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The very first of three 300B SE Stereo Basic Amplifiers constructed is shown.
This is part of a two piece amplifying system (power supply unit not shown) of exceptional quality.
Tamura Amorphous Core output transformers and WE 300B are just two features of this custom amplifier. See the amplifier projects
page for a version of this amplifier you can build. (Soon!)
Many of the project pages have been updated with fresh pdf archives, and there are many projects to build here!
These amplifiers featured: Full Dual Monaural Construction, High Purity Copper Chassis, SE operation, Western Electric 300B, fixed biased outputs, SRPP driver, RC coupled input stage. All triode audio path, paper in oil and REL TFT coupling capacitors,
Holco & Mills resistors in audio circuitry. DC heated filaments, Choke decoupling on the 300B filaments.
Output transformers were Tamura Amorphous Core, and the fully tube regulated power supply unit featured custom built
power transformers by Tamura. Gain: 23dB Hum & Noise: 0.5mVrms unweighted Bandwidth: 20Hz - 40kHz -1dB
Power Output: 10Wrms max. out into 4, 8 or 16 ohms.
Custom Design Service
Custom designed projects to meet your needs. Includes full schematics, parts lists, recommended components where critical.
Phono Stages, Line Stages, Power Amplifiers both Pushpull and SE using a variety of tubes, Tube regulated high voltage, low noise
power supplies, and Filament supplies both constant voltage and constant current.
Currently available:
Power Amplifiers
120Wrms two Chassis mono-block design. A quartet of 6550/KT88 are used per channel in UL connection with cathode feedback. Driver stage is differential using 12AX7A
and 12BH7. Power supplies are fully regulated and tube based.
300B SE Stereo Amplifier on two chassis, fully regulated supplies. (See 300B project page for more details)
2A3 SE Stereo Amplifier, direct coupled design, choke loaded mu follower driver, 5 tubes. Low gain for use with line stage. Easy to build.
45, 2A3 SE Stereo Amplifiers, two chassis design, fully regulated tube based supplies.
2A3 SE Stereo Amplifier, two chassis design, fully regulated. IT based driver stage with 6CK4 and 27.
Line Stages
Transformer Coupled Line Stages based on 10(Y), 12(112), 26, and 6J5/6SN7. All feature tube regulated supplies, and DHT's feature
constant voltage or constant current filament supplies.
SRPP Line Stage using a pair of 6SN7, single or dual chassis. Regulated or unregulated tube power supplies.
Phono Stages
Several designs based on 5751 for use with HO moving coil or MM cartridges.
D3A based designs on two chassis with fully regulated tube based power supplies. Active loading on the gain stages.
Extremely low noise, suitable for use with moderately low output MC to high output MM.
Integrated Amplifiers and complete Pre-Amplifier designs are available. Some studio electronics as well.
Tubes currently used in my designs include:
DHT: 10(Y),12, 26, 45, 50, 2A3, 300B, 211, 845
Others: 6BY5, 5U4, 5AR4/GZ34, GZ37, 6CK4, 27, 56, 76, 12AX7A, 12AU7A, 5751, 5687, 5842/417A, D3A, 6BQ5/EL84, 6L6, EL34, 6550, KT88.
In many cases existing designs can be adapted to suite, and expense will generally be minimal. Fully custom designs are also
available on either a flat fee basis, or an agreed upon hourly rate. (Generally $50/hr) Licensing available for commercial use.
Project Pages
Check out the project pages (links below) for updated files for many different power amplifier and pre-amplifier projects. Several
designs feature 45 and 300B DHT. Archives have been updated to pdf format. Designs vary in complexity, but use commonly available parts.
Phono stages, line stages, and various power amplifier designs are featured. New material will be added periodically. Even more information
may be found in my recently re-released line of project books.
Old KTA Site Cybersquatting Notice and Internet Piracy Alert
Please be aware that the domain registration for www.kta-hifi.com has lapsed from my control and I do not endorse and am not responsible for the content on my old site.
This is the only legitimate site of Kennedy Tube Audio (KTA-HIFI) and the registrants of the old site are using it without my permission or endorsement!
I attempted to re-acquire my old domain name a couple of years ago, however the cybersquatter
in question wanted a fairly exorbitant sum of money for what legally should still be my property. I made the decision not to pursue this further for the time being and to
focus my energy on just building a new site.
