[tizman]

Hello!  This is my introduction post.  I have been into audio since my mid teens, so for around 40 years, and started building tube amps around 10 years ago.  Due to my preference for single ended tube amps, I am also interested in low wattage friendly speakers.  I hope to share these interests with folks on this forum.     

[JakeJ]

Hi tizman,

Welcome to AC and the Tube-O-Phile Circle.  There are some single ended users here to chat with.

[jhr1986]

Hello and welcome!

[FullRangeMan]

Welcome fellow SET lover, please dont be shy to post photos

[Phil A]

Welcome!

[ArthurDent]

Greetings & Welcome to AC tizman   

[tizman]

Here are a couple of photos of a Decware SE84-C I built a while back....

[tizman]

This is a 7C5 amp I built a few months ago that has a switch for using 7N7 or 7F7 in the driver tube position.  The 7C5, 7F7 and 7N7 are the Loctal equivalents of the 6V6, 6SL7 and 6SN7 respectively.  I built this amp because I sold its 6V6 equivalent years ago and missed it.  6V6 and 7C5 may be low wattage in single ended operation, but they are very sweet sounding.  NOS 7C5 are a bargain!

[FullRangeMan]

Nice work Tizman thanks for posting, its easy noted your OPTs are much bigger than the used by Decware.

[tizman]

FullRangeMan:  Yes.  Decware uses Edcor OPTs as well, but they do use a smaller transformer without bells.  The ones used in my amp are the 15 watt from the GXSE series.  Decware uses what looks like a 10 watt Edcor.  I built a couple of amps with the smaller 10 watt GXSE with bells, and sold them.  While they did sound good as well, the larger transformer sounded better to me.

[tizman]

EL MIGHTY CACAHUATE from a design and schematic created by Wauwatosa Tube Factory. This circuit is fantastic sounding, and I highly recommend it. Also, check out the article for EL MIGHTY CACAHUATE at WTFamps.com   This article contains the most straightforward and thorough explanation on how to design a single ended tube amp that I have ever come across.

[tizman]

This is a photo part way through the build that shows the tube sockets and heater wiring and all the magnetics installed.  This amp has a power supply with three chokes.  2 are used in the section before the power tube node, and one is used immediately after that node to better decouple the power tubes from the driver tube.  This was my first build using Hammond 125CSE OPTs.  I wasnt expecting much from them, but I am very pleased with their performance given their very reasonable price.  They are better and cleaner sounding than most the small vintage OPTs that I have used in some of my builds.   

[tizman]

The completed EL MIGHTY CACAHUATE circuit.  6CG7 driving two EL84.  On this amp, I played around with wiring the grounds with multi-stranded silver plated copper wire instead of the usual 10 or 12 gauge solid copper wire that I normally use.  This amp sounds great.  I highly recommend the circuit.  Check it out on WTFamps.com   The article on WTFamps.com is easily the most clear and concise explanation of how to design a single ended tube amp that I have ever read.

[mresseguie]

Hi, Tizman.

Thanks for the reference to WTFamps.com. It looks like a great site. I'll read as many articles as time allows during the holidays. I really need to learn good soldering techniques before I tackle any DIY amp projects.

Michael