OTLs, tube rolling, and other glowing delights

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by Shaffer, Nov 7, 2015.

  1. Shaffer

    Shaffer Acquaintance

    Banned
    Joined:
    Nov 5, 2015
    Likes Received:
    40
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    NYS
    ...deleted
     
    Last edited: Dec 13, 2015
  2. Tuco1965

    Tuco1965 Suffring from early onset Alzheimer's - Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2015
    Likes Received:
    151
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Just East Of West
    Nice glass assortment. I should do some rolling with my Lyr this weekend.
     
  3. Tuco1965

    Tuco1965 Suffring from early onset Alzheimer's - Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2015
    Likes Received:
    151
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Just East Of West
    I have some old Bugle Boys that I really enjoyed but one of them has started to develop some small crackling noise. The pins don't look bad so I'm not sure what to do with the noisy one.
     
  4. TubeHead

    TubeHead New

    Banned
    Joined:
    Nov 7, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Nice pictures! No need to apologize for your photographic skills.

    I actually have that exact same amplifier although, mine rolls a little differently...
    [​IMG]
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Dislike Dislike x 1
    • List
  5. TubeHead

    TubeHead New

    Banned
    Joined:
    Nov 7, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Well spotted there Moatsart! These are indeed not the cheapest tubes around.. I hunted for quite a while, searching high and low for both those pairs at a decent price. The amp was $500, the price of all tubes together was far less than that. :)
     
  6. TubeHead

    TubeHead New

    Banned
    Joined:
    Nov 7, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Well if you'd just let me send you the GEC 6AS7Gs you would have your chance :)
     
  7. Tuco1965

    Tuco1965 Suffring from early onset Alzheimer's - Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2015
    Likes Received:
    151
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Just East Of West
    That happened to 6n23p Voskhods. I bought mine before the hype craze. I bought one pair out of Crimea that I really like and didn't pay much for them. I really wish I had bought 2 pair.
     
  8. TubeHead

    TubeHead New

    Banned
    Joined:
    Nov 7, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Lol, I knew you'd figure it out! Nice to be here :)
     
  9. TubeHead

    TubeHead New

    Banned
    Joined:
    Nov 7, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Keep on keeping on! Let us know how they progress.

    Hope it's ok I post this here, just wanted to show you one of the amplifiers I built, this is a 5 channel, 20Wpc amplifier with extremely well measuring performance (over 140dB Signal to noise ratio, less than 0,0001% THD)
    [​IMG]
     
  10. Ice-man

    Ice-man Friend

    Pyrate Banned
    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,455
    Trophy Points:
    113
    I recently picked up a few sets of higher end tubes for my mjo2. Philips miniwatt SQ gold pins and 74' Reflectors. They are both exception and pair very well with the mjo2. I usually don't spend that much on tubes, but I though I'd go ahead and try the best instead of spending the same on lot's of lesser tubes. ymmv
     
  11. gibosi

    gibosi Acquaintance

    Joined:
    Nov 7, 2015
    Likes Received:
    72
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Ohio, USA
    My pride and joy is a Glenn OTL with a voltage selector switch - 6/12/25 - for the 6SN7 socket and the addition of two C3g sockets, plus over a 1000 tubes, and more on the way. :)

    (And I finally figured out how to post pictures!)

    Cossor 53KU, GEC 6AS7 and Siemens C3g (flat-black embossed shields)

    [​IMG]

    Cossor 53KU, Cetron 6336 and a Raytheon 5694

    [​IMG]
     
  12. atomicbob

    atomicbob dScope Yoda

    Pyrate BWC MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    18,653
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    On planet
    The WA3 - the amp that began the restoration of recreational listening in my life. Prior, after a day's work of audio, I wouldn't even think about recreational listening. Always wondered if I should have gone with the WA6 instead.
     
    Last edited: Nov 9, 2015
  13. TubeHead

    TubeHead New

    Banned
    Joined:
    Nov 7, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    3
    I truly herald your efforts to get the best possible sound out of the Woo! You have spent many hours experimenting and critically listening to achieve this goal. Kudos!

