Tube Version of OP Amp Circuit

[Jazz P Bass]

Here is a fine link: The Philbrick Archive

[Mick Bailey]

So, you can turn a simple op-amp circuit into a complex tube design. The other way is to make a complex op-amp version of something that's fairly straightforward using tubes;

NE5532 power amplifier - diyAudio

I like that.

[Tom Phillips]

...other things being made more complicated than they seem to need to be may include Phil Marchand's tube crossover...

Such as 14 tubes with the pins soldered directly into the PC board. At least the user doesn't need to worry about dirty or corroded tube sockets.

[jazbo8]

audiophiles who insist on op amps

Isn't that an oxymoron?

NE5532 power amplifier - diyAudio

"The SPL at my listening position is 75-80dB. To my ears, the OpAmplifier sounds like a reasonable class B amp..."
Even for a science project, the results seemed so so... the SPL seems awefully low, and what is a reasonable class B amp? He must mean Class AB, not sure I want to listen to a class B audio amp... But he summed it up well with great understatement.

"I think it is more an experiment in building an unusual amplifier than an amplifier of ultimate fidelity."

[Leo_Gnardo]

So, you can turn a simple op-amp circuit into a complex tube design. The other way is to make a complex op-amp version of something that's fairly straightforward using tubes

Let's not forget Leo's Maxim (this Leo not the famous one although I'm certain he would agree) : "Simplicity Yields Clarity". So design and build all the fancy funky audio gear you want, with numerous feedback loops local, regional and global, whether tube transistor or op amp or any combination, then be disappointed when it's bested by a simple straightforward circuit. About as complex as my ears can stand - McIntosh cathode-coupled tube power amps. On the other hand, Carvin eleven-stage tube preamps, I can do without 'em. If clarity is not an issue but parts count is, and you get more credit for using more parts plus time to assemble them, go ahead pile on the parts.

[tedmich]

Such as 14 tubes with the pins soldered directly into the PC board. At least the user doesn't need to worry about dirty or corroded tube sockets.

or not needing a new one when the tubes wear out ?!

Phil sells a discrete tube OP amp!

only $150 and its a dual OP!
he does use sockets too...

[Xanthus]

or not needing a new one when the tubes wear out ?!

Phil sells a discrete tube OP amp!
[ATTACH=CONFIG]28766[/ATTACH]
only $150 and its a dual OP!
he does use sockets too...

Where can a person purchase this OP amp is there a URL?

[g1]

Where can a person purchase this OP amp is there a URL?

Here: discrete opamp, solid state opamp, tube opamp

See the links at the top of the page for pricing and order info.

[gui_tarzan]

This also begs the question; does a more complex circuit really provide a better sound?

Some of the best tube amps are very simple but they yield very clear and concise sound quality. More complicated (more parts) newer tube circuits with transistors and ICs added to the tube circuits don't necessarily sound better to my ears.

[loudthud]

This also begs the question; does a more complex circuit really provide a better sound?

What do you mean by better? Do you mean lower harmonic distortion, harder clipping, zero compression and gain invariance? That's what you get with opamps and regulated power supplies.

Some of the best tube amps are very simple but they yield very clear and concise sound quality. More complicated (more parts) newer tube circuits with transistors and ICs added to the tube circuits don't necessarily sound better to my ears.

You answered your own question.

[J M Fahey]

Where can a person purchase this OP amp is there a URL?

Ever heard of Mr Google?
It's the very first link suggested if you ask for "discrete tube op amp"

[km6xz]

All Opamps used to be tube. They were used in many types of systems including fire control systems for artillery in WWII. Analog computers of the time used them extensively for arithmetic Operations, where their name came from.

[soundmasterg]

All Opamps used to be tube. They were used in many types of systems including fire control systems for artillery in WWII. Analog computers of the time used them extensively for arithmetic Operations, where their name came from.

Speaking of this type of thing, is there any history of the tube manufacturers and tube design etc., in Russia Stan? We have histories of Western companies and other companies that used tubes but no idea about Russian stuff.

Greg