EL84 triode amp

[Fran]

I've been working on a new valve amp for a little while now. Its an EL84 amp running in triode mode in push pull, with a 6N1P as driver and phase splitter. As it turns out, it sounds bloody great, far better than I thought it would.

This thread would be nothing without pics:







and the sweet glow of night time valves:





The horns are just driven to perfection with it - I'm estimating 5-7WPC. I have a few more experiments to do yet with it, which instinctively I think should improve it another bit, but as it stands I think its maybe the best sounding amp I've ever made.


Fran

[fergus]

That is a nice looking, minimalist machine Fran....looks cool!

[Ciaran]

Wow... respect!!

(But did the chassis start its life as a roasting tin?)

[Fran]

Tesco 7.99!

[Diapason]

(But did the chassis start its life as a roasting tin?)

Was just about to say the same. Brilliant! Sweet sounds and roast lamb, together at last.

[Fran]

I'm just shocked by how good it sounds - I knew it would be ok, but it's much better than that. The circuit is simple, easy enough to build, and cost very little.

The transformers came from an amp that I got for small money when I bought the dynaco. ItIt was obviously a poor diy effort, and it was lucky I was cautious - the chassis was live with 410v dc on it. If I had touched it I might not be here right now.

However the amp is reborn and I'm delighted with it....

[cybot]

...and me thinking you robbed my Croft Series 5 transformers :-) Well done on the build and the fact that it sounds amazing is just the icing on the er, tin ;-)))))

[barry robin]

great build there, fran. smooth, efficient and whimsical to boot! i'm glad you're liking the sound of the EL84's; i always thought that they had a smooth, liquidy midrange that the larger EL34's lacked-though the EL34's have more punch. and you might want to try them on the quads-you seemed to like the sound of it on my system.

and paula says that when you're done with the tesco pan, she'd like to see if you'd care to make her a loaf of banana bread; why waste a perfectly good loaf pan, she asks?!

-b

-too bad you don't have a bigger tranny available; you could do a push-pull-parallel for twice the power rating! big headroom...

[tony]

Another fantastic job. I think Morrins may become the new cloneys. What an array of professional products.
I will wait for the le creuset version.

[barry robin]

...I think Morrins may become the new cloneys.

If'n it does, he just may better cloneys with his first-class bespoke work...so i'll do my part and sufferingly volunteer to be his first customer. especially now that we know that his stuff comes with a free roast.


-b

tony-by the by, the le creuset version won't work, as the porcelain glaze won't conduct a proper ground. pity that.