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Stalker - SE based on very popular 6SN7 and 6L6 tubes.


"The weakness is great, and the power is insignificant."
(Stalker)

There is one very impressive film of russian director Andrei Tarkowsky named 'Stalker'. The amplifier described here was dedicated to that film. When you are listening a soundtrack of 'Stalker' using that amp, you'll be teleported into magic room where all your wishes could be carried out. Watch an original film for more details.

The scheme shown on picture #1 is standard enough. But the power supply (picture #2) has one important difference: heaters are connected to voltage regulator LM317T. Using them you can have always 6.0 V on heaters, also it is an excellent filter. As an alternative accumulator battery can be used.

The amplifier has 40 Hz - 22000 Hz frequency range on -3 dB level, because the output transformer (Tr1 on the picture #1) is too small, with low inductance of primary coil. If you need more ground bass, use any high quality transformer, p.a. made by Hammond. More inductance you have more ground bass you have.

The sound is very neutral and detailed enough. You can listen any kind of music through Stalker S001: from classical to punk, rock or jazz. Enjoy!

main scheme
The main scheme.

power supply
Power supply.

Frequently Asked Questions


Q.: What means the name of your amplifier?

A.: The main testing record for that scheme was a soundtrack of Tarkowsky' film. A full name of the amplifier is "Stalker S001. Device for a teleportation to Zone". Watch an original film for more details. When I'm watching them and I'm listening music of that film written by Eduard Artemiev through my amplifier, I'm really in Zone in my mind. In other words, it seems that my scheme increases an impression of the film.


Q.: Why resistors connected to grids have so big resistance (10 kiloohms)?

A.: Of course, such resistance with an input capacity of tubes makes simple RC-filter with clipping frequency equal to few tens of kHz's. But that isn't so important in our case, an output transformer has much greater distortion. Though you can perform few interesting experiments. Try to remove R3 and try to replace R8 with 470 Ohms resistor.


Q.: Why your output transformer is so small? It enfeebles basses.

A.: I like it. If the amlifier has very powerful bass register, in my opinion, the instuments with low frequency are standed out from a musical texture.


Q.: Can I remove LM317T from the power supply?

A.: No. Other methods of heaters feed gives you much dirty sound. Don't be lazy, try to make exactly what you see on an original scheme.


Q.: Can I replace tubes with other different types.

A.: Only original tubes can give you an original effect. But you can change the features of a resulting sound by trying another tubes. Replace them with soviet analogs (made in USSR): 6SN7 with 6N8S and 6L6 with 6P3S. Soviet tubes aren't so bad, especially made in 1950-s. The first tube could be also replaced with 6S2S or 6N1P tubes (note: they have another pinout), the output tube can be replaced with 6V6 (6P6S).


Q.: Should I use only thoroughbred R C elements specialized for audio applications?

A.: If you wish, use Black Gate capacitors, Rikken Ohm resistors and so on. But that's not a strong recommendation. Usually I'm using ordinary capacitors (paper in oil) and resistors, not specialized. And the resulting sound is excellent!