• WARNING: Tube/Valve amplifiers use potentially LETHAL HIGH VOLTAGES.
    Building, troubleshooting and testing of these amplifiers should only be
    performed by someone who is thoroughly familiar with
    the safety precautions around high voltages.

Monoblock kits for $500

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breezeblocks

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Joined 2015
#1
I'm looking to build a pair of tube monoblocks. This is also my first foray into DIY power amps. My budget is about $500 for the pair. I was looking at the S-5 16LM kit (https://www.tubedepot.com/products/model-16lm-mono-integrated-tube-amplifier) but the S-5 kits tend to get mixed reviews so I'm not sure. Are there any better options for my budget? My only requirement is at least 10WPC or so.
I also have 4 Svetlana KT88s, 4 12AX7s, and 2 12AT7s lying around so if any kits you have in mind need those the cost of tubes don't need to be considered.
Thanks
 
#2
Do you really need for it to be monoblock? By doing that you are going need two power transformers and if you do C-L-C filtering then you will need two chokes as well. That will increase the price.

If you are in the US, then look at Edcor or Transcendar for your iron. They have good prices.
 
#4
The problem with cheap kits is the output transformers
(which define the sonics on a tube amp) usually get
replaced for better ones wasting $`s you could use
for better ones.

With the tubelab.com idea you can pick better ones
and learn a lot from George, He has a forum here also.
 
#5
Thanks for the replies.
I'm going with the SSE kit. I was picking out parts tonight for it and have a question. I'm having a bit of trouble reading some of the specs for power transformer, but can anyone tell me if the Edcor XPWR035 power transformer will work with a GZ34/5AR4 rectifier?
 
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