[khaine1711]

Full metal jackets! Sounds mighty good considering each was around 5 bucks (except the Mullard Gz34 lol).



I found the amp sounds really good no matter what tubes were used; a bit clinical with all new production tubes maybe, but still good. Also differences between power tubes are not much as I expected (I only have 5881, 6v6 and jj el34 for now). Can't wait till the el38 and el39 arrives ... Granted I've only had like 10 hours on the amp, and most of the listening sessions were making sure the tubes work.

Can the Telefunken EL156 be used @L0rdGwyn ? I found a few local vendors selling them with Kt88 adapters ... not cheap but they looks mighty!

 

[raindownthunda]

Full metal jackets! Sounds mighty good considering each was around 5 bucks (except the Mullard Gz34 lol).



I found the amp sounds really good no matter what tubes were used; a bit clinical with all new production tubes maybe, but still good. Also differences between power tubes are not much as I expected (I only have 5881, 6v6 and jj el34 for now). Can't wait till the el38 and el39 arrives ... Granted I've only had like 10 hours on the amp, and most of the listening sessions were making sure the tubes work.

Can the Telefunken EL156 be used @L0rdGwyn ? I found a few local vendors selling them with Kt88 adapters ... not cheap but they looks mighty!

Love love love that chassis color. Very regal.

 

[L0rdGwyn]

Can the Telefunken EL156 be used @L0rdGwyn ? I found a few local vendors selling them with Kt88 adapters ... not cheap but they looks mighty!

Yup.

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/aegis-diy-tube-headphone-amplifier.965530/post-17781861

 

[Phantaminum]

Completed the build about 2 weeks ago and finally put it through its paces. After about 100+ hours of running the amp I have to say that it's beautiful sounding. It saved my ZMF Atrium from going on the chopping block and being sold. Great synergy there.

It also pairs very well with the Verite Open but the Auteurs look to pair better right now with my other amps (even with pad swapping). I love my Elekit TU-8600s but just having more play on the dial (the Elekit TU-8600s is too loud at 8 o'clock), and being able to dial it in is a god send.

@L0rdGwyn thanks for getting the amp schematics out there for us to build. Can't wait to see what ZMF's version looks like.

Here's a few pictures or it didn't happen:

 

[L0rdGwyn]

Completed the build about 2 weeks ago and finally put it through its paces. After about 100+ hours of running the amp I have to say that it's beautiful sounding. It saved my ZMF Atrium from going on the chopping block and being sold. Great synergy there.

It also pairs very well with the Verite Open but the Auteurs look to pair better right now with my other amps (even with pad swapping). I love my Elekit TU-8600s but just having more play on the dial (the Elekit TU-8600s is too loud at 8 o'clock), and being able to dial it in is a god send.

@L0rdGwyn thanks for getting the amp schematics out there for us to build. Can't wait to see what ZMF's version looks like.

Here's a few pictures or it didn't happen:

You're welcome, glad you're enjoying it.

 

[khaine1711]

Does EL41 works @L0rdGwyn ? I see people usually uses El41 > El84 Adapter; if it works then do I just stack el41 > el84 and el84 > El34 adapter?

Also since the 12ax7, 12at7 and 12ay7 have quite different gain factor, when using them with adapters, the gain of the amp would change as well right?

 

[L0rdGwyn]

Does EL41 works @L0rdGwyn ? I see people usually uses El41 > El84 Adapter; if it works then do I just stack el41 > el84 and el84 > El34 adapter?

Also since the 12ax7, 12at7 and 12ay7 have quite different gain factor, when using them with adapters, the gain of the amp would change as well right?

Looks like EL41 should work, might bias close to its max plate dissipation so you might want to use a higher Vdrop rectifier than GZ34, like a 5R4 or 5Y3. And yes you should be able to stack adapters assuming the designer didn't do anything weird inside of them. Yes the gain for the 12A*7 tubes is lower, so the volume will be less sensitive and the peak power output of the amplifier will be less. But 99% of headphones aren't coming anywhere close to utilizing the full output power of the amplifier. Would only be an issue with very power hungry planars.

 

[khaine1711]

El156 came in today; big, powerful & expansive sound. Can't wait to compare them to the el38 & el39 which might arrive next month.

