[river251]

In designing and building an amp or preamp, if one wants clarity and transparency as good as the best, most expensive gear, how good of an OPT does one need, and where does one get them?

Thanks,
Jim

[Speedskater]

Does anyone know what an "OPT" transformer is?

[JohnR]

OPT = output transformer.

[medium jim]

Might start here:

http://www.kandkaudio.com/

Jim

[DaveC113]

IMO, one needs the best OPTs one can afford. Preamps can use OPTs but often use output coupling caps, in that case you want to buy the best output caps you can afford.

If I had the cash I'd probably order up custom trafos and chokes from Electraprint.

[Pez]

Agreed, OPTs are the most important aspect of almost any tube amp. (waiting for tidal wave of disagreement in 3..... 2..... 1......)

[FullRangeMan]

In designing and building an amp or preamp, if one wants clarity and transparency as good as the best, most expensive gear, how good of an OPT does one need, and where does one get them?

Thanks,
Jim

You will need the thiniest M6, C profile laminate plate to assemble a optimum OPT.
00,3mm(awg 29) lamination and EI profile are not the best, just a regular quality.
For low input impedance OPT(for 300B, 6AS7, 6C33 etc) the core material is very important.
If funds allow ask for silver secondary for best sound.

[FullRangeMan]

IMO, one needs the best OPTs one can afford. Preamps can use OPTs but often use output coupling caps, in that case you want to buy the best output caps you can afford.

If I had the cash I'd probably order up custom trafos and chokes from Electraprint.

Electraprint secondary silver or SILK from SAC-Thailand(silk cloth isolation), Lundahl now had Silver wiring too.

[56oval]

Agreed, OPTs are the most important aspect of almost any tube amp. (waiting for tidal wave of disagreement in 3..... 2..... 1......)

Totally agree Pez  .

My pre use's OPT's no caps or resistors in the signal path  .

Cheers

[JoshK]

Agreed, OPTs are the most important aspect of almost any tube amp. (waiting for tidal wave of disagreement in 3..... 2..... 1......)

Output transformers have a huge impact on the performance of a tube amp, especially single ended.  There are many good choices for OPTs:

Tamura/Tango
James
Hashimoto
Onetics
Lundahl
Electraprint
Tribute
Sowter
Intact
Edcor
M

I am probably forgetting a whole host of them, but those I can think of off the top of my head.   Which is best?  Ask 10 people get 10 answers.  It comes down to your design requirements.  Do a lot of research, if you search you can find some actually comparison tests of FR, distortion and the like of various OPTs. 

[galyons]

Output transformers have a huge impact on the performance of a tube amp, especially single ended.  There are many good choices for OPTs:

Tamura/Tango
James
Hashimoto
Onetics
Lundahl
Electraprint
Tribute
Sowter
Intact
Edcor
M

I am probably forgetting a whole host of them, but those I can think of off the top of my head.   Which is best?  Ask 10 people get 10 answers.  It comes down to your design requirements.  Do a lot of research, if you search you can find some actually comparison tests of FR, distortion and the like of various OPTs.

I would add Transcendar to the list.  Well regarded, not pricy.   Quality OPT's are critical to the sound of amps, and as been stated, especially so for SET.

I would love to have a pair of Hashimoto's to compare to the Transendars!!! 

Cheers,
Geary

[DaveC113]

And Trafomatic. Their amps are well reviewed and I almost had them make my OPTs... ended up going with James, they are made in the same facility as as Tamuras and seemed like a good value. I have seen several pricey SET amps at RMAF using these OPTs. I remember the Hashimoto products being super expensive, I'd rather get a custom Electraprint for that kind of money... 

[JoshK]

Yeah I was trying to think of all of them and knew I left some out.   I have two pair of Transcendars in my collection but haven't tried them yet.   There is also Plitron, Magnequest, Silk, and recently I've read rave reviews of Monolith Manetics http://www.monolithmagnetics.com/.   Then there is HeyBoer in Michigan.   

[JoshK]

If money is no object, I'd probably opt for Intact full Nickel OPTs, or for smaller amps, Magnequest Cobalt OPTs (if you can get them). 

