Phono Stage Question

Mondial85

Mondial85

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Oct 19, 2015
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Greenville, SC
Anyone ever attempt, or know someone who has built or attempted to build a phono stage using 50EH5s? Whydo I ask? 'Cause I got 'em. Actually, I have some stuff I salvaged from either an old Magnavox or Motorola. I've got the tubes, multi-cap, pair of output transformers, plus, in my junk boxes, I have ceramic sockets, RCA jacks, BNA jacks, etc... I know I'll need an isolation transformer, but that's no biggie. I would like to build a phono stage. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
 
Mondial85 said:
Anyone ever attempt, or know someone who has built or attempted to build a phono stage using 50EH5s? Whydo I ask? 'Cause I got 'em. Actually, I have some stuff I salvaged from either an old Magnavox or Motorola. I've got the tubes, multi-cap, pair of output transformers, plus, in my junk boxes, I have ceramic sockets, RCA jacks, BNA jacks, etc... I know I'll need an isolation transformer, but that's no biggie. I would like to build a phono stage. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
Click to expand...

The 50EH5 is a miniature power pentode tube which is a weird choice for a phono stage. Tubes are the cheapest parts that go into a phono section and I wouldn't base a phono stage on some tubes because I happen to have them laying around. Also, why do you mention output transformers for a phono stage? You are not building a power amp (although you could with your choice of 50EH5 tubes) so you don't need any output transformers. You also don't want to reuse a 100 year old multi section cap that is probably shot and was never worth a crap compared to modern power supply capacitors in the first place.
 
Mondial85 said:
I'm doing it just for the fun of it.
Click to expand...

I get that. But if all you are doing is using old parts from a cheap piece of gear that has been around since gas was $.25 a gallon, it's not going to sound like something you would want to listen to.
 
mep said:
I get that. But if all you are doing is using old parts from a cheap piece of gear that has been around since gas was $.25 a gallon, it's not going to sound like something you would want to listen to.
Click to expand...

subtle
 
Well, I purchased two "monoblocks off of e-Bay a couple of weeks ago that utilized 6BQ6s, 12AX7s, and a 6CA4. They came out of an old '60s "Melo-Sonic" synthesizer. I tubed 'em up last night and conected them to my Hafler DH- 110 and I couldn't believe how good they sounded. I'm gonna re-wire them with Kadok or Vishay resistors and either Solen or Aura-caps. I'm thinking of maybe placing a 5 - 8 Hy choke in the power stage. Or not. I've also got some stuff from, like I said, old Magnavox or Motorola units that I was wanting to build a line stage and a phono stage from. One uses the 50EH5s I mentioned and the other utilized 50C5s, hence the question about the phono stage.
 
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