The KING AMP

I designed this amp in 2001 to take over as the main amp. This amp has many features of the newer SS amps (and some!) but is all tube and built in a vintage fashion.

Some features are listed below:

Cathode/Grid Bias Modes

Film Cathode Resistors (virtually 0 inductance)

Point to Point Wiring

Cathode Bypass Cap. Selection

Dual Channels

Feedback Control

G9 Silicone Epoxy Eyelet Board

Ceramic Tube Sockets

Vintage Replica Transformers

LED Indications

4 EL34 for Output Stage

3 12AX7 Preamp - Gains, and Phase Inverter

Paper-in-Oil Capacitors

Low ESR/Hi Q Filtercaps

Star Grounding

Riken-Ohm Audiophile Goldplated Carbon Resistors 1% tol.

Late 50's Repro Cloth/Wax Stranded Wire

FRED Rectifier Diodes (International Rectifier)

Separate Filament Transformer/Supply Circuit

I have included much control over the biasing method in this amp after i realized the large and noticeable difference in cathode and grid modes. Therefore I have allowed selection of both. In addition to this control, I have added bypass cap selection for 6 settings.

All of the "disturbable" signal wires are shielded with a high-strand OFC tinned braid and grounded at only one end. Also, as mentioned above, the amp has essentially a perfect grounding situation utilizing the "star" method which eliminates ground loops. Because of these attributes, the amp is very, very quiet.

I have run the amp and it rips!!! It is currently on the bench because I had a cathode resistor meltdown since during testing, the cases weren't heatsinked. I have remedied this by including ample heatsinking and redoing the entire power supply board, which i changed to dual plane PCB layout to add to reliabilty and stabilty. I etched this board using the photo resist method. The amp is very close to being completely finished, just have to do some more work on mounting and cabinet shielding.

Some cabs I built for this amp chassis - sorry top one is a little dusty - I'm a busy man!