DIY Mods For Sony SACD Players Models SCD-777ES and SCD-1
These first generation SACD players are still capable of surprisingly good performance compared to many comparably priced recent models.
They really shine when modified. In fact there is a whole industry that has grown up around modding these players, but this site has nothing
to do with that.
These players respond well to a lot of different sorts of modifications, but the ones discussed here all required considerable skill with a solder iron, and
some ability to carefully follow instructions, read schematics, etc. I. E. These are not external tweaks of things like line cords, and cables but wholesale changes
to internal circuitry and components.
Stock photo of SCD-1 SACD Player
Link to SCD-1/777ES Mod Pages
Hobbyist Section
A variety of amplifier projects can be found here including a 45 based SE amplifier, a 30W pushpull amplifier using 300B's, a triode pushpull amplifier with 6CK4 triodes as outputs, and the ST-70 project on which the ST-70 driver PCB is based. Most designs avoid the use of negative feedback and feature tube regulated supplies in some instances as well.
The 300B PP, 45 SE, and 6CK4 PP Amplifier schematics have been converted to PDF format as of 11.27.05
Stereo 70 Project updated and converted to PDF format as of 01.23.2007
This is where you will find the Transformer Coupled 26 DHT based line stage featured in PFO a few months ago. Two simple phono stages, and a 417/5842 line stage are also featured. No feedback is employed in any of these designs, and tube regulated supplies are featured.
All schematics have been converted to PDF format on the pre-amp pages as of 11.27.05
Older articles published in OTS' Positive Feedback Magazine. Varied Topics, and a few projects.
Vintage output transformers can often be a source of useful and high quality iron for D.I.Y projects, see what I have used in some of my projects. Note that the iron in all cases was reclaimed from basket cases, no mint or clean units gave their lives for this cause.
My books are back! Now available at Lulu.com
Several more titles will be available soon!
GO TO MY BOOKSTORE
Now available for the first time in years:
Downloadable versions of my books start at just $7.70. Hard copies are a little more. There is a wealth of useful information both for the newbie and the seasoned
veteran. If you are a collector/restorer you will find "A Guide to Vintage Audio Equipment.." a useful adjunct to your hobby.
The Little Book of Vacuum Tube Pre-Amplifier Projects.
A collection of three phono stages, three line stages, and the power supplies that run them. These designs feature the
ubiquitous 12AX7A or 5751, passively equalized, 0 fdbk phono stages, simple to complex, and line stages of varying complexity, several
with long tailed pair based gain stages and augmented cathode follower outputs. Active voltage regulation is used.
The Little Book of Tube Amplifier Projects.
Three amplifier designs are featured, two are pushpull triode designs, one with IDHT's, cross-coupled differential driver
stage and no feedback, the other with triode strapped EL34 reminscent of the Mullard 5-20. The third design is a 45 SE amplifier
operating with fixed bias, SRPP based driver and tube regulated supplies.
A Guide to Vintage Audio Equipment for the Hobbyist and Audiophile.
A collection of descriptions, useful notes, and tips on how to get the most out of vintage tube hifi, targeted at music lovers and
audiophiles alike. Introduction to basic tube electronic terms and topologies is included. Lots of information on fixing, modding,
and improving performance and reliability.
Hundreds of copies sold during the last print runs of all three of these books. Now nicely bound for the first time, still as relevant
as when they were first published.
Useful Tube Audio Links
Useful links for tube audio enthusiasts.
Links to online vendors for tubes and other assorted parts.
Help preserve the stereo (2 channel) format which I believe still provides the most musically involving listening experience.
Your help is much appreciated and will help to defray the cost of maintaining this site. Thankyou!
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Disclaimer of Liability for information contained on this site: The author accepts no liability whatsoever for the accuracy of presented information, the ability or inability to apply the information contained herein, or for any consequential damages that may arise out of the use or attempted use of any of the designs presented herein.
Legal Rights: Right to use information contained herein is granted solely for non commercial (i.e. individual) use only, and its possession in no way confers any other rights without exclusion. Commercial licensing is available for any design on this site as well as for prior KTA products on a royalty or absolute fee basis.
Find me also at diyAudio.com just look for kevinkr
Latest Updates: 2008.02.10 To link pages, ST-70 Project Pages, this page.
© All Contents of this site are Copyright 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 by KTA/Kevin Kennedy