Vacuum Tubes in the 21st Century
V=I*R
Tube Amplification, Restoration, Construction and Peripherals
If you are handy, and love to create new electrical things while
also having Metal Working Skills you found your Happy Hour!
Shockman says, be cautious, enjoy and stay safe in this Hobbyy
QUICK GUIDE TO THE DOORS BELOW.
Door I - On creating new Tube Amps, substantial tooling-up cost involved
Door II - Restore vintage/classic equipment, less up front cost, fix rather than create
The rest of the Doors, are for enjoyment of this most musical of hobbies
*Click on the thumbnails below*
Door II - Classic Vintage Production Tube Amps
Door III - Speaker of the House Notes
Door IV - Una-Tube Manifesto, the short & skinny
Door V - The Water Cooler, Time Out to Relax
Door VII - Shockman Hazard Disclaimer
Door VIII - Basic Tube Measurements
(Partly under construction, I let a few things make it here)
Door X - Schematic Library
(Under construction now, your patience is very much appreciated I have lots of schematics on file)
Door XI - My personal Analog Zone
(Under construction now, your patience is very much appreciated)
Power Tubes for Amplification
My "High Bias" Power Tube Reviews
KT-88/6550 - Cavernous lows & very polite highs, trash metal crunchers, surprisingly good with Horns and Lowthers
KT-66/6L6/5881* - Layered, tonal, great for both HiFi & Guitar Amps, many nice variants, a chameleon of Tones
SPECIAL HONORABLE MENTION: 7355 TUBE (RIP) - Small 6L6 variant, brilliant design, out of production, the 7591XYZ was a great 7355 sub, until SOVTEK production ceased
KT-77/EL34/6CA7 - Midrange Guitar "screamer", with a nice leading edge, crystal clear HiFi, very nuanced, KT77 smoothest
EL-84/6BQ5 - Musically engaging, great for Classical Music, a smooth operator, vocals are crisp and clean
7591/7591A/7868/6GM5 - Sweet sound, deceivingly smooth at high power, can kill speakers, current production is Russian
7027A (RIP) - Nice Warm & Detailed Sound, used when Tubes roamed the market
8417(RIP) - Audio Power Pentode, late bloomer, akin to a V8 and Oil Price Hikes, long out of production
6F6 Metal / 6F6G Glass (Russian 6F6S Glass) - Think old Tube Car Radios, fabulous tonality, best kept DIY secret, listen here on 16 Ohm PSV-2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTS7HkzkWhE
6V6/7408 - Lighter version of 6F6 but different sound, filaments are not as hungry as 6F6, can be bright, glassy-clear
6AQ5 (RIP) - Out of production, have a few on hand, will made a prototype amp, with plans to enjoy later
6CM6 - (RIP) also out of production, fantastic Jazz and Vocal, listen... a small 6V6, similar sound character, glassy-clear
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrj1FGQ7e5Y&t=1s
E80L/6227 (RIP) - European 9 Pin Pentode. 10,000 hour PQ version, on my short list of Tubes to use, uncommon
2A3 - Single Ended Holography, Fine Bourbon & Single Malt Scotch, look for the Single Plate Sovtek today. NOS usually worn/used
300B - The trusted voice of DHT Class A - the golden S.E. standard - Expen$ive but Musical, used in Preamps as well
Special Mention RF Power Tube;
6146B - Commonly used for Radio Transmitters, seen in Audio Amplifiers, bully of the block. Easily capable of 75W in PP
Small Signal Voltage & Gain Stage Tubes for Pre-Amplification
Line Stages, Tone Controls, Phase Splitters & Buffers
ECC83/12AX7 - High-Mu, Dual Triode everyone knows something about, it is very common in Audio
ECC81/12AT7 - Medium-Mu Dual Triode, common in Guitar amps, seen less in HiFi amps (Fisher SA300)
