BUILD YOUR OWN  ZEN TRIODE AMP WITH THIS EASY TO BUILD KIT!

When you look around at inexpensive tube amp kits... sure you can tweak one to sound a little better than it might have, but the inexpensive transformers will be the limiting factor.  It will be fun to make, hold your attention for awhile, but ultimately lead to something better.  Wouldn't it be cool if you could build one that was so good there practically wasn't anything better?

We took our original Zen Triode amp, model SE84C, and reproduced it on a high quality well thought out circuit board using all the original Zen parts including the proprietary output and power transformers - both made in the USA.  The output transformers have been the secret behind the Zen Triode and why all the clone amps with off the shelf iron never sound as good.  With all the correct and original parts supplied in the kit, you have an amplifier that is properly voiced.

So if you're going to make the least expensive tube amp possible, let's do it right and make sure it sounds good.  Like able to embarrass amplifiers at 10 to 20 times the cost- good.  Lets make sure it lasts a lifetime without failure, and gives the rewarding experience only stellar sounding tube gear can!  

YOU SUPPLY THE TUBES, CHASSIS or WOOD,
SCREWS & POWER CORD.

Kit comes as shown with proprietary transformers, gold tube sockets, level control, standoffs, binding posts and components by Vishay, Dale, Nichicon, Sprague ATOM, Solen, and a high quality reversible board designed to work on a flat piece of wood, or up side down in a steel or aluminum chassis.  The power transformer has taps for 100/120/220/240 volts 50/60 Hz and comply's with CE ratings.  Amplifier delivers 1.8 watts into 8 ohms, 2.3 watts into 4 ohms and 3.1 watts into 2 ohms.  This means it will drive virtually any loudspeaker with good bass performance.   NOTE: parts included but not shown above include rubber feet, fused IEC connector, input jacks.

Shown completed and screwed to your favorite chunk of wood.

EASY TO CONSTRUCT

Start by using your board as a template to mark the holes on your wood.
 

Drill your holes.
 

Stain your wood.
 

Build the circuit board
 

Set your standoffs
 

Screw the amp to the board
 

Install the transformers, tubes and enjoy!

ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS

SCHEMATIC

AMPLIFIER OVERVIEW:

It is a 2 watt x 2 SET amplifier made up from top grade USA made parts with proprietary transformers. It is based around the 6P15P-EV aka SV83 output tubes which are one of the most linear tubes in the world. It was chosen over 300B, 2A3, 45's and so-on because of it's incredible speed and sonic's.

This amplifier has only 1 capacitor and 2 resistors in the main signal path.  Unlike other SET amps this one loves low impedances and increases in power all the way down to 2 ohms with outstanding dynamics. Wonderfully overbuilt with transparency and believable 3D imaging with near perfect timbre and unparalleled detail are just some of the areas larger more expensive amplifiers fall short on by comparison.

BRIDGING INTO MONO:

These amplifiers employer a unique floating output transformer scheme where the negative speaker wire is not tied to chassis ground. That means when the amp is bridged, both channels may either be series or parallel wired. In series, both channels work as one and transparency is preserved.  In parallel as with most amps, the differences between the two channels work against each other and a slight reduction in transparency is seen.

So with no drawbacks to running the amps in mono, you can expect 6 dB of additional power rather then the expected 3dB. This is thanks to the power increase the amp has when it sees lower impedances.

IDEAL SPEAKERS:

We have successfully driven hundreds of different loudspeakers ranging in efficiency from 90 to 100dB 1w/1m. On 90dB speakers it works nicely in smaller rooms or for late night out of body experiences.  94 to 96 dB speakers are almost ideal in that they let you play beyond a normal listening level and preserving the dynamic headroom. When these amplifiers were first released in 1997 there were a minimal number of "high efficiency" speakers to choose from. Today that is no longer the case - they are everywhere. We also offer several different types of loudspeakers that will work with this amp. If you own speakers that you love and are afraid this may not drive them understand two things: A) It will drive them louder then you're expecting and B) you can bridge these amps into mono blocks. Because of the power increase into lower ohms, you will net 6dB of additional power. Same thing as doubling your power... twice.

SPECIFICATIONS:

This amplifier requires no adjustments or maintenance other than changing tubes every couple years. It is a self biasing design and self balancing meaning even unmatched tubes become matched when installed. The SV83 (6P15P-EV) or EL84 output tubes wired in triode were chosen over 300B, 2A3, 45, and other triodes for having the best sound and imaging.

VOLTAGES

This unit comes standard with our World Voltage Compatible Transformer. Your amplifier will be automatically wired for the correct voltage for your country and be supplied with the correct removable power cord.

TUBES:

This amp is designed for premium quality N.O.S. 6P15P-EV output tubes rated at 5000 hours. These Russian military spec tubes are the top grade of what we came to know in this country as the SV83.  You can also use EL84's without adjustments of any kind. You'll find the SV83's to be unparallel in speed and detail - in part because it is a video tube with much wider bandwidth then a normal audio tube.  We think these are the best sounding most transparent tubes available today.  The EL84 (6BQ5) is a bit warmer sounding giving the amp a different signature by just switching output tubes.

The input tube is a single 6N1P, 6922 or 6DJ8 - your choice.  6N1P's have the warmest tone, 6922's have the best dynamics, 6DJ8's have the most air and micro-detail with a touch less bass.  Again, a powerful tool for voicing your amplifier to your particular tastes.

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MADE IN USA

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