OK so I got the message I haven't posted anything for a while. Well, not much to say and I've been too busy building the K501 mono amp and K502 stereo tube amps from Antique Electonice Supply to post. Both were on sale for 10% off so why not?
Both kits were very eash to build. about 2 hours each. Both sound very good. Right now I am building nice boxes for each and will post pics when complete.
There are a few 'enhancements' that are posted on the web that are suppose to improve the sound. I went straight by the book. At only 8watts per channel I wasn't expecting much but WHOW these puppies can crank it out. I ran the mono on an old Karlson I have in a very large room and it can really blast. I have the stereo version connected to a pair of JBL L88 modifed. With the volume control at about 30% (It has about a 270 deg sweep) I was up at 80dB at 1 meter(I have a Ratshack analogue meter) full out was well over 100dB! Chipping was obvious so I backed off.
Both have a slight hum when not playing anything. But start the music, even at very low levels, and it goes away.
They say tubes are better than SS. Well, I didn't notice any great diff from my HK 3380 at 80W/ch.
They say tube watts are different. OK I guess they are. All my speaker are very efficient the JBL are rated at 76 dB at 15ft or thats what the literature sayes. Not sure what the standard 1w/1m is suppose to be. Thats before my mods.
Nevertheless, This is a very nice kit for cheap. If you want to get into tubes and don't have the long green this is one way to get there so long as you speakers are reasonable efficient.
