HOME | DD

Description
My First Tube Amplifier
I have been fascinating about tube amplifier for years, and now I wanted to build one on my own. I have been research on the web for a kit with decent price tag. The K12G Stereo kit from S5 Electronics was my choice. The kit sell for $156 plus $10 shipping, I felt this kit is right for the beginner like me. Order the kit I did, it came few days later in a small box very well packed.
The kit rather simple I liked it but it came with a piece of wood, this does not look very attractive, again I did some more research on the web and I came across these two site: [link] (Mark Houston) and [link] , learned form these two men I also purchase an aluminum chassis form Angela Instruments [link] . Got the chassis I painted with several coat of black and final with two coat of clear, and I still felt that I have to follow these two men advice about some modification for the kit. I ordered 6 new .22mf capacitors film and foil type, new fuse holder, chassis mount power jack, switch form Parts Express. The pilot lamp, RCA terminal, mounting screws from the local hobby stores. It took me two whole weeks to complete this amp because this is my first tube amp I ever build so I wanted to put extra worked to make it nice and perfect. I end up installed all the parts on the bottom of PC board, accept the 4’s ceramic sockets and the bridge rectifier. Here the picture.
Finished the amp it is time to power up and listen. My first impression was this 8Watts amp sound very loud with volume about half way. I have been heard that tube amp with couple watts sound very loud with high efficiency speaker but to my surprised my amp also sound very loud with a normal speakers.
I did not have a high efficiency speakers but with a Polk audio towel speakers the mid and the high frequency sound very clear and very clean, but bass were not there I don’t know why may be because I hooked up my CD player straight to the amp no tone control what so ever. Or any body read this have any suggestion please e-mail me. I plan to build a tone control circuit on a later day. For now I am happy with my DIY tube amp, enjoy the crispy sound of the simple tube amp until my next tube project. My next project will be a 300B amplifier.
And here the picture of finished amp. Ooooh !!!, the glow of the tube amplifier such a beauty of the past.

Description
My First Tube Amplifier
I have been fascinating about tube amplifier for years, and now I wanted to build one on my own. I have been research on the web for a kit with decent price tag. The K12G Stereo kit from S5 Electronics was my choice. The kit sell for $156 plus $10 shipping, I felt this kit is right for the beginner like me. Order the kit I did, it came few days later in a small box very well packed.
The kit rather simple I liked it but it came with a piece of wood, this does not look very attractive, again I did some more research on the web and I came across these two site: [link] (Mark Houston) and [link] , learned form these two men I also purchase an aluminum chassis form Angela Instruments [link] . Got the chassis I painted with several coat of black and final with two coat of clear, and I still felt that I have to follow these two men advice about some modification for the kit. I ordered 6 new .22mf capacitors film and foil type, new fuse holder, chassis mount power jack, switch form Parts Express. The pilot lamp, RCA terminal, mounting screws from the local hobby stores. It took me two whole weeks to complete this amp because this is my first tube amp I ever build so I wanted to put extra worked to make it nice and perfect. I end up installed all the parts on the bottom of PC board, accept the 4’s ceramic sockets and the bridge rectifier. Here the picture.
Finished the amp it is time to power up and listen. My first impression was this 8Watts amp sound very loud with volume about half way. I have been heard that tube amp with couple watts sound very loud with high efficiency speaker but to my surprised my amp also sound very loud with a normal speakers.
I did not have a high efficiency speakers but with a Polk audio towel speakers the mid and the high frequency sound very clear and very clean, but bass were not there I don’t know why may be because I hooked up my CD player straight to the amp no tone control what so ever. Or any body read this have any suggestion please e-mail me. I plan to build a tone control circuit on a later day. For now I am happy with my DIY tube amp, enjoy the crispy sound of the simple tube amp until my next tube project. My next project will be a 300B amplifier.
And here the picture of finished amp. Ooooh !!!, the glow of the tube amplifier such a beauty of the past.