12/3/2016

4SUniversalPreamplifierfor12A*7Tubes

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4SUniversalPreamplifierfor12A*7Tubes
HumbleBeginnings
ThebasisforthistubepreamplifierstartedoutasapostintheSupersimplesinglestagetubepreampthreadonthewebsiteForum.
Oneofthemembers(seeMark's4SUniversalValvePreamps)hadsuggestedbuildingaSuperSimpleSingleStagePreamp("4S"
Preampforshort)andtherewasmuchdiscussionconcerningvarioustubes,gain,noise,etc.andseveraldesignswerepresentedusing
variousdualtriodetubes.Thentheproverbialgauntletwasthrowndownwiththephrase"switchfrom12AU7to12AX7".Myanswer
wastodesignauniversallinestagepreamplifierthatwouldworkwellwithanentirerangeoftubes.Thuswasthe4SUniversaltube
preamplifierborn.

TechnicalAudioInformation
TestingEquipment/Tools
DIYAudioLinks
Contact/AboutUs

Photograph1:4SUniversalTubePreamplifierAssembled

TheElectricalDesign4SUniversalTubePreamp
ThetubelinelevelpreamplifierdesignIcameupwithisasinglecircuitthatcanhandlethefollowingdualtriode9pintubeswithno
changes:12AU7,12AV7,12AY7,12AT7/12AZ7and12AX7.

Figure1:12A*7DualTriodeVacuumTubePinoutDiagram

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Dependentonthetubeused(allthesetubeshavethesamepinout)andwhetherthecathodeisbypassed,thepeakgainmaybevaried
byalargemargin.HereisthecircuitIimplemented.

Figure2:4SUniversalTubePreamplifierSchematic
Thetubepreamplifiercircuitisactuallyverysimple.Itusesareasonablysizedgridstoppertocontrolclippingandbiasexcursions,a
purerestiveload,andahighimpedancegridresistortoavoidloadingvirtuallyanydrivingdevice.Thevolumecontrol(P1onthe
schematic)isonthetubeoutputtohelpensurethatthenoisefigureforthisHiFipreampisaslowaspossible.Theinputresistor(470k
ontheschematic)canbeanythingfrom100kto1Mtoproperlyloadyourinputsource.Withthesecomponents(theoutput
potentiometeris250kaudiotaper)andanoptional33Fcathodebypasscapacitorthecalculatedpreamplifierperformanceisshown
inthefollowingtable.

Table1:CalculatedPerformance4SUniversalTubePreamplifier

Where:
ECo(V)Cathodebiasvoltageinvolts(Quiescet[zeroexcitation]valueofgridvoltage).
AvAmplificationorgain(v/vorunitless).
Av(dB)AmplificationorgainindecibelsordBv.
%D(i/p1v pp)Percentdistortionwitha1vpeak(2vpeaktopeak)sinewaveinput.
Ro(max)Maximumoutputimpedanceinohms(ouptputimpedancevarieswithpotentiometersetting).
flo(Hz)Lowfrequency3dBresponsefrequency.
Ascanbeseenfromthecalculatedperformance,thepeakgaincanbevariedconsiderablybychoiceoftubeandthedistortion
(virtuallyallsecondharmonic)isverywellcontrolled.Thisisawellbehavedlinestagepreamplifier.Theloadlinedesignsforthefive
different12A_7tubesareavailableontheForumintheLoadLines4SUniversal12A_7TubePreamppost.

TubeRectifierPowerSupplyDesign
IdecidedthatIwantedtodoasimpletuberectifiedpowersupplyforthispreampunit.Tuberectificationworkswellinthisapplication
becausethepreampdrawsonlyafewmilliampsforbothchannels.Atthesecurrentlevels,thevoltagedropinthevacuumtuberectifer
isverysmall(~3.6vforthisunit)andthefilterchokeexpectedinductancemaybeasmuchastwiceitsratedvalue.Thedesignpoint
forthissupply,withoutapplyingthesefactors,is1.2mVofrippleat257V.Thisconstitutesaripplevalueof107dB,inshortaveryquiet
powersupply.And,duetothefactorsstated,itismostcertainlyevenbetterthanit'sdesignpoint.Thisisfurtherborneoutbythefact
thatthepreampisdeadquietinusage.Thispowersupplyisverywellsuitedtotheapplication.Formoredetailedinformation,seemy
notesonvacuumtubepowersupplydesign.Note,thecapacitorfollowingthe6CA4tuberectifiermustnotexceed50uF.

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Figure3:PowerSupplySchematic4SUniversalTubePreamplifier
Forsolidstatepowersupplyideas,seeMark's4SUniversalValvePreamplifierbuilds.

