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Post by calvoi on Aug 26, 2020 10:53:48 GMT
Anyone have any experience of nano tube amplifiers. It's an itch I'd like to scratch. Seems there is lots of people making their own DIY ones but only marketed ones I can see are the Zvex nano amp and Frequency central Murder One.
If anyone knows of any other tubes amps <1 Watt would be interested to hear your thoughts.
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Post by Michael Messer on Aug 26, 2020 11:13:34 GMT
There are a few of these around. I haven't tried one. As far as I know they sound pretty good, but I would think that to have one as a low volume amp you would need a tiny speaker cabinet too. Even 1watt is loud through a big speaker.  I use my 5watt tube amps at low volume and they're fine. I also use my old 70s Pignose for low volume playing which I find excellent. Can we have more information about these from forum members? I do think they are very cool looking objects! Shine On Michael |
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Post by calvoi on Aug 26, 2020 12:06:44 GMT
Hi Michael, that has definitely come up on my radar too.
My plan is to get either the Wangs one or ideally I can find a Frequency Central one. Then build up a combo cabinet with either one or two small speakers (thinking 2 x ~3.5"). At the moment the design will be somewhat inspired by a wooden transistor radio. The idea being it will be small enough that I can leave in on a side table and not too loud that I can still play it when the neighbours are in.
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Post by Pickers Ditch on Aug 26, 2020 12:43:55 GMT
I can't speak for any of the mini valve amps but I've used one of these Smokey jobs through a 2x12 Marshall cabinet and it was very loud. As Michael says, speaker choice is critical.  |
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Post by pete1951 on Aug 26, 2020 13:16:17 GMT
I can't speak for any of the mini valve amps but I've used one of these Smokey jobs through a 2x12 Marshall cabinet and it was very loud. As Michael says, speaker choice is critical. View AttachmentIt not the wattage of the speaker that determines how loud the sound is , it’s the ‘sensitivity’. A Marshall cab will probably be loaded with Celestion speakers, often with a sensitivity of 96dbs or more. Cheap speakers are often in the low 90s , and as loudness doubles with every 3dbs , a Marshall can be very load with a small input. Pete The old Alnico speakers Celestion made (still make)were, I seem to recall over 100dbs, which is why the AC30 was so powerful . A 2watt amp through one of those could give a 10watt amp through a cheap speaker a run for it’s money I have often wished for a great sounding low sensitivity speaker so I could turn some of my amps up full without my ears bleeding |
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Post by calvoi on Aug 26, 2020 15:42:12 GMT
Thanks for the info Pete. So to clarify, high sensitivity means louder sound for same power out of amp. so if I were to pair the 1w amp with a lower sensitivity speakers it would be quieter. Now the downside is that usually sensitivity is a good measure of quality (rule of thumb high sensitivity = high quality)?
I'm thinking of making a little practise amp with the above head built in and 2 x Elemence alpha 3-8's run in series to give me 16 ohm resistance (matches with head). These speakers are sensitivity = 88.6dB and will take 30 watts and they had good reviews. From what I've read I shouldn't have a crazy loud setup and I should be able to get the amp to naturally breakup at moderate volumes. From what I can tell the elemence alpha 3's are similar speakers that go into the Yamaha THR10's.
I understand this won't have the same quality as a massive 2 x 12 cab and a 5W vintage tube pre amp but I'm after a tube sound at a practise (in a terraced house) volume in ideally a super compact package. Also quite fancy a new project.
Thoughts very much appreciated.
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Post by mitchfit on Aug 26, 2020 17:30:47 GMT
a possible compromise [or second alternate to have on hand] is the Peavey Delta Blues OEM 15" speaker. IIRC, these barely make 80dB.
due to size, not a grab-n-go winner! but for when you do want a HUGE watt sound, these will shine.
likely one of the design features that made the DB-15 popular...
back in the day, read an in depth study of the second gen AC 30* actual output. signal sent into an oscilloscope with 4X EL 84/6BQ5. originally used for hi-fi, wattage ratings for tubes/valves are output @ little to no distortion. above clipping signals easily made 40-50 watts of square wave. think of that as also being an extended duration of output peak.
mitchfit
* gen one AC 30's used EL 34/6CA7. {see: otorrhagia}
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Post by kiwi on Aug 27, 2020 7:51:13 GMT
Had a couple of friends over here that loved the Wangs sound but had them burn out in fairly quick time. I have a 5 watt Princeton copy that works well and a Tweed Deluxe clone with global scaling that I play 90% of the time, does a really great job at low volume, retains the drive of full volume.
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Post by Michael Messer on Aug 27, 2020 8:25:11 GMT
FYI.... Wangs, pronounced "Wongs" is the name of the family that own this small family-run business in China. Everything they build is handmade in their own small factory. The Mini5 with updated transformer does look as interesting as the VT1H. I would imagine their amps need a UK transformer as they don't build for the UK market.  New (Mark 3) version transformer, Ceramics and Now EHX tubes!!!
5 watt Tweed tones with tube rectifier
Warm/bright switch
Tube/diode switch
Same great build quality as VT-1
12bh7 power
12ax7 pre
6z4 rectifier
Tweed to Plexi tones Shine On Michael |
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Post by pete1951 on Aug 27, 2020 9:07:19 GMT
FYI.... I would imagine their amps need a UK transformer as they don't build for the UK market. The first picture shows that there is a 220volt tap on the transformer, it may well have enough tolerance to take 240volts in the UK Pete |
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Post by calvoi on Aug 27, 2020 11:15:48 GMT
The VT1H does have a switch at the back that is labelled mains input. I (maybe falsely) assume that it was to select voltage. Also the box it comes in has boxes for UK, US and one is ticked. Will report when it arrives!
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finch
MM Forum Member
Posts: 9
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Post by finch on Aug 27, 2020 14:31:28 GMT
Mini amps like this one have been around for a wile . I have a Marshall 1 watt amp. Quit satisfying to use . You can get all the ambience but at a lower volume.
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Post by Michael Messer on Aug 27, 2020 15:59:40 GMT
Finch,
I have used the Marshall. It was good, but I found its sound too synthetic for my taste.
What interests me about these is that they have real valves (tubes).
I'm not sure any of them can touch an early 70s Pignose. They really nailed it with those.
Shine On
Michael
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finch
MM Forum Member
Posts: 9
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Post by finch on Aug 27, 2020 16:25:31 GMT
Pignose , I had forgotten about them . It was Richard Edlund that made the first one back in the sixties. He use an old oder cologne box to house it. He moved to Hollywood and won awards for his involvement in the special effects on Star Wars and Raiders Of The lost Ark.
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Post by calvoi on Aug 27, 2020 17:54:23 GMT
Finch, I have used the Marshall. It was good, but I found its sound too synthetic for my taste. What interests me about these is that they have real valves (tubes). I'm not sure any of them can touch an early 70s Pignose. They really nailed it with those. Shine On Michael The pignose amps are solid state right? |
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