6L6GC Hi-Fi SE Vacuum Tube Stereo Amplifier

[gusdrach]

Why does everybody listen to the same crappy music in this stereos?

[ducttaperulestheworl]

@gusdrach

that's because modern music doesn't include real instruments.

[gusdrach]

@ducttaperulestheworl haha.. nice

[yoluismi]

Eso es un sonido cristalino y no lo de hoy en dia. Muy bueno!!

[peakhouse]

Thanks for post. Love the concentric cooling holes. love the power meter. love the industrial black cage. Great stuff !!

[darksith36]

the song is killing me yuck!

[eduazasmax]

FANTASTIC TUBE AMPLIFIERS,,,

[BladeRunner31415]

Wow !

[MrDimaRockMan]

Perfect it caresses my ears

Good man, i almost cry now :)

[Zhorellski]

Thinking of buying the new production of these stereo tube amps! any recommends? thanks!

[yousukekt66]

You sound great! 6L6GC tube is love.

ヾ(*´∀｀*)ﾉ

[howellfilm]

Nice work! I love tube amps.

[riottaba]

The camera mike is picking up nasty odd order distortion.......

[dogiehogan]

Prefer the mid-range of the KT66.

[Shurbovi]

for this tube amp ... if you wont put words ...you will fail ...

[JimBrinkley1]

I have a two-piece '48 SCOTT Model 800 Hi-Fi FM/AM/SW that has the green tuning eye. The amp has about a dozen tubes alone. Needs restoration. Any collectors interested in it give me a shout at antmeeks60 at yahoo.com

[IPOSER9]

Great Vacuum Tube sound- at a price that will stab you in the fkn eyeball, 5 months salary for 125 watts, no fkn way im paying that

no song on earth is worth that kinda money.

[donnyab]

@IPOSER9

if you are prepared to make your own you can put together a really good amp for 400-500 euros.

[IPOSER9]

@donnyab, i know don its just i have issues with how marketers emphasize on peoples social status, like hey heres something real nice for you rich folk, oh you middle class poor asses can get a sony 3 watt or somethin, cant stand the shit, makes you resent money and rich folk

[TheTangentUK]

that is a great tube sound, tube all the way, solid sate is lame, tube is a mans tool and not to be used by boys.

[jawsrock1]

You say it's a cheap VU meter, but it looks cool. Nice amp.

[Harry3River]

@donnyab

>what do you think of Tango trannies are they really good, have you used Hashimoto also what do you think of those ?

Yes, I've heard that hashimoto inherited Sansui's transformer technologies, so Hashimoto's reputation is quite good! but they are only avairable at Akihabara Electric Mall in Tokyo.

[Harry3River]

@donnyab Thanks for your comments, Yes I really enjoying designing and making vaccum tube amps. handling tube amps is just HOBBY, not business. so I think that the cost is not prime factor. by the way, this chassis bid from an Actuion site in Japan. there are some nice chassis with bonnet avairable anytime . . .

[orthant]

I'm listening to this song with my computer made of transistors. :-)

[utomosugeng]

Pardon me, are you selling the 6l6gc?

Thank you.

[BassPounderX]

question how did they invent this tech before modern day stereos like wtf

[paulj0557]

What is the difference between a 6SQ7-GT and a 6SN7? I recently bought a 1946 Wurlitzer Orgatron model 31 & a Wurlitzer 310 rotary speaker tone cabinet. the 310 cabinet has a 15 in. below facing down & a 10 in.facing up with the metal rotary baffle above this. Also in this upper compartment are two Wurlitzer 6431 amp chassis w/ 2-6L6's a 6SN7 and a 5U4 rectifier tube.

The Electrostatic organ design of the late 20's is most amazing!

See patents in the comments on vid 'WurliTzer Organ Stoplist'

[Harry3River]

@paulj0557 Thanks for comment. Yes at the design stage I think to use 6SN7 but actually 6SL7, I mentioned befoe on this board that I picked 6SQ7-GT, the first reason is on-hand and second is looks so nice especially base metal part. I've got same of 6SN7 and 6SL7 but base black plastic part is not shine. final reason is 6SQ7's amplitude ratio (μ)is 100, so could be get enough gain same as half of 12AX7. also 6SQ7 was used as 5 tube Super Het Radio, so we can get NOS still in the market. thanks!

