Hiwatt DR201 OT - Tube Town vs TAD

[BungleSim]

I'm building a Hiwatt DR103 type of amp for my friend/guitar player in my band. We're into big, loud amps and I've been curious about KT88 tubes so I'm thinking about sticking a DR201 OT in the amp and using 4X KT88s to get 200W out.

The price of a DR201 OT from Tube Town is pretty good at 110 EUR, but I also see that TAD has one for 249 EUR and I gotta wonder - why the significant price difference? Based on my search of this forum, it seems like you guys like and trust Tube Town's stuff but what do you think here? Should I go with the cheaper transformer or do you think TAD's will be that much better?

Thanks in advance for any replies!

[mhuss]

I can't speak to the quality of either, but I doubt either would be a bad choice. HOWEVER, if you want 200 watts, you're going to need a DR201-style power transformer and power supply circuit that produces ~700VDC. This will make the amp MUCH heavier.

The 201 chassis is also physically larger to allow for (among other things) proper output tube spacing for ventilation.

Note that 200 watts is only ~3db louder than 100 watts, you may want to reconsider.

[Stevem]

If he is already paying thru a 4-12” cab then it will be cheaper and as you are searching for louder to add another cabinet with 2-12” speakers then to mod a current 100 watt build to 200 watts.

You also will need to mod the 100 watters driver stage since a 12ax7 does not have the current output that’s needed for the KT88s.

You seem to be thinking simplistically that just a OT and KT88s from a 200 watt amp gets you to your goal.

[ChopSauce]

I read somewhere that Tube Town(/inMADout?) transformers may be cheaper for not passing HiPot tests, yet I'm not even sure that gossip is worth reporting...
(with sincere apologies if this is untrue but I would like my related trouble to be dissipated)

[chaccmgr]

200W for guitar? Oumph!
Whom do you want to kill with 200W? The audience will get the sound primarily via the PA. Moderate loudness on stage is a plus in my experience. Usually 100W in a guitar amp with a 4x12 is considered to be too loud already.
right, more efficient speakers (or more of them) is an easy fix to get more loudness.

Technical:
to squeeze out 200W out of 4xKT88 you will need to drive the power tubes either with a tube cathode follower or a mosfet source follower per side. Otherwise you won't reach the full output.

TAD has a reputation of being overpriced throughout the entire lineup while delivering good quality
I'm a regular customer of Tube Town and I even used the mentioned set of transformers in a bass amp with pleasing results. In my opinion Tube Town is a very serious store without all that voodoo / snake oil stuff TAD will tell (and charge) you.

[BungleSim]

I'm a regular customer of Tube Town and I even used the mentioned set of transformers in a bass amp with pleasing results. In my opinion Tube Town is a very serious store without all that voodoo / snake oil stuff TAD will tell (and charge) you.

Thank you for answering my question directly! I really appreciate it, truly.

Next time I'll leave the stuff out about what I plan on doing with the transformer as people obviously got hung up on that. I worked a lot of hours last week and my brain was fried when I made the post. I'm aware that it takes more than an OT and some KT88s to produce 200W out. Sorry for making everyone think I didn't understand that.

[Stevem]

By the way that OT from tube town must be a mistake.

It’s stated as only weighing 5.3, while the other tips the scales at 7.3 like a true 200 watt OT should.

I believe the tube town one is really a 100 watt OT.

[chaccmgr]

No, I used it, it is 200W (actually 250W)
Note: Tube-Town is a German vendor, so the weight unit is kilograms not lbs (equals roughly 11lbs)

[Roe]

the tube town stuff is good quality generally (I'm using their 135VA ringkern PT)

[mhuss]

Aside: An ECC83/12AX7 may lack the oomph to drive a 201 output stage, but an ECC81/12AT7 can do it, and has in every HIWATT DR201 ever made.