Toob Amplified PC Speakers

[Tim Wescott]

It's winter, and the amplifier in my PC speakers just died.

I think it'd be kinda cool to have a toob speaker amp, but I'm too lazy
(and time-challenged) to build one up from scratch.

Are there, by any chance, kits out there? I'm not looking for nickel-
cored transformers with solid silver windings, genuine paper caps rolled
on the thighs of virgins, toobs dipped in LN2, and all that crap: I'm
just looking for something that'll give the audio quality of a mid-range
amplified speaker set, in a cabinet that shows off the fact that it all
uses ancient technology to get the job done.

Suggestions welcome.

TIA

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

 

In sci.electronics.design Tim Wescott <tim@seemywebsite.really> wrote:
> Are there, by any chance, kits out there?

Google says there is a "headphone preamp" kit for $60 to $70 that uses
2x 6N3 for stereo. (Google "Sainsmart 6N3" or "Riorand 6N3"). I can't
find an output power spec, though. There is also an "Indeed/Bravo"
stereo headphone amp talked about on forums, which apparently has 12AU7
and 6922 versions. Not sure on the output power or where to buy. After
that, prices seem to start at $150 for one channel and head skyward
from there.

> Suggestions welcome.

Use toobs that need 5 V, 500 mA or less at the filaments and you can
power each filament off of a USB port! Or, ask Antec if they have a
PC power supply with DC outputs at +200, +12, +5, +3.3, -5, and -12 V,
and an AC output of 6.3 or 12.6 V - Chinese engineers need to laugh too!

Buy a couple of old toob radios at the thrift store and use the best
power transformer (get ones that have one), both output toobs, and the
chassis to roll your own? Schematics for old radios are pretty easy to
find on the interweb.

Matt Roberds

 

[Lasse Langwadt Christense]

Den tirsdag den 3. december 2013 00.51.05 UTC+1 skrev Tim Wescott:

On Mon, 02 Dec 2013 15:13:52 -0600, John S wrote:



On 12/2/2013 3:02 PM, John S wrote:

On 12/2/2013 12:58 PM, Tim Wescott wrote:

It's winter, and the amplifier in my PC speakers just died.



I think it'd be kinda cool to have a toob speaker amp, but I'm too

lazy (and time-challenged) to build one up from scratch.



Are there, by any chance, kits out there? I'm not looking for nickel-

cored transformers with solid silver windings, genuine paper caps

rolled on the thighs of virgins, toobs dipped in LN2, and all that

crap: I'm just looking for something that'll give the audio quality of

a mid-range amplified speaker set, in a cabinet that shows off the

fact that it all uses ancient technology to get the job done.



Suggestions welcome.



TIA



Good for you! Nostalgia has its place in our hearts.



Can 12AX7s and such still be ordered?



I have an old 1964 GE Essential Characteristics of tubes data book. If

you promise to actually build your amplifier(s) and it will assist you,

I will send it to you free of charge.



John





Well, somehow my brain elided the fact that you don't want to scratch

build. So, my offer is probably worth nothing. Sorry.



'sokay, I appreciate the thought. I have tons of tubes and data, what I

lack is decent output transformers and the will to do yet another design

project.



I may go that route, particularly now that someone's suggested a kit and

I've taken a look at the price (!!!).

get on of these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1pc-AC-DC-12V-15W-15W-TDA7297-Dual-Channel-Amplifier-Board-Module-A871-/121227299140?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c39b5c944

put in a with couple of must impressive looking tubes you have on top and power the filaments



-Lasse

 

[Jan Panteltje]

On a sunny day (Mon, 02 Dec 2013 12:58:56 -0600) it happened Tim Wescott
<tim@seemywebsite.really> wrote in
<GP-dnZwhlvztRQHPnZ2dnUVZ_hednZ2d@giganews.com>:

It's winter, and the amplifier in my PC speakers just died.

I think it'd be kinda cool to have a toob speaker amp,

You are sick man, very sick.

