2. amps-preamps
  3. 173491-12620

First tubes in 30 years

I had tube preamps (CJ PV4, ARC SP6B, ARC SP9) in the 80's. They usually sounded great, but I had enough problems with them (tube failures, microphonics, background hiss) that eventually I switched to all solid state.  

Over the last couple years, I've really gotten into DIY and decided it would be fun to try a tube project. I've been intrigued by the idea of a 300B SET amp, so I built a set of monoblocks. I started with the basic design (and transformers) from the ANK 300B Parallel SET C-Core Monoblocks, and added a lot of upgrades. Check out my virtual system for details.

jaytor's virtual system page

I have to say, I'm really enjoying the sound. They are still in the early stages of breakin, with new WE 300Bs installed a week ago, but they are making a lot of music sound better than with any of my other amps (mostly Pass XA60.8s recently).

I'm planning to build a tube preamp as one of my next projects.

128x128jaytor
oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 

I second that one, what a nice room and set up.. I LIKE IT.. The amps look really really cool. Nice work.. I can hear Joe Cocker singing "You can leave your hat on"

Happy New Year..

 

fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,598 posts
 

Well done.

tsushima1
1,165 posts
 

😎

jaytor's avatar
jaytor OP
765 posts
 

Thanks for the kind words.

Now I have to decide whether to sell my XA60.8s. These are great amps, and are a nice "reference" to have to compare my DIY projects. But they are pretty big and heavy, so a little hard to tuck in a corner, and I have way too many amps at this point (is it possible to have too many amps 😁?).

noromance's avatar
noromance
9,769 posts
 

Nice. Transformer coupled? Heater kit boards?

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