Tube Amp Kit Recommendations

[BamaMike 117]

So my wife, the electronic technician, recently diagnosed and repaired an issue with one of my Quicksilver Silver Mono Blocks. God bless her! So now she wants to build an amp or a pair of mono blocks. I have started researching kits but thought I would ask you all for any recommendations. Want something that looks as nice as it sounds.

[kevinmi 662]

I like Bob Latino's kits.http://www.tubes4hifi.com/bob.htm

[amped 9]

4 hours ago, kevinmi said:

I like Bob Latino's kits.http://www.tubes4hifi.com/bob.htm

I second that. 

This is mine (not red plating BTW)

 

Edited November 3, 2019 by amped
added photo

[MechEngVic 274]

I third that.

[Blvdre 91]

Maybe an OTL design?

 

Transcendent Sound

[BamaMike 117]

19 hours ago, MechEngVic said:

I third that.

 

Impressive looking, to be sure.

[mark1101 723]

That's cool having a wife that can fix your tube amps.   A++++++++   

[CECAA850 29077]

8 minutes ago, mark1101 said:

That's cool having a wife that can fix your tube amps.   A++++++++   

He needs to make her a sandwich.

[BamaMike 117]

1 hour ago, CECAA850 said:

He needs to make her a sandwich.

She's also a culinary genius. Follow her on FB... "Cooking with Treva".

 

I'm a lucky guy.

[jimjimbo 10238]

25 minutes ago, BamaMike said:

I'm a lucky guy.

You can say that again......just looked at her FB page......

[nikon f 42]

Bottlehead Stereomour, 3.5 watts using 2A3 tubes.

[BamaMike 117]

16 hours ago, jimjimbo said:

You can say that again......just looked at her FB page......

LOL... thanks.

 

Plus - She hates shopping, loves martial arts and action flicks, wears little to no make up and does not carry a purse... AND... she shares my love for fine bourbon and tequila. HA!

[BamaMike 117]

13 hours ago, nikon f said:

Bottlehead Stereomour, 3.5 watts using 2A3 tubes.

Cool!

[rhing 74]

The Elekit TU-8600R with upgrades including Lundahl output transformers is high on my list. 
 

https://diyaudiostore.com/products/elekit-tu-8600r

[seti 643]

Bottlehead Kaiju 300B with DC filaments. 

https://bottlehead.com/product/kaiju-300b-amplifier-kit/

I would mod the chassis maybe add meters and use a more exotic wood.

[BadChile 38]

Couple other thoughts:

Bottlehead is releasing a pair of 2A3 based monoblocks for under $2,000 in the coming months but I can't find the link to the amp (early morning / lack of coffee / general tiredness).  If I recall correctly they're priced under $2,000 for the pair.  Will edit this post if I find information on the amps.

 

The Elekit amps are well finished and well reviewed.  I built and run a TU-8200 (6L6GC based, also runs EL34, KT88 and associated tubes), and if in the states, now that VK ships these out with JJ tubes I suspect they'll gain more of a following as the 12AU7 that was shipped previously was a major weak link in the amp as-built.  In addition to the TU-8600 (300B based amp) listed above, there is a soon-to-be released single ended TU-8800 based on the KT88 that produces slightly more power than the TU-8200 and has a tube cage unlike the TU-8600.  Additionally, the upgraded transformers are available for the TU-8800 at launch while TU-8600 owners are still in a holding pattern.  As a bonus - headphone tap off the tubes so all Elekit amps double as a quality headamp.

 

Note that Bottlehead and most of the Elekit prices include tubes with the exception of the TU-8600.  But the reality is you can't go wrong going down this path rabbit hole of DIY audio.  I remember silently laughing at people who spent $60 on four coupling capacitors and now here I am one of them....

 

[BamaMike 117]

On 11/13/2019 at 6:57 AM, BadChile said:

Couple other thoughts:

Bottlehead is releasing a pair of 2A3 based monoblocks for under $2,000 in the coming months but I can't find the link to the amp (early morning / lack of coffee / general tiredness).  If I recall correctly they're priced under $2,000 for the pair.  Will edit this post if I find information on the amps.

 

The Elekit amps are well finished and well reviewed.  I built and run a TU-8200 (6L6GC based, also runs EL34, KT88 and associated tubes), and if in the states, now that VK ships these out with JJ tubes I suspect they'll gain more of a following as the 12AU7 that was shipped previously was a major weak link in the amp as-built.  In addition to the TU-8600 (300B based amp) listed above, there is a soon-to-be released single ended TU-8800 based on the KT88 that produces slightly more power than the TU-8200 and has a tube cage unlike the TU-8600.  Additionally, the upgraded transformers are available for the TU-8800 at launch while TU-8600 owners are still in a holding pattern.  As a bonus - headphone tap off the tubes so all Elekit amps double as a quality headamp.

 

Note that Bottlehead and most of the Elekit prices include tubes with the exception of the TU-8600.  But the reality is you can't go wrong going down this path rabbit hole of DIY audio.  I remember silently laughing at people who spent $60 on four coupling capacitors and now here I am one of them....

 

Thanks... I'm headed off to find more info.

[BadChile 38]

5 hours ago, BamaMike said:

Thanks... I'm headed off to find more info.

Sorry about this - I completely forgot to post the information on the Bottlehead 2A3 monoblocks: https://bottlehead.com/product/mon-amour-2a3-monoblock-amps-kit/?fbclid=IwAR1jR_QIiDctc0hEZuGjEiwfmmkVWGBfqttzWDuSVChvlkYr0dre8h403OU

 

 

[Wolfbane 1671]

On 11/3/2019 at 7:22 AM, BamaMike said:

So my wife, the electronic technician, recently diagnosed and repaired an issue with one of my Quicksilver Silver Mono Blocks. God bless her! So now she wants to build an amp or a pair of mono blocks. I have started researching kits but thought I would ask you all for any recommendations. Want something that looks as nice as it sounds.

 

Have a look here:  Elekit - https://www.elekit.co.jp/en/product/TU-8600

 

and here: http://grantfidelity.com/site/

 

All made in Japan.

 

Wb

[BamaMike 117]

Thanks!