I wonder what this sentence actually means? Does it mean that with some amplifiers replacing the power amp tubes by Verellen Octal could allow us to double the clean power, like a 50W amp could be turned into the equivalent of a 100W amp?
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Verellen Octal
- Thread starter coreyfyfe
- Start date
It also is always a good idea to buy spare sets of tubes. If you do, test them for a month or so to ensure that there are no issues while they are still under warranty.
I suspect that it’s more about increasing headroom before the onset of distortion. Some amps which normally start to distort at 10 o’clock will be able to be turned up to noon or 1 before distortion sets in. The term “some” is not clear. It’s more about marketing at this point.
I just took it to mean more headroom before distortion. I have an octal amp based on the old Gibson EH-185 and it will distort very early by modern standards. That seems to be common with low wattage octal amps, particularly vintage designs like Gibson, Supro, Valco, etc. In my case that's a good thing and something that I want but I'm sure there are applications where more clean headroom would be preferable.
- Feb 12, 2006
- 60,958
- 5
- 220,614
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
It may be possible to produce more power with the replacement for the power tubes because of how they work (lower saturation losses), but this could also tax the power and output transformers.
I was also wondering what would happen to an unregulated "system-wide" filament voltage when the power tube filaments are no longer present.
Careless single-case SWAG here... Say 4-5 amps of filament current draw go missing along with the (assume 4) power tubes, leaving only ~900 mA of current draw from (assume 3) preamp tubes. Something like that. Will that (relatively small) remaining current draw still be enough to drag down the filament secondary voltage to something reasonably close to 6.3?
Sorry in advance if this has already been brought up.
Careless single-case SWAG here... Say 4-5 amps of filament current draw go missing along with the (assume 4) power tubes, leaving only ~900 mA of current draw from (assume 3) preamp tubes. Something like that. Will that (relatively small) remaining current draw still be enough to drag down the filament secondary voltage to something reasonably close to 6.3?
Sorry in advance if this has already been brought up.
- Feb 12, 2006
- 60,958
- 5
- 220,614
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
Have to dissipate this heat thoughThey could include a dummy filament load.
A quote from their current website:
"OCTAL is a robust workhorse in the octal socket of your tube power amplifier, better suited to the abuse of the road and heavy regular use."
Looks like they’re working as a drop in replacement for 6L6GC. Demo videos with a twin and a dual rectifier have been posted:
Now this more interesting to me personally. Running a set in an SVT. If these can sub for 6550/KT88 nor just 6L6 I’m really curious.
updated info on the website is interesting. I saw Alex from Science amps posted about testing them in 100 and 200 watt amps. Given one of my workhorse amps right now is 200w 4x KT88 science mother this had my attention.
Anywho, no affiliation, but really curious about these given the current state of tube production. Some interesting bits from the new faq page
www.verellendevices.com
Generally speaking, the Octal works in audio amplifiers that are push-pull and use 8-pin tube types…EL34, 6L6, KT88, 6550, 6V6, KT77, KT66, KT120, and more.
...
...
...
...
Anywho, no affiliation, but really curious about these given the current state of tube production. Some interesting bits from the new faq page
FAQ — VERELLEN DEVICES
www.verellendevices.com
Generally speaking, the Octal works in audio amplifiers that are push-pull and use 8-pin tube types…EL34, 6L6, KT88, 6550, 6V6, KT77, KT66, KT120, and more.
DO I NEED TO BIAS MY AMP FOR OCTALS?
No, the Octal is internally factory biased for safe operation and zero crossover distortion in a push pull amplifier.WHAT PLATE VOLTAGES CAN OCTALS HANDLE?
So far, the Octal has been stress-tested long-term in amps running plate voltages as high as 700 volts....
DO THE OCTAL WORK IN CATHODE-BIAS AMPS AS WELL AS FIXED-BIAS AMPS?
Octals are designed to work in both. There are lots of configurations out there so we’ll keep testing to find and expose any compatibility issues....
ANY ISSUES WITH AMPS USING ULTRALINEAR OUTPUT TRANSFORMERS?
Early tests with a vintage Sunn Model T, which uses an ultralinear output transformer, have been great....
HOW ABOUT AMPS THAT USE 8 PIN TUBES AS TRIODE-CONNECTED DEVICES?
The Octal doesn't support the rare triode connected configuration, but we will consider a compatible device option depending on demand.WHAT ARE THE SMALL SIGNAL PARAMETERS/“PLATE CURVES” FOR THE OCTAL?
We will be putting together a data sheet to allow for designers to use the Octal in their creations. Stay tuned....
HOW HAS THE OCTAL BEEN STRESS TESTED?
- We ran them clipping in a 700V supply amplifier for hours straight.
- Ran them below freezing at 30 degrees (F) and above earthly ambient temperatures at 200 degrees.
- Power cycled 10,000 times.
- Idled for days on end.
- Extreme impedance mismatches.
- And maybe most importantly drop tested at 8 feet.
Ben borrowed my old V4-B for one of the amp demos. Haven't gotten a chance to hear it in that amp in person, but his band Helms Alee is doing a west coast tour with Young Widows right now, and all the tube amps being used on the tour are using the Octals for all shows/sets and things seems to have gone great so far.
I don't live far from Verellen so I offered up my Music Man HD150 for testing. He looked at the schematic and saw that it uses a unique pin-out for the tubes, so it would require a special mod to make it work. No big deal, as I don't imagine there are too many MM users out there these days.
G-14 classified preorder is up (don't share broadly, please, got it via the email list)
I'd love to get 8 for my Mesa Strategy 8.88, but at $299 a pair and with still having a set or two of tubes on hand, I can't justify being an early adopter at the moment.
Hope everyone that goes for some has success:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
I'd love to get 8 for my Mesa Strategy 8.88, but at $299 a pair and with still having a set or two of tubes on hand, I can't justify being an early adopter at the moment.
Hope everyone that goes for some has success:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Last edited:
They've been out on the road using them in their amps, seems like they performed really well according to IG/FB posts.
So that's $600 USD for my Orange AD200B. After shipping, duties and exchange it would be right around $1000 CAD.
I can retube my amp twice over for that.
Tough call. I'm curious to see what the early adopters say.
I can retube my amp twice over for that.
Tough call. I'm curious to see what the early adopters say.
Not in a position to be an early adopter right now, but looking at the cost versus current tube prices it’s basically like 2-3x tube changes. Assuming these have the longevity you expect and never have to buy tubes again that’s not horrendous.
