NU: Tekt HA Development Kit provides all components required to make vacuum tube headphone amplifiers.
I am also unfamiliar with the Korg mini vacuum tube named Nutube; I used it to design and produced a small guitar amplifier, and then I used two boards used in the project to make a stereo preamplifier. So when I saw the official suite named NU: Tekt, I saw the official suite named NU: TEKT, I naturally be very interested.
Nu: The Tekt website basically uses Japanese, so it is not helpful for those who know a language like this. Despite this, I roughly learned that there are currently two kits containing Nutube: headphone amplifiers and guitar overdrive pedals. In this article, I will introduce the production of the headphone amplifier.
Component
Be
NU: Tekt HA-Kit includes all components required to make amplifiers, except for two AA batteries that provide power supplies.
The kit contains two printed circuit boards, the motherboard and a small board equipped with Nutube, as well as a variety of capacitors, some fine-tuning potentiometers, an operational amplifier and jack, and all necessary hardware and connectors.
All resistors and a small amount of capacitors are installed. In addition to vacuum tubes, small NUTUBE boards have also pre-installed all components.
The shell makes people think about the classic Altoids Tin, who is popular with electronic lovers, but uses a smoked gray cover, so that when the glow tube starts running, it can see the rays it emitted.
This kit comes with a comprehensive and clear folding manual, and it can also be viewed on the NU: TEKT website.
The component position on the printed circuit board also has a clear mark, so the amplifier can be assembled quickly.
When the jack of the welding op amp, I fix it in place with a few small blue gums, so when I flip the circuit board, it is not moved, and it is not completely detached.
This kit comes with two different op amps - Muse01 and NJM4580, which describes their replacement steps, although there is no impact after the replacement is not explained.
After the motherboard is completed, then the Nutube itself is welded to its "divided" board.
The vacuum tube is provided by some viscous foams, which are attached to the vacuum tube and surround the edge of the circuit board. After welding, the thick foam layer is adhered to the bottom side of the printed circuit board so that the motherboard does not touch the component when installing. Then connect it to the motherboard using the supplied harness.
adjust
The amplifier has two pairs of fine-tuning potentiometers: a pair of NUTUBE bias voltages, and another pair for anode load resistance. In practice, the previous pair is used to adjust the volume, and the latter pair is used to adjust the tone. I inserted the sound source and headphones, then adjust the settings until it is satisfied with the sound heard.
In addition, there is a low-end boost switch, you must remove the lid of the amplifier to see, I set this switch to open (even if you don't play heavy bass music), because I prefer to open the sound.
Ultimate assembly
In the final assembly, I need two cross screwdrivers (No. 1 and 0), plus a 1.5mm hex wrench.
Since the outer casing body is a metal material, an insulating layer is attached in the inner base layer. Once the rivet nut is mounted on the plate, the board can slide in place, then securely securely using two small screws at one end of the vacuum tube. The nut on the volume knob fixes the other end.
The lid is then fixed with four hexagonal headers.
in conclusion
This is a designed and simple suite, an ideal kit to experience Nutube sound effects. I like the retro style of the shell. After the assembly is complete, the structure is very beautiful, the structure is strong, and the shiny nutube can be seen through the translucent cover, add a trace of interest. I don't sure the battery life is short, but it means that it can be used for 9 hours after the alkaline battery is installed.
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