Low Power from Cathode Biased 2x6V6 Magnatone

[hasserl]

Hey guys, how's it going around here? It's been awhile since I've been around. I've been playing music so much for the past few years I haven't spent much time working on amps. But I have an old Magnatone Troubador here that belongs to a good friend that I'm freshening up for him. It's a rather simple circuit, that uses a 6SJ7 pentode for the preamp, a 6N7 twin triode for a paraphrase style PI, and a pair of cathode biased 6V6's for power. When I got the amp it had the original cap can, plus a couple of 10uf individual were added to replace 2 of the original caps, but the main 20uf caps in the multi cap can were still being used. The power tubes were a mixed pair of old tubes that both tested weak. I found a new cap can at CE Distribution with 2 x 20Uf & a x 10uf sections, so I used that to replace all of the filter caps. I replaced all tubes with new, and gave it a general clean up, resoldered some questionable joints, cleaned up the tube sockets, jacks, etc. The amp soounds really good, but the power is really low, like around 4 - 5 watts output, and that's pushing it.

You can view a schematic here, though it's hard to read, the resolution is real low: https://www.magnatoneamps.com/schema...one_M192-5.jpg

Voltage readings are:
B+ = 300
Power tube plates = 299
Screen grids = 298
Kathode resistor (150 ohm) = 14.8

Voltage readings at the output is abut 4.2vac at onset of distortion. Interesting, the voltage doesn't really change when I change the resistance of the load, from 4 to 8 to 16, the voltage remains about 4.2 volts. The speaker in the amp is an 8 ohm speaker, but it is not original, it's an old Ampro labeled speaker, must be out of an Ampro cabinet.

What do you think? It looks like I have plenty of time to fiddle with this thing now, what with the Covid lockdown, I'm not going anywhere.

Thanks for any help or advice you might have.

[The Dude]

Here's a slightly better/tweaked schematic. Did you check or change the cathode bypass cap at the output tubes?

[hasserl]

Here's a slightly better/tweaked schematic. Did you check or change the cathode bypass cap at the output tubes?

[ATTACH=CONFIG]57430[/ATTACH]

Replaced with new 25uf 25 volt electrolytic.

[hasserl]

Also note: since the field coil speaker is gone, it's using a 1k5 dropping resistor, between the 2 20uf caps. Maybe I should upload my drawing of that part of the schematic

[The Dude]

You could have a loss of gain before the power tubes. Do you have a scope? If so look at the power tube grids and see if you're clipping there. Are plate voltages good on your preamp and PI tubes? Possibly a bad plate resistor?

[hasserl]

I do have a scope. I'll check the power tube grids. Volts at the preamp & pi plates are high compared to the schematic you posted. That schematic does help. I can see the original power tube cathode resistor is 250 ohms, not 150. But that's not going to significantly change the power output. Still, the tubes are a little hot, so I might try changing that resistor. I'll see if I have one in my stash.

[Enzo]

Don't confuse loudness with power. The amp isn't as loud as you expect, but that may have nothing to do with the power tubes. Dude is on the same wavelength I think.

[Justin Thomas]

Speaker efficiency?

Justin

[hasserl]

Actually, the volume isn't bad, it's the actual power measurements that's bothering me. The amp sounds fine to me, very nice actually.

[Helmholtz]

As the the OT center tap is connected after the 1k5 dropping resistor, available supply current and power are strongly limited. As a consequence B+ may drop to 150V at full power (please measure). Such low B+ will not allow for more than maybe 5W output.

I would connect the OT CT before the 1k5 resistor. If you want to reduce the increased B+, insert a dropping resistor of a few hundred Ohm between the two 20µ reservoir caps and take B+ from the second cap.

[hasserl]

I'm sorry, I probably didn't describe the B+ and the filtering very well, or correctly. Here is a quick drawing I made of the current arrangement. This is how the amp came to, except with fresh caps & tubes. The voltages are with new caps/tubes. Mains voltage at my bench was 117 vac

[Helmholtz]

Looks like the rectified voltage at the 5Y3 cathode is considerably lower than in the schematic.

- Is the 5Y3 good?
- What is AC voltage at the HT winding?
- What are heater voltages (for reference).
- What is B+ at the OT CT at output clipping?

[hasserl]

You could have a loss of gain before the power tubes. Do you have a scope? If so look at the power tube grids and see if you're clipping there. Are plate voltages good on your preamp and PI tubes? Possibly a bad plate resistor?

Signal at the power tube grids is clean and smooth when the output starts to clip. Voltages at the girds at 6.46vac at one, and 4.84vac at the other. Slightly asymmetrical, but I don't think that's so unusual with a paraphrase PI is it?

[hasserl]

Looks like the rectified voltage at the 5Y3 cathode is considerably lower than in the schematic.

- Is the 5Y3 good?
- What is AC voltage at the HT winding?
- What are heater voltages (for reference).
- What is B+ at the OT CT at output clipping?

Tested with new 5Y3 and existing rectifier tube, no difference.
A/C voltage at the rectifier socket are 311/313
HEater voltage is 6.4vac at the pilot lamp
B+ voltage at the OT center tap at the start of clipping are essentially the same as at idle, maybe 1 volt higher. From that point on the voltage goes up as clipping increases.

[g1]

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but with a cathode voltage of 15VDC, I think you should be able to get around 10VAC at grids before clipping?

Signal at the power tube grids is clean and smooth when the output starts to clip. Voltages at the girds at 6.46vac at one, and 4.84vac at the other.