[IcechickenSr]

Very nice job! Is the power output meter just a rebuild VU meter? or is it an actual watt meter like you see on the old marantz power blocks and on the old macintosh amps? I would very much like to find meters such as these for my project. Cheers, IC.

[Harry3River]

@IcechickenSr Thanks for your commnt, I don't know detail of Maranz circuit sorry. This mater is not mesuring output power exactly but just kind of decoration, so schematic is simple just connected sp terminal to the meter with 1N60 diode and 1K resistor connected in series to the gnd, and R/L switch on the front of chassis. meter is charp approx 200 micro Amp and lighted with red LED. Please set VU meter on your next Amp project and please show me them on the net. Thanks! Harry@japan

[zappmobile21]

Song is Emi Fujita-The End of the World

[riottaba]

Are the O/Ps running in triode or pentode mode?

[Harry3River]

@riottaba Thanks for your comment. The final stage is UL(Ultra Linear) connected to the Output Transformer, it is connected 2nd (screen)grid to UL(SG) tap of the transformer. it is very popular method here in Japan, it effects and aiming that output power is pentode class but damping factor is triode class. I hope you can see what I mean.

[riottaba]

@Harry3River

I do know what you mean also 6L6 makes a poor triode I prefer EL34 with plate load about 5k. I have yet to try SE UL connection but aim to buy some suitable transformers some day. Great hobby!

[Shurbovi]

tell me please song end singer

[Harry3River]

@Shurbovi This tune called End Of The World and singer is Japanese lady Emi Fujita.

[Shurbovi]

magnifique amp ...perfect job i like power output indicator end light ....perfect is small

[Shurbovi]

musis source mp3 widows vista ; ) 

[Shurbovi]

this is one of the best presentation ... high information for this clip ...well done ...like a trye audiophiles ...great work ...go ahead ...regards !!!

[260830107]

is it true that if you dont connect anything to the output, it will kill the tubes and transformers?

[krellcusio]

Can You give me the name of this singer?

[Harry3River]

@krellcusio This tune called End Of The World and singer is Japanese lady Emi Fujita.

[CorvetteCoonass]

@Harry3River Damn she almost sounds like Karen Carpenter.

[trugemini6382]

@Harry3River this song is Originally a 1963 American song by American Country singer Skeeter Davis. I guess this version is a remake sung by Emi Fujita ?

[trugemini6382]

@krellcusio The Original is a 1963 song by American country singer Skeeter Davis. called "The end of the world"

[CorvetteCoonass]

Also, when most people think tube bass amps, they think Ampeg SVT with a 8x10 cabinet. Tube amps have am much broader frequency range than people think, they go over 30,000 Hz and all the way down to around 15 Hz.. The reason why Ampegs sound warm and fat is mainly because the cabinet lacks tweeters. They don't have tweeters so when the amp is overdriven, the sound is fat and warm. Tweeters + Distortion = YUCK! You plug an SVT in a full range cabinet it will sound very clean, but very pleasant.

[49kasey]

I really like the sound. Are you using the outputs in pentode mode? Why did you decide on 6SQ7's as drivers? I know about cathode bias and fixed bias but what does self-bias mean?

[Harry3River]

@49kasey Thanks for your comment. The final stage is UL(Ultra Linear) connection to Output Transformer, it is connected 2nd grid to UL tap of the transformer. it is very popular method here in Japan, it effects that power is pentode class but dumping factor is triode class. I hope you can see what I mean. And cathode bias and self bias both exactly same meaning, about this amp 470 ohms resister with 470uFcaps inserted. Thanks!

[Harry3River]

@Harry3River Woops! forgotten about 6SQ7-GT, the first reason is on-hand and second is looks so nice especially base metal part. I've got same of 6SN7 and 6SL7 but base black plastic part is not shine. final reason is 6SQ7's amplitude ratio (μ)is 100, so could be get enough gain same as half of 12AX7. thanks!

