Last night I tried out the standard Maplins 6.6K OPT against the enhanced Super
6.6K OPT with thicker stack, now only available from the makers Danbury.
Amplifier is 2C2212b47591 in ultralinear, no global NFB. The stock part was
predictably lighter in bass, and leaner, but it was also clearer and more
detailed. The Super was richer, fuller, with a more bell like tone to the grand
piano and a bigger bass. Bit of a toss-up really - the clarity and detail was
nice on the one hand, and the fuller tone and bass on the other. I'd suggest,
therefore, that the stock part should be used with output valves with a bigger
rounded sound and good bass, and the Super with lighter, more detailed output
valves. Since the 7591s are more inclined to be lean and slightly bass light, I
left the Super in the amps. I later heard them drive some quad ELS 57s and the
sound was nicely balanced - just right tonally.
The stock part might be good with EL34s, or even a cheapo PP 300B amp using -
say - Sovteks. Thorsten Loesch has recommended exactly that in the past. This
would be an interesting starter project and should sound damn good. It would
also be possible to use the Maplins Mains transformer (also a Danbury part -
cost £29.99) in two monobloks. This means £60 a side for the iron - we're in
Chinese territory here! I'm building the stock OPTs into a rebuilt Leak TL12+
with the same front end - 2C2212b4. I thought of using EL86s which should be a
good match for 6.6K. Will report on results. Andy

Details:
Code VT425 'Ultra-linear' type output transformer for the original Maplin 20W
'Millennium' project. This is a Maplin stock item. Use Maplin Order Code DM53H
Price £29.99

Super 20 – 30W Output Transformer Code VT1041 Price £48.68 inc shipping to
UK Push-pull output transformer for use with a pair of EL34, KT66 or KT88
valves for 20 – 30 Watts output. Improved bass response.

Maplin 'Millennium' 20W Mains Transformer Code VT424 Mains transformer for the
original Maplin 20W 'Millennium' project This is a Maplin stock item. Use
Maplin Order Code DM54J

http://www.livinginthepast.demon.co.uk/xformer.html


=== Andy Evans ===
Visit our Website:- http://www.artsandmedia.com
Audio, music and health pages and interesting links.

"Andy Evans" wrote in message
...
Last night I tried out the standard Maplins 6.6K OPT against the enhanced
Super
6.6K OPT with thicker stack, now only available from the makers Danbury.
(huge snip)


Hi Andy,

If you are interested in high quality output transformers in the UK, you
should try Sowter (my first choice) or Hammond UK. I doubt whether
either can compete on price, but for quality they will certainly give the
Dough Boy a good run for his money:-)

If you cannot find exactly what you need from the Sowter range,
they will design it for you, at no extra charge.

http://www.sowter.co.uk/

http://www.hammondmfg.com/claspg.htm


Iain

I have bought Hammond in the past - OPTs and chokes. I have a 5K UL PP to try -
the 15w jobbie, plus a large 3.4K ULPP.

As for Sowter - I find them uncompetitive on price. If I was throwing money at
OPTs I'd use Lundahl. In fact I have a couple of Lundahl to try out as well.
When I get all that lot up and working I'll know a bit more. I have a lot of
unfinished chassis, and I'd quite like to finish them off and get them out of
the door, so the Maplins - if I can get the right output valves to make it
sound good - is a bit tempting! Andy

=== Andy Evans ===
Visit our Website:- http://www.artsandmedia.com
Audio, music and health pages and interesting links.

Iain M Churches wrote:
"Andy Evans" wrote in message
...

Last night I tried out the standard Maplins 6.6K OPT against the enhanced
Super
6.6K OPT with thicker stack, now only available from the makers Danbury.

(huge snip)


Hi Andy,

If you are interested in high quality output transformers in the UK, you
should try Sowter (my first choice) or Hammond UK. I doubt whether
either can compete on price, but for quality they will certainly give the
Dough Boy a good run for his money:-)

If you cannot find exactly what you need from the Sowter range,
they will design it for you, at no extra charge.

http://www.sowter.co.uk/

http://www.hammondmfg.com/claspg.htm


Iain






If its any help, this is the UK Hammond supplier I have used (And Keith).

http://www.bluebellaudio.com/

Another good UK winder is SJS, good for chokes as well, AFAIK, they make
the Chokes and I suspect other iron for Border Patrol.

http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~valveamp/

--
Nick

SJS - yes, I forgot them. I've been using Onboard for Hammond - maybe the
distribution has changed. I'm tempted by Antrim transformers (www.antrim
transformers.com) who have a nive toroid 5K PP for £50 in quantities of 6.
Anybody fancy a couple for a group purchase? We'd just need three of us. Andy

=== Andy Evans ===
Visit our Website:- http://www.artsandmedia.com
Audio, music and health pages and interesting links.

Andy Evans wrote:
SJS - yes, I forgot them. I've been using Onboard for Hammond - maybe the
distribution has changed. I'm tempted by Antrim transformers (www.antrim
transformers.com) who have a nive toroid 5K PP for £50 in quantities of 6.
Anybody fancy a couple for a group purchase? We'd just need three of us. Andy

=== Andy Evans ===
Visit our Website:- http://www.artsandmedia.com
Audio, music and health pages and interesting links.

IMHO, Phil at Bluebell is a good chap to deal with, sometimes forgets to
do stuff he offered to do (ie free help), but has always been great
delivering stuff I have paid for :-)

Though Keith has had more dealings with him than me.

He has a lot of stuff the web page doesn't mention as well, just got
some nice colvern WW 50R pots from him for humbuckers.

--
Nick

He has a lot of stuff the web page doesn't mention as well, just got some nice
colvern WW 50R pots from him for humbuckers.

Now that's something I could be needing - thanks!

=== Andy Evans ===
Visit our Website:- http://www.artsandmedia.com
Audio, music and health pages and interesting links.