Since I can't get my paws on any decently priced 5r4, EL41 will have to wait ... really tempted to grab a pair of metal base Siemens EL41 though.



On the topics of adapters, How can one determine which tubes can share adapters and which tube type should they be adapted to? For example I look up and see EL37,
El34 and KT77 has the same base but different connection. But it seems all three can be used without adapter in the Aegis ...

To be specific, one would need separate adapters (to EL34) for the El11, EL12, El3N and EL33 right?

 

[carlman14]

On the topics of adapters, How can one determine which tubes can share adapters and which tube type should they be adapted to? For example I look up and see EL37,
El34 and KT77 has the same base but different connection. But it seems all three can be used without adapter in the Aegis ...

To be specific, one would need separate adapters (to EL34) for the El11, EL12, El3N and EL33 right?

The EL37, EL34, and KT77 do have the same connections. If they didn't, they would need an adapter. The only difference is the EL34 has a dedicated pin for grid 3, which is probably handled by being tied to the cathode on the aegis pcb (haven't looked for sure). Other tubes internally already have their G3 tied to the cathode inside the tube. The EL11 and EL12 can use the same adapter, the EL3N needs it's own adapter, and the EL33 doesn't need an adapter.

 

[mchuckp]

The EL37, EL34, and KT77 do have the same connections. If they didn't, they would need an adapter. The only difference is the EL34 has a dedicated pin for grid 3, which is probably handled by being tied to the cathode on the aegis pcb (haven't looked for sure). Other tubes internally already have their G3 tied to the cathode inside the tube. The EL11 and EL12 can use the same adapter, the EL3N needs it's own adapter, and the EL33 doesn't need an adapter.

Can someone confirm that 6V6 and KT88 power tubes do NOT need adaptors? The list in the BOM doesn't say adaptor so I'm assuming that is correct.

 

[carlman14]

Can someone confirm that 6V6 and KT88 power tubes do NOT need adaptors? The list in the BOM doesn't say adaptor so I'm assuming that is correct.

Correct, the 6V6 and KT88 do not need adapters. Here's a pic from the EL37 datasheet. For whatever tube you want to use, you can look up the datasheet and make sure the pins match this one. If so, no adapter is needed. Pin 1 starts at the left of the guide pin and works clockwise.

pin 2: h (heater)
pin 3: a (anode)
pin 4: g2 (grid 2)
pin 5: g1 (grid 1)
pin 7: h (heater)
pin 8: k/g3 (cathode/grid 3)

Then pin 1 can sometimes be g3 like I said in my previous post. That's also ok.

 

[mchuckp]

I just finished the heater testing in the build and was testing my various tubes. Noticed my Genelax KT88s have a fat base and won’t go all the way in as it hits the small bolt next to it that holds the socket in place. I assume I should use a socket saver. Correct?

I see these on Amazon. Any reason to not get these vs another company? Is there such thing as a “better” one or these are fine?
https://a.co/d/9vIEpKg

 

[robyzfi]

I just finished the heater testing in the build and was testing my various tubes. Noticed my Genelax KT88s have a fat base and won’t go all the way in as it hits the small bolt next to it that holds the socket in place. I assume I should use a socket saver. Correct?

I'm using the PS Vane KT 88. Seem to work fine even without socket saver.

 

[Toonartist]

I just finished the heater testing in the build and was testing my various tubes. Noticed my Genelax KT88s have a fat base and won’t go all the way in as it hits the small bolt next to it that holds the socket in place. I assume I should use a socket saver. Correct?

I see these on Amazon. Any reason to not get these vs another company? Is there such thing as a “better” one or these are fine?
https://a.co/d/9vIEpKg

I don’t. The pins go virtually all the way in and I’ve never had any problems. I guess they’re only 2mm off fully inserted and of thought more than enough contact is being made in the sockets.

 

[mchuckp]

I don’t. The pins go virtually all the way in and I’ve never had any problems. I guess they’re only 2mm off fully inserted and of thought more than enough contact is being made in the sockets.

Ah…ok. This is what mine looks like. You can see a small gap compared to other tubes I have in right now that sit flush. Sounds like I don’t need to worry about it.