Zen Kit #1
Zen Triode SET stereo tube amplifier board

BUILD YOUR OWN  ZEN TRIODE AMP WITH THIS CIRCUIT BOARD

 



We took our original Zen Triode amp, model SE84C, and reproduced it on a high quality well thought out circuit board!   Purchase your own parts (shown below) and be listening to your very own SET amplifier!

 


 

APPROX PARTS COST IS $200 + BOARD ($45)

 

Shown completed and screwed to your favorite chunk of wood.



 

You supply your own parts - putting you in charge of the sound quality and performance.


We recommend the following power transformers for this amplifier:

120V POWER TRANSFORMER

EDCOR - XPWR107-120
Power transformer for a 120V, 60Hz. line to 600V (300-0-300) at 150mA center tapped and 6.3V at 4A.


Approx cost $58  (JUNE 2011)

240V POWER TRANSFORMER

EDCOR - XPWR066-240
Power transformer for a 240V, 50/60Hz. line to 600V (300-0-300) at 200mA center tapped, 6.3V at 4A and 5V at 3A.
 
Approx cost $64  (JUNE 2011)
OUTPUT TRANSFORMERS

EDCOR - GXSE10-6-8K
10W, single ended tube output transformer for 8K Ohms to 6 Ohms.


Approx cost $27  (JUNE 2011)


SUGGESTED PARTS FOR CIRCUIT BOARD

1
Mouser #:    75-516D108M035-E3   
Mfr. #:    516D108M035PS6AE3
Manufacturer:     Vishay
Desc.:    Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors - Leaded 1000uF 35volts 20%
RoHS:     RoHS Compliant

2
Mouser #:    647-TVX2W330MCD   
Mfr. #:    TVX2W330MCD
Manufacturer:     Nichicon
Desc.:    Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors - Leaded 450volts 33uF 18x41 20%
RoHS:     RoHS Compliant

2
Mouser #:    75-TVA1508   
Mfr. #:    TVA1508
Manufacturer:     Vishay
Desc.:    Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors - Leaded 250V 20UF
RoHS:     No

4
Mouser #:    539-150104J400EC   
Mfr. #:    150104J400EC
Manufacturer:     Cornell Dubilier
Desc.:    Polyester Film Capacitors 400V .1UF METAL POLY
RoHS:     RoHS Compliant
2
Parts Express #: 027-544
Mfr. #:    3.3uF 400V
Manufacturer:   Solen
Desc.:    polypropylene capacitors
RoHS:     No

3
Parts Express #: 055-540
Mfr. #:   
Manufacturer:  
Desc.:    PC mount 9-pin miniature ceramic tube socket. Gold plated pins.
RoHS:     No
2
Parts Express #: 090-475
Mfr. #:   
Manufacturer:   Cliff
Desc.:    Standard .75" dual binding posts made for chassis mounting
RoHS:     No
2
Mouser #:    161-4217    or  568-NYS354
Mfr. #:    161-4217
Manufacturer:   
Desc.:    Phono (RCA) Connectors PHONO R/A PCB
RoHS:     No

1
Mouser #:    313-1240F-100K   
Mfr. #:    RV122F-20-15F-A100K
Manufacturer:     Alpha (Taiwan)
Desc.:    Panel Mount Potentiometers Audio D-Shaft 100K
RoHS:     RoHS Compliant

1
Mouser #:    262-6.8K-RC   
Mfr. #:    262-6.8K-RC
Manufacturer:     Xicon
Desc.:    Metal Oxide Resistors 6.8Kohms 5% Tol
RoHS:     RoHS Compliant

1
Mouser #:    71-CW5-1.0K   
Mfr. #:    CW0051K000JB12
Manufacturer:     Vishay
Desc.:    Wirewound Resistors - Through Hole 5watts 1Kohms 5%
RoHS:     No

2
Mouser #:    71-RL20S-G-1.5K/R   
Mfr. #:    RL20S272GRE5
Manufacturer:     Vishay
Desc.:    Metal Film Resistors - Through Hole 1/2watt 1.5Kohms 2%
RoHS:     No

2
Mouser #:    71-RL20S-G-2.7K/R   
Mfr. #:    RL20S272GRE5
Manufacturer:     Vishay
Desc.:    Metal Film Resistors - Through Hole 1/2watt 2.7Kohms 2%
RoHS:     No

4
Mouser #:    71-RN65D-F-1.0K   
Mfr. #:    RN65D1001FB14
Manufacturer:     Vishay
Desc.:    Metal Film Resistors - Through Hole 1/2watt 1Kohms 1% 100ppm
RoHS:     No

2
Mouser #:    280-CR5-10K-RC   
Mfr. #:    280-CR5-10K-RC
Manufacturer:     Xicon
Desc.:    Wirewound Resistors - Through Hole 10Kohms 5% Tol
RoHS:     RoHS Compliant

2
Mouser #:    625-RGP10M-E3   
Mfr. #:    RGP10M-E3/54
Manufacturer:     Vishay
Desc.:    Diodes (General Purpose, Power, Switching) 1.0 Amp 1000 Volt
RoHS:     RoHS Compliant By Exemption

1
Mouser #:    71-CP0005150R0JE14   
Mfr. #:    CP0005150R0JE14
Manufacturer:     Vishay
Desc.:    Wirewound Resistors - Through Hole 150ohms 5% 5watts
RoHS:     RoHS Compliant

