Chrome Magnum Posted September 16, 2015 Share Posted September 16, 2015 This is my inaugural post of what I hope will be a series of posts chronicling my tube amp builds as well as my new found appreciation of Klipsch... It started last year when I retired from my career in solid state and digital electronics and got back to my first love... tubes. I stripped out an old 40's intercom desk box (pictured) that had always been a favorite of my son and installed a hand built Morgan tube amp in it. I tweaked it for more gain and when it first (gently) hummed to life, I was instantly transported back to my childhood. You folks who are around 60 or so know that sound... Sigh I then found an engraver who made the all in one face plate for it (note that I disguised the input jack as the old "Press to Talk" lever) and I presented it to my son. He likes and uses it but he does not share my nostalgia for the soft hum it produces when idling. Kids! =\ Enter Maynard "The Tube Amp Designer". I met him on-line and if you don't know his body of work, make it a point to. His contributions to this forum are invaluable. He suggested that if I wanted a tube amp with clean sound, I should build a stereo tube amp of his design that he had dubbed the "Little Gem". I built it and just as he promised, it is NOISELESS. You can't tell that it is on until you provide a signal to its inputs. When you do, the music just leaps out of the previously silent speakers like a tiger springing from the underbrush! Naturally, I wanted the amp to look as good as it sounds but even so, I had a problem with paying $100+ for a ready- made, chassis/ box. You fellow builders know what I mean. Fueled by that frugality, I drew on my first amp, the (intercom conversion) which inspired me to find and re-purpose another ready made enclosure for the Little Gem. After 40 years in the electronics industry, I have plenty of pieces of disused equipment to pick from and as you can see below, an old '90's Ethernet hub filled the bill nicely. I stripped out all the original electronics except the AC input module which left it with some very nice built in power line filtering. Another bonus is that this chassis is aluminum, so no eddy currents. I then built the Little Gem into it. (Pictured) BTW, even if you don't have a basement full of old equipment, there's always e-Bay. I just saw the exact same model that I used for the "buy it now" price of $20.00! I then housed the whole thing in an early 40's Philco home entertainment cabinet and added a few bells and whistles to make it even more eye-catching. The old phono bay is where the Little Gem now resides and it now opens electrically with the touch of a button. Also I couldn't resist putting lit VU meters on the amp chassis as well as a modest light show in the old 8" speaker location. BTW, I re-purposed the old phono turntable. It now hangs above my desk with two ten watt led's hidden where the cartridge used to be. The knob that used to switch the needle from '78 to LP is now a brightness control for the led's. Also, it's a great way to show case old picture disks. I take some flak for re-purposing as opposed to restoring old pieces but as I see it, their are a lot of well restored pieces out there and they all have one thing in common: they are all just as BORING as the day they were new. Here is a 60 second long video of the Little Gem it in action (yes, ACTION!) Bear in mind, I posted it before the Klipsch RB-61's arrived, (Read on) Enter Maynard (again): By now, I was very aware that he is a BIG proponent of not only single ended tube amps but Klipsch as well. He gently nudged me towards the RB-61's and since he hadn't steered me wrong yet, I confidently ordered them. As I hoped, they worked out VERY well and I have nothing but praise for them. Even though the RB-61's provide a sonic-ally accurate room filling sound even with a low power amp, I am the sort who without fail, eventually ends up turning it to 11. As such, am always looking for more volume. So months later when I saw the +98dB sensitivity spec of the Klipsch KF-28's which is a full +3 dB more than the RB-61's, I ordered them, with Maynard's blessing of course but that was out of respect for him as I am now a full blown Klipsch believer. I met the UPS truck in the driveway and I think it was under 5 minutes before I had them unpacked and hooked to the Little Gem! I was immediately struck by the extra volume and bass they provided. I know they aren't top-of-the-line Klipsch but wow, they look and sound great with the Little Gem. In short, believe the reviews. They do indeed present " A Wall of Sound"... They are what I now use with the Little Gem exclusively. The RB-61's are still GREAT sounding and more technically advanced, (as I believe) but I have decided to pair them with my next, more powerful amp. =] I am calling that amp the "P.T. Barnamp" because of its built in showiness and gimmickry. It is well on it's way to completion at the time of this writing. I hope to show it in another month or so. Thanks for the chance to get to know you and you,,, me! Stu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Posted September 16, 2015 Share Posted September 16, 2015 Nice the way you improvise with the builds. I also have the KF-28's and agree they sound nice with tubes. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrome Magnum Posted September 16, 2015 Author Share Posted September 16, 2015 You sound like another guru I have yet to meet. It looks like you are very prolific as well. Thanks for the comment! Stu P.S. My avatar pic is the head of a six foot tall stainless steel robot I built. Note his "brain" is tubes! I mention it because you commented on my improvisation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Posted September 16, 2015 Share Posted September 16, 2015 You sound like another guru I have yet to meet. It looks like you are very prolific as well. Thanks for the comment! Stu P.S. My avatar pic is the head of a six foot tall stainless steel robot I built. Note his "brain" is tubes! I mention it because you commented on my improvisation. Stu, Far from it, Maynard has also taught me a few things. He's a good guy to learn from. I may have to have you build something for me in the future with some of the stuff I see you have just in the 1 post with the turntable,modded set up,and the robot. Welcome to the forum. I'm a little under a year on this site,and have learned many things above what I thought I knew before coming on here. My family room is done up with the Icon Series that went with the KF-28's,except the center channel,it's a little better than the one that went with the set up. The 28's are a lot better than most people think that haven't listened to them. I've had no issues with them whether listening in HT, or 2 channel with tubes. I was bouncing back and forth between them and KG 4.2's until this weekend when I purchased a used pair of Forte II's. Jim 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted September 16, 2015 Share Posted September 16, 2015 Welcome Chrome! I can't help but think I've seen that video before but don't recall where. Glad to have you here and yes, Maynard is da bomb. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrome Magnum Posted September 16, 2015 Author Share Posted September 16, 2015 Thanks! I see you have some impressive equipment like Jim. I don't know what you think of your Carver stuff but Bob Carver was my hero in the '80's. I ran two M-400's in mono configuration into Magnepan MG-1's. When I opened it up all the way, it dimmed my house lights in time to the music. yup. Stu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 I absolutely love the TFM stuff. The higher up the chain you go, the better they sound. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest thesloth Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 Cool build!!! Now just get those speakers off the ground Maynard is a classy guy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 Thanks! I see you have some impressive equipment like Jim. I don't know what you think of your Carver stuff but Bob Carver was my hero in the '80's. I ran two M-400's in mono configuration into Magnepan MG-1's. When I opened it up all the way, it dimmed my house lights in time to the music. yup. Stu Stu, It's the other way around with me, I'm still trying top catch up with other guys on here. I'm not far from you speaker wise. Others on here wouldn't even look at my stuff twice. Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JEFKlipsch Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 Welcome! Some really cool looking stuff you have built...VERY different and looks well thought out. Loving the Ethernet Multiswitch "console" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coytee Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 Welcome and I agree that's some cool stuff. I didn't grow up with too many warm memories of tubes (other than perhaps the TV). Made my venture into them a couple years ago with some various flavors. Liked them but, ended up selling them. Not that I'm looking anymore but, it seems hard to find a tube amp with sufficient power with XLR inputs that is also physically configured how I currently use my SS amp. (I have a Crown K2 with a 2x6 attached to the side acting as a stand and the amp is standing vertically on top of my speaker, behind my large top horn. Works well and hides the amp....that won't work with any tube amp that I know of) I'm always amazed at what you creative type can come up with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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