Thermion wrote:
I think you made a good choice on the Edcor GXSE-15-8-5k outputs. I have used those same outputs in a couple of Chubby Clementine projects with good success. As well as a couple of SE guitar amps. I am planning to build Clementine based integrated amps for my two sons for Christmas this year. I placed my order with Edcor on Dec 25th and still have not received the transformers. It was a fairly large order, 4 outputs, two power and two chokes. They seem to be having some delays due to COVID.
The transformer prices spiked a few years ago when copper and iron prices were going up. They seem to be holding steady now. Edcor and Hammond are still the least cost options. I prefer Hammond for most of my projects, especially PP designs. I only use the Edcor for low wattage SE amps.
Jonathan
Well, I have used Tom McNally's site as a reference considering he has built so many amplifiers and then sold them. So I figured his choice would be a good advice to follow. Comparing amplifiers on his page, it seems he favored the Edcor transformers the most for his Clementine amplifiers with the XSE and GXSE series for the Darlings and specifically, the GXSE-15-8-5K for his "Chubby" Clementine projects. So I bought those to use as a reference for both a Darling and a Chubby project. So with one channel using the GXSE and the other with another transformer that I could test, I can do sound comparisons. In the end, the final design for the Darling would most likely use a smaller transformer as I do want the Darling to be a more compact design. However, if the difference in sound is significant then I would stick with the GXSE -15-8-5k for both projects.
As for the JE Labs EL34 SE project I am working on. That one I have some serious pieces of iron for. I had initially wanted to put this amplifier on an ST-70 chassis, but I think the iron might be too heavy for it. I will see.
That is really it for my projects for now...three amplifier designs with all being SE designs under 10 watts per channel.
I am a bit shocked to hear of your dealings with Edcor in that your shipment was placed in December and you still have not received your order. In fact it was my reading of your answer that prompted me to create two orders with both only having two identical transformers in it. It could mean that because they have to retool their set up as per transformer, they might be holding off on your shipment until they can get all of the transformers done. It is my guess that it is probably the chokes that are holding your order up as I don't foresee them tooling up for choke runs often. So it could very well be that your order might be done save for one transformer that is holding the whole thing up. So I decided that I will place the second transformer order later on. While that might cost me more in shipping, it might reduce my wait time in the event that the transformer I am ordering is in a 'holding pattern' before Edcor gets around to tooling up for that transformers particular run.
BTW, I know you are a regular here. What has become of Shannon Parks? I don't see he is around here any more and it appears all of his pcbs are discontinued!
Thanks for the info.
Geo
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