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Anyone building or just got an S.E.T. amp ??

99.10.84.237
Posted on September 25, 2020 at 13:10:11
drummerwill
Audiophile

Posts: 965
Location: St Louis Mo.
Joined: January 7, 2003


Ive been just listening and making small changes. I do believe "My"
amp building days are done , but carry-on . I'll watch from the
sidelines !

Willie

 

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RE: Anyone building or just got an S.E.T. amp ??, posted on September 25, 2020 at 15:50:04
91derlust
Audiophile

Posts: 1101
Joined: December 25, 2014
 I have designed my next amp and am accumulating parts; I'd be more progressed if not for delays in tube and transformer supply. This amp will be an EML 12B-drives-PX4, running quality Finemet input, interstage and output transformers and a heavy PS designed for quick, clean recovery and low impedance. Let's see how it goes.

After that, I might do a monkey version with lighter PS.

I like building amps, especially drawing on the technical and creative... but my real work incurs a high cognitive load and investment of time and the physical space I have available is pretty limited. Not sure if amp-building is a good interest for me.

"Confusion of goals and perfection of means seems to characterise our age." Albert Einstein

 

I built these this summer (304TL), posted on September 25, 2020 at 20:46:45
Chip647
Audiophile

Posts: 2651
Location: The South
Joined: December 24, 2012

Working on a 300b (52b) right now

 

RE: I built these this summer (304TL), posted on September 25, 2020 at 21:11:51
rivervalley817
 your guitar amp page doesn't seem to work

regards,

 

Building some 300b amps, posted on September 26, 2020 at 01:24:22
andy evans
Audiophile

Posts: 4382
Joined: October 20, 2000



I use a modular construction with several top plates with widths of 50mm, 70mm and 100mm, length of 275mm. These screw in to 19" sub rack parts - horizontal rails with threaded inserts. I love this kind of screw-it-together construction. Loved my Meccano as a child!

So I construct different stages and then mate them up in various chassis. It's a sort of breadboard system, though it does result in finished amps. I use smaller chassis, separate PSUs and driver and output stages, so I can compare different designs.

I moved from PSE 4P1L outputs to 300b. The output stage is pretty simple - self bias. Input stages use plate chokes and Russian teflon FT-2 coupling caps. I've been going through several DHT options like 10Y, 46, 26, 4P1L and currently looking at indirectly heated tubes with higher currents between 15mA and 30mA. So various pentodes and tetrodes in triode - 6V6 type families and their older versions.

I'm self isolating and live alone, so it gives me something creative to do with my time. It also provides a sense of achievement when a new idea works well.

 

RE: Building some 300b amps, posted on September 26, 2020 at 02:52:58
Story
Audiophile

Posts: 10453
Location: NJ
Joined: December 11, 2000
 Looking good! What brand of PS caps are those?

I like the layout for cables - you don't have to crawl all over the place just to plug in.



 

Ha!, posted on September 26, 2020 at 04:47:00
1973shovel
Audiophile

Posts: 10117
Location: Greenville SC
Joined: February 25, 2007
 I was about to post a similar "that looks great" comment, and ask the same question about the power supply caps. I've never seen any which look anything like those.

 

RE: Anyone building or just got an S.E.T. amp ??, posted on September 26, 2020 at 06:42:28
calloway
Audiophile

Posts: 729
Joined: February 12, 2000
 will be changing the output transformers on my Chalice Audio 'Grail' SET mono blocks next saturday...going to an amorphous nickel / iron version

 

2 great minds! /nt, posted on September 26, 2020 at 07:05:19
Story
Audiophile

Posts: 10453
Location: NJ
Joined: December 11, 2000



 

RE: Anyone building or just got an S.E.T. amp ??, posted on September 26, 2020 at 12:40:23
drummerwill
Audiophile

Posts: 965
Location: St Louis Mo.
Joined: January 7, 2003
Ah , new OPT's, always a good upgrade ,especially of the
Amorphous core type. At least from what I hear ,
I've never heard any of them ..


Willie

 

RE: Building some 300b amps, posted on September 26, 2020 at 12:52:28
drummerwill
Audiophile

Posts: 965
Location: St Louis Mo.
Joined: January 7, 2003

Very nice Andy .... modular builds hey, pretty cool Andy ...

