Bret Ludwig wrote:
snip


Far far far better to buy a not working old amp of US make (if you're
in the US) or to build a classic Ike/JFK/MM era design using known
good output transformers of US, Brit, Swedish or Jappanese make. Most
Chinese tube finished products are unmitigated dog****.



If you are in the UK first, get Morgan Jones' books and read them then
see if you can find a German title called
"Audio-und-Gitarrenschaltungen mit Rohren" by Rainer zur Linde.


Build the RIAA preamp in this book if you are into vinyl. It will
directly drive most any tube stereo amp as long as you put a volume
control on the amp (that way it's a "integrated line stage") with no
preamp per se. It is a better sounding and measuring phono stage than
anything available from classic vintage units or from ARC, VTL, cj, or
those other size queens.

Sowter in the UK is a good transformer supplier and I would buy from
him.