[49kasey]

@Harry3River So you must be getting about 12-15 watts per channel. Actually, I don't know what dumping factor is. Damping factor, yes. Anyway, beautiful job on the amp. How much did it cost you to build? Were the output transformers designed specifically for SE amp?

[Harry3River]

@49kasey Yeah, I hope so, but guess 8-12 watts per ch. sorry, for my poor English,

Damping Factor is correct. Anyway, discussing building cost is not very

important I think becourse prime parts are given by my friend and power transformer

and AF choke coil ware old second-hand (re-painted by me!) but only output tranformers are brand-new from a tranformer shop in Akihabara Tokyo,

[Harry3River]

@49kasey cont' There are some transformer shop for serious tube amp fans. offcourse we can buy nice OPT with UL tap there (Not special but standard line-up). please search on your PC through the internet. Thanks and seasons greetings from Japan.

[49kasey]

I'm listening through my headphones and it is utterly clean and transparent.

[49kasey]

@betojoven Is that really true? Not trying to be merely argumentative here, but I've been around awhile and I know that even in preamps tubes don't go as high as transistors. The only reason transistors became the standard is because they out-performed tubes in every measurable way. It has only fairly recently been determined that they actually sound better on music.

[49kasey]

@bobyoung53 Very interesting that a bass player would prefer a tube amp. Solid state amps took off to begin with because they outperformed tube amps as dollar value. Also theoretically they should outperform a tube amp because of the absence of an output transformer, the lower distortion and the tighter damping factor. I can understand how tubes would give a more transparent sound on full range music due to their nature, but how do they actually sound better with bass guitar? I'm very curious.

[CorvetteCoonass]

@49kasey In general tube amps emphasize even order harmonics, whereas transistor amps emphasize every harmonic. One could say the fundamental pitches are emphasized a lot more on tube amps while the overtones are very smooth as well. Transistor amplifiers will reproduce fundamentals and their overtones evenly, which can be good or bad depending on the listener. One thing is certain, even without tone controls, a tube amp will always sound great, whereas a transistor amp can sound good or bad.

[CorvetteCoonass]

@CorvetteCoonass It all depends on the listener. Personally, I prefer tube amps. Easier on the ears played clean or overdriven.

[49kasey]

@CorvetteCoonass Hmm, food for thought I guess, but it seems only natural that tubes will sound more transparent if you think about it.

[rolexinSydney]

Ived always been a big fond of tube type amps. They produce a unique "tubish" sound not found in circuit type stereos. Luv your set up. Nice clean clear mid range and the top end is not too bright! Great sound!

[arqpecc]

Simply fantastic your amplifier. What a sound!!! Congratulations

Fernando

São Paulo- Brasil

[hydrolisk1792]

That is fucking awsome!!! OMFG, and it even looks sexy!! Are your tubes socketed? That is the best way to make tube equipment, socketed tubes :)

[thawatchaie]

Could you tell me the meaning of SE in SE Vacuum tube amplifier ? thank.

[Harry3River]

@thawatchaie

Thanks for your comment and evaluation.

SE means Single Ended, so final stage is using single tube

not push-pull circuit.

[LarryTheTubaBoy]

@bobyoung53 Perhaps for a bass, but I'm talking hi-fi applications. I would never tell a guitar or bass player to go solid-state, given the choice. But music reproduction is best left to circuitry that can handle frequencies above 15,000 hz.

[Ihateirans]

LarryTheTubaBoy, maybe you've never heard a decent tube amplifier. Keep your solid scrape (go)NAD (or Radio Shack or whatever) receiver. After many years of owning solid state high end equipment, the tube audio equipment I have is much more enjoyable.

[LarryTheTubaBoy]

Take it from me. I am both a musician, and a sound engineer. I have a very thorough understanding of sound, and a strong, intuitive knowledge of psychoacoustics. You could waste the money on an unreliable, temperamental, and outmoded piece of hardware which you will have to replace several times - or go solid-state, experience TRUE fidelity, and never have to worry about replacing hardware again.

