Has anyone ever Built a tube pre-amp?

[paden501]

Hey has anybody ever built a tube pre-amp?  I'm trying to figure out what all is involved in making a fairly simple 12ax7 or 12au7 pre. 
My plan is to base off of this:
http://diyaudioprojects.com/Tubes/12AX7-12AU7-Tube-Preamp/

My only problem so far is, where do I buy the parts?  I can find tubes, resistors and caps easy enough but where the hell do I buy transformers for the power supply circuit?

Any help would be great.  Also, does anyone have a schematic for a tube phono stage?  I might integrate it in to my design if it doesn't cost a fortune.

Thanks,

[Reverend]

My only problem so far is, where do I buy the parts?  I can find tubes, resistors and caps easy enough but where the hell do I buy transformers for the power supply circuit?

Epay.  Sad but true...

[rgpit]

http://www.parts-express.com/electronic-components.cfm

[DaveS]

http://diyaudioprojects.com/Tubes/tubes.htm

[paden501]

Thanks for the info guys.

I dont know how I missed the parts express transformer section.  It looks like some of their stuff may fit my needs. Thank you.

Now,

Does anybody have a recommendation on a good tube phono section design?

Thanks,

[OCCD]

Does anybody have a recommendation on a good tube phono section design?

Thanks,

schwarcw will be at the "meeting" next week. He has your answers.

[swami]

I have built a few components from scratch. I would suggest you google Jim McShane and look at his website. One of the best, most knowledgeable and honest people in the hobby. He is about to come out with a very inexpensive preamp kit that I am sure will go beyond any expectations. I urge you to check it out.

Sam

[schwarcw]

Does anybody have a recommendation on a good tube phono section design?

Thanks,

schwarcw will be at the "meeting" next week. He has your answers.

Check out my phono preamp build Here

[schwarcw]

A photo album of the Hagerman build is located Here

[paden501]

Wow thanks for the info everyone.

Schwarcw, do you have any supplier info on where you got your kit from?  I'd like to look it up if possible.

Thanks,

[paden501]

Nevermind I found it.  Good stuff.

[schwarcw]

A friend of mine and Polk Forum member Analog97 (Larry) has built the Clarinet preamp and the Cornet phono pre.  He's using a Parasound Halo A21 (250 wpc) to power his big SDA's and the sound is magnificent.  Larry has a number of Hagerman product builds.  Check out the hagtech.com website or the Hagerman Forum over at Audiocircles.  Jim Hagrman is an experienced audio electric engineer.  The quality of his kits are fabulous.  His PCBs are twice as thick as the boards that you will find in other kits or manufactured retail components.  Top quality!  A well build Hagerman kit may cost around $500, but I guarantee you that you will spend much more than that to hear a better sounding phono pre or straight preamplifier.  His circut design MU cathode follow is being used by Modwright, Rogue and other audio designers.  Great stuff here!

[paden501]

Thanks for the info.

I've decided to shelf this idea for the time-being however.  Instead, I picked up a Carver C-1 pre from Tom that I'm going to use for a while.

Thanks.

[schwarcw]

I was using a Caver C-19 Tom loaned me that I thought was nice.  I also thought the Conrad Johnson PV-10AL (with phono board) was also very nice.  Ket builds aren't easy.  The good ones cost money and take a lot of time.  In the end.  It's all worth it!

[paden501]

Thanks schwarcw.

I will probably end up doing a kit build eventually.  Right now I've just got too many other projects (audio and otherwise) to take on another, and I'm missing having some Carver stuff in my setup.  So, the C-1 seems to be the right piece at the right time for me.

Thanks again for the good info and help.