 

[Jim Thompson]

On Mon, 02 Dec 2013 12:58:56 -0600, Tim Wescott
<tim@seemywebsite.really> wrote:

It's winter, and the amplifier in my PC speakers just died.

I think it'd be kinda cool to have a toob speaker amp, but I'm too lazy
(and time-challenged) to build one up from scratch.

Are there, by any chance, kits out there? I'm not looking for nickel-
cored transformers with solid silver windings, genuine paper caps rolled
on the thighs of virgins, toobs dipped in LN2, and all that crap: I'm
just looking for something that'll give the audio quality of a mid-range
amplified speaker set, in a cabinet that shows off the fact that it all
uses ancient technology to get the job done.

Suggestions welcome.

TIA

All of my tube amplifiers, starting when I was only 14 years old, were
all open-chassis style. Only the preamplifier (Dynaco PAT-1, IIRC)
and the tuner, Dynaco FM-3, had cases.

I quit tubes in 1962 and built my first 30W+30W solid state power
amplifier using Motorola RF power transistors.

Having played clarinet in high school orchestra, marching band and
various Dixieland and dance bands, I was never fond of the toooob
"warmth"... and the intermodulation distortion... a good Mozart
wood-wind ensemble that includes a French horn will illustrate
distortion better than any test instrument.

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson | mens |
| Analog Innovations | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| San Tan Valley, AZ 85142 Skype: Contacts Only | |
| Voice480)460-2350 Fax: Available upon request | Brass Rat |
| E-mail Icon at http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

I love to cook with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food.

 

[Jim Thompson]

On Mon, 02 Dec 2013 12:58:56 -0600, Tim Wescott
<tim@seemywebsite.really> wrote:

It's winter, and the amplifier in my PC speakers just died.

I think it'd be kinda cool to have a toob speaker amp, but I'm too lazy
(and time-challenged) to build one up from scratch.

Are there, by any chance, kits out there? I'm not looking for nickel-
cored transformers with solid silver windings, genuine paper caps rolled
on the thighs of virgins, toobs dipped in LN2, and all that crap: I'm
just looking for something that'll give the audio quality of a mid-range
amplified speaker set, in a cabinet that shows off the fact that it all
uses ancient technology to get the job done.

Suggestions welcome.

TIA

Just for fun, you might do a single stage class-A stage using a 2A3. I
did one when I was a kid, but with 5 in parallel ;-)

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson | mens |
| Analog Innovations | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| San Tan Valley, AZ 85142 Skype: Contacts Only | |
| Voice480)460-2350 Fax: Available upon request | Brass Rat |
| E-mail Icon at http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

I love to cook with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food.

 

[bitrex]

On 12/2/2013 1:58 PM, Tim Wescott wrote:

It's winter, and the amplifier in my PC speakers just died.

I think it'd be kinda cool to have a toob speaker amp, but I'm too lazy
(and time-challenged) to build one up from scratch.

Are there, by any chance, kits out there? I'm not looking for nickel-
cored transformers with solid silver windings, genuine paper caps rolled
on the thighs of virgins, toobs dipped in LN2, and all that crap: I'm
just looking for something that'll give the audio quality of a mid-range
amplified speaker set, in a cabinet that shows off the fact that it all
uses ancient technology to get the job done.

Suggestions welcome.

TIA

This kit has been around forever and seems to get good reviews:

http://store.tubedepot.com/diy-k12g.html?vfsku=diy.k12g.2&gpla=pla&gclid=CJL-56C1krsCFWLNOgoduWkAIA

There's also this little kit from a Chinese seller on Ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hifi-stereo-6N2-6P14-tube-headphone-amplifier-diy-kit-/230910167825?_trksid=p2054897.l4275

which has the output transformers on board - you'd need to supply a
power transformer.

You'd have to put them in a chassis if you wanted it, but since they're
both mounted on PCBs it shouldn't be too hard: buy an aluminum chassis
and punch holes for the tubes, mount the board underneath so the tubes
poke through and then mount the transformers underneath or on top as
your preference.

