Hello from NY!

[asilker]

I am a diyaudio forum member too. Glenv6 over there. The F6 is really a nice sounding amp. It’s my main amp, actually. I used Elna caps on the amp boards, Vishay z-foil resistors on the inputs, and an interesting mod replacing the biasing zener with 3 green LEDs. The LEDs are more thermally stable than the zener, so the amp stabilizes (warms up) faster. Posting a picture of my rack…

I am looking around for another amp build. I’m tempted to build a tube amp. I would also like something balanced, so the F5 Turbo is a possibility. Which F5 are you building?

Oh that's interesting, I'll have to look into that. Right now I'm building the F5 pretty much straight up, single 400VA Antek and the straight ahead universal PSU board. I've done tube builds, stuff like Dynaco and guitar amps (just finished a tweaked Princeton Reverb), but never solid state. I don't think I've run solid state amps since my old Adcom 545. If the F5 is as good as people say, there's a strong chance that I'll go in a direction similar to yours and run it in balanced mode with a second amp strapped in mono... kind of like two monoblocks. I was especially interested in the F5 over the M2x or F6 because I've run tubes for years, and tubes have coupling caps and transformers - so I figure if I'm going in a different direction then let's REALLY go in a different direction!

Thanks for the photos. Your builds look great. How are those Gravesen speakers working out?

 

[SoundYourslf]

Hi asilker,
Are you using a Dynaco now? Curious to know how you like it. I’ve been looking at Bob Latino’s kits such as the VTA-ST120, but I have been on the fence. I have found a few tube circuits I like, so I am thinking of doing a scratch build. So many projects, so little time!

The Gravesen design is the SBA-761 I took straight from his website. I had Madisound build up the x-overs when I ordered the parts, because why not. They’re really simple x-overs (made possible by the extraordinary SB Acoustic Satori drivers), and that route saved me some time. I really like these speakers. The sound is nicely detailed and they image very well placed about 3’ from the front wall in a fairly large cluttered, but somewhat neat 32’x25’ basement (aka, my listening room).

I was sub-curious, so I bought a cheap REL locally off Facebook Market Place to see if I liked having a sub in my system. I do, so another project went on the list. I know I want dual powered subs, but have not yet decided on a driver, thus a topology has not yet been selected.

I will be getting around to posting Picts of my builds out on the appropriate forums here.

Best,
Glen

 

[asilker]

I ran a VTA ST70 in... 2016/17? with LS3/5a style monitors and Tekton Lore's. Sounded wonderful with both. I forget his handle, but an AK'er in the western suburbs was running a VTA ST35 into KEF LS50's on a desktop and that rig sounded great too.

Have you looked at Tubelab at all? One of the amps on my build list is this SSE: http://tubelab.com/designs/tubelab-sse/

Regulated plate current, options for tube or solid state rectification. I'm interested in hearing a high power pentode in single ended ultralinear with a solid state power section. El34 / 6L6 / KTxx I haven't decided yet. We'll see.

 

[SoundYourslf]

I ran a VTA ST70 in... 2016/17? with LS3/5a style monitors and Tekton Lore's. Sounded wonderful with both. I forget his handle, but an AK'er in the western suburbs was running a VTA ST35 into KEF LS50's on a desktop and that rig sounded great too.

I’ll bet the ST70 made those Tekton’s sing!

Have you looked at Tubelab at all? One of the amps on my build list is this SSE: http://tubelab.com/designs/tubelab-sse/

Tubelab looks interesting, though I haven’t heard their amps. The PC boards are tidy.

Regulated plate current, options for tube or solid state rectification. I'm interested in hearing a high power pentode in single ended ultralinear with a solid state power section. El34 / 6L6 / KTxx I haven't decided yet. We'll see.

I had the pleasure of listening to a large tube-based system a couple of weeks ago. Altec bass bins with horns and super tweeters crossed by a Sony TA-D88B. Amplification was via triamped Quicksilver mono block tube amps for mods and highs and Bryston Solid State running things down low. The front-end was a Prima Luna tube preamp (a 400 I think).

The Quicksivers are SET amps running EL34s, but I’m not sure if they are running ultralinear. I do know this was an amazingly resolving system! Louis Armstrong was in the room. Vinyl was spun on an enormous VPI turntable impervious to its surroundings.

This experience left wanting both tubes and horns. I love my system, but the differences between my humble little setup and that effortless air displacement system are terry cloth bathrobe vs Chinese silk smoking jacket.

 

[asilker]

I love my system, but the differences between my humble little setup and that effortless air displacement system are terry cloth bathrobe vs Chinese silk smoking jacket.

Interesting comparison, I'm usually in an old tshirt and my boxers have little bears on them.

In my experience "effortless" is a great description for a well executed horn setup. I've run Altec 604's for a number of years, and while the horns aren't full format they definitely fill the room without too much push.