So I’ve spent the last week looking at the data from the initial effort. I’ve retaken some data, analyzed the performance and setup, poured over data sheets and characteristics curves, listened to some music at a lot of different operating points, and I’ve drawn some initial conclusions. And I must confess I’ve gotten some interesting surprises.
Continue readingWell, all the data for the aforementioned optimization is collected and in the computer. I’ve been chewing on the data and my notes for the last couple of hours and it’s safe to say, there is a lot more here than first meets the eye.
Continue readingFor anyone who is interested in a little more of the history of feedback development, I have posted an article from the Proceedings of the IEEE from 1999. It’s a relatively quick but informative read about the topic.
Continue readingThis may seem a non-sequitur to some. After all, I don’t post designs on this website that make use of feedback. This is simply because I don’t like the way feedback affects the sound of an audio amplifier. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t understand feedback and make use of it in other applications.
Continue readingWe’ve had a bit of a cold and rainy snap here which has prevented me from getting to the chassis work for the new 807 amp. But that doesn’t mean I’ve been totally idle.
Continue readingMy last post concerning unused and little used test equipment got me thinking. I decided that maybe some of the equipment I’ve accumulated over the years should really be put to better use.
Continue readingIt never ceases to amaze me how much test equipment I have seemed to have accumulated in the last 40 years or so. And some of it has been largely overshadowed by the continuing march of technology. It seems that everything now is so feature packed that lots of the old equipment is (nearly) totally obsolete.
Continue readingI’ve been moving some amplifiers around today, listening to some that have been idle for a while and doing a little side-by-side comparison. And I’ve been reminded of a very important fact about amplifier performance.
Continue readingThere is truly nothing like the smell of a freshly wound transformer.
Continue readingWhen looking at schematics and builds of vacuum tube amplifiers employing output transformers some people notice a curious inconsistency. On some amplifiers, the output (i.e. secondary) side of the transformer is grounded, on others, it is not. This can lead to a dilemma for amplifier builders: To ground, or not to ground? Luckily, there are some simple guidelines which will almost always yield the correct answer.
Continue readingIn my last post, I talked about the changes I’ve made to my 807 prototype jig so that I could investigate the 400v, triode strapped, plate voltage limit. Now I’ve managed to spend some time playing with the high voltage prototype power supply and my newly modified jig. As a result, I’ve learned a surprising amount about the 807 operating as a triode.
Continue readingA comment by “Dave K” a few days ago got me thinking about how I intend to run my 807 power stage and the limitations listed on the data sheet. So it shouldn’t be a shock to anyone that I’ve decided that a little more testing is required. And that required an update of my 807 test jig.
Continue readingI have the initial set of data with the power supply prototype using the Edcor XPWR011 power transformer. It is enlightening and clearly shows which amplifier I need to build next.
Continue readingBe sure to look carefully at the environment where you do your work. Failure to look too closely may result in you sacrificing time and effort to the gremlins in the machine. At least that’s what just happened to me.
Continue readingOne of the risks of becoming too familiar with vacuum tube electronics is that it’s easy to become a little careless when working around high voltages. And because of this learned carelessness, sometimes we don’t take as many precautions as we should. Especially when prototyping.
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