Buildingthe4SUniversalTubePreamplifier
Decidingonthephysicallayoutandbuildactuallytooksometime.Uptothispoint,mostofmytubebuildshavefollowedafairly
predictablepattern:woodbase,aluminumtopplate,polishedfinish,etc.ForthistubepreamplifierbuildIwantedtogofortwomajor
themes:UtilityandCompactness.SoIstartedwithastockenclosurefromPomona,the4226PDF(24kB).ThisisanEsize(8.3"x
4.2"x1.74")diecastaluminumenclosurewithasheetaluminumcoverandinternalcardguides.Althoughsmall,IwassureIcouldfit
theentirepowersupplyandstereopreampinthisenclosure.Insteadoftryingtorunwiresfromthetopplatetocomponentsmounted
inside(whichwouldmakeworkingontheboxandsealingitupproblematic)Idecidedtomountallofthecomponentstothetopplate.
ThenIcouldbuildtheentirepreampandwhencomplete,justslideitintotheenclosure.Hereisthelayoutforthemajorelements:

Photograph2:ControlDiagram4SUniversalTubePreamplifier
Warning:Thisvacuumtubepreamplifierprojectuseshighvoltageintherangeof250to270Volts.Contactwithvoltagepotentialsof
thismagnitudecancauseseriousinjuryorpossiblybefatal.Ifyoudonotknowhowtobuildhighvoltagevacuumtubeamplifier
projectsoryouarenotcomfortablewithprojectsthatusethesevoltagelevels,itisstronglyrecommendedthatyoudonotbuildthis
vacuumtubepreamplifier.Followyourgoverningelectricalcodesforallwiringandconnections.

ACTestTransformer
ACvoltagetest,ACtest,appliedvoltagetest,partialdischargetestGoto
hvbright.com/prodcut/AC+voltage+test
Thepowersupplycomponentsareallcontainedonthelefthandsideoftheunitandallofthepreamplifiercircuitcomponentsareon
theright.Internallythereisametalshieldbetweenthetwosectionswhichisheldinplacebyoneofthecardguidesmoldedintothe

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castchassis.Oneveryimportantfeatureofthistubepreamplifierbuildisthegroundliftswitch.Theentirechassisisgroundedthrough
theIECconnectorgroundpin.Thesignalgroundisisolatedfromthecasegroundbythegroundliftswitch.Thisway,ifIamdrivingan
amplifierinwhichthesignalisgroundedtothecase,Icanflipthegroundliftswitchandthepreampsignalgroundwillbereferencedto
theamplifiersignalgroundviatheaudiocables.ThisavoidshuminducinggroundloopswhenbothchassisaregroundedviatheIEC
connector.Hereisaviewofthecomponentsidewiththepreampunitallwiredupandreadytogointotesting.

Photograph3:Underside4SUniversalTubePreamplifier
Thingsarefairlycrampedinside.Icouldhavegoneforaprintedcircuitboardapproach,butIreallyenjoypointtopointbuildtechniques
forvacuumtubeamplifierprojects.Besidesthis,I'mnotsureIcouldhavedesignedaPCBthatwouldworkwithallthebulkyitems
protrudingintothecase(inductor,IECconnector,tubesocket,potentiometer,RCAjacks,etc.).Oncethepreampbuildwasdoneand
allelectricalconnectionstriplechecked,itwastimetocommencetesting.
Photograph3AshownbelowisacopyofPhotograph3withsomelabelingthathasbeenaddedforclaritywithregardstothelayoutand
groundingschemeofthetubepreamplifierproject.

Photograph3A:LabelledUnderside4SUniversalTubePreamplifier
ThelabelledPhotograph3Ashowswhichtypesofgroundsarewhereandhowthegroundswitchtiesthemtogether.Youwillnoticethat
therearetwowiresrunningthroughthecenterpenetrationofthedividerplate.Theblackleadisthehighvoltagerailcomingoutofthe
primaryfilterinductorandthegreenwireisthesignal(andpower)ground.Theseconnecttopointsontheterminalstripunderthefinal
filtercapacitor.Therearetwoleadscomingoffthebleederresistor.Thefollowingphotograph(3B)showshowtheseleadsconnectto
theterminalstrip.

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Photograph3B:TerminalStripGrounding4SUniversalTubePreamplifier
AsyoucanseeinPhotograph3Cbelow,the100kplateloadresistorsforthetwochannelsareconnecteddirectlytothistabaswell.
Youcanalsoseethatthecouplingcapacitorsconnecttotheothersideoftheplateloadresistorsattheplatepinsonthetubesocket.

Photograph3C:LabelledUnderside4SUniversalTubePreamplifier
Thesephotos(3A,3Band3C)shouldhelpmakethegroundingschemethatIusedclear.
The12A*7tubeshavetwoelementseachwitha6.3vheater.Inthetubethesearewiredinserieswiththecentralconnectiontiedtopin
9.Thismeansthata12.6vheatersupplyiswiredtopins4and5withnoconnectiononpin9.However,a6.3vheatersupplyneedsto
puttheheatersinparallelsothattheyeachget6.3v.Thisisaccomplishedbybridgingpins4and5,andthenconnectingthe6.3v
heatersupplybetweenpins9andthebridged4and5pins.SeethePhotgraph3Dfortheconnections.

