Option to High cost of Guitar Tube amp Power transformers Antek Toroid vrs Triad Showdown Part 2 

I watched a vintage radio restoration where the guy used a small solid state circuit board to do what the transformer does. The vintage transformer had a metal clam shell case which he saved. He was able to fit the circuit board inside the transformer case to keep the radio looking authentic.

D lab, try connecting a 2nd guitar amplifiers and putting the AC cord right next to the Toroid transformer VS Linear transformer to see how the transformers test under another AC cord being INDUCED into the transformer. Also using a guitar pickups very close to the transformer is another way of testing Induced EMI testing to see how good the power supply filter is to show in your next video lesson.

I designed and built my primary practice amp about 10 years ago. It's an unusual design. The triode side of a 6U8a into the pentode side of a 6U8a, into a 12AX7 and then a 6V6 for about 5W. I used an Antek torioid for the PT and I couldn't be happier with the way the amp turned out. I've got another Antek transformer that I haven't used in an amp yet, but I use it on my amp breadboard quite a bit (not one of those plastic breadboards. It's a big board with a PCB with a bunch of tube sockets (2x 7-pin, 5x noval, and 4x octal) wired to a bunch of screw terminals and then a bunch of terminal blocks lined up around the PCB, so that you can put components in and wire up your circuits with nothing more than a screwdriver, wire cutter, and stripper. It's kind of noisy, of course because there's no shielding, but you can get a clear sense for the sound of the amp and it's quick to rig something up. I can put together a Champ style amp in under 30 minutes on it.)

Great stuff once again Terry, I always heard that Toroidal was better for audio, The only problem I see with it is, normally Torodials are more expensive to ship, and being in Canada, that particular toroidal trans, does not seem easily available, however, the Triad N-68X is available from Digikey, which means cheap shipping cost. Nonetheless Terry, nice experiment and comparison! Top notch as always.

I'm a big fan of toroid transformers. I work for a company that builds machines for processing printed circuit boards. On one machine, we use 220/380/480 volt to120/24 volt control transformers. For years, we used iron core transformers that tend to run very hot. We switched over to toroid transformers which barely get warm under load. The only problem we had was blowing primary fuses on power up. This was easily corrected by installing a current limiter in series with the primary winding.

Thanks! Terry

My favorite conversion that i love to do to save money on builds is find reel to reel tape recorders from the 50s or 60s and convert them into guitar amps.The last one I found was virtually a fender Deluxe with 2 12ax7s ...2 6v6s and rectifier.It took very little work and turned out to be a vey loud awesome little amp.Last year I found one with a Princeton type circuit with 1 12ax7 and 2 6v6s.

Another great video Terry - You are the best!

Thanks D-Lab. Very Cool.

Been wondering about these for awhile, great video!

II found the tone of the second one to be much rounder sounding. 😉

I used one of those Antek transformers in a single ended 6CL6 amp I built a while back. (Inspired by your video using the same output tube) It works great!

I love your videos! They're so interesting!🎸

Hi Terry, thank you very much for all that great information and knowledge you give to us!

The second amp was slightly brighter. Slightly. It would be interesting to run both thru a 31 band eq leveled and see the difference with a quick range. That should tell all.

Interesting stuff ! I 've not built an amp ( yet) with toroidal transformers.

$30 is a pittance for a quality multi voltage power transformer. They are a bit labor intensive and are not normally made in large quantities. Nothing to complain about.

Great comparison! Ive had my eye on both Anteks ms 30 se output trans and Webers wse25 . I thought it might be fun to have a single ended amp with a little more power. They aren't too expensive compared to some other brands. The weber is listed for 52 dollars. Not bad if it is really a 25 watt single ended output.

Hello Terry, thanks for the video. What about fitting the toroidal transformer inside the Hammond chassis? That would have been killer !

From what I could tell via YT on my hand-held device, the Triad had juat a tad more noise at full bore, while the toroid had a tad more hum at full bore. Else-wise, not enough difference to call. Btw, I'm going to reccomended this series to Paul at learnelectronics (you fixed his kit amp). He has a Gibson GA5T Skylark with a toasted power transformer. This could help out a lot as "factory" replacements are not cheap.

Great stuff. I think you are breaking new ground on tube amp possibilities. That amp is not much bigger than a pedal!

The toroidal transformer is probably different qua interference with other stuff You can hook up a guitar 🎸 And hold it near the amp Thanks 👍

Great Job Sounds the same but is the wave identical for both when viewed in slow motion? Might show some differences if there are any.

The toroidal hiss is louder at full volume. Otherwise they are very similar. The sound of the guitar seemed better the second time, ie using the toroidal Trans. Not sure if that's even possible, much less true. I'll re-run it a few times. Thanks Terry, good info.

As others have noted, you should use a guitar. You're looper has a low output impedance, whereas a guitar has a high output impedance and inductors that are much more sensitive to interference. Of course guitars have different configurations, but just use the same one for testing -- you don't have to play, just move it around as an antenna.

I was getting hynpotised by that guitar loop and the scope dancing about, they both sound v similar but the shape of a toroidal looks odd in a Guitar amp, I like the look of the square ones better.

Here is an Antek fact. They use USPS priority boxes. The one's that you pay postage on the box not the weight. The shipping price for 4 transformers is the same as for one!

Nice performance for both, but the Antek takes up a lot of real estate. I wonder which is heavier.

Antek

Did you notice any change in inrush current between the two? Have heard toroids suffer high inrush current.

i guess you could put a little top hat on it?

Any difference in power consumption? Also please show how the toroidal is mounted

Thanks for the demonstration. If they work and sound the same, you might as well use the Triad since the toroid is more expensive. I also would question the quality of the toroid. No UL or CSA rating? Some guy selling Chinese made goods out of a warehouse in NJ?

Sound the same to me...

Triad sounds a bit brighter

A power transformer - spec’d the same - imparts absolutely nothing by the way of sound. It’s along for the ride.

Learn to wind your own transformers. Audio out put transformers are no more difficult than power transformers. They just have to work down to 20hertz as opposed to 50 or 60 hertz for mains power. Learn the equations for flux density and turns/ impedance ratios.

Great video. But why do you never answer questions???? Iv asked for help twice now. == Nothing.