It’s time for Single Ended amplifier benchmarking session. Located at Bakmi Margonda, Sarinah, Indonesia.
Here is some shoot from the event. The system was very simple, Tannoy speaker, Audio Aero Capitole CDP, and AirTight 300B as Reference Amplifier.
The expensive and luxurious Audio Aero Capitole CD Player.
Also the expensive Air Tight 300B as reference amplifier. WE 300B tubes there. Good looking amplifier with good looking sound. We called it “mature sounded amplifier”.
Below is the contenders, just enjoy the photo. I don’t remember exactly the tubes, but most of them were 300B, 2A3, and EL34. Oh we also got 1000 Volt 211 tube here! HOT!!!
New tubes 206 from TJ. It’s expensive, combined with chassis imported from HK.
VT62 brown base and Mullard GZ37 rectifier.
Vintage Volt Meter there 😉
EL34 anybody?
2A3 in classic wooden chassis. I think the chassis combination is not really matched with the metal plate 😉
Another EL34?
300B I think. Good copper color, but the transformer box should have “more rounded” corner, to give more “dynamic and modern” style.
Of course, another 300B 🙂
The mighty 211 tubes with 1000 Volt rectifier and 4700uF x 3 capacitors to provide >1000Volt rectification. Superb chassis design and very powerful “HOT” sound. This one also got best design award, although didn’t manage to get the best sound trophy.
So many transformer boxes there. I think they separate the filament power and or use interstage? Further details not yet received.
6B4G tubes, variation of 2A3.
2E24 tubes with Mercury 83 rectifier. Hey, where is the transformer box? 😉
Umm… I didn’t really remember this one… 🙁
Yeah, another 300B…
Another EL34…
Made from used box of old equipment I think… Sorry, didn’t remember the details.
Another 2A3 from Gunawan.
One of well made and neat classic design.
The winner was Cahyo’s 2A3 (1st place), Ado’s 2E24 (2nd place), and Gunawan’s 2A3 (3rd place).
Best chassis design was awarded to Ayung’s 211.
Minh Nguyen
June 23, 2009 08:41Hi Jimmy,
It’s great viewing your blog. Am also a tube-amp DIY’er in Vietnam and we also have a big group in here.
Hope to have a chance to see you in the the future.
Regards.
Minh
Jimmy Auw
June 23, 2009 09:02Hi Minh,
Nice to know you. Hope we can share more about DIY in the future.
Thanks.
Minh Nguyen
April 9, 2010 15:29Hi Jimmy,
it’s been a while I did not fool-around in your site! How are you.
I just completed a VT-62 SE. It sound very good and even better than my Cary CAD-300B-SE monoblock, at least for the mid-high. However, I still not feel OK with the input stage using 6SN7-SRPP. I think the 6SN7 have taken out something from VT-62, but I really don’t know what it is. Do you have any experience for the input stage for VT-62?
Regards.
Minh.
Jimmy Auw
April 9, 2010 22:00Hi Minh,
What’s the problem with 6SN7 SRPP at input? I mean, what did you miss?
Perhaps you should try a better tube? I mean, different 6SN7 brand.
Thanks.
Minh Nguyen
April 13, 2010 14:34Hi Jimmy,
I currently use the 6SN7 RCA, brown base. I have changed to Sylvania metal base (NOS) and the sound is much better. Thanks for your advice. I wired the VT-62 amp to Mid band using Altec 291-16A (Altec 15A for Low and JBL077 for High) and the system is sound…sweet.
However, when I connect it to the Tannoy Monitor Gold 12, the sound is “muddy”, not clear and sparkling any more!!!! When I turn the volume to 2PM, the sound is “broken”… Unfortunally, I plan to use this speaker at my big living room with the VT-62!!!!Can you give me some advice on this case?
Thank you so much for spending time for my questions!
Best regards.
Minh
Jimmy Auw
April 13, 2010 22:32Hi,
From JBL077 to Tannoy Monitor Gold 12 perhaps a little bit “different” in terms of sonic preferences.
You need bigger power to driver the Tannoy, I believe.
Thanks.