and wanna build a DIY 2a3 amp with mkiv IST and OPT. don't expect you to actually reply, just wanted to put it out there in the ether and see what comes back lol.
My guess is the biggest difference will be the ISTs. IIRC the reg 445 and 2A3 used Hammond iron. I'm guessing the custom 45 uses Monolith amorphous (or nano?) ISTs and the same OPTs in the studio B.
if they use the same iron, how different, forgive my naivety, are 45 and 2a3 amps? For some reason, I wanna DIY a 45 amp. But more knowledgable folks have led me to a well-known 2a3 schematic to start with/riff off of
It's tough to say. Lots of differing opinions on how much the output tube matters relative to the other design variables (circuit, parts, implementation ect). But IME, even well implemented versions can sound quite different.
If I had to generalize, the best 2A3 examples sound more balanced relative to the 45. Slightly more tonal weight, more laid back, rounder edges, good extension on both ends with some added emphasis on the lower midrange.
45s tended to sound more linear, faster, more forward\dynamic and have better clarity at the expense of some tonal thickness (maybe?). 2A3 is probably the safer bet but I'm heavily biased towards the 45. YMMV
Honestly, if you can audition a few of both, definitely do that. I should also add that I'm in the "implementation matters more" camp. FWIW, I currently have both a 2A3 and 45 amp... and the 45 is sitting on the shelf unused. Context and system synergy matters a lot.
I was fortunate enough to be able to compare both 445 and my mkiv. if you plan on using it for headphones only, I would stick to 445. I prefer 2a3 more for speakers. Regardless of which path though, they're awesome amps
That was vague, I should have clarified. Basically operation parameters like plate voltage, primary impedance of the output transformers, bias methods, whether or not to use feedback (NFB) ect.. These all have a pretty noticeable effect on the overall sound the tube produces.
For example, on my 45 amp, if I set the plate voltage high, it sounds warm, soft, and euphonic in the midrange. At a lower point it will sound neutral and very clear.
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