211 Amps

[acorn]

Hi all

I believe some one on the B & B has built a 211 single ended amp. I have been told that they blow all other amps away , have you been impressed by there performance and what are the pit falls in building one of these monster amps ie high voltages etc. are they any weaknesses in the sound quality, bass or high frequency response.


Regards Acorn

[andrew ivimey]

Yep, several of us have.

I am so happy with my 'ongaku' I have stopped worrying about amplifiers. Okay so I have built a couple of others am been very happy with them ( I have been much less than happy with some others too, so I have a few powers of discrimmination).

Mine is a build from the schematic available on the Web with upgrades only to better quality valves, caps,resistors. I have used Audionote transformers throughout.

NickG has done (and still is I think!) long and wonderful tweaks and experiments but that is his story.

211 valves are common. The Shuguangs are very cheap. GEs quite common but expensive. GEs sound wonderful and that is where I stopped. It is a wonderful amplifier and my amplifier of choice. Everything else is a luxury to be able to compare.

[Paul Barker]

Yes Andrews ongaku sounds marvelous, but it's an expensive route.

On balance it's probably better to build an se 300b if it's your first build.

[NickG]

Its such a big question, I don;t know where to start answering...

I wouldn't say they blow anything away, I am happy with the sound, and if I knew what I knew now, 18 months ago (when I started the 211) I would still do it. They are nice valves, but a lot more goes into a amp than just the output valve. They have drawbacks, one is the high voltage needed to get usefull power out of them, and the high plate resistance means its hard to get a good transformer without restricted top end. The upside, is yes they can sound good, and are easy to drive (compaired to 845's), but more of a test if you want A2.

as Paul say's is a long expensive route (or at least mine is, I think Andrew got a good amp up quicker, and I suspect cheaper, but I decided I wanted a daft choke input supply and interstage coupling).

I think its almost a case of if you need to ask the question, you should think of building something a bit more sane first. Or you could talk to Phil at bluebell, but don't blame me,

[acorn]

Thanks chaps for your replies, yes a amp to pounder upon, especialy those 1.5 Kv sapping volts.

Acorn

[david counter]

talking about 211s here's Phillips latest offering
http://www.bluebellaudio.com/new%20home.htm