Remember when I said that you can’t always get what you want? Well, it turns out you can. At least in this case. Especially if you are willing to shift some priorities.
Continue readingShifting Priorities
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Tag Archives: 6V6
You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Lately I’ve been looking at a revised amplifier design based on the Marblewood project. The intent of the redesign effort is threefold. First, a different and more widely available rectifier tube. Second, an improved, if slightly more complicated, power supply design. And third, some potential improvement in the low frequency response. As it turns out, you can’t always get what you want. But also, two out of three ain’t bad.
Continue readingA Cautionary Tale
After a busy Christmas season, including a brief trip out of state between Christmas and new year, I have finally managed to get the Lacewood amplifier back up and running. As part of this effort I also identified the root cause of the initial failure. And frankly I’m a little angry about it.
Continue readingI Spoke Too Soon
Remember a few weeks ago in the post When it Rains, It Pours! I said that the Lacewood V2 reservoir capacitor had likely failed? Well, I was wrong.
Continue readingWhen it Rains, It Pours!
Would you believe it? Today while listening to the 6V6 Lacewood V2 I heard a funny little popping sound and a short duration whine. It only lasted a few seconds, then it was gone. But when I walked over to the amp there was a distinct smell of “magic smoke“. Once again, the game’s afoot!
Continue readingWhy Not to Use 6V6s As Preamps
This is a topic that rears its head periodically on vacuum tube forums and discussions. Just a couple of days ago I was reading a forum thread on preamps and someone threw out the suggestion of using a triode strapped 6V6 as a preamp tube. Now this is nothing new. I’ve been hearing this suggestion, on and off, for at least ten years. But using a triode strapped 6v6 (or any beam power tube) as a voltage amplifier is a poor idea which simply doesn’t hold up to technical scrutiny.
Continue readingSingleton Power Tubes
Being a proponent of single ended topologies, I am constantly on the lookout for singleton power tubes. Since I’m working on designs with all single ended signal chains, things like matching and bias points as less important to me than tubes which test strong and are reliable. One source containing lots of singleton “New Old Stock” and “Used” power tubes is Ebay. Often I can get a single power tube for far less than buying from one of the more established vacuum tube business on the web. But I have begun to wonder about whether these are really such a great deal after all.
Continue readingProjects Coming Together
There is something very satisfying about seeing a project really start coming together. I finally got some time today to start working on my 6V6 Marblewood amplifier project.
It now looks like an amplifier instead of just a pile of boxes and parts.