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Amazing $50 3 Tube Preamp

Another option for a case is a wooden tissue box. Some of those use designer woods with sliding bottoms. The opening in the top could even showcase the tubes. Speaking of showy tubes this pre has lots of bling. There appears to be a tiny led light near the tubes which makes them glow violet. Really striking in low lighting.
 
Combining the $50 preamp and Tripath board amp

estreet, how bout 10 lashes with a wet noodle? :nono:

Now another option I'd like to see someone try is combining the $50 pre in the same case with one of those tripath board amps from Parts Express. Those board amps are power amps with no volume pot so the $50 pre is a natural and has just the right amount of gain for a tripath.

A few years ago I bought what was called the "t-amp preamp" which cost more than this tube pre and was a terrible mistake. It even had a phono section but the sound was very disappointing even when powered with a big Pyramid PS. I see these recommended by others who read the lone positive review but have probably never heard one.

As others have learned a tube preamp + t-amp is a wonderful match. For under $200 one could have sound comparable to boutique gear. I had a high dollar Classe integrated a few years ago and I can say in all honesty this lowly $50 tube pre/t-amp combination I like better.
 
These decorator boxes, often used as section dividers in dressers, come with a nice finish. No way I could make one this cheap with as good a finish. Judging by how hard it was to drill these may be Hondurus mahogany. The top which just happens to match is not even wood. :D


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waudio said:
Quickie is not really $99. With the box, PJCSS, tax, and shipping - it is close to $230 (battery not included). I built one - sold it for $175 within couple months. I did not play with tube rolling but IMHO - it is overrated and sounds harsh. Big disappointment to me. I am sure however, there are others who disagree and love/enjoy it.
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And the tubes riiiiiing! I was not all that happy with mine, either. I like my buddy's Foreplay and Paramours, but the Quickie was not the acceptable cheap substitute.
 
Cheap and Cheerful

The $50 preamp pictured here with the under $100 TK2050/Meanwell PS ( with plexi cover ). I use a Niles input switcher ( far left ) with this single input preamp. I still haven't rolled the Chinese tubes but I've got some vintage Tung Sols and WE's waiting in the wings.

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Cool setup. I'm still waiting for the parts for my 2050. Parts were sent with a custom built marantz clone tube preamp. It never showed up. :tears:

Mark
 
Thanks Mark and GL. The thing I enjoy most is good sound on the cheap. I like proving to myself and others that it doesn't require a king's ransom to reach a high level of performance.

One of my favorite forums at AC is "Cheap and Cheerful". We need one like that here.

Mark, you can buy the 2050 at Parts Express if that Sure never arrives. If you bought it on ebay you'll get your money back if you open a case.
 
Poultrygeist said:
Thanks Mark and GL. The thing I enjoy most is good sound on the cheap. I like proving to myself and others that it doesn't require a king's ransom to reach a high level of performance.

One of my favorite forums at AC is "Cheap and Cheerful". We need one like that here.

Mark, you can buy the 2050 at Parts Express if that Sure never arrives. If you bought it on ebay you'll get your money back if you open a case.
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I have the amp and ps. Just waiting on the parts to put it all together.
MK
 
I hate waiting on parts and between Lowes and Radio Shack I can do ok locally.

Believe it or not Lowes carries some nice binding posts. They come in keystones which I discard. I've also found in-wall RCA input plates there and inexpensive hook up wire.

Radio Shack sells stand offs, switches, caps, and fuse holders. I buy all my heat shrink from Harbor Freight.

Instead of Tech Flex wrap I use Decor Mesh Tubing which costs all of $1.49 for 15 yds.
 
Poultrygeist said:
I hate waiting on parts and between Lowes and Radio Shack I can do ok locally.

Believe it or not Lowes carries some nice binding posts. They come in keystones which I discard. I've also found in-wall RCA input plates there and inexpensive hook up wire.

Radio Shack sells stand offs, switches, caps, and fuse holders. I buy all my heat shrink from Harbor Freight.

Instead of Tech Flex wrap I use Decor Mesh Tubing which costs all of $1.49 for 15 yds.
Click to expand...

Very resourceful. I noticed you also got piano hinges at Big Lots for a speaker project in a different thread. I would not have thought of that.

I ordered the item from China. 58 dollars. When it gets here, would like a nice aluminum box to put it in and some knobs and do hickeys to make it presentable. What supplier are you using for these things?
 
The two decorator boxes I glued together for this preamp came from Tuesday Morning. They were already nicely stained. I like a wood case as it's cheap, much easier to drill, or fix a mistake and it's non-conductive. You may not need a knob for this pre as the one on mine wouldn't budge so I added a garden hose washer ( painted silver ) around it to fill out the hole.

Parts Express has everything you need.
 
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opa1,

What kind of case are you planning to use?

I went to the annual Jr Woman's League Clean Sweep Sale this morning and found a nice wooden box with a sliding top for $3. It's big enough to hold a 2050, power supply and this tube preamp. I'll stash it away in the garage for some rainy day project.

One thing I liked about the decorator boxes is their thin bottom allows drilling small holes and attaching the stand offs from the underside. If you needed more hardware to use with the included stand offs Radio Shack's are a good match and use the same small screws.
 
Not sure yet. Parts should be here today. I might use a decorator box. Sure would make it simple.

Mark
 
The RCA input plates are on sale at Parts Express for $.29 each. You can buy two and make one plate with 4 RCA's on it. Drill out and discard the the F connector and drill out or melt with a soldering iron the two mounting holes to accept all 4 on one plate and drill/melt 2 new holes for mounting. Melting holes with a iron might be easier as you can easily break plastic with a drill if you're not careful.

$.58 for a 4 input/output plate ain't half bad and that's what I did with this preamp.

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=189-164&scqty=4
 
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