fierce_freak

Sweet, hope it goes well.

Ah, I never think about negative feedback. I knew the 6C33C had a low plate resistance, which is why they're so popular with OTL builders, but I failed to think about feeback and its effects.

When you say upside down extreme, do you mean that the plates and cathodes are flipped, or that the output is taken from the plate? I don't see how he could get a low output impedance the second way (but I'm a relative noob at this stuff).

I think gold is horrifically ugly, especially on amps.

Great, thanks for the info! It's interesting to see what constitutes a higher model number from some manufacturers.

Thanks, Dusty Chalk. I'd be interested in what the entire line's topologies are as a mental exercise (nothing specific or any parts values or the like, not trying to rip anything off, though it'd be cool to make something like the SDS as it's so well regarded). Earl, KG?

Oops, can't edit. I mispoke...is it the Maestro that becomes the sds-xlr, or is the sds a whole 'nother circuit?

Pretty sure it's a white cathode follower. There's lots of stuff on them at tubecad.com. I think I read in a thread here that the supra was somewhat like an aikido, though I'd bet that's generalizing it a bit. As far as the SDS goes, I've never been clear on whether the SDS-XLR was two supra's together or a different topology or what.

deepak, I've read through your options for a sweet single ended amp thread many times in the past and recently. There's some good info in there (along with the reason I probably think all SP amps were VanWaarde's...I'm now guessing I'm wrong on that, can anyone confirm?). I love the look of the amp aerius posted at the end, but it might be a bit over my skill level (DHT's...maybe if I used some 6w6's instead). Also should mention the 'phones I plan to use with said amp: I currently only own completely defoamed HD650's, but I plan to buy a pair of RS-1 again in the near future.

Earl, which Darling design are you having built?

That's inspiring stuff...good job, Nate.

Argh, so many options ;o Of course, that's sort of what I expected I was interested in the past about the Almarro, hence my interest in making a SEP amp. I could make a clone of the Almarro or the Dared VP-20 for starters, as I don't think either would cost more than $500 to make (guestimating...tube costs are ridiculous in some cases). All the Earmax love has me wanting to hear a Morgan Jones again. And I want to hear some higher end SP's (need to make it to a bigger meet again). Anyone have an opinion on the dsavitsk amp I mentioned earlier? How about the balanced aikido that JB posted about a couple weeks ago? I'm planning on purchasing another 24v aikido board and just putting it together with the one I already have to make a balanced amp, but the amp JB describes in his article is a bit more elegant than putting to single-ended amps in series. Some of the other stuff in this thread is pretty interesting, like the 1626 tubes mentioned by Earl or the Cooter amp. luvdunhill, I've looked at the TubelabSE amp before, but I remember thinking at the time that it would be a pain in the ass to source the tubes he suggests for headphones. That's part of the problem, I guess...I'm pretty worried about putting together an amp using obscure, hard-to-get tubes (like the 6gm8's I used in the 24v aikido...sources are starting to dry up). I'd prefer stuff that is abundant or current-production, but of course the best stuff is all NOS and mostly picked over.

I'm cool, no rush Nate. I was just wondering what the opinions were like for Tube amps. I'm considering a few different amp designs or topologies, but it will probably be a few months before I start ordering/building. I'm looking at Menace/Wheatfield/SP amps, a full voltage Aikido style amp (the 24v Aikido hybrid I have is really a stunner...soundstage is unreal), dsavitsk's S^3 amp I linked to earlier, or something with pentodes.

Awesome, glad to hear things are going well with it.

aerius, that looks awesome but the cost is probably a bit out of my league for now, and I'm not really sure my skills are anywhere near to handling DHT yet. I've heard the Dragon, but it was briefly and with music I wasn't familiar with. It sounded good. I've never heard an SDS, though I'd like to since it always gets so much praise. At least these are all things I can work with. EarMax Pro is a Morgan Jones (correct?) and Wheatfield HA-2 and most (all?) of SP stuff is based on Van Waarde (right?), so I have some options. -edit- I've also considered making something of a clone of the Dared VP-20 as it's gotten good comments with headphones. I'm also interested in pentodes, triode-strapped or even using them in a SEP circuit.

I've heard two different Morgan Jones amps. I thought they sounded good, but not quite the level of performance I'm looking for. Of course, maybe they weren't perfect builds. One of them, the builder said he'd spent over $900 on O.O

Holy crap on a stick...isn't that just a Morgan Jones?

dewd ur soo rite it geos LOWD

Clearly there is something afoot!

My interest in tube amps has been growing since around last October, and now that I have my own Aikido hybrid I'm only even more interested. I'm personally more interested in what I can DIY, but I'm cool to hear whatever. I fully expect that the ZD, HD2, the Luna, and the SDS (is this just a really charged up Waarde?) to be part of the list, but I like to hear about what else is out there, again especially in the DIY realm (like dsavitsk's cool looking shunt-regulated, single feed, spud amp).

Makes sense...damn my thin skin!

Dear gods, I hope it's that one and not what I built for you Though if it was, I'd certainly like to know (privately) and wouldn't be offended.

Looks awesome. Is that all the components you'll be using in the amp, or are there going to be other parts soldered onto socket pins or the like? Either way, huge relief after the massive parts count of some solid state stuff, eh?

Go knobless

Yes, impressive.