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DjOverdose

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Posts posted by DjOverdose

  1. just want to uodate this thread... got my 2a3 amp already and boy it does not disappoint! now i know what it sounds like when they say youll be surprised what a few watts can do. its still in the break in period but it sound good already. though the bloom is still not there but the voice... the voice.... its like they are just right in front of you. comparing it with my kt120 amp, the kt120 feels like its too excited to show off but your trying to hold it down. the highs sometimes goes too high but the lows and the thump are really there. while the 2a3 is like the guy in your neighborhood who takes his time walking like his not in a hurry and appreciates everything he see's around him. everything seems to he balanced listening to the 2a3. its so quite that theres very little to no hum at all. the details and nuances are more pronounced in tye 2a3 amp. 

     

    probably it is because of the sensitivty of the speakers as well. its easy to be driven thats why when im using the kt120, the hum is more evident compared to the 2a3. also the kt120 is much louder its like even playing at the same volume level, the kt120 feels like its shouting while the 2a3 is just telling you a good story. 

     

    Its not a night a day difference but the 2a3 is just dead silent and clean. what more if its totally broken in.  maybe if i pair the kt120 with a speaker that has an 85db or 87db probably it will sound much better since itll be flexing its muscles to move those woofers in and out... 

     

    I will be replacing the 6n3c with kt66 and the 5u4gb with 274b and hope they will sound nicer. 

     

    thanks guys for all the replies.... 

    • Like 3
  2. 14 minutes ago, Jeffrey D. Medwin said:

     

     

    Hi, it can NOT ever be  a rectifier tube, as part of the middle audio-amplification stage  !!    A 6N3C is like a 6L6 power tube, Russian.   Look it up on line. 

     

    The EH 5U4GB absolutely  IS the amp's rectifier tube., it is positioned on the amp chassis in the front, middle.    

    noted on this... will ask the builder what those tubes are for. really have no idea.... 😁 

  3. just want to share the whole amp set up... 

     

    in the middle is my kt120 PP then on the left is the PSU of my Phono/line pre amp. (right) 

     

    i had requested to have my pre amp to have to outputs so that when the time comes that I will have 2 power amps either a SET or an SS, it will be easier for me to switch. 

     

    tubes used in the power amps are kt120s, 12at7, and ecc99. while for the pre amp PSU, regulator(?) was a 274b or 5u4g the n rectifier was el34. can also use either 6v6, 6ca7. for the phono/line all tubes are 12ax7.

    PicsArt_07-09-10.47.09.jpg

    PicsArt_07-09-10.56.30.jpg

    PicsArt_07-09-10.54.52.jpg

    • Thanks 1
  4. 20 minutes ago, Jeffrey D. Medwin said:

    The smallest 12AT7 is the input tube.  A 5U4GB is a rectifier tube, part of the power supply.  He used a Electro Harmonix, my personal favorite 5U4GB tube choice in 2019.  The EH  5U4GB takes 75 to 200 hours to fully break in BTW. 

     

    The middle sized tube between the Input tube and the Finals/2A3 tube is a " Driver" tube, which drives the Finals tube. 

     

    This is a three stage amp, Input ( 12AT7), next a  Driver ( not specified yet ) and Finals ( JJ 2A3-40).  The JJ 2A3 is among the best cost VS performance choice today in 2A3s when properly operated.

    the tube in the middle was a 6n3c. i think he used that as a rectifier tube? 

  5. 11 minutes ago, Jeffrey D. Medwin said:

     The JJ 2A3-40 tube has a 2.5 VAC rated filament.   So does a Type 45 have a 2.5 VAC rated filament.  A 300B has a 5 VAC rated filament.   Current draws may vary between these different size and type tubes,  ( eg : the 2A3 and the 45 ) and that will effect the actual  operating voltage at the tube socket .

     

    Jeffrey

    err... to be honest when he was explaining the switches and selector to me, I just nodded. hahaha o really cant remember which is which. all i can remeber is that the one at the back is the voltage selector for a certain tupe of power tube. the other switcj is for the filament. the 3rd i need to change the bias every time i change to a different power tube... 

     

    at this point i dont know if i can still use my kt120 power amp or if i will still be switching to it. 

    • Like 1
  6. On 7/7/2019 at 11:49 PM, Schu said:

    I bet you can't wait to hear it fire up for the first time... you're going to be impressed and happy.