300B huh ... Yes, I too ressurrected anold 399B project.
it cleaned up well, I had forgotten the "power" of a 300B
after using 45's and 2A3'S FOR SO LONG..

Willie

 

RE: Anyone building or just got an S.E.T. amp ??, posted on September 26, 2020 at 13:01:07
drummerwill
Audiophile

Posts: 965
Location: St Louis Mo.
Joined: January 7, 2003
91,
I've always enjoyed your thoughts.

Yes an EML 12B tranny coupled to a PX4 would be way too cool..

Don't give up on building yet !

Willie

 

RE: I built these this summer (304TL), posted on September 26, 2020 at 13:03:59
drummerwill
Audiophile

Posts: 965
Location: St Louis Mo.
Joined: January 7, 2003

My Dear Mr. Chip647

.......... I can only dream !

Have Fun!

Willie

 

You ain't one of them-there 'Dixie Bottleheads'..., posted on September 26, 2020 at 13:54:37
Ivan303
Audiophile

Posts: 48887
Location: Cadiere d'azur FRANCE - Santa Fe, NM
Joined: February 26, 2001
 are you?


First they came for the dumb-asses
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a dumb-ass

 

underneath photos, posted on September 26, 2020 at 14:48:13
RayP
Audiophile

Posts: 727
Location: Maryland
Joined: June 30, 2005
 Could you post some photos of the guts?

ray

 

Heh, Memphis (nt), posted on September 26, 2020 at 20:50:00
Chip647
Audiophile

Posts: 2651
Location: The South
Joined: December 24, 2012

 

PSU underneath, posted on September 27, 2020 at 02:13:25
andy evans
Audiophile

Posts: 4382
Joined: October 20, 2000



Here's a picture underneath one of the PSUs. Wiring is in 3 dimensions - I'm not fussy about routing wires in straight lines. I use a lot of nylon hexagonal spacers with solder tags at the top to attach parts - you can see them holding some of the capacitors. It means drilling a lot of holes, so not the prettiest to look at on top, but it's very quick and effective. I think of all these amps as prototypes - I could and do change stuff about frequently.

What I like about this system is that I can finish a module outside the chassis. It's just a strip of metal and easy to turn in all directions to work on and solder. When a top plate like this is finished, I can then screw it into the chassis and connect it up. If I want to work on it and change it, I can unscrew it again and just work on that particular module. So easy.

The PSU caps are always standard motor run polypropylene. I use 40uF and 10uF. Cheap and better sounding than electrolytics in my experience.

 

Cables always attach on top!, posted on September 27, 2020 at 02:26:18
andy evans
Audiophile

Posts: 4382
Joined: October 20, 2000
 As you say, no need to go round the back of equipment with a torch hunting for stuff.

All my cables attach on top - easy to plug in and out. HT is always a Neutrik Speakon 4 pole, and filaments always a XLR 4 pole. Cheap and available. I like that the speakons are well shrouded. 4 Pole XLRs are good for the filaments of two DHTs, two floating DC supplies.

 

underneath, posted on September 27, 2020 at 02:32:00
RayP
Audiophile

Posts: 727
Location: Maryland
Joined: June 30, 2005
 Thankyou. I always think the underside photos are much more interesting than the top.

ray

 

RE: Anyone building or just got an S.E.T. amp ??, posted on September 27, 2020 at 03:53:48
91derlust
Audiophile

Posts: 1101
Joined: December 25, 2014
 Thanks for the kind words Willie. Same here - I miss your adventures! How come you have decided to slow down.

I will get the next two amps built... probably in multiple chassis to be kind to my back.

Take care.

"Confusion of goals and perfection of means seems to characterise our age." Albert Einstein

 

RE: Cables always attach on top!, posted on September 27, 2020 at 03:58:19
91derlust
Audiophile

Posts: 1101
Joined: December 25, 2014
 I didn't think the Speakons were available with sufficient voltage ratings for B+. I will take another look... certainly cheaper than the Lemos I've been considering!

Cheers.

