Tube/valve amp kit question


Appologies if this has been asked many times before - I looked for
FAQs and didn't find any on this group.

I'm looking for a stereo tube/valve amp design, about 20 watt per
channel - sufficient for an average living room in detatched house.

Audio sources will be CD, FM/DAB tuner, Garrard GT25AT1 turntable,
iPod too maybe so nothing really fancy. I haven't got "golden ears" so
probably won' t really appreciate the difference between a 5,000 UKP
($10,000) and a 500 UKP ($1,000) amp.

Speakers probably a pair of LS3/5a or AR18, but may change these if
necessary.

I'd prefer a kit including the drilled chassis, but a design that I
can build from scratch, providing the parts are all easily available,
will also be considered.

What UK/US kit or circuit design would you suggest? It would be nice
if the valves were exposed through the top of the cassis, but this
seems to be the case anyway in the valve amps I've seen. I have looked
at what World Audio Design have on offer, and they seem to have a good
name, but are there others equally good or better?

I prefer not to pay for a kit includes "special audio quality
components" that cost 10 times the statndard parts, as again, if they
really do make a difference, I doubt I could hear it.

I'm a broadcast engineer, but not had much exposure to valve audio
gear. I doubt I could tell the difference between a good valve amp and
a good solid-state amp (OK maybe I could, but to me they would
probably just sound "different").

I would simply like to have a good-ish valve amp with character, a
warm glow, you know the type of thing...

Thanks.

Ian

ian@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


.

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