1) In order to design such a thing, you'll first need to define "warm, smooth and sweet" in engineering terms.
2) Then you'll need to figure out how to design your circuit to do what you've defined in step 1.
2) Then you'll need to figure out how to design your circuit to do what you've defined in step 1.
Take a look at Broskie's New Octal Aikido Cathode Follower. Very simple circuit. (He also offers an All-in-One" that includes the power supplies.) Build with good quality PIO caps, (copper foil, if budget allows) and good quality carbon film resistors. Tube rectification would be best, but less critical with a unity gain buffer. There are many other tube buffer schematics on the web. But good octal tube, such as xSN7's or loktal 7N7's, make for the sweetest sound. (Or in "engineering terms" the highest in "less industrialized carbohydrates" ! Think maple syrup, or honey, versus high fructose corn syrup)
https://glass-ware.stores.yahoo.net/ocaicafo.html
Cheers,
Geary
https://glass-ware.stores.yahoo.net/ocaicafo.html
Cheers,
Geary
Engineering terms would describes it as lossy and rolled off. But audio isn't that simple.
I have bookmarked the buffer.
I have bookmarked the buffer.
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Use amtrans carbon film resistors they will give you that sound. Also copper foil coupling caps will help stay away from plastic types. Obviously circuit topolgy will come into the mix and the type of tube you will use. Its like baking a cake.you add the ingrediance till it to your specific taste your listening for. Thats the fun of diy. You get to choose and create your sound.
You might be interested in my "Business Card" buffer... Named that because it's the size of a business card.
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/photo-gallery.71300/post-6783689
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/photo-gallery.71300/post-6783689
I am not aware of a Russian copper foil PIO cap. The K40's and KBG's are aluminum foil. Nice caps for very little money.
For these words in the title
You need some amplification (gain)
Buffer have no amplification. It is about 1X.
So with tubes buffer will sound more neutral and lets say natural.
But not "warm".
.
I dont see te point to supply tube device with solid state elements?
Tube power supply is more logic solution. If the goal is sound...
You need some amplification (gain)
Buffer have no amplification. It is about 1X.
So with tubes buffer will sound more neutral and lets say natural.
But not "warm".
.
I dont see te point to supply tube device with solid state elements?
Tube power supply is more logic solution. If the goal is sound...
Then you will fail miserably because you are leaving out 99% of the important sound chain.
You are missing the tube preamp, its built in classic (and probably imperfect) tone control), phase inverter, Power tubes, output transformer .... "almost nothing" 😉
In fact, I doubt the classic tube amp even includes a buffer ... what for?
The old style amp will strongly colour the sound, and in many ways; buffers are designed to "do nothing" if at all possible.
Thinking than inserting a "do nothing" (or almost) box with a glowing filament tube between your (presumed) digital source and your (presumed) Solid State (even Class D) amplifier will achieve what´s asked for in the OP is simply Magical Thinking
You want what´s on the OP? ... fine with me, just build what you describe there and play vinyl records ... that´s The Real Thing [tm]
Building 1% of that, specially the flattest less distorted part of it? ..... think again.