2. amps-preamps
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Does anyone care to ask an amplifier designer a technical question? My door is open.

I closed the cable and fuse thread because the trolls were making a mess of things. I hope they dont find me here.

I design Tube and Solid State power amps and preamps for Music Reference. I have a degree in Electrical Engineering, have trained my ears keenly to hear frequency response differences, distortion and pretty good at guessing SPL. Ive spent 40 years doing that as a tech, store owner, and designer.
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Perhaps someone would like to ask a question about how one designs a successfull amplifier? What determines damping factor and what damping factor does besides damping the woofer. There is an entirely different, I feel better way to look at damping and call it Regulation , which is 1/damping.

I like to tell true stories of my experience with others in this industry.

I have started a school which you can visit at http://berkeleyhifischool.com/ There you can see some of my presentations.

On YouTube go to the Music Reference channel to see how to design and build your own tube linestage. The series has over 200,000 views. You have to hit the video tab to see all.

I am not here to advertise for MR. Soon I will be making and posting more videos on YouTube. I don’t make any money off the videos, I just want to share knowledge and I hope others will share knowledge. Asking a good question is actually a display of your knowledge because you know enough to formulate a decent question.

Starting in January I plan to make these videos and post them on the HiFi school site and hosted on a new YouTube channel belonging to the school.


128x128ramtubes
teo_audio
932 posts
 

There was no bamboozling and nothing like the pseudoscience you propose on your website. http://www.teoaudio.com/technical/

I ran into you on the cable threads. This thread is about answering questions.

Please leave us alone.


Before you answer a question, you have to define the question.

You failed to properly define the question.

As for the science of fluid metals, bring us your answers for questions you don’t understand.

The world of fundamental physics awaits. 
 
 
You should really be careful about that definition of questions aspect.  As for leaving you alone, I will do as you ask.
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
4,637 posts
 
@teo_audio actually made some reasoned and reasonable comments. Why attack him and his business here? Seriously,  I am reading far to many words stating others are “dumb, morons, snake oil marketers, build poor gear” etc... Goodness it’s time to be more humble and professional about other people’s business, hard work and achievements in life.

Others have areas of expertise and experience we can all learn from. I learned long ago when I feel most everyone has it wrong and only I have the answers and truth, then it’s time for me step back and really look at my myself.

This has the potential of being one of the best threads I have read here on Agon in years. Great posts by the OP and others. I simply ask for us to please stop demeaning and name calling builders, business, posters and people we may disagree with. Plenty of very smart and experienced people like the products from these other companies and can appreciate the sonic differences that are found in these pieces of gear. Many appreciate the sonic differences and fine tuning that can be found in parts, wire, and even fuses.

What some call snake oil might, just might, be a blind spot for the person judging. No individual knows it all and there are products out there that just plain old do as advertised even though we might not fully understand why........yet!
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david_ten
2,509 posts
 
@teo_audio  Please keep posting. Your contributions are valued.

@grannyring  Bill, an Excellent post. Well said, Sir.
Post removed 
alexberger
89 posts
 
Hello @ramtubes,

I have a DIY 300B SET.
Input tubes are 6sn7, driver are 6f6 in triod mode.
I use coupling capacitors (Duelund Custom Cu) between input, driver and output tubes.
I use 5K output transformer James Audio.
My speakers Altec 604E ~100dB sensitivity.

I have a number of questions:
1. What is optimal transformer load for 300B? When I don't need extra power with my very sensitive speakers.
2. What do you prefer for inter-stage coupling, transformers or capacitors?
3. I'm thinking to upgrade to Hashimoto output transformers? Do you have experience with Hashimoto?
4. When you design your amplifiers, how do you calculate optimal idle current for input and driver tube stage?
In the past, I increased idle current in both, input and driver tube. And in both cases it gave me a significant improvement in sound.
For example, I increased current in 6sn7 from 4.2mA to 5mA. And I can to increase it let say to 5.5mA. How do I know what is optimal or good enough?
5. What is the best and cost effective way to separate power supply between output tube B+ and driver tube B+?

Regards,
Alex.
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