Kel84 build

[john & Jake the dog]

Hi,
I'll be ready to order a KEL84 kit as soon as Paypal releases the cash from my Ebay Exposure sale. Next weekend hopefully.
Been reading a thread about an 84 build.
The builder seemed to have a few holes to drill and parts to modify in order for them to fit.
Could any owners please tell me if this is the norm as this will be my first valve kit and I could do with things fitting first time for simplicitys sake.

cheers
john

[Tony Moore]

Hi John,

Well, the Kel84 was the first of the WAD (as it was) amps that I built and I found it very straightforward with all instructions clear. The only thing I'd say is that some of the pcb retaining screws were in hard to reach places and quite fiddly to get in but apart from that I don't remember having to resort to drilling or modification of any parts.

It's a great amp and very sweet sounding, especially with the upgrade kit that consisted of the Jensen paper in oil caps and Alps blue pot. (Is the Alps pot standard now?) I also had made the schottky diode mod and fitted the Rifa low ESR caps. It was a very musical sounding amp. (I have since sold mine as I had way too many valve amps after getting the bug and building both the Kit6550 and 2A3PSE)

Cheers,
Tony

[david counter]

if I remember correctly the chassis in that thread was from the WAD days when they used different phono sockets, instead of waiting for a new one from Peter he decided to modify it, I'm sure you won't have to do any drilling,

you'll really enjoy building it

have fun

[petercom]

No drilling required now, so it will be a straightforward build.

Alps Blue Velvet pot is now standard, as is the inclusion of professional phono sockets and the uprated power transformer.

I do suggest you include the relay switched input board in your purchase as it does simplify the input wiring immensly as well as sounding better!

[john & Jake the dog]

Hi,
thanks for the reassurance, looking forward to getting the ball rolling now.
cheers
john

[john & Jake the dog]

hi,
I'll have to leave the switching board as an upgrade after I've lived with the amp a little.
If it is possible I would only wire the CD and radio inputs as they are the only two I would use.

cheers
john

[david counter]

it's entirely up to you how many inputs you wire in,
it makes no difference to the amp working

[Borats Baby]

Good luck with the build John.

I completed mine with a few small issues but Peter and the team are very helpful.

If I can help you along the way, I will..

Please keep us all informed along the way with piccies !!!

Cheers

BB

[john & Jake the dog]

Hi,
Peter says that the kit now comes with an uprated transformer.
Could you please tell me what this means to the performance/sound of the amp.
cheers
john

[petercom]

Performance is relatively unchanged except that WDKEL84 is now even better at driving real loudspeaker loads due to the slightly improved voltage regulation.

The main benefit is cooler running of the transformer and the new method of mounting eliminates mechanical hum.