complete tube newby - please help i'm in way over my head

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jlee

  • Jr. Member
  • Posts: 6
Hi, please any suggestions would be very grateful

I recently purchased a magnavox console 6v6 amp, but don't know how to hook it up. I attached the speakers using spades, but i don't think I did this right: it has connectors indentified as "1 2 C". Does 1 rep. 4 ohms, 2 for 8, and C to attached the one not attached to either 1 or 2". I attached 1 speaker to 1 & 2 and other to the other side of 1 & 2, but nothing.

There is no on/off switch. It had outputs 1 & 2, to which I attached a Oppo dvd player, plugged both in, but nothing? I then attached a pioneer 1988 receiver (phono then tape connection) in an attempt to use as a pre-amp, but again nothing.

Thanks muchly,

John

links to amp photos - hope they work:

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb103/Guitarprojects/magna7.jpg

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb103/Guitarprojects/magna5.jpg




 

richidoo

Re: complete tube newby - please help i'm in way over my head
« Reply #1 on: 8 Jun 2008, 03:02 am »
Hi jlee, welcome to tube insanity! It's OK, you have friends here.  :lol:

My guess is to connect speaker positives to 1 and 2, while negatives both connect to C (common)

I recommend you find someone familar with tube amplifiers who can check it over for you. A few things need to be done before you can use it to maximum enjoyment and safety.
Test all the tubes, replace signal tubes if too worn out, and replace output tubes with a good matched set if necessary. There is only one bias adjust, so matching is important for a nice sound on a push pull tube amp.
Test transformers for shorts and appropriate output for the tubes.
Check/replace that big 50 year old electrolytic power supply cap It is only 40uF so a bigger better one might make it a lot quieter, maybe even better bass too.
Adjust the bias of the tubes after you test/replace any duds
Check offset voltage on the output. 0V is ideal, less than 50mV is probably good enough. 100mV is pushing it. Fixing that might not be worth it. But at least you know what you got, take the repairman's advice.
Estimate output impedance so you know what speakers will work best, probably highest impedance that you can find - 16 or 8ohms minimum.
Measure power output so you know how to best use it.

PM if you need someone to check it over, I can recommend a great tech, reasonable and loves this kind of 'modest' restoration. Tube amps are alive, and need savin no matter how meager.
Rich

ltr317

Re: complete tube newby - please help i'm in way over my head
« Reply #2 on: 8 Jun 2008, 03:33 am »
Hi, please any suggestions would be very grateful

I recently purchased a magnavox console 6v6 amp, but don't know how to hook it up. I attached the speakers using spades, but i don't think I did this right: it has connectors indentified as "1 2 C". Does 1 rep. 4 ohms, 2 for 8, and C to attached the one not attached to either 1 or 2". I attached 1 speaker to 1 & 2 and other to the other side of 1 & 2, but nothing.

There is no on/off switch. It had outputs 1 & 2, to which I attached a Oppo dvd player, plugged both in, but nothing? I then attached a pioneer 1988 receiver (phono then tape connection) in an attempt to use as a pre-amp, but again nothing.

Thanks muchly,

John

links to amp photos - hope they work:

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb103/Guitarprojects/magna7.jpg

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb103/Guitarprojects/magna5.jpg




 


Rich is correct.  Attach left positive speaker wire to 1, right positive to 2, and both negative wires to C (common).   It's easy to install better speaker connectors and an on/off switch on these Magnavox console amps.  I noticed that the balance pot is missing (the hole next to the 88 series stamp).  This means either you will not get full power from the amp unless you connect a preamp to it, or the amp will motorboat.  If the amp motorboats, you will need to install 390 ohm resistors to correct the missing balance pot.  The original balance pot is on the preamp/tuner section on the console. 

jlee

  • Jr. Member
  • Posts: 6
Re: complete tube newby - please help i'm in way over my head
« Reply #3 on: 8 Jun 2008, 06:37 pm »
Thanks muchly Rich & Paul,

I will take your advice and do the changes... eventually.... but these are still way over my head. Or, as suggested, I may take it to a repairman - I know of a few just down the street here in Toronto. I'm leaning toward using it as a learning tool.

I just did another tube insanity thing and got a Knight kg-250 on e-bay. Maybe I can use this unit for the time being (my speakers are pretty sensitive - Omega grande 6's) while I learn a bit. Maybe even the knight could later preamp the magnavox?

thanks again very much,
John