[LarryTheTubaBoy]

Yes, very pretty, but you people need to stop being luddites, grow up and buy a good solid-state receiver like the rest of us. All I'm saying is, you people have deluded yourselves into believing that tube amps are superior because they produce an ambiguously misnomered "warm" sound. The truth is, transistors will amplify whatever signal you throw at it, and leave it unchanged, pure, as the recording engineers intended it. Your attempts to "colorize" the music are feeble and misguided.

[CorvetteCoonass]

@LarryTheTubaBoy Unique thing about tube amps is that they naturally follow the "pyramid of sound", and even without EQ, everything sounds perfectly balanced. I'm a musician and an audiophile. Also, transistor amps are so widely used because they're cheaper to make and easier to carry, not because they sound better. Tubes are not obsolete. RF towers and Radar dishes still use tube amps because they can handle any amount of power, because they're heat dissipating.

[CorvetteCoonass]

@CorvetteCoonass If a tube goes out, replacing it is simple. If a transistor goes out, it's going to be a pain in the arse to replace it, at least compared to a tube amp.

[TheNickSkinner]

sounds awesome... but you have a tube amplifier system so why are you running mp3 @128-320/kbs as your music source instead of wav file @ 16bit/1411/kbs(cd quality)? I bet it would really shine if you ran high def blu-ray through it 24bit/192.

[pianoart2]

That thing sounds sweet.

[py1hy]

schematics?

[iorixs]

have you looked at the MINIBLOK II: A PUSH-PULL TRIODE AMPLIFIER

by Fred Nachbaur? i have a question and im wondering if you have the time to address it.

thanks

[fadatuberadioman]

That is one sexy amp! very impressive!

[donnyab]

you can even hear the better quality over the net

[gimmytudisco]

what is the name of this song !?

[Harry3River]

@gimmytudisco

Song called "End of the world" sing by Emi Fujita.

[badboyfreaky69]

Nice and clean, what kind of vu meter is that and hows it wired up? It looks cool I want two of them.

[1962howie]

Very nice amplifier. I have a pp 6l6 with klipsch la scala speakers, monoblocks. Mine is also self biased but am looking into an autobiased computer module. Your sansui choke looks familiar what did it come off of?

[Thermionman1970]

Awesome.I want to build a 30 watt per side 6L6 /807 unit. I have a 30 watt (approx.)1960's Silvertone 4 6BQ5 hiFi.I run my DVD/CD/VCR/TAPE etc. through it ,but first into a Marantz 10 band per side EQ with low and high bands cranked .The sound is so unbelievable it brings tears to your eyes.I am building a huge sub box to really bring volume up with no bass distortion.A song like Wichita Lineman or Xanadu by RUSH or orchestra or movie music like Born Free or Star wars etc sounds just incredible!

[LordKelvin100]

@Thermionman1970 : "I want to build a 30 watt per side 6L6 /807 unit..."

Been there; done that. I designed and built a 30WPC design that uses PP, Class AB1 807s as the finals. 807s can definitely sound awesome.

[hrbear]

Beautiful and expensive :)

[APEXNRC]

@hrbear & @Harry3River,

Is it really that expensive, since you home brewed it? How much did the build cost?

Thanks,

[gavincurtis]

Tubes will seduce you.

[Harry3River]

Yes, others are PCs, MD players so on, any way, If I've gotta pre amp which has RIAA equalizer and tone control circuit, i will run it. But I don't have good record player, I have very old one but stylus is so tired and turntable belt is finished!

[Harry3River]

No, This amp is power amp, so it requires approx 1V pep input source such as CD, MP3Player. . .

[Lexothphia]

where do you buy things like this from? the acoustic sound is astonashing from what i can hear

[Harry3River]

Thanks for warmest comment. Most components bought at Yahoo Auction in Japan, All tubes are NOS from my friends. . .

[slovan]

What's the title of the song?

[Harry3River]

The song called "End of the world"  sing by Emi Fujita

[espedaire]

Nice job, looks very neat and mellow

[Harry3River]

Many thanks for nice comments!