amplifier design in my quest for academic distortion. Oops. So now why went back and this time trying to be quick about it.
As for breadboarding, just something else taking up space. Let me say a little background and where I am at, maybe then understand my concern. My grandmother back in 2012 bought a house for me to live in while studying at University (going for bachelor's and then master's). At the time, mortgage payments were less than rent. A few years later and having trouble holding employment (even got me a job at a property she was part owner of, later sold to cover cancer treatment), she seemed to have recognized my Autism's impact and said she was in process of making the house mine. Then her daughter sued her, Grandmother was diagnosed with cancer, so she compromised, and us grandchildren had to sign too. Sister asked for and got $40,000 for her signature, now kicking myself for trusting Grandmother, should have said not signing until in writing the house is for my use and benefit (understanding the issue with gifting outright and better to be in the trust I am not a beneficiary of). The reason is because without warning the trustee filed suit, providing false documents to the judge, and had me removed from the house. I was not allowed to fight it because didn't have legal representation, got about $500 government assistance so not like can afford a lawyer. Oh and my brother, the Co-Trustee barely did anything, he has thankfully ended the relationship (it was abusive and toxic, poor thing was raised by our bio "mother.") I got a 10'/3mx40'/12m storage unit to store what little I could rescue from the house (literally thousands of dollars were stolen including my classic Mercedes) and Dad's 1964 Beetle (I was literally was kicked to the curb and houseless for a couple of weeks). My Dad had storage units and swore I never have one, now I do and finding I have kept more than I should. Right now trying to downsize to a 10'/3mx10'/3m unit, not get more stuff to store, what else would I do with an amplifier and/or more tools (such as a breadboard) not being used? Is it now clear my hesitancy?
Instead, plan to use perf board, see no reason it can't itself be permanent and allow changes to be made if some reason needed or desired. I seen a wood board routed for the components, myself be concerned about heat rejection. Seems using perf board then shouldn't be an issue?
In summery, the plan is to soon build a amplifier on perf board (use "a" instead of "the" to allow for feedback regarding the SE)..
Thank you for clarifying. 🙂
Off to walk the pups, then afterward will read your response to the question regarding the SE practice and the perf board.
It is distressing to read about your life experiences. Living in Europe we do not have to fear the financial consequences of a serious illness, so it makes me appreciate my situation all the more when I read about your grandmother.
What you describe regarding the perf board is more or less what I was thinking about a breadboard. Focusing on the circuit rather than the build of a final product. That is an incremental approach to getting to your final destination.
My feeling is to have to build this one amp and have a reference point for everything else that comes after. 'Distortion figures' are not as big a deal as listening to the final product, learning how to measure this for real (something I cannot do yet) then iterating and improving.
What you describe regarding the perf board is more or less what I was thinking about a breadboard. Focusing on the circuit rather than the build of a final product. That is an incremental approach to getting to your final destination.
My feeling is to have to build this one amp and have a reference point for everything else that comes after. 'Distortion figures' are not as big a deal as listening to the final product, learning how to measure this for real (something I cannot do yet) then iterating and improving.
I appreciate the care. This is only a fraction of the growing opportunities I been through.
And more care for those with conditions. I have this feeling getting government income would not have taken four years in Europe or has a houseless population of people with conditions (there are private shelters, however, refuse to recognize some folks don't have the ability to work and simply just need a roof over their heads and maybe provide hot meals if unable to safely cook). America is too individualistic to ever have the welfare Europe has. Heck, most are so busy chasing the capitalist dream they don't have time for even their families, not even a sit down meal; wasn't all that long ago families used to have two sit down meals together, drop in for a chat with friends and relatives that didn't live at home, or help someone when grieving or sick. I was hoping the pandemic wake them up, turns out they are in a coma rather than just sleeping.
I hope to build a final product, however, sometimes things don't go as planned and sometimes even don't work. Thank you for letting me know we are thinking similar. 🙂
What do you mean by a reference point?
I am aware, just wanted to see if could get it down. If not, then fine, not going to chase a ghost.
Why this thread has gotten a little long, want to understand not only what I am building, also what I am measuring.