    It must be nice to set your goal this high, to convert from (what I conclude you thought) was a mediocre sounding amplifier to a good sound amplifier is no small feat, considering all the parameters! :bow:

    Having said this, the more I read about your endeavours with the Woo the more I become convinced it is not the amp for me. I'd rather take the path of least resistance. The Elise has allowed me to do this. I continue to enjoy this amp every day, my only hope is the GECs will last a long time ;)

    If you are up for a hearty read, you really should check out http://www.fva.is/flemming/hsakram/int-srpp-amp/SRPP-grein-spmagasine.pdf

    If you can stomach the theory and math involved (i'm sure you can!) it is actually very interesting and fun to read!

    Was researching what output transformer to couple the Elise with and (wanting to make an informed choice) stumbled on that little gem! It has actually many similarities with our beloved amplifiers. (Seems like my first intuitive guess of a 10:1 (Impedance ratio 800:8 ohms) was right after all)

    Will update when I receive suitable output transformers.
     
  14. gibosi

    gibosi Acquaintance

    Joined:
    Nov 7, 2015
    Likes Received:
    72
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Ohio, USA
    Just purchased a pair of GE 5670. :)
     
  15. TubeHead

    TubeHead New

    Banned
    Joined:
    Nov 7, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Wow, nice find! How DID you find out this was your mystery Japanese tube? You have me curious about this tube, would like to try a pair, too bad the seller only ships to the US. Did you order them yet? If not would it be terribly inconvenient to buy an extra pair for me? I would pay you of course.
     
  16. Shaffer

    Shaffer Acquaintance

    Banned
    Joined:
    Nov 5, 2015
    Likes Received:
    40
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    NYS
    A truly exciting and fun audio day today. Even got to audio-bond with my son, as I had him guess which tube arrived in a given box. Almost as a rule, the bigger the box the smaller the tube. The largest box contained a single CBS 6SN7 short bottle. The smallest box? A pair of NOS 5R4GYB rectifiers. Never fails.

    Also received a new K702, Asian-made. The bumpless headband is just as wide as the Austrian, and not the newer style thin headband. I like that. The (headband) leather is thicker on the Chinese HPs and the dark blue finish seems slightly more vivid. I like that, too. Other than that, they seem essentially the same externally.

    Sonically, what can I say? There are maybe 5 hours on the cans. Trying to think back of what I originally thought of my first K702, these seem a bit warmer on top and less strident in the presence region, but don't hold me to it.

    These K702 have angled pads like the Austrian model. I guess I didn't realize how much they softened over time. The new pads are noticeably stiffer feeling than the pads I've used for almost 2 years. In terms of durability, the 2 year old pads with at least a couple of thousand hours on them really don't look that much worse than the brand new set.

    Too, received two single RCA 6FD7 fat bottles for the Woo, and they actually match. Down to the dual-colored plates. Told ya it was a good audio day. :)
     
  17. gurubhai

    gurubhai Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    290
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    India
    IMG_20150727_160221.jpg

    My diy 6dj8/6as7 OTL, currently using it with GEC 6080 and BEL e88cc.
     
  18. gurubhai

    gurubhai Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    290
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    India
    Its based on the Vaarde OTL published at head-wize a while back. I just tweaked the tube operating parameters and power supply a little bit.
     
  19. fishski13

    fishski13 Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    366
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Twin Cities, MN
    guru,
    Have you played around with bypassing the cathode resistors with caps in the driving stage? Other than increasing gain by reducing degenerative feedback, is there any sonic penalty? I'm working on an OTL design. You can PM me if this OT.
     
  20. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,408
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Holly Springs, NC
    I want to get another HD650 if it ever goes on sale for $300 or less again so I can have a modded version and stock.

    I want to get a JVC HP-DX1000 (again) in addition to my HA-DX2000 (the limited edition of the same) so I can balance one of them and leave the other single-ended.

    They're my two favorite headphones. Why not own two of each?!
     

Share This Page