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Post by podunkphill1953 on Feb 13, 2007 7:01:00 GMT -5
Is there a lower powered substitution for the el84? I know that the 12ax tubes can be sub with 12au and 12at for less output and I looking for a lower output for the EL84. thanks
Phill
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Post by ChrisK on Feb 13, 2007 12:54:29 GMT -5
Why?
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Post by podunkphill1953 on Feb 13, 2007 15:00:40 GMT -5
to reduce the overall output, This is a valve jr. head 5 watts which is loud. Between wife and neighbors to help keep the peace.
Phill
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Post by RJB on Feb 13, 2007 15:22:52 GMT -5
Short of getting hold of a Firefly amp which is 1/2W, a Cheap Homemade Attenuater is probably your best best. Remember 10db is 1/10th the power, and is 'apparently' 1/2 the volume. 3db is a barely noticable change in volume, and 6db is noticable to the 'untrained' listener. |
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Post by ChrisK on Feb 13, 2007 17:22:33 GMT -5
Exactly why I asked why. If you want lower output power while keeping the plate hot, an attenuator is the way to go. If you just want a lower output, just turn the volume down.  It's simple to make a resistive attenuator, with the 4, 8 and 16 Ohm taps on the head's output transformer, you have wider latitude. What is the impedance of the speaker(s) that you want to use with the head? With this info, we can easily determine the power resistor values. |
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Post by UnklMickey on Feb 13, 2007 17:45:44 GMT -5
can you guys say "L-pad"?
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Post by podunkphill1953 on Feb 14, 2007 0:01:15 GMT -5
I will be using a 4 ohm 10" Webber speaker with this head
I had run it through my two 12" 8 ohm Olson loud speakers but using a 25 watt Webber attenuator it made the sound to thin at the lower level.
That is why I was asking what lower output tube could be used with the 4 ohm speaker to achieve the sound desired using the attenuator without turning it do so far because of the 5 watt output.
Phill
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Post by sumgai on Feb 14, 2007 4:57:19 GMT -5
phill, Short answer: no, sorry, there's no pin-for-pin substitute for the EL84. You'll have to derive your level reduction another way. Personally, I feel that if the volume has to be that low anyway, you aren't gonna get the 'gut feel' or 'drive' of the sound no matter what, so why worry if it's got a bit of power-amp distortion, or it's clean? At able-to-carry-on-a-conversation levels, your ear won't be able to pick out the subtle power section distortion anyway..... trust me on this.  Chris hit the nail closest to the head - turn down the volume, and make everyone (else) happy. Now if you were doing this for recording purposes, that'd be a different story.  sumgai |
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Post by RJB on Feb 14, 2007 10:05:35 GMT -5
To be honest to get the volume down to where the spouse can watch TV in the next room, (or the neighbor through a condo wall) the sound WILL suck. Sorry, there just isn't enough dynamics in low level SPLs. Best suggestion is headphones. Something like a POD (I use a VAMP), or a dummy load/speaker sim/headphone box. Hell my wife complains if I get banging too hard just from the 'acoustic' sound from the electric!
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Post by hammeroff on Feb 14, 2007 11:23:08 GMT -5
Or...get the really expensive exterior sound damping headphones, two sets even. Give one set to your wife to watch TV with, and the other give to your neighbor!  |
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Post by ChrisK on Feb 14, 2007 11:37:16 GMT -5
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