DLite Power Output Options

[coco]

New to this forum and to this design. Looking to try a 40W dumblesque amp. A couple of simple questions I could not find answers for:

If one was to use the Dlite design, what tube/power options are there.

For example, would the Dlite design drive 2- 6V6, or 2- 6L6 or 2-EL34 etc. ?
With simple modifications?
Recommended tube types?

Thanks All!!

[Funkalicousgroove]

You'd need to use a different OT with 6l6 or el34, all sound good when properly applied.

[brownnote]

Don't forget 4x6V6...

[ampgeek]

Greetings Coco,
I am in the process of tweaking a homegrown D'Lite as discussed here:

http://www.brownnote.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=382

I jump back and forth between 6V6 and 6L6 type (e.g., 5881) on a regular basis during this process. I just do a quick re-bias with each switch. Here are my typical voltages with 5881's:

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=52qhe36

Also, to obtain "optimum" loading, you must pick-up a different OT secondary. When using the standard D'Lite plan with BrownNote iron and 6V6's, the OT secondary is looking for either 4, 8 or 16 ohm speaker loading. With 6L6 types optimum becomes 2, 4 or 8 ohm speaker impedance.

Not sure about EL34's with the standard D'Lite plan. Screen grid resistors, pin-out, etc..look ok. However, the heater current demand needs to be evaluated.

Recommended tube type is a bit more elusive. I don't think that I have heard/seen any indication that a particular type/brand is terrible in the D'Lite plan.

I just received an Avatar 1X12 cabinet and loaded up a Celestion G1265 last night but it was too late to give it a go. This combination is pretty much held as a tried and true good match for a D'Lite circuit by the more experienced folks.

Dave O.

[coco]

Thanks for the responses.

About how much power output with 6V6 compared to 6L6 with the same power supply but assuming proper loading? Much headroom improvement.

[TimS]

Greetings Coco,
I am in the process of tweaking a homegrown D'Lite as discussed here:

http://www.brownnote.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=382

I jump back and forth between 6V6 and 6L6 type (e.g., 5881) on a regular basis during this process. I just do a quick re-bias with each switch. Here are my typical voltages with 5881's:

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=52qhe36

Also, to obtain "optimum" loading, you must pick-up a different OT secondary. When using the standard D'Lite plan with BrownNote iron and 6V6's, the OT secondary is looking for either 4, 8 or 16 ohm speaker loading. With 6L6 types optimum becomes 2, 4 or 8 ohm speaker impedance.

Not sure about EL34's with the standard D'Lite plan. Screen grid resistors, pin-out, etc..look ok. However, the heater current demand needs to be evaluated.

Recommended tube type is a bit more elusive. I don't think that I have heard/seen any indication that a particular type/brand is terrible in the D'Lite plan.

I just received an Avatar 1X12 cabinet and loaded up a Celestion G1265 last night but it was too late to give it a go. This combination is pretty much held as a tried and true good match for a D'Lite circuit by the more experienced folks.

Dave O.

Thanks for the info. I'm planning on using 5881s with my D'Lite so this is all very helpful to me.

Which 5881s are you using?

[coco]

Don't forget 4x6V6...

always an option! Makes for a lot of tubes of course! OT impedance drop to 4K; power up to 40W?

[ampgeek]

My pleasure Coco.

I fell into a sizeable collection of NOS Tung-Sol 5881's a couple of years ago and the D'Lite project looked like a good match to allow consumption of a few. I included a dual bias mod to allow me to match up any pair that I pulled out of the box.

Check out the voltages that I measured in the TinyPic link above. Note that at the higher current draw the power tube plate voltage at idle falls below the screen grid level by a couple of volts. Probably no big deal but I don't ever recall seeing that condition in any designs/data before.

If I were building from the ground up again, I would increase the final B+ rail dropping resistor (FET simulator) a tad to bring V1/V2 plates up a bit and also attempt to better balance screen grid and plate voltages. Pretty easy mods so I may just end up doing anyway.

At the moment, my clean and PAB channels are excellent tone wise. But..my OD is harsh and brittle. Definetly not like Stilliagan's tone on the "Just installed 6L6" thread which, in my mind, defines the D'Tone.

Got a few things to try before coming back here with questions (e.g., increase V2 snubber cap values, MPP OD coupling caps, increase OD cathode bypass caps a smidge, age the speaker a bit, etc..) so we shall see.

Good luck,
Dave O.

[dogears]

Dave,

PM me your entire build schematic please.

Thanks!

My pleasure Coco.

I fell into a sizeable collection of NOS Tung-Sol 5881's a couple of years ago and the D'Lite project looked like a good match to allow consumption of a few. I included a dual bias mod to allow me to match up any pair that I pulled out of the box.

Check out the voltages that I measured in the TinyPic link above. Note that at the higher current draw the power tube plate voltage at idle falls below the screen grid level by a couple of volts. Probably no big deal but I don't ever recall seeing that condition in any designs/data before.

If I were building from the ground up again, I would increase the final B+ rail dropping resistor (FET simulator) a tad to bring V1/V2 plates up a bit and also attempt to better balance screen grid and plate voltages. Pretty easy mods so I may just end up doing anyway.

At the moment, my clean and PAB channels are excellent tone wise. But..my OD is harsh and brittle. Definetly not like Stilliagan's tone on the "Just installed 6L6" thread which, in my mind, defines the D'Tone.

Got a few things to try before coming back here with questions (e.g., increase V2 snubber cap values, MPP OD coupling caps, increase OD cathode bypass caps a smidge, age the speaker a bit, etc..) so we shall see.

Good luck,
Dave O.

[stelligan]

I've been thinking that a Bassman PT would put my D'Lite build over the top. I'm crazy over my OD tone but, just yearn for a bit more clean headroom. Just finished an HRM build with Bassman PT and Prosonic OT that is gettin' it for me with clean volume. Just have an OD noise problem that heisthl is troubleshooting for me now. I'm an extreme newbie....