[sebrof]

I built a 2A3 SET a couple of years ago with James 6112 OPTs. Pretty good amp I always thought, although maybe slightly light on bass. The 6112s are supposed to be "pretty good." Everything is relative of course, but I don't consider them to be cheap or undersized for a 3-watt amp. I always figured better OPTs would improve the amp, but thought probably not worth the $300 - $500 it would take to get a good pair.
A couple of weeks ago a friend loaned me a pair of big Electra Print OPTs that came out of a pair of Laurel monoblocks. The difference in the amp is amazing. Better sound top to bottom, period. I was very surprised.
Of course he wants them back, so I've been looking for a good pair. Hoshimotos, EPs, etc., all available. Just not sure which ones to get.

[Quiet Earth]

how good of an OPT does one need, and where does one get them?

Check this out : http://www.hificollective.co.uk/components/trans_output.html

[SET Man]

In designing and building an amp or preamp, if one wants clarity and transparency as good as the best, most expensive gear, how good of an OPT does one need, and where does one get them?

Thanks,
Jim

Hey!

   Like many here already mentioned.... when is comes to OPT get the best you can afford.

    What make good OPT coupled tube amp to me are in order of important....

1. Good and stable circuitry design.
2. Quality OPT
3. Electronic parts
4. Looks.. if the amp look good too than it is a plus to me.

     Lately I see lots of cheap-o-tube amp out there with pretty chassis and a few nice parts used inside but most of them never mention about OPT used.... type of core, wire and etc. I will think twice before buying those amp.

    Luckily my current Welborne Lab SET monoblocks use Electra-Print OPT. I'm pretty sure that those OPTs in my amps cost more now then they were 12 years ago. 

I built a 2A3 SET a couple of years ago with James 6112 OPTs. Pretty good amp I always thought, although maybe slightly light on bass. The 6112s are supposed to be "pretty good." Everything is relative of course, but I don't consider them to be cheap or undersized for a 3-watt amp. I always figured better OPTs would improve the amp, but thought probably not worth the $300 - $500 it would take to get a good pair.
A couple of weeks ago a friend loaned me a pair of big Electra Print OPTs that came out of a pair of Laurel monoblocks. The difference in the amp is amazing. Better sound top to bottom, period. I was very surprised.
Of course he wants them back, so I've been looking for a good pair. Hoshimotos, EPs, etc., all available. Just not sure which ones to get.

   Well, that is the proof there.

   BTW... Welborne Lab's Laural amp? Those are very nice amps. Wonder why your friend parted the out?

Take care,
Buddy

[JoshK]

Check this out : http://www.hificollective.co.uk/components/trans_output.html

AudioNote is not known for good value, IMO.  I am sure they are good, but they are beyond ridiculously expensive for what you are getting.  I am 100% confident you could go toe-to-toe measurably or subjectively with something from Electraprint, Intact or Magnequest for example for a tiny fraction of the price of the top tier AN OPTs. 

[JoshK]

I built a 2A3 SET a couple of years ago with James 6112 OPTs. Pretty good amp I always thought, although maybe slightly light on bass. The 6112s are supposed to be "pretty good." Everything is relative of course, but I don't consider them to be cheap or undersized for a 3-watt amp. I always figured better OPTs would improve the amp, but thought probably not worth the $300 - $500 it would take to get a good pair.
A couple of weeks ago a friend loaned me a pair of big Electra Print OPTs that came out of a pair of Laurel monoblocks. The difference in the amp is amazing. Better sound top to bottom, period. I was very surprised.
Of course he wants them back, so I've been looking for a good pair. Hoshimotos, EPs, etc., all available. Just not sure which ones to get.

Minor tangent.... ever transformer has to be optimized for the impedance and the standing current (talking SET here, cause you were).  Thus I'd not be too quick to generalize that brand A beats brand X for such and such an OPT means they all will.  It may or may not be monotonic in transform.

That said, it doesn't surprise me.   Lots of fans of James and lots of fans of EP.   I'd hazard a guess that a beefier EP opt will beat a smaller James.  OPTs are quite often a function of heft, although only up to a point and then top end suffers unless winding techniques are perfected.

[DaveC113]

That said, it doesn't surprise me.   Lots of fans of James and lots of fans of EP.   I'd hazard a guess that a beefier EP opt will beat a smaller James.  OPTs are quite often a function of heft, although only up to a point and then top end suffers unless winding techniques are perfected.

James are a good value, and much less expensive than EPs, at least when I was looking. I'm not sure I'd put the James OPTs in the same league as EPs and other very high end units. I ended up going with James 6123 for my el34 SET and I am very happy with the result. At ~$200 the price is very reasonable.

So you don't think $10k for a top of the line AN OPT is a good value?