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| What is Self Bias? | Self Bias is my own tribute to the "Ultra-fi" movement in hi-fidelity audio. Ultra-fi is marked by two characteristics: a DIY (Do It Yourself) approach, and vacuum tube amplifiers (usually homebrew). "Self bias", also known as cathode bias, is an electronic technique where a vacuum tube determines its own operating conditions. So it's a pun, get it? | |
| Here are some pictures and commentary on my current system. Right now, its heart consists of a transformer-coupled 6B4G push-pull triode amplifier, and a pair of Hyperwhamodyne speakers, as designed by Doc Bottlehead, with some minor mods of my own. These are fantastic cheap DIY speakers for low-power tube amps! Plans and construction info can be found in back issues of VALVE magazine. | My current system | |
| The Ultra-Fi Webring | I also host the Ultra-Fi webring. I set it up to help unite all the many DIY tube audio sites out on the web. If you like this stuff, check out all the other sites as well! And if you have a site you'd like to add to the webring, please fill out the form I've provided. | |
| J.C. Morrison's classic introduction to homebrew tube audio, long out of print. This pamphlet was originally sold at Don Garber's old Fi shop at 30 Watts St (no kidding!), NYC. After Don closed the shop, photocopies circulated as a sort of Ultra-fi samizdat. Now, with J.C.'s kind permission, the schematics and design notes are freely available here. | The Fi Primer | |
| J.C. on phase splitters | More wisdom from J.C. This post from Joenet covers all the popular methods for splitting phase in push-pull tube amps, with real-world discussion of their advantages and disadvantages. Brilliant! | |
| You can't build your own amp without parts! Here's a list of sources for tube amp and exotic tweak parts who can be contacted via the Internet. | Ultra-fi vendors | |
