Dennis Had Inspire Amps

[hrparsons]

I purchased this amp a couple of years ago on eBay and it came with a box of tubes. I believe I was the second owner. I'm having a little trouble figuring out which tubes go where, and what would be the difference between some of the tubes that seem to be of the same type. If someone could provide me with a little insight I'd really appreciate it. I've got a set of Klipsch Cornwalls I'm trying to use this with and an Inspire preamp.

[Masterlu]

hrparsons... Welcome to AA!

[Masterlu]

SE4Life... Welcome to AA!

[hrparsons]

Thank you both. Well I thought I'd do a little experimenting. This is the current setup I tried. And it shut down. I think it got too hot. I thought I smelled something. So now it turns out I know just enough to be dangerous.

[Zimmer]

Originally Posted by hrparsons

I purchased this amp a couple of years ago on eBay and it came with a box of tubes. I believe I was the second owner. I'm having a little trouble figuring out which tubes go where, and what would be the difference between some of the tubes that seem to be of the same type. If someone could provide me with a little insight I'd really appreciate it. I've got a set of Klipsch Cornwalls I'm trying to use this with and an Inspire preamp.

It looks like you have three pairs of power tubes, and they would go in the two left side front most sockets.

There appear to be 6 rectifiers, and one would go in the right front socket.

The remaining two, the PSVane (CV18x) and the 6SN7/VT231 would be choices for the back middle on the left, between the two labelled transformers. I think that later models moved this socket forward in front of the power tubes, with a change in chassis. *Here is where we can seek verification from the regulars.

If it was my thought on starting it up, I might use the Gold Lion pair in the power sockets, a GZ34 or an RCA 5U4 in the rectifier socket, and the 6SN7 between the transformers. Oh wait, it looks like you are all set with the new pic.

I'd love to hear that through the Cornwalls.

[hrparsons]

Thank you very very much. I may not be as dangerous as I thought. I think it might have shut down because I was moving some wires and I might have pulled out the power plug. I'll give it another go.

[Bombadil]

Originally Posted by hrparsons

Thank you both. Well I thought I'd do a little experimenting. This is the current setup I tried. And it shut down. I think it got too hot. I thought I smelled something. So now it turns out I know just enough to be dangerous.

That certainly should work. You've got all the tubes in the correct sockets and KT77s would not push the amp hard at all.

[hrparsons]

Thanks for your input. I am enjoying the sound of this amp immensely. I read where some individuals enjoyed the KT 120 tubes and I'm thinking about trying them. Do you suppose I would need to change the rectifier tube ? And I've looked everywhere but what do you call the tube that sits behind the two power tubes? The inspire preamp LP-3 I have has three of the jj 6sn7 and I was thinking switching those out for some matched vintage rca or sylvania etc. 6sn7gtb or 6sn7 vt231 that I've seen on eBay. What are your thoughts on those? Thank you for your help.

[Bombadil]

A guy on a FB tube discussion group posted a photo of his 2013 Inspire amp. Looks like one of the standards from that era, with two KT88 power tubes and a 5U4GB/274B rectifier. He bought it used and says the driver tube is a Russian 6H1N-EB (equivalent to a 6N1P).

I was unaware that Dennis ever used one of these as a stock tube.

This guy now wants to tube roll and is trying to identify equivalents to the 6H1N. I am wondering if it may have been a 6DJ8/6922 stock and someone sub'ed the 6H1N into it. Some people do that even though they are not equivalents.

Anyone know if Dennis ever designed an amp for the 6H1N / 6N1P?

[Analog Addict]

There were amps with 6DJ8/6922/7308 or the Russian equivalent. Dennis' buddy gave him a big bag of Amperex gold pin 7308s at one point....