kel 84

P S . forgot to say, mains transformer is a bit noisey.not a lot , but i can hear it when its on without music. would a cork gasket help. also thansformer is hot, can only just hold my hand on it. after about 2 hours playing .

[colin.hepburn]

it sounds like you all have transformers from a bad batch or something the transformers should not be noisey or buzz

Originally Posted by colin.hepburn2

it sounds like you all have transformers from a bad batch or something the transformers should not be noisey or buzz

doesnt sound good.
Mine does hum quite loudly. I will try a gasket in a week or so and see if it improves things.

Ken, was this thread misplaced?
Started with a P.S.

[David Mccallum]

I,m now on my second mains transformer,the first was noisey even after modifing slightly it still caused the fillament in the right side ecf80 to vibrate.
The best thing i did was to clamp the transformer leaves tightly with extra nuts on the underside before passing the bolts through rubber grommets fitted in the top casing.I had to drill the holes out to a larger size to fit the grommets,then fit the nuts nipped up not to tightly,nyloc m5,s are best.
Thanks for the tip,s John if your reading this.which reminds me i must get the old tx sent back.By the way my mains transformer(old and new)runs pretty hot too,John also assured me that this was normal.

[NickG]

With the 6550, the cork gasket did help with TX noise.

ill try both methods and see what happens.
I'd like to know the official WD stance on this though, especially if theres any chance its a bad batch of transformers.

[colin.hepburn]

Don't get paranoid about it send peter a pm and see what he thinks It just that most of you who have built this amp say the transformer is noise
reason for thinking bad batch it may be just the metal to metal contact

[David Mccallum]

I was told that it was literally pot luck,some tx,s are noisey and some are quiet.In the bad old days when things were over engineered they used to (pot) transformers(they say they didnt inhale).This involved a vacum and liquid enamel immersion.Apparently a practice now abandoned due to cost and better insulating materials being available,hence the mains tx can run very hot to touch.
Some of the best tweeks can be experienced by rolling yer own,is a statement i agree with

[andrew ivimey]

I tried three mains transformers before I got one that didn't buzz. They all get hot though and that's just the way it is.

Honestly, you guys, I don't know what the fuss is all about. KEL84 is okay; period.

The best upgrade is a new amplifier, having cut your teeth so to speak, gained enjoyment and confidence, but then it is time to move on.

So change the transformer until you hit a good one, Andrew did you say that.
Until you find one with a 240v spec with headroom.
Good money being spent here I would not expect a buzzing transformer, but thats me, its not pot luck.
Will.