#1 · Aug 23, 2008 03:35 UTC
This article will begin to address some basic concepts of tube loadlines - or how to bias a tube. The focus, here, will be in the triode, which is seen in pretty much every preamp out there, with some notable exceptions (Matchless DC30, VOX AC15, etc). The rules/principles, applied to the triode, are fundamentally applicable to the Pentode and Tetrode used in the power amps.
As much of the amplifier voicing comes, fundamentally, from the preamp, I thought it more important to start there. After this series of articles, well begin to focus our attention on more mundane aspects of electronics voltage, current, resistance, capacitance and inductance and the rules that govern those elements. Without a solid understanding of these principles, a lot of what has been explained heretofore, wont make a lot of sense. But, since I started the topic of tube bias, I figured I might as well finish it.
Loadlines are the fundamental method used to bias a tube. Theyre relatively simple to construct, and understand
As much of the amplifier voicing comes, fundamentally, from the preamp, I thought it more important to start there. After this series of articles, well begin to focus our attention on more mundane aspects of electronics voltage, current, resistance, capacitance and inductance and the rules that govern those elements. Without a solid understanding of these principles, a lot of what has been explained heretofore, wont make a lot of sense. But, since I started the topic of tube bias, I figured I might as well finish it.
Loadlines are the fundamental method used to bias a tube. Theyre relatively simple to construct, and understand