These projects started in September 2009. I had just finished the 6V6G stereo single ended amp pictured on the tube amp project page and decided to make 2 more amps that would be Christmas presents for special friends and relatives. I had some VT-25 tubes and have always wanted to try building a stereo amp with a class B push-pull curcuit. I know the purists would cringe at using elegant vintage directly heated triodes like the VT-25 / 10Y tubes for a class B amp rather than a single ended amp, but I had 4 of the VT-25's and I love the way they light up. Also the push pull output transformers can be smaller than the single ended ones and I laid out a design with only one transformer mounted on top of the panel and the rest underneath the panel, like my 6V6G stereo amp. Plus, I already had all the necessary iron on the shelf so I didn't have to buy any transformers for the project.
A Tale Of Two Tube Amps
Camera broke with the photos of the panel layout, drilling the panel, and cutting and finishing the wood, Murphy's law in action.
These are the end pieces for the 2 amps. The top is for the 6V6 amp
and is made of marblewood and the bottom one is made of Brazilian
rosewood.
Both are very dense but beautiful. I cut a bevel on the outside edges
with
a 45 degree bit, and cut a groove on the inside to slip the panel in
to.
Here are the panels with the holde cut and the tape removed.
Next, I countersunk the screw holes so the screws would sit flush with
the top of the panel. I used a hand held countersink deburring tool so
I could control the depth of the cut.
These are the transformers for the filaments for the VT-25 tubes. They
are actually 8.0 volts center tapped, so I had to put a couple of
voltage
dropping resistors in the circuit. I used a couple of 0.2 ohm 5 watt
power
resistors for each channel. The center tap then was connected to the
cathode
resistor and cathode bypass capacitor.
Here is what the wood end panels looked like after finishing and
drilling
the dowel holes and slots for the panel.
Detail of the inside face of the wood end panel.
This is the top of the 6V6 five tube amp after mounting the through
panel hardware such as the power transformer, tube sockets, power
switch,
fuse holder, RCA input jacks, pilot light, and volume potentiometers.
Close up of the power transformer. It was flat black and a little rusty
before the paint job using Rustoleum hammertome finish dark bronze
paint.
Here is the top of the panel of the 5 tube amp that will use 12AU7
for preamp / driver tubes and the 6V6 for output and 5Y3G for
rectifier.
These are the output transformers for the 6V6 amp. Just as generic
pair of 8 watt vintage radio audio output transformers that are
convertible
for push-pull or single ended use.
Just finished the 6V6 amp, Nov, 2009. Tweaked up the voltages a
little
and put on the finishing touches. Here is what the finished product
looked
like.
I put some nice handles on it since it was so heavy, and used gold
plated binding posts and knobs for the volume controls. The Marblewood
looks beautiful and was a real hit with the new owner.
Here is the detail of the 7 tube amp using the 6SN7 drivers and the
push pull pair of VT-25 tubes for the output, with 5U4G rectifier.
This was a pair of vintage Olson push pull audio transformers number
T-383. They are pretty hefty and were new old stock 15 watt
transformers
that I got on Ebay a couple of years ago. I had never heard of the
company
before but I tested them on my breadboard mock up circuit and they
sounded
great so I used them instead of buying new transformers.
These are the signal coupling capacitors for the VT-25 tube amp. I
am planning to use interstage transformers to couple the driver to the
output stages, and am going to try using the parallel feed coupling so
these vintage high quality caps should do the job. I had used a similar
pair of Seal Pups on another amp and they sounded great with no leakage
at all.
This is the 8 Hy 125 Ma filter choke for the VT-25 amp.
A monster 500 uf at 500 V JJ capacitor for the VT-25 amp.
These are 2 of the VT-25 tubes I had for the amp.
Finally got this amp done just before Christmas 2009. I made it for
my daughter. The VT-25 tubes light up beautifully in a dimly lit room.
The sound is quite beautiful too.
Here is the finished amp. The tubes all have brown bakelite bases.
The symmetry was possible since the choke, audio output transformers,
and
the filament transformers are all mounted under the chassis. I did have
to put a few extra screws through the top panel, but I tried to keep
the
extraneous screw holes to a minimum. There is a pegboard panel on the
bottom
to conceal and protect the high voltage electronics, with some spaces
between
the dowels to allow for ventilation. The South American rosewood end
panels
were finished with about 8 coats of Deft lacquer, rubbed with 4-0 steel
wool between coats. There is no stain, just the natural dark color of
the
wood with the beautiful grain pattern showing through.
This photo shows the VT-25 tubes with the filaments glowing. They are
nearly as bright as a little 4 watt night light.