2
Mouser #:    66-RC20GF473J   
Mfr. #:    RC20GF473J
Manufacturer:     IRC
Desc.:    Carbon Composition Resistors 47K OHM 5%
RoHS:     RoHS Compliant

2
Mouser #:    660-MO2CT631R102J   
Mfr. #:    MO2CT631R102J
Manufacturer:     KOA Speer
Desc.:    Metal Oxide Resistors 2W 1K 5%
RoHS:     RoHS Compliant

9
Mouser #:    561-L41.0   
Mfr. #:    561-L41.0
Manufacturer:     Eagle Plastic Devices
Desc.:    Circuit Board Hardware - PCB SPCR HEX 4-40X1.0
RoHS:     RoHS Compliant

2
Mouser #:    273-330K-RC
Mfr. #:  273-330K-RC
Manufacturer:    Xicon
Desc.:    Metal Film Resistors - Through Hole 1/2watt 330Kohms 1%
RoHS:     No
2 Mouser #:    71-RN65D-F-100  
Mfr. #:    RN65D1000FB14
Manufacturer:     Vishay
Desc.:    Metal Film Resistors - Through Hole 1/2watt 100ohms 1% 100ppm
RoHS:     No





WARNING - THIS KIT IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND CAN NOT BE USED IN A RESIDENTIAL HOME WHERE CHILDREN OR PETS CAN COME IN CONTACT WITH THE HIGH VOLTAGES PRESENT.  FOR HOME USE IT MUST BE BUILT INSIDE A METAL CHASSIS.

 

EASY TO CONSTRUCT

Start by using your board as a template to mark the holes on your wood.
 

Drill your holes.
 

Stain your wood.
 

Build the circuit board
 

Set your standoffs
 

Screw the amp to the board
 

Install the transformers, tubes and enjoy!

 


 

ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS

SCHEMATIC

 


 

AMPLIFIER OVERVIEW:

It is a 2 watt x 2 SET amplifier. It is based around the 6P15P-EV aka SV83 output tubes which are one of the more linear tubes in the world. It was chosen over 300B, 2A3, 45's and so-on because of it's incredible speed and sonics.

This amplifier has only 1 capacitor and 2 resistors in the main signal path. Unlike other SET amps this one loves low impedance's and increases in power all the way down to 2 ohms with outstanding dynamics. Wonderfully overbuilt with transparency and believable 3D imaging. Near perfect timbre and unparalleled detail are just some of the areas larger more expensive amplifiers fall short on by comparison.


BRIDGING INTO MONO
:

These amplifiers employer a unique floating output transformer scheme where the negative speaker wire is not tied to chassis ground. That means when the amp is bridged, both channels may either be series or parallel wired. In series, both channels work as one and transparency is preserved. In parallel as with most amps, the differences between the two channels work against each other and a slight reduction in transparency is seen.

So with no drawbacks to running the amps in mono, you can expect 6 dB of additional power rather then the expected 3dB. This is thanks to the power increase the amp has when it sees lower impedance's.


IDEAL SPEAKERS:

We have successfully driven hundreds of different loudspeakers ranging in efficiency from 90 to 100dB 1w/1m. On 90dB speakers it works nicely in smaller rooms or for late night out of body experiences.  94 to 96 dB speakers are ideal in that they let you play beyond a normal listening level and preserving the dynamic headroom. When these amplifiers were first released in 1997 there were a minimal number of "high efficiency" speakers to choose from. Today that is no longer the case - they are everywhere. We also offer several different types of loudspeakers that will work with this amp. 

 



 

SPECIFICATIONS:

This amplifier requires no adjustments or maintenance other than changing tubes every couple years. It is a self biasing design and self balancing meaning even unmatched tubes can be used with decent results. The SV83 (6P15P-EV) or EL84 output tubes wired in triode were chosen over 300B, 2A3, 45, and other triodes for having the best sound and imaging.

 

Circuit type   Single ended Class A Triode
Power output   2.3 watts  RMS into 4 ohms
    5 watts  RMS into 8 ohms when bridged
    NOTE: Power increases as ohms decrease
    Stable into 2 ohm speaker loads
Input voltage   2.0 volts for full output
Noise / Hum   Less   than 1.5 millivolts 
Response   See Edcor transformers
Feedback   ZERO negative feedback used
Output tubes   SV83 or EL84/6BQ5
Signal tube   6N1P or 6922 or 6Dj8
Biasing   Self-Biasing circuit - never needs adjustment
Consumption   65 watts at full power
Speaker sensitivity @ 1w/1m   89 dB minimum / 96 dB is ideal

 


TUBES:

This amp is designed for premium quality N.O.S. 6P15P-EV output tubes rated at 5000 hours. These Russian military spec tubes are the top grade of what we came to know in this country as the SV83.  You can also use EL84's without adjustments of any kind. You'll find the SV83's to be unparalleled in speed and detail - in part because it is a video tube with much wider bandwidth then a normal audio tube.  We think these are the best sounding most transparent tubes available today.  The EL84 (6BQ5) is a bit warmer sounding giving the amp a different signature by just switching output tubes.

The input tube is a single 6N1P, 6922 or 6DJ8 - your choice.  6N1P's have the warmest tone, 6922's have the best dynamics, 6DJ8's have the most air and micro-detail with a touch less bass.  Again, a powerful tool for voicing your amplifier to your particular tastes.

 


PRICING


ZKIT1-BO

 $45.00

add to cart ADD TO CART

Circuit board only (Instructions are located below.)

ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS

SCHEMATIC


MADE IN USA

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