Topic: DIY Tube Amp for Car Audio - Possible?

[cHiNo2728]

Hi Sirs, I have been reading around the tube boards and have yet to find any reference if this can be done. I have seen some Car Audio Tube Amps like Butler, Firland etc. but would like to find out if it is possible to DIY one? My questions are:

Is it possible to create a 4-channel tube amp specifically for car audio?
Is it limited to only two channels?
Do you think a DIY Tube Amp can withstand the rigors of Car vibrations?
How big can it get? Or vice versa, how small can it get?
And most importantly, what's the estimated pricepoint for such an amp?

As you know, there are a lot of Home Theater and Car Audio afficionados around. It almost goes hand in hand that a stereophile, home theater enthusiast will probably strive to bring the same sound expreience wherever he/she goes. I just feel that there is a need and a great market for value tube amps that are far less pricey than the Butler's and Firland's.

Thank you for your time and opinion.

[ATJr.]

Hi Sirs, I have been reading around the tube boards and have yet to find any reference if this can be done. I have seen some Car Audio Tube Amps like Butler, Firland etc. but would like to find out if it is possible to DIY one? My questions are:

Is it possible to create a 4-channel tube amp specifically for car audio?
Is it limited to only two channels?
Do you think a DIY Tube Amp can withstand the rigors of Car vibrations?
How big can it get? Or vice versa, how small can it get?
And most importantly, what's the estimated pricepoint for such an amp?

As you know, there are a lot of Home Theater and Car Audio afficionados around. It almost goes hand in hand that a stereophile, home theater enthusiast will probably strive to bring the same sound expreience wherever he/she goes. I just feel that there is a need and a great market for value tube amps that are far less pricey than the Butler's and Firland's.

Thank you for your time and opinion.

it is possible, you can take any existing tube amp and then use an inverter and you have a tubed car stereo set-up....

one possible problem is micrphopics, perhaps you can use that set-up while your car is parked and not while on the road...

[JojoD818]

Tony's right, with the road conditions we have in our streets, either you get a very good set of suspensions or the least microphonic tubes is a must. 

[markcrenz]

Is it possible to create a 4-channel tube amp specifically for car audio?
as sir tony said, yes. a hardcore DIYer can even create multiple inverters to supply the individual voltages needed by the circuit.
Is it limited to only two channels?
it is limited only by space, and imagination.
Do you think a DIY Tube Amp can withstand the rigors of Car vibrations?
yes, but it should employ serious vibration damping
How big can it get? Or vice versa, how small can it get?
BIG
And most importantly, what's the estimated pricepoint for such an amp?
EXPENSIVE! the cheapest would be around 10k for a sakua & inverter. add the cost of vibration-proofing the unit and some spare tubes.

one possible problem is micrphopics, perhaps you can use that set-up while your car is parked and not while on the road...

Plus the sonic benefits of having a tube amp in a car can be easily masked by road noise. i won't consider having a tube amp in my vehicle unless i have a very quiet luxury car, or one that will fit two setups (valve & ss), both of which are very unlikely.

[Weng!]

as far as i know, butler blue and td150 are only tube buffered class a/b amp or hybrid.

[Jakob]

how about gainclone amp with tube preamp section?

i think this would be a better alternative.

[ProtegeManiac]

how about gainclone amp with tube preamp section?

i think this would be a better alternative.

Most car audio amps are hybrid. As far as I know the only affordable pure tube car amp is by Digital Designs, a PP KT88. As for the GC, it's jsut a matter of getting the right chip and of course the powersupply.  Either you get a chip that runs DC or you use an inverter, external or built into the amp's PSU. I've been contacting a lot of people for this. So far there is one KAC member who was able to implement Class D kits from 41hz using a large power inverter. BTW the processor he uses in that system is a full-size, studio-grade x-over and EQ, also using the inverter.

Also I think Sound Magus stereo and 4ch amps (except hte cheapest models) use GC circuits.

[PajHERoY]

just sharing...  (though it isn't DIY, and isn't 'affordable' as well)

http://www.milbert.com/car

[macdon]

While not exactly DIY, the Panasonic CQTX5500D double-DIN could be a good start connected to a Butler amp or DIY amp.



Althou, I've been intrigue in the idea of connecting a DIY tube buffer between the head unit and the amp

[jed_z1030]

Pa OT po... Sir PajHERoY familiar po handle nyo, are with Grupo Toyota? 

[PajHERoY]

Pa OT po... Sir PajHERoY familiar po handle nyo, are with Grupo Toyota? 

yes sir

with GT, MyMitsu, as well as KAC (with handle of astroboy)

[Nelson de Leon]

yes sir

with GT, MyMitsu, as well as KAC (with handle of astroboy)

Ayan. Si Pajheroy.

Tagal nang butler user yan.

[Nelson de Leon]

For me, sa car audio, best bang na ang hybrid. a pre=amp tube or a tube buffer as sir macdon have posted.

Para mag-DIY ng tube amp for car audio, baka masyado mapamahal. Better use inverter na lang for a 220v hifi tube.

Sayang nga ang tube para sa auto kasi the car is one of the worst environment for hifi dahil sa ingay etc. Though dati, to overcome road and engine noise, i did a LOT of noise deadening. Plus, i pump up the volume a bit.

[odyopayl]

Sayang nga ang tube para sa auto kasi the car is one of the worst environment for hifi dahil sa ingay etc. Though dati, to overcome road and engine noise, i did a LOT of noise deadening. Plus, i pump up the volume a bit.

That's my first impression too! Not until I discovered Morel Speakers for Cars. There are difference between your Listening Room and inside Cars. Surely, there is room for audiophile in your Car! I spend more hours of my time in my Car rather than my Listening room so I make sure I enjoy my set-up while driving. Car setup is challenging and Fun!

[Stagea]

Fellow Morel user. Tagal ko na tinitignan yang Milbert dati, pero wala pa ako nakita locally (and wala din ako pambili).

For me, napakalayo pa rin ng tunog sa house compared sa car. Car audio for me was originally challenging, then eventually turned frustrating. 

[Munskie]

Butler-Morel user here (at least when I get them installed again).....

Any idea guys sino distributor ng Butler amps...my amp need fixing. 

[Nelson de Leon]

Butler-Morel user here (at least when I get them installed again).....

Any idea guys sino distributor ng Butler amps...my amp need fixing. 

I can help bro. Sent you PM re my number. Just SMS me na lang.