First Budgie SE (Single-ended EL84 amp)

[Shannon Parks]

Just got my Budgie SE boards in this past week. The top plate was a prototype board but I went with production amp boards. After some tweaks, it all should be a go. I love this little amp! The chassis is 6x10x2, so its got a tiny footprint.

Shannon

[TerrySmith]

I'm interested! That's a nice layout, any more details?

PS: Don't forget to pick it up before you mow the grass!

[Ty_Bower]

I really like that layout too! It reminds me of an amp I once started building...

http://www.diytube.com/phpBB2/viewtopic ... c&start=50

Wish I had finished that amp. Sigh. Anyway, is there an ETA on when the Budgie SE boards will be available?

[Shannon Parks]

I actually have the boards, but I probably need another week to finalize things (BOM and stuff). I'll order top plates at that time, but you needn't wait if you don't want one. The top plates will be gloss black with gold stenciling like my commercial Budgie. This one was a green PCB that I spray painted black along with the Edcor bells. It was tough cramming everything in there, but was doable. Unhappy with a couple items that are fixable (hate the Neutrik headphone jack - switching to an 1/8" jack). But overall, I think it's a contender. I'll have to post some "under the hood" shots later.

Here's a peek at the schematic, but I see a couple small things I haven't fixed yet (went to a 22uF final stage cap, 100k pot, heaters lift to the EL84 cathode voltage, and a couple other things):
http://www.diytube.com/forumpix/budgiese.pdf

It's kind of a Clem ULtra with AC-coupled inputs, headphone jack with my 20/20 scheme and volume pot standard. A perfect amp for the shop, work or school with 3W output from 500mV source, like a smartphone.

Shannon

[EWBrown]

Lovin' it! that is so cool

And, no hummmm or buzzz, either



/ed B

[Geek]

Looks gorgeous!

(not the bees )

[Shannon Parks]

Here's of close-up shot of inside.

Shannon

[Shannon Parks]

I really like that layout too! It reminds me of an amp I once started building...

http://www.diytube.com/phpBB2/viewtopic ... c&start=50

Wish I had finished that amp. Sigh. Anyway, is there an ETA on when the Budgie SE boards will be available?

Cool amp, Ty. You still have the spice file handy? I presume you used LTspice?

Shannon

[Ty_Bower]

You still have the spice file handy?

You've got mail...

[20to20]

I really like that layout too! It reminds me of an amp I once started building...

http://www.diytube.com/phpBB2/viewtopic ... c&start=50

Wish I had finished that amp. Sigh. Anyway, is there an ETA on when the Budgie SE boards will be available?

Ty that is one fat Biaaach of a PT. Optical illusion or did it come out of a TV?

[Ty_Bower]

Ty that is one fat Biaaach of a PT. Optical illusion?

No illusion. The PT is way oversized for the application, but the price was right. eBay surplus from a couple years back, they weigh roughly ten pounds.

[Ty_Bower]

Here's of close-up shot of inside.

Close-up shots can be tricky sometimes. My usual technique is to use the macro mode, and make sure the zoom lever is all the way over to wide-angle. If you start using the camera zoom, it loses its ability to focus up close.

Only problem is with a shot like this, the barrel distortion becomes pretty obvious. Sometimes the fix is to use just a little bit of zoom, say maybe zoom up to 2X then back off just a hair. If the camera can still focus up close, it should get rid of the curved lines at the edges of the frame. You may have to back the camera away from the subject, either to properly focus or to get the subject to fit in frame. If it's the first reason, just crop the part you want from the final photo.

[soundbrigade]

When I am finished with the heap of projects I have lying around, I surely will add this one to the heap.

[kku]

Now that is one cute lil amp. At first glance the pot knob looked like small motor run cap to me.

[TomMcNally]

Very nice little amp. Can't wait to build one, or two, or three ...

... tom