 

[John S]

On 12/2/2013 12:58 PM, Tim Wescott wrote:

It's winter, and the amplifier in my PC speakers just died.

I think it'd be kinda cool to have a toob speaker amp, but I'm too lazy
(and time-challenged) to build one up from scratch.

Are there, by any chance, kits out there? I'm not looking for nickel-
cored transformers with solid silver windings, genuine paper caps rolled
on the thighs of virgins, toobs dipped in LN2, and all that crap: I'm
just looking for something that'll give the audio quality of a mid-range
amplified speaker set, in a cabinet that shows off the fact that it all
uses ancient technology to get the job done.

Suggestions welcome.

TIA

Good for you! Nostalgia has its place in our hearts.

Can 12AX7s and such still be ordered?

I have an old 1964 GE Essential Characteristics of tubes data book. If
you promise to actually build your amplifier(s) and it will assist you,
I will send it to you free of charge.

John

 

[John S]

On 12/2/2013 3:02 PM, John S wrote:

On 12/2/2013 12:58 PM, Tim Wescott wrote:
It's winter, and the amplifier in my PC speakers just died.

I think it'd be kinda cool to have a toob speaker amp, but I'm too lazy
(and time-challenged) to build one up from scratch.

Are there, by any chance, kits out there? I'm not looking for nickel-
cored transformers with solid silver windings, genuine paper caps rolled
on the thighs of virgins, toobs dipped in LN2, and all that crap: I'm
just looking for something that'll give the audio quality of a mid-range
amplified speaker set, in a cabinet that shows off the fact that it all
uses ancient technology to get the job done.

Suggestions welcome.

TIA

Good for you! Nostalgia has its place in our hearts.

Can 12AX7s and such still be ordered?

I have an old 1964 GE Essential Characteristics of tubes data book. If
you promise to actually build your amplifier(s) and it will assist you,
I will send it to you free of charge.

John

Well, somehow my brain elided the fact that you don't want to scratch
build. So, my offer is probably worth nothing. Sorry.

 

[Robert Baer]

Jim Thompson wrote:

On Mon, 02 Dec 2013 12:58:56 -0600, Tim Wescott
tim@seemywebsite.really> wrote:

It's winter, and the amplifier in my PC speakers just died.

I think it'd be kinda cool to have a toob speaker amp, but I'm too lazy
(and time-challenged) to build one up from scratch.

Are there, by any chance, kits out there? I'm not looking for nickel-
cored transformers with solid silver windings, genuine paper caps rolled
on the thighs of virgins, toobs dipped in LN2, and all that crap: I'm
just looking for something that'll give the audio quality of a mid-range
amplified speaker set, in a cabinet that shows off the fact that it all
uses ancient technology to get the job done.

Suggestions welcome.

TIA

Just for fun, you might do a single stage class-A stage using a 2A3. I
did one when I was a kid, but with 5 in parallel ;-)

...Jim Thompson
Better yet, a push-pull transformerless design!

 

[David Platt]

>Can 12AX7s and such still be ordered?

Yup. Tubes that are popular with musicians (for guitar amplifiers,
etc.) are still in production in a few factories (China and Russia,
mostly), and there's still an active trade in "new old stock" and
"used and tested" tubes of these types. The 12AX7/12AU7 family are
heavily used in guitar amps, and so remain available.

I recently lucked into finding a big batch of tubes of various sorts
at a garage/moving sale... got three boxes of used tubes, two
emission-type tube testers, and some manuals and tube-data guides, for
the "please take this away, I don't want to take it all to Arizona"
price of $4. A friend of mine glanced at them, and identified several
Telefunken 12AX7 tubes ("These are gold!"). I ended up selling a
batch of seven of them (tested good on his fancy tester) on eBay for
$145!

Sorta hated to let them go, but none of my audio gear is
glassFET-based and I figured that other people could make better use
of them than I.

