I always start with the basics, Power Supply first ...

chokes and motor run caps etc but sorry William I'm talking about tube amps. It's been years since I've played withh SS ... gave up on them. They are generally very difficult to modify to any great extent due to their construction. Also, you really need a circuit diagram unless you have plenty of time on your hands and most of the time schematics are difficult to obtain.

FWIW, when I got back into audio in a serious way after a very long break the first amps I bought were huge Class A SS monoblocs but before I took them home I heard some tube PP Monos that made SS sound ordinary. I ended up buying both and using the SS to drive my subs! After that I attacked the tube amps, first the PS, tube rolling etc and later converting them to triode operation and redesigning a couple of sections. The latter finally got me hooked and after years of experimenting its now SE DHT Triodes all the way for me.

The SS amps were huge and powerful, about 8 times more than my current tube amps but high power is only needed to drive the subs and you don't need much quality there and I've since replaced the Class A monos with much cheaper amps. Believe it or not 650W SS driving the subs matches well with 70W tubes on the top!

My current home brew SE Parallel 845s are light years better than any amp I've had in my system and I've tried (bought or borrowed) some big name, huge ticket amps!

To be honest I would only build my own amps these days but I cheat to save time (and effort) by buying something cheap out of China and then completely redesigning them because that's the part I enjoy.

Regards,
Naz

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - what is the most you will do to your amps...?? - wlee 05:45:14 03/12/06 (17)

DC heaters. - cheap-Jack 11:26:40 03/13/06 (1)

Re: DC heaters. - wlee 08:18:45 03/18/06 (0)

Depends on whether I consider there is any merit in going further ... - Naz 21:01:09 03/12/06 (2)

Re: Depends on whether I consider there is any merit in going further ... - wlee 08:21:36 03/18/06 (1)

I always start with the basics, Power Supply first ... - Naz 15:29:28 03/19/06 (0)

The chassis - Russ57 09:01:07 03/12/06 (0)

Re: what is the most you will do to your amps...?? - Jimmy 06:58:59 03/12/06 (4)

After reading some other posts... - Jimmy 08:50:06 03/12/06 (3)

So what much better? - cheap-Jack 11:45:56 03/13/06 (2)

Re: So what much better? - Tre' 18:00:53 03/13/06 (1)

Thanks yr schemtic. - cheap-Jack 07:38:36 03/14/06 (0)

Re: what is the most you will do to your amps...?? - zacster 06:55:08 03/12/06 (1)

how vs simpler topo Re: what is the most you will do to your amps...?? - wlee 13:09:48 03/12/06 (0)

Re: what is the most you will do to your amps...?? - andy evans 06:33:57 03/12/06 (3)

Re: what is the most you will do to your amps...?? - wlee 07:19:17 03/12/06 (2)

Re: what is the most you will do to your amps...?? - andy evans 12:20:15 03/12/06 (1)

Re: what is the most you will do to your amps...?? - wlee 08:14:03 03/18/06 (0)

Follow Ups

I always start with the basics, Power Supply first ... - Naz 15:29:28 03/19/06 (0)

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