"Confusion of goals and perfection of means seems to characterise our age." Albert Einstein

 

Met some 'Dixie Bottleheads' at VSAC many long years ago..., posted on September 27, 2020 at 06:32:22
Ivan303
Audiophile

Posts: 48887
Location: Cadiere d'azur FRANCE - Santa Fe, NM
Joined: February 26, 2001
 But a search of the web shows no evidence of their existence, so perhaps I merely imagined it.

Seem to recall they came from the Carolinas and had an affinity for distilled spirits.








First they came for the dumb-asses
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a dumb-ass

 

RE: Cables always attach on top!, posted on September 27, 2020 at 10:31:05
Boli46
Audiophile

Posts: 91
Location: Uppsala
Joined: March 6, 2015
 For what itīs worth, Neutric specifically warns against using the Speakon as a power connector.

 

RE: Cables always attach on top!, posted on September 27, 2020 at 13:13:41
andy evans
Audiophile

Posts: 4382
Joined: October 20, 2000
 https://www.neutrik.com/en/product/nl4mp

You're right - Neutrik now states it should not be used as a PSU connector. No idea why - maybe confusion with its use as a speaker connector. They didn't say this originally when I bought all the Speakons and it's too late now! I've never had any trouble with it. The original voltage rating was 300v which is the most I use. The insulation and current ratings are excellent. I've never used it for mains connection, of course. The specifications seem to have changed since its introduction.

 

Maybe Wardsweb and friends? nt, posted on September 28, 2020 at 05:10:42
RPMac
Audiophile

Posts: 377
Location: So. Mississippi
Joined: January 3, 2005
 Nt

 

RE: Anyone building or just got an S.E.T. amp ??, posted on September 29, 2020 at 10:03:11
B. Scarpia
 I'm doing an SET downsizing.

Taking my Tubelab point-to-point wired Simple SE from the unwieldy 10X17 case I originally did the PCB build in to a more Geezer friendly 10X12 and a simpler case.

How come it always looks like there's half as many parts used when you go from PCB to P-T-P? ;-)

 

RE: Anyone building or just got an S.E.T. amp ??, posted on September 29, 2020 at 14:36:44
drummerwill
Audiophile

Posts: 965
Location: St Louis Mo.
Joined: January 7, 2003
K.I.S.S. is Always a nice tweak .

Willie

 

RE: Anyone building or just got an S.E.T. amp ??, posted on September 29, 2020 at 14:51:23
deathtube 667
 Are you in on DF/JDM group buy for magnetics?

Been holding some JJ2A3-40 for while.

Perhaps the time is now to do something with them.

DT 667

 

Not sure this one counts, but it's Single-Ended and Triode., posted on September 30, 2020 at 06:30:33
Ivan303
Audiophile

Posts: 48887
Location: Cadiere d'azur FRANCE - Santa Fe, NM
Joined: February 26, 2001

Can always use a good tube headphone amp, especially one that has transformer output and enough 'poop' to drive my EdgarHorns. This will allow me to continue to listen to music while the 300B amps are on the bench, and they have been spending a LOT of time on the bench. :-(





OK, not directly heated triodes, but triodes none the less. Always wanted to build a low power 'spud' amp.

And it's a kit, but I prefer kits as putting together all of the parts especially the hardware, is a pain.




First they came for the dumb-asses
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a dumb-ass

 

RE: I built these this summer (304TL), posted on October 1, 2020 at 16:54:09
deafbykhorns
Audiophile

Posts: 1067
Location: Florida
Joined: October 17, 2003
 I have a pair of those tube and thinking about a build.
Built a GM70 pair of amps at 1150v so no stranger to HV.
What kind of power are you getting in A1?
What did you drive it with and whats the current and opt use?

 

RE: Anyone building or just got an S.E.T. amp ??, posted on October 1, 2020 at 17:20:17
drummerwill
Audiophile

Posts: 965
Location: St Louis Mo.
Joined: January 7, 2003
No I'm not in on that buy, Does sounds intriging though !

Willie

 

Why not just buy these?, posted on October 1, 2020 at 18:23:53
Tre'
Industry Professional

Posts: 17302
Location: So. Cal.
Joined: February 9, 2002
 https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649519928-serious-stereo-2a3-direct-coupled-monoblocks/

Tre'
Have Fun and Enjoy the Music
"Still Working the Problem"

 

Neutrik, posted on October 1, 2020 at 18:53:39
Alpha Al
Industry Professional

Posts: 2958
Location: N. Carolina
Joined: February 16, 2004
Contributor
  Since: December 3, 2015
 Neutrik also makes a connector called Powercon for AC mains applications. I don't know it's voltage rating.

