DIY Audio Projects Forum

A technique I hadn't tried before was to wire the socket to the strip brd then connect components on top. Worked well.

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Projects:"retro2308" - chip based headphone amp | ”Calibre 834” - tube phono MM preamp | ”najah” - Raw 180W Tripath Class D power amp | "Icon" - Shuguang CV-181Z preamp

Matt, would you please supply a bias voltage, Vb. I'm between projects and has a pile of parts to go.

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Projects:"retro2308" - chip based headphone amp | ”Calibre 834” - tube phono MM preamp | ”najah” - Raw 180W Tripath Class D power amp | "Icon" - Shuguang CV-181Z preamp

I was given these by a friend. They are ruggedised version of a 6SL7. Never see them before. There is also a 5962 and 5963. Ruggedised 6SN7 and a triode and pentode combo.

The 5961 could make a nice little 4S preamp.

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Projects:"retro2308" - chip based headphone amp | ”Calibre 834” - tube phono MM preamp | ”najah” - Raw 180W Tripath Class D power amp | "Icon" - Shuguang CV-181Z preamp

OK I'm dishlexic 5691, 5692 and 5693.

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Projects:"retro2308" - chip based headphone amp | ”Calibre 834” - tube phono MM preamp | ”najah” - Raw 180W Tripath Class D power amp | "Icon" - Shuguang CV-181Z preamp

After some conflab with others the caps are probably metalised polypropylene. Even better.

A nearby friend in audio DIY crime did some testing for me on Lagoon. This is a 4S 12AU7 single stage tube preamp. The results are good.

Distortion is quite low at 0.05% with the second harmonic predominant as expected. There was 50hz and 100hz hum there but low down and not audible in practice.

Frequency response was from less then 30hz to over 20K which is all the test gear goes to. BUT this was into a crippling 15K resistive load.

This leads me to question that these single stage preamps will only work into high impedance load, typically 250K!. There is an online impedance calculator in which you enter tube type, plate load resistor Rp and cathode resistor Rk and in bypassed or not. The calculator claims the output impedance should be about 13K! A lot lower than I have ever thought.


To test this out we maxed the output of the preamp just prior to clipping (30V) then loaded it down until we got half the output voltage - about 13V. This occurred at a load of 15K!!! I maybe be wrong but this indicates the output impedance is 15K. Right or wrong.


Very pleasing results all round and now I know this 4S preamp will drive SS power amps which have a input impedance of better than 15K (most will) and need less than a 13V swing - ALL WILL. Not only that the preamp sounds excellent.

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Projects:"retro2308" - chip based headphone amp | ”Calibre 834” - tube phono MM preamp | ”najah” - Raw 180W Tripath Class D power amp | "Icon" - Shuguang CV-181Z preamp

This is true, when the volume control is on the input rather than the output. The output impedance of the 4S using a 12AU7 is approximately 11.5kΩ. It's only when we add the volume control that it looks like this:This is the 4S using a 12AU7 and a 250kΩ volume pot on the output.

Now output impedance is one part of the equation but load line rotation is the other. When we couple the preamp to a stage with low input impedance, then this impedance loads the tube in parallel with the load resistor. So if it is coupled to a stage with a 20kΩ input impedance, the the AC load line on the tube would really only be ≈16.6kΩ. This won't have a lot of impact for small signals (as the measurements demonstrate) but for larger inputs, the distortions can become large.

This is why, when coupling to a low impedance amplifier, I still recommend a buffer to protect the proper operation of both the preamp and the amplifier.

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Matt
It's all about the Glass!
http://www.CascadeTubes.com
Cascade Tubes Blog

Thanks Matt, all makes sense. I have used a two stage tube preamp to drive SS amps and always thought it OK. The two stage didn't have a cathode follower out but did have global feed back. Can global feed back help with managing load?

Also I sent you (Matt) a message.

Ta.

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Projects:"retro2308" - chip based headphone amp | ”Calibre 834” - tube phono MM preamp | ”najah” - Raw 180W Tripath Class D power amp | "Icon" - Shuguang CV-181Z preamp

Also you would have to be pleased with distortion figures for this preamp. 0.05% is low.

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Projects:"retro2308" - chip based headphone amp | ”Calibre 834” - tube phono MM preamp | ”najah” - Raw 180W Tripath Class D power amp | "Icon" - Shuguang CV-181Z preamp

Here is a single stage 6J6A preamp Suncalc designed. Made totally from parts on hand.

1uf polyester input cap
0.68uf metalised polypropylene output cap
Metal film resistors
Verobaord (strip board)
Ceramic socket
JAN GE 6J6A tube

I have a PS from another project which should suit. To provide the -4V bias required in this design I may just use 3X1.5V AAA batteries. They should never go flat.

This project started by getting a free 6J6A tube. I understand they are as cheap as dirt. Wonder what it will sound like.

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Projects:"retro2308" - chip based headphone amp | ”Calibre 834” - tube phono MM preamp | ”najah” - Raw 180W Tripath Class D power amp | "Icon" - Shuguang CV-181Z preamp

I was frustrated by the fact I couldn't find a suitable, deep enough enclosure for this preamp. The tube would have been hidden. Then thought if I flip the socket the tube will be on the bare strip side and can stand proud of the board. Also a cheaper shallower case.

I was about to make another brd. and thought why not just flip the socket on this one. Here is the result.

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Projects:"retro2308" - chip based headphone amp | ”Calibre 834” - tube phono MM preamp | ”najah” - Raw 180W Tripath Class D power amp | "Icon" - Shuguang CV-181Z preamp