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My Opinion on Aikido KT88 SET, etc.

Posted by Thomas Martens on January 25, 2007 at 11:36:56

In Reply to: Single Ended KT88 posted by Jayme on January 25, 2007 at 09:56:01:

Yes, the KT88 is a great tube for SET amps when triode connected.
While I applaud your enthusiasm, I would STRONGLY urge you to
purchase the latest 2 volumes of Morgan Jones' 'Valve Amplifiers'
handbook. He covers all of the above issues you asked about in
superb detail in an easy to follow conversational style. I would
not balk at the cost, as it will pay for itself many times over
in short order, and represents a small fraction of the cost of
about ANY decent tube amp project.

Seriously, we are talking about LETHAL voltages here, and I would
do some reading and thinking before you get to the point of choosing
any particular design. Frankly, it would doubtless be less expensive,
less dangerous, and probably all-around starting off with something
like a 2A3 SET amplifer. Lower voltages, easier drive requirements,
etc. And frankly, for about the same money you can almost certainly
build a good complete STEREO 2A3 amp as you can only ONE channel of
a competent KT88 amp. I know about this: I have designed a superb
KT88 amp from scratch.

Also: IMHO, the aikido KT88 design strikes me as not very elegant
engineering, and almost garanteed to have low freq extension and
IMD problems, if not also excessive high-order distortion products
from the drive topology. Sorry if I peed in the punchbowl, but I
think there are simpler, cleaner, and more robust ways to drive
such an output tube.

If you e-mail me privately, I can send you my home phone number,
as I would be willing to discuss this with you privately if you
would like.

Cheers,

-T.M.

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