Gallery, Projects and General > Project Logs
Valve Base
spuddevans:
--- Quote from: Darren on May 19, 2009, 07:15:36 AM ---Tim asked for a pic of my valve amps,
Well this is only one in working progress, up and running in this pic though.... :ddb:
Rather than start a new thread I've bumped this one.
Tim go to the start of this thread to see some pictures and details.... :thumbup:
I'll take some more of other amps for you...
--- End quote ---
I've just read all the way through this thread and :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: I am impressedm, and a little jealous too. What sort of speakers do you have? Diy as well?
I'd love to see your other valve amps too.
Tim
Darren:
Tim,
I've just popped into the music room to take some pictures, please excuse the mess and dust :(
We are renovating and there is dust everywhere, also this room is packed with stuff as we empty other rooms to work. I do wish the garage would come along more quickly so I can move some things over there. But this rain is really holding things back.
Anyway, some very quick and dirty pics with no posing shots at all....honest.... :lol: Not all my amps, some are still packed since we moved and some have found new homes.
My phono stage "True Realism" As you can see things are packed in tightly as we want minimum lead lengths between components due to the low signals. We don't want stray stuff getting in and being amplified along with the music. It's a SRPP circuit and was quite hard to get right. It's a lot more complicated than it looks. Those two little circuit boards are the RIAA stages. Technically quite difficult to get right. Valves are ECC83's.
Always a working progress as you can see....
The amp
The power supply
The Power Amps at a whopping 2W per channel, don't be deceived by two measly watts, these can punch some volume out. All depends on the speakers which are usually built to match. All 1920's valves, my own design using a MH41 triode which I believe I was the first to use for HiFi. Power valve is a PX4.
Each box is mono, so two used to make a stereo.
The 833 amps are tagged onto the end of these as a further stage.
The speakers,
My own design using London Ribbons for the high end, Wharfdales with a wizzer for the mids, and Fane pop 50's 12" for the base, and there is a lot of punchy base, too much in fact.
The turntable, one of many, my own design and build of plinth, tonearm mount, stand etc
The 833 amplifier stage has no caps and no resistors, just a power supply, output transformer and wire. Nothing to get in the way and taint the purity of the music.
As you can see, I'm into HiFi and deff a valve man, hate silicon, sounds dreadful IMHO. A quick and dirt post for you, I could write till the cows come home about this stuff but better not eh :lol:
There you go that's a taster for you :thumbup:
spuddevans:
I am very impressed.
Not so much now, but a few years ago I was pretty keen into HiFi too, I did seriously consider building my own valve amp, although I probably have gone for a kit as I wasnt to sure of my abilities with high voltages.
One thing that is nigh-on impossible to beat with valve amps (apart from the obvious audio benefits) is the absolutely stunning beauty of them. Imagine the scene. Listening to some great music in a dark room, the only illumination coming from the gentle glow from the valves, Ahh, heaven!! :med:
I did mod a few commercial amps (sillicon though), mostly upgrading the caps to Elna's and improving the psu's in them. I also modded a cheapish cd player with the same sort of thing, and also removing the muting transistors and replacing with a relay. I never had any vinyl so all my music is on cd.
Great mono-bloc's, and kudos on the tight wiring on the RIAA pre-amp. :thumbup:
One seriously impressed Tim.
Brass_Machine:
Hey Darren,
How about writing a post on setting us audio newbs on the right path of build say a small valve amp?
Eric
Bernd:
Very impressive Darren.
I remember hearing (no pun intended) about these types of amps putting out better music than the silicone jobs of today.
Bernd
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