It was mentioned here, so I decided to chip in with my previous experience from back in 2013. Here is what I tried myself:
Tag: gyrator PCB
EML-20A DHT Preamp
Complete Gyrator Boards for Sale
I have 2 pairs of gyrator boards for sale. They are fully functional ( I tested all of them in a 6e5p driver at 200 Vpeak to peak) and stuffed with my best selection of components:
ELROG ER801-A Review
I’ve been listening for over a week the Elrog ER801a prototypes. I can say that I’m very please with them. Before I make any further impressions about their sound, let me start from the beginning.
I purchased last year from ELROG (now Deutsche Elektronenröhren Manufaktur GmbH.) a pair of these valves to be used on my VT25/10Y preamp. I do not own any 801a, but have a good stash of NOS VT25 and 10Y valves. I love this preamp, probably my favourite with the 01a.
Thomas Mayer offered me to send me a preliminary set of prototype valves in advance so I can submit them to the mercy of my tests. That sounded like really good fun and also I thought that the folks out there would be very keen to see the results.
GM-70 SE Amplifier
I keep getting requests about SE amp designs using the 6SF5 driver. Here is what I have come up with for the 6SF5 driving the GM-70. With only one stage you can drive the GM-70 to full power and get 18W out of this lovely transmitting valve: Continue reading “GM-70 SE Amplifier”
Emission Labs 20AM: first tests
After tweaking my test rig to fit a variable supply for fixed bias, I proceeded with the tests with the EML20AM valve. 
Valve test rig with fixed bias
My test rig for DHT/IHT stages (and even Pentodes) has evolved over the years. Lately I settled with some nice modifications to allow testing the majority of valves I have. I use a modular socket system, nothing fancy and can add/remove a source follower stage at the output. There is also a screen regulator in case pentodes are submitted under the mercy of the jig.
Here is the simplified diagram. I added a nice fixed bias supply formed by a SMPS PCB board which delivers up to 400V, however the output is dial to about 100V. Then I use a Swenson Regulator to knock down the noise by about 100dB. A simple pot provides the voltage needed between 0 and -100V. It can be tweaked for whatever range you need. The pot is 20T wirewound so allows a fine adjustment on the bias:
For the curious builders, 
here is the rig mounted on a piece of floor board:
UV-201a final version – finished!
After doing all the soldering part (which I enjoy much), the preamp is now finished. It sounds as good as the original breadboard:
For the curious ones, here you have a picture of the inside:
The teflon sockets are bolted straight into the 4mm top aluminium plate. No microphonic noise this way. Rod Coleman V7 regulators set to 200mA. A pair of Russian Military NOS wire-wound resistors in parallel provides the filament bias. The gyrator PCB is set as per original circuit and each valve at 3mA. These are DC coupled to the MOSFET follower PCB set at 10mA each. The output is then taken out from a pair of FT-3 teflon caps.
Now to enjoy this beauty!
Ba DHT Preamp (Part II)
I’ve been posting not very frequently lately. This is mainly due to lack of time and the level of business travel which reduced to nearly none the time available for DIY audio.
Nevertheless, the scarce time always pays off. It’s incredible how selective I have to be in order to prioritise which project I should work on. The list is long though.
Last time I did a quick exercise on the Ba DHT based on the curves I traced and the LTSpice simulation. Well, you always need to build and test in order to check against simulations. The result is, that you may need to adjust and learn from your practical experiences.
The Ba (like the Aa) are tricky to use. They pick up any electrostatic induced noise. You don’t need even to place your hand close, the mains noise is induced already in its plate. This force you to shield these valves if you want to use them. Am afraid, that is what it is. My friend Rob (DHTRob) warned me, thank you.
The circuit I posted here, had to be readjusted. Distortion was way too high. The operating point wasn’t good enough. You’d normally get inclined to run the valve as hot as you can, but I was wrong here with this one.
Ba German DHT Preamp, here we go…
Flying around
Travelling around Europe on business is paying its toll. I’m away from home every week and pretty exhausted now. I don’t have much time free and whatever is available I spend with my family. Hence, the lack of posts recently. I hope this will change in the future.
Anyway, what’s up in the DHT world? I listened the Aa/Ba valves long time ago but never played with them. Mainly due to their higher anode resistance. With the gyrator load and the source follower output, things take a different dimension.
German precision
I have a nice stash of Aa from Valvo (globe) and Ba from Siemens. Interesting to see that curves are not easy to find, so I submit them both to the mercy of the uTracer. Nice to see the linear curves with high mu about 14 on the Ba to 30 in the Aa.
Here is an example of the Ba loadline:
