SURFING MUSIC SOUND-WAVES

Music is one of the most valuable gifts given by God to mankind. Music fills our inner-being and does wonderful things to mind, soul and body

Golden Tube SE40 end-amplifiers

 Proloque

 << In September year 1997 I resigned from the company I worked and joined a Australian consulting firm . As consequence they relocated me to their head-office in Brisbane early 1998 with the whole family. I had to leave all my HiFi gear in the attic.

By year 2002 I returned back and tried to get back the music which I so missed over more than 4 years in the land of Down-Under. >>

The first thing back was to revive back the SE40  purchased  in year 1993 . For the money paid in 1993 , it was a excellent entry to the magic of tubes , its build like brick s***house ,  has always been reliable, quiet and trouble free before. In mono-block mode it sounds very powerful for its 40wpc rated output. , but its not really particularly extended on its top and lacks the bit of control necessary to drive the edge of bass transients.

So, in the process , I came across the Golden Tube Forum, a gathering of those guys worshipping this amp.  I came to know Loc Vu, - the Golden Tube Guru - and eventually Loc became my best friend.

In the modding process, Loc  taught me  the basics of DIY -  without him I would never been able to try my luck in this DIY world. Many friends I made during the revival of the SE40 and I like to express my sincere thanks to  them - Loc Vu   and others unnamed, who extend their knowledge and friendship to me.


   System :

 

      SE40 monoblocks (lower end) driven by a Conrad Johnson  PV10A (upper left) and the Shanling T100 CDP (upper  right)

 GOLDEN TUBE SE40 specifications :

Single Ended paralled , switchable integrated or mono-block mode , 25-40 watts output 

 

Tubes :

Line/driver two (2) switchable : 6SN7 - 6SL7 - 8SN7 - 12SN7 - 12SL7 - 7N7 loctals - 14AF7 loctals ,

End tubes - six (6) paralleled , can accepts KT66/KT77/ 5881/7581/ EL34  family

Line amplifier: ConradJohnson PV10A based on 12AU7 ,

Shanling T100 - modded with AD825, OPA627 and paper caps 

Speakers : Proac Response 3 Signature

 

 Left: Mil-spek Phillips 7581A tubes. Unfortunately they are almost extinct and very pricey if you managed to get them .

 

Modifications:


This is the extensive mod part-list :

 the schematic is below:

 

 

 Clipboard of the upgrade process:

 

 

 

  

                               The PCB  modification fully completed