You pays your money and you takes your choice. The Hammond 1600 series are surprisingly good for the money. I've just been looking at an amplifier where I wish the person who made it had spent more money on what's inside the output transformers and left off chrome plating the end shells.
What are you talking? Half-watt iron for headphones? 300 Watts for tube subwoofers?
There are still a ton of guitar-amplifier replacement irons. Some are deliberately cheezy. Some are super good.
There are still a ton of guitar-amplifier replacement irons. Some are deliberately cheezy. Some are super good.
I just got a pair of 20 watt SE output transformers from China that are pretty nice. I took a chance to see if they are worth it and even with shipping costing $70 they came out cheaper than the equivalent Hammond or Edcore and I got them in 3 weeks. I’m im just testing them out now but so far so good. They sound great from high to low and a built really well. I’ve got a bunch of Edcore iron that are decent but I’m going to get more of these instead. Take a look into the Chinese stuff. Don’t get the obviously cheap crap but the better stuff is not a disappointment.
Might look into Monolith Magnetics. They were more expensive than the Hammonds or Edcors but they are lovely to listen to and beautifully made. Great communication and delivery in two weeks from Belgium to the USA. I'd use them again in a heartbeat.
Toroidy is pretty reasonable if you are careful with shipping.
https://sklep.toroidy.pl/en_US/c/Tube-output-transformers/137
https://sklep.toroidy.pl/en_US/c/Tube-output-transformers/137
Depends where you are to an extent, Primary Windings are good - https://primarywindings.com/ though he did have quite a long lead time.
Andy.
Andy.
Very much depends where you are - shipping can add a substantial cost.
These are in the UK and so am I, so interested. Have you used or heard any?
I would not count out Chinese output transformers if money is tight. I bought Hammond 1650HA for my first build, they worked very well, but are not cheap, especially the single ended ones. I got some Chinese 3K3/8ohm 15W single ended OPT, they gave quite decent results, especially for the money.
There is also Toroidy, a company in Poland that produces some popular OPTs, with very decent prices. Unfortunately importing them to the UK makes them quite expensive.
There is also Toroidy, a company in Poland that produces some popular OPTs, with very decent prices. Unfortunately importing them to the UK makes them quite expensive.
Thank you all for good feedbacks.
I realize this hobby is not cheap at all, but at least there are some alternatives now.
I realize this hobby is not cheap at all, but at least there are some alternatives now.
What country are you in? I can't see it in your profile. It always matters regarding shipping charges.
Hi tother Andy, yes, I'm using two 8k PP 25w OPT's on a 2C34 Class AB2 amplifier, ti/they sound very good to my ears. I had a look under the bell housings and from what I can see they are would to a professional standard. Can't remember the exact stats but they're flat from 20hz to well over 30khz, I'd definitely buy from Primary Windings again.
Alex,yes, this hobby isn't cheap, the OPT's being the most expensive component, my advice is to get the best OPT's you can afford. A valve amp will take you hours & hours of work to design, build & tweak but in my experience the effort is worth it. Every valve amp I've built sounds a little different and puts a smile on my face when listening to music. The result isn't earth shattering, there's no valve magic sound, but there are a few differences I've noticed. stereo separation is better, bass response is different and there's a few other subtle differences that are hard to define without going into subjective hyperbole.
Lastly there's been a few threads on this subject where a lot more OPT makers are listed.
Andy.
Alex,yes, this hobby isn't cheap, the OPT's being the most expensive component, my advice is to get the best OPT's you can afford. A valve amp will take you hours & hours of work to design, build & tweak but in my experience the effort is worth it. Every valve amp I've built sounds a little different and puts a smile on my face when listening to music. The result isn't earth shattering, there's no valve magic sound, but there are a few differences I've noticed. stereo separation is better, bass response is different and there's a few other subtle differences that are hard to define without going into subjective hyperbole.
Lastly there's been a few threads on this subject where a lot more OPT makers are listed.
Andy.
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Then check out a1parts.ca ... They have the best prices on Hammond and are in Canada here in Ontario.
https://www.a1parts.ca/transformers...Tube_Output_Transformers_1627_1642_Series.htm
Frankly, as Jcalvarez said, I'd probably at least consider Chinese transformers. Or push pull.
For the cost of one Hammond 25W SE output, I can set up my 2x100VA PP toroidal setup in stereo (4 coils) and have enough money left over to buy the chassis. 😛
https://www.arrow.com/en/products/vpt12-8330/triad-magnetics
100 % agree. Plus tube ams are very forgiving to mistakes. Schematic is well known as much as typical combinations of tubes and output transformers. There are a lot of possibilities to get sound you like most. And each one with unique features.
The store was HiFi Equis on AliExpress. They have a bunch of different transformer. I got the 20 watt SE it’s 5k primary and it has dual 4 and 8 ohm secondaries. It took just two weeks to get here and still smelled of paint! I have no affiliation with them but I was satisfied with what I got.