 

[bitrex]

On 12/2/2013 4:02 PM, John S wrote:

On 12/2/2013 12:58 PM, Tim Wescott wrote:
It's winter, and the amplifier in my PC speakers just died.

I think it'd be kinda cool to have a toob speaker amp, but I'm too lazy
(and time-challenged) to build one up from scratch.

Are there, by any chance, kits out there? I'm not looking for nickel-
cored transformers with solid silver windings, genuine paper caps rolled
on the thighs of virgins, toobs dipped in LN2, and all that crap: I'm
just looking for something that'll give the audio quality of a mid-range
amplified speaker set, in a cabinet that shows off the fact that it all
uses ancient technology to get the job done.

Suggestions welcome.

TIA

Good for you! Nostalgia has its place in our hearts.

Can 12AX7s and such still be ordered?

Yes, there are lots of tube types still in current manufacture, and many
types are still available new old-stock.

I have an old 1964 GE Essential Characteristics of tubes data book. If
you promise to actually build your amplifier(s) and it will assist you,
I will send it to you free of charge.

John

You want to have the Receiving Manual too, so you can check out the full
data and curves: http://www.tubebooks.org/tubedata/RC30.pdf

 

[Maynard A. Philbrook Jr.]

In article <CX6nu.285389$ER3.31714@fx28.iad>, robertbaer@localnet.com
says...

Jim Thompson wrote:
On Mon, 02 Dec 2013 12:58:56 -0600, Tim Wescott
tim@seemywebsite.really> wrote:

It's winter, and the amplifier in my PC speakers just died.

I think it'd be kinda cool to have a toob speaker amp, but I'm too lazy
(and time-challenged) to build one up from scratch.

Are there, by any chance, kits out there? I'm not looking for nickel-
cored transformers with solid silver windings, genuine paper caps rolled
on the thighs of virgins, toobs dipped in LN2, and all that crap: I'm
just looking for something that'll give the audio quality of a mid-range
amplified speaker set, in a cabinet that shows off the fact that it all
uses ancient technology to get the job done.

Suggestions welcome.

TIA

Just for fun, you might do a single stage class-A stage using a 2A3. I
did one when I was a kid, but with 5 in parallel ;-)

...Jim Thompson
Better yet, a push-pull transformerless design!

I remember a quasie tube output, that was bad car ma.

It required a safety circuit on the output, not for users but for
equipment. The outfit could care less about the user safety!

This was a magnetic server that required a broad range of bw.
the tube outputs were a pair of 4-400Z. Had dual HV supply because you
needed the - rail for the bottom side. each heater had their own
transformer with CT to tie off to the common for pinch off biasing.

The top side had some strange method of driving the tube, but it worked

Jamie

 

[Michael Black]

On Mon, 2 Dec 2013, Tim Wescott wrote:

It's winter, and the amplifier in my PC speakers just died.

I think it'd be kinda cool to have a toob speaker amp, but I'm too lazy
(and time-challenged) to build one up from scratch.

Are there, by any chance, kits out there? I'm not looking for nickel-
cored transformers with solid silver windings, genuine paper caps rolled
on the thighs of virgins, toobs dipped in LN2, and all that crap: I'm
just looking for something that'll give the audio quality of a mid-range
amplified speaker set, in a cabinet that shows off the fact that it all
uses ancient technology to get the job done.

Suggestions welcome.

How I hate the cross-posting.

PAIA used to sell a tube preamp, or you could have built it from the
article in Radio Electronics. I don't know if PAIA still sells it, but
the idea was to "give that tube sound", and apparently just a double
triode was good enough.

You're not going to find a tube amplifier cheap, the only ones interested
are the high end people. Even used tube amplifiers from days gone by
likely carry a premium.

Build a starved circuit amplifier.

Or, Popular Electronics once had a tube amplifier that was a cathode
output, though I think they used a transformer.

Find something old, and feed the signal into it. People are adding audio
input jacks to AA5 radios. I think that TMC GPR-90 I got last year for
$20 at a garage sale has audio input connections, it certainly has an IF
jack for an SSB converter and I think even audio output jacks, so surely
it has audio input jacks.

