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Designing and building my own tube amp...

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maverickronin:
I've been thinking about doing this for a while now, just for fun and possibly to learn something too.  With those being the primary goals I'd like to do it on the cheap and hopefully still make something that sounds decent.

Is there anywhere to get decent quality power transformers and tube sockets without breaking the bank?  I've got no idea where to start with tube sockets besides buying from random ebay sellers (who mostly seem to based in China) with good feedback and hoping for the best.  For the power transformers, is there a better budget option than Hammond?

Also, while I have been reading up a bit on the theory behind tubes I don't know much at all about what's actually available on the market and for how much.  Since output transformers probably would break the bank I'll probably have to go OTL.  Right now I'm thinking something like paralleled cathode followers in hopes of a low-ish z-out but I don't even know how I should start looking for output tubes short of grabbing random data sheets and compiling all the relevant parameters into a spreadsheet or something.

Anyone got any ideas or am I asking too much?

ujamerstand:
the CMC teflon tube sockets are usually pretty good.


I've no idea about the circuit part, but this project sounds like a lot of fun. Enjoy!

maverickronin:
The teflon is a bit pricey.

Plus if I mess something up and the socket gets too hot the teflon will out-gas some pretty nasty VOCs that will kill my pet bird pretty much instantly.

I've been looking for ceramic ones since they won't have that issue.

fishski13:
here's some free reading - start with the "triode gain stage": http://www.valvewizard.co.uk/

another is Broskie's TubeCAD: http://www.tubecad.com/

Doug also has a lot of great stuff: http://www.ecpaudio.com/diy.shtml

Morgan Jones is generally considered to be "must reading", but focuses mostly on output TX designs.  for your purposes: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Valve-Amplifiers-Morgan-Jones/e/9780750656948?sourceid=Q000000630&cm_mmc=Google%20Product%20Search-_-Q000000630-_-Valve-Amplifiers-Morgan-Jones-_-9780750656948&sourceid=Q000000633&cm_mmc=GooglePLA-_-Textbook-_-Q000000633-_-9780750656948&cm_mmca2=pla  

as far as tube sockets go, i like the Belton Micalex from TubeDepot.

maverickronin:
Thanks for the links.

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