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Photograph3D:HeaterWiring4SUniversalTubePreamplifier

Testingthe4SUniversalTubePreamplifier
Testingapreampdeviceofthistypeisreallyfairlystraightforward.Thefirststepistosimplypowerupthetubepreampunitandcheck
allthemajorvoltagepointsinthecircuit.Thisisdonewiththeunitopenandsittingonaworkbench.Forthispreampbuildallvoltages
wereascalculatedtowithinareasonablemarginoferror.ForthistypeofdeviceIliketotestusingasignalgeneratorwithadjustable
output,adualchannelACvoltmeter,andanoscilloscope.HereisapictureoftheunitasIwasrunningitthroughitspaces.

Photograph4:4STubePreamplifierTestingSetup
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Thesignalgeneratorallowsmetotestthetubepreamplifierunitatvariousfrequenciesandinputlevels,theoscilloscopeshowsmethe
inputandoutputwaveforms,andthevoltmeterallowsmetodirectlycalculategainatanyfrequencywithouttryingtogetnumbersoff
oftheoscilloscope.Sohowdidthe4SUniversaltubepreamplifierunitdo?Herearethegainandphaseplotsgeneratedfrommeasured
data.

Figure4:VoltageGainandPhaseShiftvsFrequency
Thisisverygoodperformance.Thesingledominanthighfrequencypolehereisduetotheinputcapacitanceofmytestequipment.
Thetubeinputcapacitanceisatleastanorderofmagnitudesmallerandisswampedbythetestequipmentandthenestofwireson
thetable.

Impressions4SUniversalTubePreamplifier
Ofcourse,allthistestdataisnice,butitreallydoesn'tsaymuchabouthowthepreampworksandsounds.Sooncethepreampunit
wasdeemedtechnicallyacceptable,itwastimetodetermineifitwassonicallyacceptable.Thisentailedhookingupthepreamptoone
ofmyotherunits.Ichosethe6V6Lacewoodamplifier.
Inthepast,whendrivingthisamplifierwithjustmyiPod,Iwasdisappointedwiththeoverallperformance.Notwiththesoundmindyou,
butwiththeattainablepowerlevelfromtheamp.TheiPodoutputsimplywasn'tenoughtodriveittofullpower.SoIinsertedthetube
preampinfrontoftheamp,turnedtheampvolumetomax,andusedthepreampcontroltoadjustvolume.Hereisapictureofthe
listeningsetup.

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Photograph5:4SUniversalTubePreampwithLacewood6V6Amp
Inthispicture,theiPodlineoutisdrivingthepreamp,thepreampisdirectlyconnectedtotheLacewoodampandit'svolumeisatmax.
First,withnoinputandbothpreampandampturnedtomax,thesetupwasdeadsilent.Icouldhearnothingfromthespeakerseven
withmyearrightnexttothespeakercone.
FromthefirstmomentIstartedplayingmusicIwasamazedathowthepairsoundedtogether.Therewasabsolutelynoproblemwith
signallevelorpower.Andtheaddedeffectivedynamicrangereallylettheampopenup.
Thispreampprojectwasagreatsuccess.Thisisapreampthatcanbeadaptedtothetaskathandsimplybyswappingtubes.Italso
allowssometuberollingtocomparevarioustubesinyourstash.Thisisagreatlittleunittoreallybringoutthemostinyourpower
amps.Commentsandquestionsaboutthepreampprojectarewelcomeinthe4SUniversalTubePreampProject(12A*7)thread.

12BH7Tubewith4SUniversalPreamp
UPDATE23October2014
Well,Ihaveanotherupdatetothepossibletubelistforthe4SUniversalPreamplifier.Thisisaspecialcasebecauseyoucanonlyuse
the12BH7tubeifyourheatersupplyiscapableofputtingoutafull600mAintothefilament.Ifso,the12BH7tubewillexpandyour
tuberollingcapabilities.The12BH7tubeishalfwaybetweenthe12AU7andthe12AV7fromagainperspectiveandisverylow
distortion.

Table2:CalculatedPerformance4SUniversalTubePreamplifier(including12BH7)

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AbouttheAuthor
MattRenaudisacareerElectricalEngineerwithover25yearsexperienceinadvancedradiofrequencysystemdesign.Hehasa
passionfortubeaudioandteachingtubebasedcircuitdesigntoothersthroughparticipationintubeaudioforumsandhisownwebsite,
www.CascadeTubes.com.Themajorityofhisdesignsarefullyoriginalandmaybefoundonhiswebsiteandonthisforum.MoreDIY
audioprojectsandarticlesbyMatt:
Switched(Stepped)AttenuatorPassiveVolumeControl
DummySpeakerLoadBox
PowerSupplyDesignforVacuumTubeAmplifiers
6V6SingleEnded(SE)UltraLinear(UL)BiasOptimization
6V6SingleEndedUltraLinearTubeAmp
6EM7SingleEndedTriode(SET)Amplifier

ACTestTransformer
ACvoltagetest,ACtest,appliedvoltagetest,partialdischargetestGoto
hvbright.com/prodcut/AC+voltage+test
Lastupdate17April2016.Created15December2013.MattRenaudanddiyAudioProjects.comTermsofServicePrivacyPolicy

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