 

Why so Cheap ? .............. nt, posted on October 2, 2020 at 12:39:03
Cut-Throat
Audiophile

Posts: 18286
Location: Minneapolis - St.Paul Area
Joined: September 2, 2000
Contributor
  Since: May 16, 2021
 nt



 

RE: Why not just buy these?, posted on October 2, 2020 at 15:05:27
deathtube 667
 That is a great price for those amps.

I recall seeing a set for $3K but didn't get them.

 

RE: Why not just buy these?, posted on October 3, 2020 at 16:54:14
Tre'
Industry Professional

Posts: 17302
Location: So. Cal.
Joined: February 9, 2002
 $3K? Why didn't you buy them?

Tre'
Have Fun and Enjoy the Music
"Still Working the Problem"

 

RE: Why not just buy these?, posted on October 4, 2020 at 07:04:11
deathtube 667
 I believe it was Lakerfan who had them for sale.

Missed the boat there for sure.

I do have a good inventory of parts for building something but have not made a decision on what final tube or circuit.





 

RE: Why not just buy these?, posted on October 4, 2020 at 15:47:54
Tre'
Industry Professional

Posts: 17302
Location: So. Cal.
Joined: February 9, 2002
 With all your support for Dennis, why in the world wouldn't you just built his amplifier?

Tre'
Have Fun and Enjoy the Music
"Still Working the Problem"

 

RE: Why not just buy these?, posted on October 4, 2020 at 18:11:26
deathtube 667
 "With all your support for Dennis, why in the world wouldn't you just built his amplifier?"

Only DF can build his SE 2A3 circuit correctly for various reasons.

After all the years JDM has listened to DF's amplifiers and tried to copy them, he moved on to KT88 finals. That says it all.

Those that follow the path of low DCR SE tube amps will eventually become a different branch of the Fraker tree of knowledge.

I will try different driver tubes, finals, circuits and parts while maintaining the "LOW DCR PS filter" theme under my own DT667 ideology.









 

RE: Why not just buy these?, posted on October 4, 2020 at 18:38:32
Tre'
Industry Professional

Posts: 17302
Location: So. Cal.
Joined: February 9, 2002
 "Only DF can build his SE 2A3 circuit correctly for various reasons."

I'm not buying that.

I think you can build it. You have all the knowledge needed.

Give yourself some credit.

Tre'
Have Fun and Enjoy the Music
"Still Working the Problem"

 

RE: Why not just buy these?, posted on October 4, 2020 at 19:05:29
rivervalley817
 for various reasons that can't be explained only articulated

10-4

no further comments

 

RE: Why not just buy these?, posted on October 5, 2020 at 03:14:09
deathtube 667
 "I think you can build it. You have all the knowledge needed."

DF himself told me that he feels sad for anyone who tries to copy his 2A3 circuit. You would need an accurate schematic, layout diagram, BOM , appropriate budget and commit time to the process.

Then there is a question of having his GPA 604 III speakers and associated speaker wires, interconnects, signal sources, room set up - all are probably required to get the full experience.

I will find another circuit to build or continue the develop the SE DC 6AQ5/6V6 circuit posted on my webpages, which is still running in my Altec system.

 

RE: Why not just buy these?, posted on October 8, 2020 at 17:04:20
FlaCharlie
Audiophile

Posts: 940
Location: Gville, FL
Joined: June 1, 2003
 Geeez.

Price new: $18,000. Two years old: $4500? (-75%) . . . been listed for over 5 months and they still haven't sold. And someone else only got $3000 when they sold theirs?

Is this a normal amount of depreciation for "high end" gear?

What a great argument for DIY! Seriously.

 

That's what I was thinking. nt, posted on October 9, 2020 at 20:27:58
Tre'
Industry Professional

Posts: 17302
Location: So. Cal.
Joined: February 9, 2002
 .
Have Fun and Enjoy the Music
"Still Working the Problem"

 

Let's Apply a Little Common Sense, posted on October 13, 2020 at 06:09:05
Gerry E.
Audiophile

Posts: 2192
Location: Saratoga Springs, NY
Joined: February 19, 2000
 The seller wrote "I have owned these monoblocks for rougly two years".

