So I needed a speaker amp...

[rickcr42]

and didn't want to break the bank but at the same time it had to sound good or nwhy bother ?

My options were (remember,low cost) either a "chip" amp,not really where I wanted to go,a scratch build EL84/6BQ5 amp or a kit from S5 Electronics,the newer K-12 "G" version of the 11BM8 PP amp which is what I went with.

www.tubedepot.com/diy-k12g.html


Building the beast was the easiest amp build in my LIFE !

Went together almost without thought reqyiring no more than the basic DIY tools found on any hobbyist bench top.


Plugged 'er in and what ?

Well music started playing ! And good sunding music too.No blue smoke,no sparks,no overheating parts.......just music and to say i am pleased is an understatement since the actual sound is VERY reminiscent of 50's & 60's Fisher/Eico/Dynal push-pull pentode gear and if you know the sound you know it is a pleasing one

Total cost less than $200,total build time under three hours and glitch free operation from initial turn on.Highly recommended if you are into a "musical" sound and are not ashamed of it

rick out


BTW-I could post poics but to say there isn't much point because it looks EXACTLY like the pictures online would be to understate

[PinkFloyd]

That's a nice looking piece of amp for the money Rick Your speakers must be pretty sensitive? 8 watts isn't that much (in the scheme of things) but I bet it's a nice sounding 8 watts and that's what counts

[rickcr42]

the 8 watts is actually perfect in my seeting where for one all listeninbg is done nearfield (15' to back wall from speaker fronts) plus my days of RATTLIN' the neighbors are but a memory.

also.you need to remeber this is TUBE WATTS which means there is a constant load placed on the output pentodes unless the speaker Z variesd all over the map via the output trafos so in reality TUBE Watts just SOUND bigger.

more ?

smnallish room,no longer a need for 115dB SPL levels means anything 89dB SPL or higher is a good fit.

al in all happy with the amp