Need an audio brainiac...Stumped...


I just scratch built a "dynaclone" ST35 6BQ5 power amp from the schematic and stayed true to the dyna design save i used a 5u4 tube HV rectifier vice the diode dyna design.

The amp sounds fine on 3 different sets of speakers (Infinitys, Magnavox/Jensen alnicos, Realistic Nova 10's) but motorboats/farts when hooked up to my newly aquired Altec alnico Santanas. 2 other tube amps and 2 other solid state amps work fine on the Sanatnas.

This happens only with that one amp and speaker combination (Dynaclone and Altec Santanas)
trichifi
Hey Guys, Its solved. Most of us were on the right track with the various inductive properties mismatch theory and it turns out, after studying crossover theory that the cure seems to be a "Zobel" series RC network in paralell with the amps output. Many crossover designs actually incorporate these in the LF driver portion of the crossover to make the amp "feel" a constant impeadance and thusly make it a happy camper with "bangy" high inductance, super reactive unstable feeling alnicos.

I started with a 14uf + 10ohm resistor which stopped the motorboating but seemed to take away some of the "umph". I reduced to 8uf + 6 ohms and it sounds smashing. Installed a switch and those components in my amp so I can add or delete the Zobel depending on my speaker choice with a flick of the switch. Looking forward to trying out on some of the other speakers that were non-problemaic to see how fidelity does in comparison with in or out of the Zobel.

Interesting to note; only the big alnico altecs seem to have the massive ammount of inductive kickback to cause the issue. Thanks to all of you for the input and and thanks to Otto Zobel up there in the big laboratory in the sky!
Found a weak HV filter cap (old salvage part) have new one on order. Will be intetresting to see if the Zobel is still needed to prevent the motorboat on the Altecs...
If it were me I would look at the filter caps on the plate supply for the power tubes, even though this otherwise seems to be solved.

Motorboating is a classic problem of defective/inadequate power supply filtration. My guess is the amp is right on the verge of having troubles even if it seems to sound fine.

If the capacitance for the power tubes is inadequate, the amp will sound cleaner and more gutsy if this problem is corrected and it won't be subtle!