OPT options for a 10\50 SET
Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2021 7:33 pm
Hi Dave,
I purchased a pair of your 49% Ni interstage transformers for a 10\50 SET build and am now considering going nickel for output transformers as well. I wanted to start a conversation with you about the various options I have and to figure out what would be the best fit. I guess it's best to start with a few questions\comments:
1. Ideally I would have liked to have both 8 and 4 ohm speaker outs as well as a headphone jack but after reading around, having more secondary outputs may not sound as good as sticking to one output? If this is the case then I'll stick with an 8 ohm secondary.
2. As far as operating points go, I don't plan on squeezing the 50 for all its juice so I'd be alright with something in the 3.5 W range.
3. I'm not rigid on using the 10 for a driver but figured I'd want to experiment with DHT drivers (specifically thoriated tungsten variants). If you have any suggestions for something better that still works optimally with my interstage transformers, I'd definitely be open to exploring those options as well.
4. I know it's hard generalizing differences in sound given the impact of other components\variables in the system but what can I expect in terms of subjective differences in presentation between something like 49% nickel vs 80%? I would guess that the 80% would give me that more "musical" tone (which I'm looking for). But I'm wondering if there were other tradeoffs such as clarity, resolution, detail ect. when increasing the Ni content.
5. In terms of sound goals for this design. I'm going more towards the musical, engaging\soul grabbing direction as opposed to the hyper detailed analytical route. I have another amp using amorphous cores and I love it for what it does well. However, tone wise I want this to go in the opposite direction while not giving up too much in terms of "technical" performance (if that's even possible).
I'll start here for now but I'm assuming there's a lot more information needed to fill the gaps for a design. Please feel free to steer the conversation in that direction.
Thanks,
Merv
I purchased a pair of your 49% Ni interstage transformers for a 10\50 SET build and am now considering going nickel for output transformers as well. I wanted to start a conversation with you about the various options I have and to figure out what would be the best fit. I guess it's best to start with a few questions\comments:
1. Ideally I would have liked to have both 8 and 4 ohm speaker outs as well as a headphone jack but after reading around, having more secondary outputs may not sound as good as sticking to one output? If this is the case then I'll stick with an 8 ohm secondary.
2. As far as operating points go, I don't plan on squeezing the 50 for all its juice so I'd be alright with something in the 3.5 W range.
3. I'm not rigid on using the 10 for a driver but figured I'd want to experiment with DHT drivers (specifically thoriated tungsten variants). If you have any suggestions for something better that still works optimally with my interstage transformers, I'd definitely be open to exploring those options as well.
4. I know it's hard generalizing differences in sound given the impact of other components\variables in the system but what can I expect in terms of subjective differences in presentation between something like 49% nickel vs 80%? I would guess that the 80% would give me that more "musical" tone (which I'm looking for). But I'm wondering if there were other tradeoffs such as clarity, resolution, detail ect. when increasing the Ni content.
5. In terms of sound goals for this design. I'm going more towards the musical, engaging\soul grabbing direction as opposed to the hyper detailed analytical route. I have another amp using amorphous cores and I love it for what it does well. However, tone wise I want this to go in the opposite direction while not giving up too much in terms of "technical" performance (if that's even possible).
I'll start here for now but I'm assuming there's a lot more information needed to fill the gaps for a design. Please feel free to steer the conversation in that direction.
Thanks,
Merv