     

    I had the opportunity to take her home when i took this pictures. however the cage was not yet finished. so i decided not to bring her home not until the tube cage is finished. I have kids in the house, though im not concern about them having burns since i always listen at night. but im afraid that they might hit the tubes with a rubber ball when they are playing. hahaja that would be a bummer. 

    On 7/8/2019 at 2:34 AM, Backfire said:

    That looks really nice!  Very nicely built.

     

    thank you... itll take quite awhile. need to brake in the power tubes and the opt... 

  7. On 7/7/2019 at 9:24 PM, Jeffrey D. Medwin said:

    The rectifier tube should located be as FAR away as possible, from the input tubes. 

     

    Here, we see just the opposite, close-to and smack dab between both of the input tubes.

     

     

    the rectifier tube is in the middle. the tubes infront of the 2a3 are driver tubes same with the 9pin.

     

     

  8. 38 minutes ago, Marvel said:

    That's a lot of iron...going to be a beast to pick up.  My 2A3 amps only take a few minutes to warm up. I know you are certainly going to enjoy your new amp, no matter what anyone else says. 😉 

     

    So, the smaller 9 pin is the driver on each side? I would like to know what your builder used, mostly out of curiosity. SETs can be so simple. I like it!

     

    Bruce

    Yup it does have alot of iron. He builds the whole OPT and chokes from scratch so that he can customize the amp depending on the clients specification or request. 

     

    the 9 pin is a 12at7. it drives the 5u4gb for the 2a3 power tubes.. the the middle one is a rectifier tube. forgot the tyoe though. 

  9. 11 hours ago, dwilawyer said:

    That's some Mang, good for you.  So does that amp give you the option to go 300b, 45 like the one you described at the beginning of your thread?

     

    If so you are going to be able to try a lot 9f every cool things!

    Hello. 

     

    Yes he placed a switch at the back of the amp. If i remember it xorrectly it has 4 modes. thats for the voltage selector. 1st is 5V for the 300b and JJ2a3 40w

    2nd is 4.5 and 3rd is 4V these are for the normal 2a3. then 4th was like 3.5v? cant remember actually the volatge. he just explained to me that the latter one is for the 45 since its the lowest voltage. so i can use option 1 to 3 for the 2a3. just obeserve which amongst it will sound sweet to my ears. 

     

    Also if youll check the first picture, youll notice at the back of the 2a3 tubes theres a label that says 2a3. thats actually the filament switch? for 2a3 and 300b. as for the 45, ill just use the 2a3 and then set the correct bias. theres alot of things to fiddle with this amp. requesting the builder to give me a manual because i might forget about it after awhile. it also has a hum balancer on top and a gain controller at the back. 

    • Like 1
  10. On 7/1/2019 at 3:21 PM, garyrc said:
    • How small is small, in cu.ft.?
    • How far away do you sit?
    • How loud do you like it, in dB, on loud passages?
    • Is your room live, medium, or dead?
    • Klipsch's sensitivity ratings are true in an average room with typical room and boundary gain (i.e., not out in the middle of the room, but very near a solid wall, or in a corner).  To convert to an anechoic rating, subtract 4 dB from the published rating; at least that's what a Klipsch employee said on the forum (about a year ago?).
    • Inside, in a room (forget about outside) each doubling of distance will cost you about 3 dB or so (not 6 dB!) this was a figure arrived at by PWK.  It is literally true (on the nose!) in my room.  So, if the RP 280Fs are against (or almost against) a wall, that would give you 98 dB at 1M at 1W, 95 dB at 2 M at 1W, and 92 dB at 4 M (about 13 feet) at 1W ... going back up, at 2 watts, we would have 95 dB/2W/at 13 feet.  That's enough for some people, but not others.  Klipsch considers that to be at the "loud" but not "very loud" level (Don Keele Jr., Dope from Hope V16, no1, January 1977).  As long as everything (all amplification) is working correctly, you would still get 1.5 watts more headroom.  Someone else may be able to tell you whether the RP 280F has any impedance anomalies that would be a problem.  I have noticed that some Klipsch speakers sound better with more power than they need, but there were covariates I didn't know how to account for.

    Hi Garyrc! 

     

    i really dont know the exact size of the area. its a mix used room though, dinning, living room etc. i listen probably around 2M away from the speakers. Due to the limited space i have, my speakers are almost close to the wall. 

     

    after reading your reply, I guess the 2A3 amp will be fine on powering the RP280f. 

     

    hopefully My amp will be finished this week

    • Like 2
  11. 1 hour ago, Jeffrey D. Medwin said:

     

    I'd suggest, forget a 300B, avoid unnecessary toggle switches, and amplifiers needing adjustments.  KISS rules !! . 