ECC82/12AU7 - The true 9 Pin chameleon, Low-Mu, versatile, ubiquitous, handy, the toolbox of small signal tubes
12DW7/7247 - Half of a 12AX7 plus Half of a 12AU7 cool tube, (Dynaco ST35, EICO 2036)
ECC88/6DJ8/6922 - Frame Grid design, a Love/Hate HiFi reputation, I love'em Hot and Bothered (Audible Illusions)
ECC85 - Used sparingly in Audio, very sweet, much more common in German Amps (Grundig)
EF86/6267 - A small Pentode Tube, everyone needs to listen to, most never have (Mullard 5-20)
6C4 - This is half of a 12AU7, small and petite, very cute, used in Acrosound Preamp & Hammond AO-28 (RIP)
6SN7/5962 - The Bulldog of Small Signal Gain Stages, robust and musical (Cary Audio SLP-5)
6J5 - This just half of a 6SN7 (think 6C4/12AU7), killer tone, a best kept secret, out of production (RIP)
6N7 - Rare metal audio tube, Stromberg Carlson Theater Amps (Stromberg Carlson APH50)
6SL7/5961 - Less seen in amps, Cary Audio used them in the 90's (CAD SE300)
12BH7 - Robust dual triode, awesome & beefy, great driver tube (Hammond AO-28)
ECC99 - The new kid on the block, speaks with an accent, nouveau 12BH7 (JJ Electronik)
6C45P - Best kept secret for Phono Stages, used in DIY for those in-the-know (Transcendent Sound)
6N1P - More robust than a ECC88/6DJ8, great driver for DHT Triode Tubes (ShermanAudio Kismet)
7199 - Out of production tube (RIP), Pentode/Triode, Russian version hit-miss (Dynaco ST70)
6AN8 - Out of production tube (RIP), Pentode/Triode (Dynaco MK3, some Japanese Amps)
Tube Rectifiers, the unsung heroes working in the Engine room
"An unfair reputation" when it comes to Music, Tube Rectifiers absolutely rule the tone department
Tube Rectifiers are gentle on their fellow Tubes, fairly slow turn-on, no voltage slam
GZ34/5AR4 - 5V/2A Superman of tube rectifiers, general purpose (Dynaco ST70)
GZ37 - A somewhat filament hungry 5V/2.8A variant of the GZ34, British, rare & expensive
Type 80 Globe - Paleo Rare Tube Rectifier, too much for me as well, for museums
5Z3 - Also rare, museum stuff, not for DIY, unless there is extreme nostagia
5Y3/5Y3GT - Neutral 5V/2A, very reliable when operated within their maximum ratings, quick-on
6X4 - Lighter 6V/.6A version rectifier, mostly used in Preamps (Scott LC21)
6C4 - Small sized rectifier common in the 60's, Silvertone Guitar Amp, also Hammond Preamps
6CA4/EZ81 - Common small 6 volt rectifier, used in vintage preamps and Euro Tube equipment
5V4 - Rare now, 5V/2A sweetie, nice for medium powered amps 20 to 30w
12X4 - A 12V/0.6A version of a 6X4, same tube, different filament (Dynaco PAS)
6CA4/EZ81 - Like a 6X4, but not as popular, 1amp, think VOX (Leslie Reverb Cabinets)
5U4/5U4G - Robust Rectifier 5V/3A, tall, dark and handsome (US Navy)
5R4GY - That Sexy glass bottle, 5V/3A often seen with Brown Shorts (JAN)
5R4WGB - Potato Masher Rectifier, totally ready for Dinner and Battle (Military Grade)
6AX5/6X5GT - Popular 50's-60's 5V rectifier, similar to 5Y3 in ratings, 5V/0.6A from the 50's
274B - Western Electric, high end tube, available today, must be nice, Expensive as F, $$$
Old and New Electrical Theory Testaments
The ultimate reading material for the facts and details
Remember always safety first
Prevent fatal electric shocks or Soldering Iron Burns
Always use Eye Protection,Never work when tired
Use good lighting and magnification
When measuring, one lead, always grounded
One hand with probe, other hand in pocket
No Alchohol when on the Bench, and don't spill the Coffee
I was on a stroll through Central Park NYC, not expecting to visit the John Lennon mosaic
