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So, I have a really old Magnavox 8602 console pull which I am told is a really good sounding amp with the right mods. I'm not at a skill level to understand much of what I am reading about the mods, and the case is VERY small and is challenging my soldering skills. Would the power and output transformers from that amp be good candidates for the budgie se? It would allow me the chance to use what are supposed to be excellent sounding OPTs, and it would also make this project very inexpensive. TIA.

markshan wrote:So, I have a really old Magnavox 8602 console pull which I am told is a really good sounding amp with the right mods. I'm not at a skill level to understand much of what I am reading about the mods, and the case is VERY small and is challenging my soldering skills. Would the power and output transformers from that amp be good candidates for the budgie se? It would allow me the chance to use what are supposed to be excellent sounding OPTs, and it would also make this project very inexpensive. TIA.

Those lack the UL taps, so you'd have to do the trioded EL84 build that will cut the power in half - but you could do it without a problem.

Shannon

Magnavox uses a 2.4K R to feed screens from the B+ on another of its SE amps. This may be the way to do it to keep it in pentode mode. Tie that to the UL solder pad. ??

20

Okay, I'm open to either of these options but will need talked through it a bit. I don't know what a UL tap is and wouldn't be sure where to add the resistor.

The power loss shouldn't be an issue, I am driving either Hereseys or Universal 6201 coax drivers in Barzilay cabs. Either way, it is a high sensitivity affair. I am more interested in doing which ever will give me the better sound. The Magnavox pulls are supposed to sound fab, so if adding the resistor would keep me closer to that build, that is probably what I would favor.

Thank you both.

Easiest would be to just hook up the plates as normal in the schematic and solder two 1W, 100 ohm resistors between pins 7 and 9 on V2 and V3. Also omit R9, R10, C5, and C6 (i.e. zero feedback in triode mode).

Shannon

Thank you, I think I can follow that. Would easiest also be good sounding, or would some slightly more difficult option result in much better sound?

And when you say "solder two resistors", I assume you mean one on each tube, not two on each tube. Correct?

markshan wrote:Thank you, I think I can follow that. Would easiest also be good sounding, or would some slightly more difficult option result in much better sound?

And when you say "solder two resistors", I assume you mean one on each tube, not two on each tube. Correct?

One resistor per tube. Easiest will sound fantastic - pseudo triode with good damping. Pentode operation is a whole other untested design (and what you have already).

Shannon