6L6 Tube Amplifier with Luxman and Tango Transformers
Archived listing from the original vintage-amplifier.com. Prices, seller details and purchase links have been removed; this page is a reference record, and nothing here is for sale. About this archive.
Tube power amp use EL-84 as power tube. This tube was made by my friend who is audiophile, he used it in one of his audio show room. It look small but very heavy. It is using very high grade part, 2 output transformer from LUXMAN Corp, 2 interstage transformer and 1 choke from Hirata Tango, power transformer is special order. Almost of caps is NIPPON Chemi-con, is best matching with Luxman transformer as reproducing the sound. I took detail picture inside of amp, you can see which part was used in it. All of them are high grade ones.
You can use this amp as power amp as well as connect it directly with CD player. My friend was using it in my system until now and there is no problem, sound is great, especially the middle range and middle low range is perfect. Tube using in amp is 6L6 x 4 manufactured by Sylvania (USA) and 6SN7 x3, which 2 tubes 6SN7 is Sylvania and one is SOVTEC(Russia).
The amp is about 15kg, I think the transformer is really good ones. The sound did impress me much, which is very powerful in low range and sweet in midrange and high range. I don't know exactly but it is about 12W/channel Amplifier was manufactured for Japan so its AC electric volt is 100-110V 50/60Hz.
About this model
A one-off Japanese home-built amplifier, made by an audiophile friend of the seller for his listening room. The parts list is what makes it interesting: two Luxman output transformers, interstage transformers and a choke from Hirata Tango, a custom power transformer, and Nippon Chemi-Con capacitors. Tango (ISO) transformers have a strong reputation among builders of Japanese tube amplifiers.
The listing contradicts itself on the output tubes, mentioning EL84 in its first line and four Sylvania 6L6s, with three 6SN7s, later on. The four-6L6 description fits the title and the seller's estimate of about 12 watts per channel, which suggests a gentle push-pull design rather than a high-power one. It was built for Japan's 100–110 volt mains.
| Builder | Private home build, Japan (listing) |
|---|---|
| Output tubes | 4 × 6L6, Sylvania (listing) |
| Driver tubes | 3 × 6SN7 (listing) |
| Transformers | Luxman output; Tango interstage and choke (listing) |
| Output | About 12 W per channel (seller's estimate) |
| Mains | 100–110 V (listing) |
Questions collectors ask
What is an interstage transformer?
A transformer that couples one amplifier stage to the next instead of a capacitor. It is common in Japanese hand-built tube amplifiers and is often used to drive the output tubes' grids.
Can a Japanese 100 V amplifier be used elsewhere?
Only through a suitable step-down transformer, or after its power transformer is rewired for local mains if it has the taps.
Sources: Wikipedia: 6L6.
