Re: newbie tube amp project questions
- From: "Iain Churches" <taelNOSPAM@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2005 18:38:34 +0200
"Tom Alaerts" <camembert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:43b51379$0$337$ba620e4c@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Dear all,
>
> Can someone recommend a good starting point for a first tube amp? I have a
> number of tube newbie questions:
> I was thinking about:
> - a website with good introductory theory and/or a good intro level book
> - a decent but not too expensive tube amp kit (but it should work on 220V,
> so Bottlehead kits will not apply, otherwise I need to buy an extra
> transfo). I have been looking at the Velleman kits, but is it correct that
> they are not highly regarded? I also looked at www.thel.de and I know that
> in Germany these have a good reputation. What do you think of audio note
> kits?
> For all these 3 kit brands the price is a hurdle.
> - or if not a kit, a good-sounding schematic and a pointer to a good
> vendor of tubes etc. Apropos my speakers are approx 91db sensitivity.
> - I also wonder if there are sonic advantages of choosing "classic" audio
> transformers over the more recent toroid ones, or vice versa.
> - Instead of DIY, wouldn't it be more sensible to let a hongkong based
> colleague buy me the Melody SP3 2x38W integrated tube amp for a very
> reasonable approx. 600 EUR? Or will it sound inferior compared to DIY
> costing roughly the same?
> I must say that the cost of a tube amp project is a big hurdle, esp. the
> transformers. I can appreciate that they are not easy to make in
> audiophile quality and that the market is small but still they are damn
> expensive! It's probably heresy to mention it here but cost is a factor
> that tempts me to build a gainclone instead.
>
> best regards and already thanks for any input,
>
> Tom Alaerts
Hi Tom,
Patrick's advice is good. Start with a pre-amp.
There is an excellent book by Bruce Rozenblit called "A Beginner's
Guide to Tube Audio Design" publisher Audio Amateur Press.
This will tell you a great deal of the basic info. There are also some
projects to build at the end of the book, including a simple but very
good sounding mu-follower pre amp.
It's a fantastic hobby, and you can always ask a question on this forum.
It takes some dedication, but there is no thrill like listening to a good
recording
on an amplifier you have built yourself.
http://www.kolumbus.fi/iain.churches/Pics/C50_002.jpg
Iain
.
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