Did not mention that the chassis was sturdy (non resonating) aluminium and hence I cannot see that mounting the transformer on grommets is going to make a difference. However we moved into temporary accommodation when we were building our home and during that period I sold the amplifier with the intend to make a new one once we moved into the new one. Unfortunately health deteriorated faster than anticipated and I now only have limited capability with my right hand. So I am trying to take a shortcut with getting another one. Just bought an APPJ miniwatt from Hong Kong and it uses CCS in the finals which seems to be a fad these days but in my book is a great no-no. It makes the amplifier clip like solid state. I intended to take that CCS out and replace it with a simple resistor. Unfortunately it appears that the CCS was barely keeping the right channel from oscillating and once the resistors were in off it took. So it is a doorstop now since it is SMD and besides it was running so hot that I could not touch the darn thing after running it half a day. I want something that is reliable and will stand the test of time.
My dilemma is now - do I build the budgie and re-use the OPT from the APPJ or do I buy an expensive amplifier made somewhere else than in China? I am partial to EL84 SE While this amplifier was running it was doing fine, could be better but good enough to give me a taste that it was the way to go. I've been pondering over the Almarro A205A or the Tube finale F-138 models. (
http://www.audiophile.com/products/alma ... -amplifier http://www.tubedeforce.com/sale.htm)
Attached some pics of my 6L6-GC that I made about 4 years ago. Chassis 3mm high tensile aluminium held together with 3mm stainless screws and JB Weld. Schematics are on audiokarma under same name and I am driving some metronomes with FF105WK (my preferred speaker - I also have the FF125WK metronome but my wife has taken passion of those) and those details are on DIYaudio (same name again). Cheers!