PROGRAM 1: SECRETS OF VACUUM TUBES
Brand new, 2 DVD set (approx. 2 hours and 20 minutes), produced in Australia

·       Two types of tubes: directly-heated and indirectly-heated

·       Physical operation and internal construction of a diode

·       Progression from diode to triode, tetrode and pentode

·       Electrodes - cathode, grids, anode (plate)

·       Control grid, screen grid, suppressor grid

·       Different types of grid geometries

·       Ideal diode

·       Diode as a rectifier

·       Dual rectifier tubes - parameters and limiting values

·       Full wave rectification using tubes

·       Internal construction of a few common triodes and beam tetrodes

·       Triode limitations - Miller's effect and capacitances between electrodes

·       Beam tetrode compared to pentode

·       Dual triodes - 12AU7, 12AT7, 12AX7 (Ecc82, Ecc81, Ecc83)

·       Triode as a voltage amplifier

·       3 tube parameters explained - gm, Rp and u (mju) - mutual conductance, plate resistance & amplification factor

·       Tube curves and parameters - plate curves, transfer characteristics

·       Linearity and distortion

·       Ideal versus real triode

·       Ideal versus real pentode

·       Load lines and operating point Q

·       Reactive loads (loudspeakers) and load ellipse

·       Loudspeaker behaviour - impedance vs. frequency curve

·       Odd and even harmonics

·       Choosing plate load - the impact on power and distortion

·       Classes of operation - A, AB1, AB2, B

·       Biasing

PROGRAM 2: SECRETS OF VACUUM TUBE AMPLIFIERS Brand new, 2 DVD set (approx. 2 hours and 40 minutes), produced in Australia

This DVD program covers the use of vacuum tubes in hi-fi (audiophile) amplifiers with some coverage of their use in guitar amps. It will help you deepen your understanding of vacuum tube technology as used in the hi-end audio and will serve as a foundation for your further learning and the mastery of tube audio technology.

• Power supply - mains transformer, heating voltages, bias voltage, anode and other high voltages
• Full wave and half-wave rectificationPower supply filtering - CRC and CLC
• Solid state versus tube rectifiers - lessons from Mesa Boogie amps
• Common cathode amplification stage
• Cathode follower (common anode) stage
• Direct and capacitive coupling between stages
• NFB - Negative feedback: pros and cons
• How to find NFB on a circuit diagram
• Linearity and distortion, fidelity of reproduction
• Triode, ultralinear and pentode operation of the output stage
• Single-ended output stage
• Push-pull output stage
• Fixed bias versus cathode or self-bias
• Classes of operation - A, AB1, AB2, B
• Biasing
• Frequency range (bandwidth) of an amplifier
• Measuring the bandwidth -3 dB points
• Square wave testing of amps - how to tell amp's quality just by looking at the shape of the output signal
• Output impedance and damping factor
• Fully balanced topology - triple differential circuit
• Internal construction of a few commercial amps with 300B, EL34 and 2A3 and other valves
• Detailed discussion of two circuits: single-ended, class A triode amp with 300B or 2A3 and a 2A3 push-pull amp

NO RETURNS! Due to the nature of this product, no returns will be accepted. In an unlikely case of any problems with DVDs, faulty disc(s) will be promptly replaced and mailed to you at our expense. We wish you every success with your DIY project and your quest for good sound!