Wad Kel84

Hi

I managed to pick up a WAD KEL84 on ebay for not a lot and was wondering about the ground connector at the back of the amp. Should I ground this amp and if so.. how?

Thanks

Jack

p.s This will be an interesting weekend as I will be able to compare the Kel84 with my Chinese made Valve Amp. I havent listened yet but so far the chinese amp is winning on sheer weight... Im hoping that the WAD has better transformers though.

[John T]

No, there's no need - the amp is earthed through the power lead.
Good luck!

[Richard]

Hi Jack,

A very good amp that if it's been well-built.

The chassis is earthed to mains earth via its 3 core lead and the earth post is there simply as a connecting point for any sources (such as a turntable) which require an external ground connection. In practice, using the likes of CD, Tuner, etc, you probably won't need it.

Do let us know what you think!

Rich

John and Rich Thanks!

Ive posted an internal pic of the Kel84 here:

It looks neat and tidy to the untrained eye, It was made with silver solder and has 2 nos Philips jan PCF 80's and 4 new Sovtek EL84M included.

are the Sovteks a good match for this amp or is there a better valve out there?

Rich, after revalving and biasing the Chinese amp, Thanks again for that It sounded so much more refined and enjoyable, but still it can get a bit rough and ready in the higher frequencies... this maybe a signature of chinese valve amps in general i.e trebly.
Im hoping the Kel84 will be more 'smooth and silky'

Jack

Btw the amp was £250

forget my head if it want screwed on

:

[david counter]

the Sovteks are a really good match for the amp, I like them,
at some stage try a bit of tube rolling with JJs or if you can get them Mullards,
it's all a matter of personal taste

have fun

[Richard]

Not heard Sovteks in this amp but the JJs are very good. I've heard your amp and a couple of KEL84s here and think you'll find the Kel exactly what you're looking for. It's failing, if it can be called that, is a slight lack of top end. Strengths are a superb mid and powerful bass. I heard one with and one without the lower-feedback mod (in the faq) and the mod is very worthwhile. I'd leave the rest (inc those orange coupling caps) standard except for an Alps Blue pot if it doesn't already have one which is sweeter and more revealing than the (old spec) standard pot. If you do want a little more sparkle the shunt pot mod in the faq using metal film resistors would do that nicely.

Rich

Just a quick update

Im loving my new Kel84 amp, theres none of the treble nastys that plagued my previous amp, and Ive been amazed at the sheer musicality of this little amp It plays all types of music with ease, has wonderful tone and is dynamic and exciting.
I was getting bass boom with the chinese amp and thats gone now, bass is tight and tuneful, loads of midrange information, human voices are uncanny, you could almost reach out and touch.


to sum up...

ITS FAB!


Jack.

[Richard]

Nice one Jack! It's a super amp by any standards, one of those rare beasts that is more than the sum of its parts. When I had Davy's here I thought, "yes, I could easily live with this".

Rich