Michael VE2BVW

 

[Neon John]

On a sunny day (Mon, 02 Dec 2013 12:58:56 -0600) it happened Tim Wescott
tim@seemywebsite.really> wrote in

It's winter, and the amplifier in my PC speakers just died.

I think it'd be kinda cool to have a toob speaker amp,

Tim,

You might want to join a yahoo mailing list called funwithtubes. It's
a fairly active list with a wide spectrum of ages and experiences. The
files section has schematics for several low power power amps.

The plate transformer is the high $$$ item. Still available new from
Hammon and a couple of other companies but you'll looking at something
like $90 for a 5 watt capable transformer.

My Bro has a friend whose hobby is salvaging old discarded tube stuff
and building and selling low power PAs. He gave me a 2 watt per
channel amp and it'll run me out of my den even with small speakers. I
can find out what he sells them for if you like.

If you decide that fire bottles are out of your price range, you might
want to look at this:

http://www.parts-express.com/2x15w-class-d-stereo-power-amp-kit-tpa3122--320-322

I have two of them and am building a couple of sets of self-powered
speakers for mine and my Bro's MP3 players.

I picked up 2 sets of these

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Scosche-Full-Range-Speaker-System-with-Two-6.5-Woofers/17128654

at a pawn shop for $5. That's what started the project. I'm using
large pouch type Li-ion RC car batteries right now, though I may
switch over to the very economical Ryobi Li-ion cordless tool battery.

I'm having a woodworking friend of mine cut pockets into the top of
each cabinet and make a leather compartment to hold the MP3 player and
supply it with power.

The amp draws a little less than a milliamp quiescent so a power
switch almost isn't needed. It sounds very good.

I'll put a page up on my website when I get the project finished.

John
John DeArmond
http://www.neon-john.com
http://www.fluxeon.com
Tellico Plains, Occupied TN
See website for email address

 

[Tim Wescott]

On Mon, 02 Dec 2013 15:13:52 -0600, John S wrote:

On 12/2/2013 3:02 PM, John S wrote:
On 12/2/2013 12:58 PM, Tim Wescott wrote:
It's winter, and the amplifier in my PC speakers just died.

I think it'd be kinda cool to have a toob speaker amp, but I'm too
lazy (and time-challenged) to build one up from scratch.

Are there, by any chance, kits out there? I'm not looking for nickel-
cored transformers with solid silver windings, genuine paper caps
rolled on the thighs of virgins, toobs dipped in LN2, and all that
crap: I'm just looking for something that'll give the audio quality of
a mid-range amplified speaker set, in a cabinet that shows off the
fact that it all uses ancient technology to get the job done.

Suggestions welcome.

TIA

Good for you! Nostalgia has its place in our hearts.

Can 12AX7s and such still be ordered?

I have an old 1964 GE Essential Characteristics of tubes data book. If
you promise to actually build your amplifier(s) and it will assist you,
I will send it to you free of charge.

John


Well, somehow my brain elided the fact that you don't want to scratch
build. So, my offer is probably worth nothing. Sorry.

'sokay, I appreciate the thought. I have tons of tubes and data, what I
lack is decent output transformers and the will to do yet another design
project.

I may go that route, particularly now that someone's suggested a kit and
I've taken a look at the price (!!!).

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

 

[Tim Wescott]

On Mon, 02 Dec 2013 15:54:52 -0500, bitrex wrote:

On 12/2/2013 1:58 PM, Tim Wescott wrote:
It's winter, and the amplifier in my PC speakers just died.

I think it'd be kinda cool to have a toob speaker amp, but I'm too lazy
(and time-challenged) to build one up from scratch.

Are there, by any chance, kits out there? I'm not looking for nickel-
cored transformers with solid silver windings, genuine paper caps
rolled on the thighs of virgins, toobs dipped in LN2, and all that
crap: I'm just looking for something that'll give the audio quality of
a mid-range amplified speaker set, in a cabinet that shows off the fact
that it all uses ancient technology to get the job done.