He didn't say he was the original owner. I bet that pair is a lot older than 2 years. I have seen the same couple of pairs make the rounds on the various selling sites. This may be one of those pairs.

Gerry

 

RE: only if you are qualified to use them properly ..., posted on October 14, 2020 at 13:22:43
deathtube 667
 The seller probably didn't know how to utilize the Serious Stereo 2A3 mono amplifiers to their fullest potential, got frustrated and is trying to sell them.

Customers misuse products all the time in other industrial applications due to lack of proper education.



 

RE: only if you are qualified to use them properly ..., posted on October 14, 2020 at 13:58:32
rivervalley817
 'didn't know how to utilize the Serious Stereo 2A3 mono amplifiers to their fullest potential'

correct, if there's quality parts used in the first place, not everyone wants to, or can reconfigure a finished 'SOTA' product so that it works properly ... does a buyer sign an NDA for those? if so, an even harder fix

but a doorstop or small boat anchor? plenty of potential

... and here I said no further comments ... ah well

be well,

 

RE: get the complete system or just DIY, posted on October 20, 2020 at 05:59:54
deathtube 667
 "correct, if there's quality parts used in the first place, not everyone wants to, or can reconfigure a finished 'SOTA' product so that it works properly ... does a buyer sign an NDA for those? if so, an even harder fix"

This reminds me of the Sakuma system where the amps were mated to a Lowther single driver for best effect.

The only way to get it right is to buy a complete system from DF and have him and his brother set everything up for you. Very costly $$$ to do that and only a few will get a complete Serious Stereo system together.

It is best for most to just be inspired by the greatness of DF and others like JDM, JLH, Drummerwill, Coronadope or even Henry P. (flywheel filter theory) and DIY something a bit different.

No worries about resale value with DIY, biggest cost is time.



 

RE: get the complete system or just DIY, posted on October 20, 2020 at 08:54:34
rivervalley817
 you're a trip DT! ... please take care of yourself OK?

 

RE: Met some 'Dixie Bottleheads' at VSAC many long years ago..., posted on November 3, 2020 at 23:11:28
lokalbrown
Audiophile

Posts: 31
Joined: September 21, 2020
 Steve, Dowdy, Jeff and more.

 

RE: Anyone building or just got an S.E.T. amp ??, posted on November 16, 2020 at 18:09:32
rodge827
Audiophile

Posts: 354
Location: South Jersey
Joined: October 1, 2004
 Surprised no ANK mentions here. I didn't build them but have a pair of ANK 300b SE Interstage Mono Blocks. The upgraded ANK Kit 1 sounds great too and ANK can have it built for you. For a fee of course but the numbers are still hard to beat.

My 2c

Chris

 

RE: Anyone building or just got an S.E.T. amp ??, posted on November 25, 2020 at 07:30:02
The Dill
Audiophile

Posts: 2199
Location: Portland, Oregon
Joined: July 1, 2004
Contributor
  Since: February 3, 2016



A friend of mine builds these.

 

RE: Anyone building or just got an S.E.T. amp ??, posted on August 9, 2021 at 20:02:16
Steve.
Audiophile

Posts: 250
Location: East Coast
Joined: July 2, 2007
 I was interested in the Whammerdyne but ultimately I needed a little more power and am having a 300b amp built.

My point in replying to this thread is that Pat of Whammerdyne did reply promptly to my questions. He took the time to write a few paragraphs, he is obviously proud of his babies and I did appreciate his time. I called or emailed several small custom amp companies and only Pat of Whammerdyne and Matt of Toolshed took the time to get back to me for what thats worth....

 

RE: Anyone building or just got an S.E.T. amp ??, posted on August 21, 2021 at 06:37:07
sony6060
Audiophile

Posts: 1465
Location: USA
Joined: August 8, 2014
 I am thinking about a three tube in parallel 2A3 SET amp. I need about 7-8 watts with my 87dB sensitive speakers. Some may state why not a 300B? 2A3 is lower distortion.

 

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