     

    The 300B  requires a DC filament operation, due to its 5 V filament requirement.  Have your amp built using ONLY  JJ 2A3-40s, which is a SINGLE 40 Watt ( 300B ) plate tube, with a symmetrical harp-like cathode,  and a 2.5 VAC filament requirement, so you can employ AC heating, which sounds better !! 

     

    The JJ 2A3-40, properly employed,  just totally destroys every Type 45 tube amp I have built and heard, on my system, but I have not heard a solid plate EML.  ( The solid plate EML $$$$$$  also has a symmetrical harp-like cathode and advantageously, a single plate ) and its made in the same Prague Factory as a $130 JJ 2A3-40 !!  

     

    Be sure to use good wiring, in the amp, and all the way to the Klipsch Drivers' speaker terminals / and / or to the Drivers' voice coil terminals.  I did this, this last year, with a 0.25 Watt triode amp, and it has made a world of difference.  

     

    Never operate tube plates near maximum ratings, first of all, they SOUND worse -  thermally stressed that way, and their useful life is drastically reduced.

     

    Jeffrey

    hey jeff. thanks for the input. i have no ideawhat wires his using inside the amp. im using a QED XT silver anniv as my speaker wire. i wonder what the speaker will sound like and using a copper one. i cant do anything About the toggle switch since it was alrradu6 thetr. 

  12. 20 hours ago, Marvel said:

     

    Quite true. Perhaps a bit better with the two separate power supplies, but it certainly makes the cost go up. Do you know what output transformers he is using?

    he does make his own output transformers. back here in Manila Philippines there are two local tube amp builders, Rene Rivo of Music haven and Andrew Sevilla of AMX audio. both of them can make custom amps depending on your requirements or specification. 

  13. On 5/29/2019 at 3:54 AM, Ziggurat said:

    I ran KHorns for several years using a custom 45 SET amp.  It was sheer bliss - bettered only by a similar circuit running PX4 valves (best I've heard).  I had people crying on the floor listening to their favorite music.  As good as the system sounded, I had a larger PP amp for when I wanted to play loud.  Even at +/- 105db, the Khorns came to life a bit more with the extra power.  My own call would be to have both amps at hand.  If after a time you are not listening to the big one at all, then sell it.  

     

    Enjoy the world of SET.  They are superb.

    yes. thats what my plans are right now... i might just keep the kt120s. I will just going to put an A/B swith for my speakers. I had my custom preamps have 2 outputs specifically for putting 2 different amps. 

  14. On 5/29/2019 at 2:16 AM, Marvel said:

    I've used my 2A3 amps to drive a pair of Heresy II speakers to satisfying levels in a 21x23 for room. Without change the gain settings, though, reconnectiong to my LaScalas will be way too loud. Clean... but too liud for my tastes.

     

    Are you having monoblocks built or a single chassis?

     

    Bruce

    ill be having it on a single chasis. another local builder told me that there is little difference from the mono blocks and single chasis. but cost wise theres alot. 

     

    Heres the chasis of my 2a3 amp. itll be powered by a pair of jj2a3 40 rectified by 5u4gb tubes. i forgot the other tubes that will be put in. 

    received_449901588902649.jpeg

    received_2361953943890798.jpeg

    • Like 1
  15. On 5/28/2019 at 10:57 PM, moray james said:

    suitability will depend upon the playback levels that you desire. A 300B will provide approximately three time the power of a 2A3 that should be lots for casual listening and more. I expect that you will be happy with the 2A3.

    will update you guys once the amp is here. im very very excited... 

  16. Hi Again. I would like to ask your opinion on this. Currently I have a custom made Tube Pre amp and power amp. Power amp is a KT120 rated at roughly around 80WPC its powering my Klipsch RP 280F. I know its waaayyy to much for the speakers though they sound really good. however curiosity strikes again and was thinking if a 2A3 power Tube can power these Floorstanders. I know they are 98dB but is it enough for a 3-3.5W power amp? anyone tried this combo?

  17. Wow.... thanks for the very positive response..... looks like my daughter will have no allowance for a few weeks.... hahaha just kidding. 

     

    Will check on that audyssey  app you mentioned.

     

    I guess Im good and all set. thank you very much! Big help! 

     

    PS: Its really a good thing that despite the advent of Facebook, Forums like this still exist. you can never replace the information you get from forum based groups...

     

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