Suggestions welcome.

TIA


This kit has been around forever and seems to get good reviews:

http://store.tubedepot.com/diy-k12g.html?
vfsku=diy.k12g.2&gpla=pla&gclid=CJL-56C1krsCFWLNOgoduWkAIA

There's also this little kit from a Chinese seller on Ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hifi-stereo-6N2-6P14-tube-headphone-amplifier-
diy-kit-/230910167825?_trksid=p2054897.l4275

which has the output transformers on board - you'd need to supply a
power transformer.

You'd have to put them in a chassis if you wanted it, but since they're
both mounted on PCBs it shouldn't be too hard: buy an aluminum chassis
and punch holes for the tubes, mount the board underneath so the tubes
poke through and then mount the transformers underneath or on top as
your preference.

Thanks. That's exactly what I was looking for, except that now that I
know what a fair price is, I may just buy new speakers .

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

 

[Martin Riddle]

On Mon, 02 Dec 2013 12:58:56 -0600, Tim Wescott
<tim@seemywebsite.really> wrote:

It's winter, and the amplifier in my PC speakers just died.

I think it'd be kinda cool to have a toob speaker amp, but I'm too lazy
(and time-challenged) to build one up from scratch.

Are there, by any chance, kits out there? I'm not looking for nickel-
cored transformers with solid silver windings, genuine paper caps rolled
on the thighs of virgins, toobs dipped in LN2, and all that crap: I'm
just looking for something that'll give the audio quality of a mid-range
amplified speaker set, in a cabinet that shows off the fact that it all
uses ancient technology to get the job done.

Suggestions welcome.

TIA

Search for 'Zen Amp' there are some DIY pages out there.
Both Tube and Mosfet designs.

Cheers

 

[Maynard A. Philbrook Jr.]

In article <GP-dnZ8hlvx0gQDPnZ2dnUVZ_hednZ2d@giganews.com>,
tim@seemywebsite.really says...

On Mon, 02 Dec 2013 15:13:52 -0600, John S wrote:

On 12/2/2013 3:02 PM, John S wrote:
On 12/2/2013 12:58 PM, Tim Wescott wrote:
It's winter, and the amplifier in my PC speakers just died.

I think it'd be kinda cool to have a toob speaker amp, but I'm too
lazy (and time-challenged) to build one up from scratch.

Are there, by any chance, kits out there? I'm not looking for nickel-
cored transformers with solid silver windings, genuine paper caps
rolled on the thighs of virgins, toobs dipped in LN2, and all that
crap: I'm just looking for something that'll give the audio quality of
a mid-range amplified speaker set, in a cabinet that shows off the
fact that it all uses ancient technology to get the job done.

Suggestions welcome.

TIA

Good for you! Nostalgia has its place in our hearts.

Can 12AX7s and such still be ordered?

I have an old 1964 GE Essential Characteristics of tubes data book. If
you promise to actually build your amplifier(s) and it will assist you,
I will send it to you free of charge.

John


Well, somehow my brain elided the fact that you don't want to scratch
build. So, my offer is probably worth nothing. Sorry.

'sokay, I appreciate the thought. I have tons of tubes and data, what I
lack is decent output transformers and the will to do yet another design
project.

I may go that route, particularly now that someone's suggested a kit and
I've taken a look at the price (!!!).

I think I still have a box of prime used 4-400's around the shop packed
away if you'd like? I know I gave away a couple of them in the past, but
should still have at least 4 of them.
I also have some 3-500Z but you aint getting them!

I'll have to look to refresh my mind!


Jamie

 

[Scott Dorsey]

If you want a respectable, easy to build, low power tube amp kit, look
at the Velleman kits. They are well-designed and have good output
transformers.

For the most part, when you buy a tube amp, you are buying transformers
and engineering. Everything else is of comparatively minimal cost and
effect.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."