What is the most appropriate DIY Pass Labs design for driving original Tannoy Ardens ?

A PCB + jfet bundle would be really nice, and everything else should be reasonably easy to get.

I remember 6L6 mentioning at the BAF2022 that the new boards will be available but I may have also heard that the store will stock the new boards after clearing out the original ones?
 
This one? Yes, it works beautifully!
Availability in near future, need to get run of PCB and secure a quantity of Jfet.


5C5AE836-B6C4-40DE-AFD4-718BC5C63D2D.jpeg
7E3A4C12-74A1-453C-902D-380CEB39B69F.jpeg
048AAB2E-161F-442C-B993-51C4CBBBA5E5.jpeg
 
This is exactly what you need for your speakers if you don't wanna listen to tubes or LM317 🙂
If you need an active crossover just build 4 of them. Ac180-181 can be used for higher power, but no real need for your speakers.2200uF....4700uF output cap would work nicely for deeper lows also.
Don't believe the guy.Use NTC for the 22 ohm resistor between ac187/ac188 bases.You can also use ac181 -ac180 in place of ac187-ac188.
If you think linearity at 100khz is not enough , don't build it 🙂
No disrespect to PL products here, they are either too powerful for your speaker or too complex and modern for the kind of power you need.
 
Last edited:
No disrespect to PL products here, they are either too powerful for your speaker or too complex and modern for the kind of power you need.

I agree his speakers don't need a lot of power, 5 to 10 Watts is already plenty for home use.
I don't agree they are too complex. F5, F4, F6, ACA, M2, Aleph J, are all very simple amps.

I personally think the ACA mini (or other ACA version) would be more than enough in terms of power and probably the one he will like best if he prefers tube amps.
If he wants to deviate to something more modern sounding then Aleph J.
 
  • Like
Reactions: nicoch58
I like tube amps a lot with old Tannoy DC's they don't need much power in a small to medium room but they do need an amp with good damping factor to control that 15" cone.
The Radford STA15 is considered an ideal partner.

The Frankenstein amp in the photo is what I'm currently using just not convinced a SE valve amp even with EML520B final is the ideal match for the Tannoy. My 6L6 PSE has similar power with punchy bottom end control but sounds confused in the mid-range compared to the SE amp. I want a situation where the twain will meet and have lovely children & live happily there after!

Cheers Johno
 

Attachments

  • Amps on floor_1.jpg
    Amps on floor_1.jpg
    344.5 KB · Views: 48
  • Like
Reactions: 2 picoDumbs
I like tube amps a lot with old Tannoy DC's they don't need much power in a small to medium room but they do need an amp with good damping factor to control that 15" cone.
The Radford STA15 is considered an ideal partner.

The Frankenstein amp in the photo is what I'm currently using just not convinced a SE valve amp even with EML520B final is the ideal match for the Tannoy. My 6L6 PSE has similar power with punchy bottom end control but sounds confused in the mid-range compared to the SE amp. I want a situation where the twain will meet and have lovely children & live happily there after!

Cheers Johno

Aleph J/F6/M2

Any of those are going to make you very happy.

If you had a great preamp capable of swinging 20V peak at output (not that you need the full 20V for your speaker) then I would then add F4 to the list.

These are very good amps.
 
speaking of tube amps - EAR 859 is great fun with Tannoys (and not just with them)

soundwise overall not on par with my own concoctions (or FW products) but fun factor without any doubt on par with them

if we observe fun factor independently

I believe EAR 869 (as close cousin) is same, even if that one I never had opportunity to hear/listen to
 
I agree his speakers don't need a lot of power, 5 to 10 Watts is already plenty for home use.
I don't agree they are too complex. F5, F4, F6, ACA, M2, Aleph J, are all very simple amps.

I personally think the ACA mini (or other ACA version) would be more than enough in terms of power and probably the one he will like best if he prefers tube amps.
If he wants to deviate to something more modern sounding then Aleph J.
F2 is also beautiful.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 picoDumbs