I know a few of you have or have had valve amplifiers and I wanted to get a collective opinion on their pros n cons.
Valve amplification is an itch I have wanted to scratch since I began my hifi journey- I’ve had valve pre amps- Croft micro and valve phono stages from Yaqin & Bellari but never a power stage.
I feel I have a pair of speakers that would be interesting to try with valves- open baffle Lii Song F-15-; they have great sensitivity so I assume low power is an option.
Advice/ suggestions on where to start- diy maybe out of my skill level unless it’s a colour by numbers kit
Analogue Source -
Lenco GL59; ARB 12” wood tonearm
Ifi zen Phono 3 Mc for Ortofon MC30 supreme
Akai 4000DS mk2 R2R Digital Sources-
Ifi Neo idsd Stream;
Fibre Ethernet connection.
Tidal / Radio Paradise Amplification Boyuu A9 valve amp Speakers Lii Audio F-15 in Open Baffle; Chord clearway
Arrange a bake-off / get together. With a theme of amplifiers, with valves being particularly welcome.
I'd rather have a good solid state than a mediocre valve amp.
I'd rather have a good valve amp than a mediocre solid state for my higher efficiency speakers.
I'd rather have a good valve amp than a good solid state for the midrange.
I'd rather have a good solid state than a good valve amp for the bass.
It's all an ifs and buts and it depends...
These users thanked the author Lindsayt for the post (total 2):
Latteman (Sat Dec 14, 2024 9:20 am) • TheMarlin (Tue Dec 17, 2024 9:30 am)
If you want to start simple and build one, there are 2 circuits that are ideal i can think of off the top of my head
Loftin-white 2a3 single ended amp and the 'simple' el84 push pull amp.
Both of these are pretty easy to build, the 2a3 is probably the more expensive of the 2 because of the transformers and the 2a3s, the el84 the more powerful of the 2.
Has a bit of sand in it, it uses some constant current sinks, (lm317 iirc) to bias the output valves equally. Look at the bit 'complicating the simple el84' on the link. The initial schematic shows both el84s using a shared cathode resistor which means that if the valves arent matched they will just pull whatever current the feel like, the ccs will force them to conduct equal current which will reduce odd order distortion.
They both have quite a bit of scope to play with the circuit once built
My first valve amp was a cheap fountain 10-10 EL84 amp. It replaced a mighty Bryston 4B `cos i liked what it did. I'd just try and pick something cheap, see if you like it and sell it on if you don't.
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Latteman (Tue Dec 17, 2024 8:51 am) • TheMarlin (Tue Dec 17, 2024 9:30 am)
I disagree with buying cheap. Some well regarded Chinese valve amps are actually really dangerous.
Loan or buy a Leak Stereo 20, Quad 2 monoblock, or Radford STA25. Use for a while, then sell on.
You’ll always get your money back.
Maverick HIfi forum or Pink Fish Media tend to have these for sale regularly.
Haggle hard!
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Modded Belles A150 MK2, P90SA, & NVA SSP cables, and LS5.
Leak Stereo 20 & First Audio Classic Copper V2
Modded Lenco GL75 with Saturn arm, heavy custom plinth. Nagaoka MP500.
Nottingham Audio Hyperspace + heavy kit, + Origin Live Conqueror + Koetsu Black
Tom Evans Micro Grove MK2 MC phono
Bluesound Node2i (x2) both with latest power upgrades.
Topping D90MQA and Topping D90SE
Audiolab 6000 CDT transport.
All NVA cables
r3xj0hn570n wrote: ↑Mon Dec 16, 2024 6:39 am
My first valve amp was a cheap fountain 10-10 EL84 amp. It replaced a mighty Bryston 4B `cos i liked what it did. I'd just try and pick something cheap, see if you like it and sell it on if you don't.
Ahh nostalgia, it ain't what it used to be. It's an ECL86 mullard copy according to various sources. Anyway, you'll likely not find it there, but there are lots of similar old amps around, some named above.
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Latteman (Tue Dec 17, 2024 8:51 am) • TheMarlin (Tue Dec 17, 2024 9:28 am)
TheMarlin wrote: ↑Mon Dec 16, 2024 9:39 am
I disagree with buying cheap. Some well regarded Chinese valve amps are actually really dangerous.
Loan or buy a Leak Stereo 20, Quad 2 monoblock, or Radford STA25. Use for a while, then sell on.
You’ll always get your money back.
Maverick HIfi forum or Pink Fish Media tend to have these for sale regularly.
Haggle hard!
I've got two Chinese amplifiers, the first one purchased a RFTLYS A2 which would be called 'cheap', and although it sounds more than decent, it has to be biased manually, taking the base cover off and using a multimeter. My main amp is a Yaqin 300B and it has auto biasing which is more user friendly so I would recommend making sure you can bias the tubes from the top plate or the amp is auto bias.
Regarding 'dangerous', if in doubt you can choose a well known manufacturer like Line Magnetic, Yaqin, Cayin which can be purchased through uk dealers but you will pay 75 - 100% more than Ali Express.
I'll throw in my recommendation for a cheap Chinese amp, a Line Magnetic 211a although I do see some good 2nd hand amps for sale on the forums.
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Firebug1 (Tue Dec 17, 2024 6:11 am) • Latteman (Tue Dec 17, 2024 8:51 am)
TheMarlin wrote: ↑Mon Dec 16, 2024 9:39 am
I disagree with buying cheap. Some well regarded Chinese valve amps are actually really dangerous.
Loan or buy a Leak Stereo 20, Quad 2 monoblock, or Radford STA25. Use for a while, then sell on.
You’ll always get your money back.
Maverick HIfi forum or Pink Fish Media tend to have these for sale regularly.
Haggle hard!
I've got two Chinese amplifiers, the first one purchased a RFTLYS A2 which would be called 'cheap', and although it sounds more than decent, it has to be biased manually, taking the base cover off and using a multimeter. My main amp is a Yaqin 300B and it has auto biasing which is more user friendly so I would recommend making sure you can bias the tubes from the top plate or the amp is auto bias.
Regarding 'dangerous', if in doubt you can choose a well known manufacturer like Line Magnetic, Yaqin, Cayin which can be purchased through uk dealers but you will pay 75 - 100% more than Ali Express.
I'll throw in my recommendation for a cheap Chinese amp, a Line Magnetic 211a although I do see some good 2nd hand amps for sale on the forums.
For my daughters Hifi, I bought a well regarded EAR phono stage clone from AliExpress. Various forums raved about how great they are.
I sent it to my friend (a well regarded amp builder) with a view to upgrading some of the cheaper components. He was shocked by how dangerous it was. Many of the component were upgraded, In the end, we rebuilt the power section completely, and pulled it out and housed it in a separate box to eliminate noise.
It now sounds great, so much so I bought another and did the same to keep as a spare.
He’s had a few Chinese valve amps in. He has a very low opinion of them. Maybe he just had a bad one come through. Glad you’ve had a good experience with yours.
These users thanked the author TheMarlin for the post:
Modded Belles A150 MK2, P90SA, & NVA SSP cables, and LS5.
Leak Stereo 20 & First Audio Classic Copper V2
Modded Lenco GL75 with Saturn arm, heavy custom plinth. Nagaoka MP500.
Nottingham Audio Hyperspace + heavy kit, + Origin Live Conqueror + Koetsu Black
Tom Evans Micro Grove MK2 MC phono
Bluesound Node2i (x2) both with latest power upgrades.
Topping D90MQA and Topping D90SE
Audiolab 6000 CDT transport.
All NVA cables