mattsk8 Posted May 4, 2016 Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 15 minutes ago, Dick Dastardly said: That's gotta be an el84/bq6 though based on wattage maybe el34 but that's an odd tube for HiFi audio (Jolida uses them.. But it's typically lauded for its distortion characteristics in guitar amps) anyway any of those would make it push-pull instead of SET.. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing.. you have a pic? 300b tubes are in the $100s these days. You definitely know your DIY tube amps. He said... "Heres a 15 watt/channel EL84 push-pull amp I built a couple of years ago". He actually said he had about $500 in it. I'm going to attempt a pic from my phone, so hope this works... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Dastardly Posted May 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 Yeah I'd like to build something like that sometime. Been a while since I've done any tube stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Dastardly Posted May 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 He went all out on the "adjustable feet".. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattsk8 Posted May 4, 2016 Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 1 hour ago, Dick Dastardly said: He went all out on the "adjustable feet".. Haha, yup. The gold was a nice touch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattsk8 Posted May 4, 2016 Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 3 hours ago, Dick Dastardly said: Yeah I'd like to build something like that sometime. Been a while since I've done any tube stuff. Have you ever heard a tube amp like that? I honestly have no personal experience with tube amps, outside of hearing the ultra expensive ones at the stereo shows. I did hear one of my friend's, it might have been that one in the pic. But my thought on them is this... I know 15w/ch from a tube amp is a lot more than it would be in a solid state amp (not really sure why though). But do they really sound that much better than solid state? Because for $500 you could easily buy a used Adcom 555 or 5500 and have output and headroom in spades. That's not an argument, I'm honestly curious. I'd love to have some time with his tube amp, and be able to compare it to a solid state. Unfortunately he lives in IL and I'm in MI. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Dastardly Posted May 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 The myth is tube amp watts are "more". actaully watts are watts, the difference is tube amps clip softly and for a while it's not consciously audible, and as it becomes audible it's a warm smooth sound. The sound from a low watt tube amp is pretty sweet, but it's not heavy on bass or accurate. It's an addictive sound. you can build and buy (as I'm sure you've seen) 100-200 watt tube amps using 4-8 of the 6L6gc, 6550 or the "mighty kt88" tubes. they have headroom like SS amps do.. This is a 15w per channel el84 tube amp with a tube tuner and a working turntable.. (Needs a stylus, and the tuner needs calibrated) it works great otherwise. I was considering fitting my Alphas inside behind the cloth to see how it would sound. Once I get it all tuned up I'm going to try it and see.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattsk8 Posted May 4, 2016 Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 That's awesome. I need another stereo like I need another wiener, but I'd love to build a console like that using a vintage receiver and turntable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Dastardly Posted May 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 1 hour ago, mattsk8 said: That's awesome. I need another stereo like I need another wiener, but I'd love to build a console like that using a vintage receiver and turntable. I paid $5 for it at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattsk8 Posted May 5, 2016 Report Share Posted May 5, 2016 If you're interested in building one, here's a BOM from that friend of mine. Obviously you know your way around, but he warned me that he did try to help someone build a simple tube preamp via emails and it turned out to be a disaster; the guy building ended up mailing it to my friend who had to totally rebuild it. The BOM is for a 6V6 SET tube amp, and I think he said it's about 5w/ch... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Dastardly Posted May 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2016 Yep. Tube depot used then before Proper assembly is very important.. Supply wires near signal wires will creat so much noise. Need a variac to bring voltages up properly. the big caps in a tube amp can kill you too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattsk8 Posted May 10, 2016 Report Share Posted May 10, 2016 B&W Purchased by Silicon Valley Startup: Cheers or Tears? Also.... The Music Group confirms Tannoy plant closure plans Crazy, 2 of the oldest speaker manufacturers left. It'll be interesting to see what happens with Bowers & Wilkens. IMO, unless you have crazy deep pockets, DIY is going to be the only way to get any kind of sound quality in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Dastardly Posted May 11, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2016 Tannoy is the JBL of Britain.. all the studios used Tannoy monitors. Including BBC if I recall. welcome to the new era. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruecatinat Posted May 11, 2016 Report Share Posted May 11, 2016 23 hours ago, mattsk8 said: B&W Purchased by Silicon Valley Startup: Cheers or Tears? Also.... The Music Group confirms Tannoy plant closure plans Crazy, 2 of the oldest speaker manufacturers left. It'll be interesting to see what happens with Bowers & Wilkens. IMO, unless you have crazy deep pockets, DIY is going to be the only way to get any kind of sound quality in the future. 11 hours ago, Dick Dastardly said: Tannoy is the JBL of Britain.. all the studios used Tannoy monitors. Including BBC if I recall. welcome to the new era. Hopefully this doesn't drive up the prices in the used market Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruecatinat Posted June 29, 2016 Report Share Posted June 29, 2016 (edited) Picture stolen from the internet, but had these arrive today... B&W DM601 S2 in cherry wood finish Also picked up this AudioQuest cable for too cheap to pass up Edited June 29, 2016 by ruecatinat 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Dastardly Posted June 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2016 You get the BW used or new? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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