Last night I began my journey into building tube amps by ordering a kit from (play horror music) Aliexpress. I opted for the non-Bluetooth model to simplify things and it cost me $438AU (incl. postage and sales tax). I will report back once it arrives and I start building it.
SPECS: Tubes: 6J8P x 2 / FU50B x 2 / 5U4G x 1
Output Power: 8W+8W
Frequency Response: 20hz-20khz
Output Impedance: 4 ohms and 8 ohms
SNR: 90db
Input Sensitivity: 500mv-1000mv
Input Impedance: 100kΩ
Harmonic Distortion: 1%(1khz)
Size: 320mm(L) 210mm(D) 160(H)
Caution:
Product options are kits, not finished products, you need to assemble yourself, the package includes circuit diagrams and wiring diagrams. Please install it correctly according to the drawing. Please contact me if you have any technical problems. The kit does not come with a power cord.
UPDATE: I just found this useful video series showing construction of this amp 😀
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUK4sOOE7WQ&list=PLnyQFHUSljIpCy0KD6aTbms7K0Mb5Krhx
Today I replaced the cables from the RCA inputs to volume control to tubes with a new cable bypassing the volume control. Fitted the base plate and timber façade. I played it for around 20 minutes and it sounds OK, nothing fantastic (Although this was with my test speakers - a pair of ancient Wharfedale Delta 10 bookshelf speakers I was given due to blown tweeters. I replaced them with cheap non-original tweeters). One thing I did notice was after I turned it off after using it for 20 minutes - a short time later I started it again and this time the music had a scratchiness in the high frequencies. I switched it off again and let it completely cool down and the scratchiness was gone? Just another issue I will need to solve: