A while ago, I was building a standard single-ended amplifier using ECL86 tubes; initially, I used the TG2.5 transformers I had, but they severely limited the frequency response. I had one TG5-46-666, so I decided to buy a second one. Although there isn’t much low-end response, the bass is almost subwoofer-like on certain tracks. And that’s the thing with these valve amps: when I measured it on a dummy load at 8 ohms, this little chap’s power output was a hefty 1.9W (without clipping the sine wave peaks). But how is it that this little thing, despite its 1.9W, can produce such bass that the doors shake and it’s really loud? With that kind of power on a transistor, it would have died ages ago. I’m currently building my ultimate amplifier using 11 valves and toroidal transformers. After the first test of the power amplifier stage alone (one channel), I’m feeling optimistic. So far, there’s no hum; you can put your ear to the speaker and hear nothing – it’s as if it’s switched off. Of course, I’m not some sort of tube fanatic and I enjoy listening on my transistor amp.
