Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum
Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: AmberB on March 18, 2022, 11:25:03 pm
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Simple question, what options are there for buying a power transformer?
Tubes and More has kind of limited options, it's mostly just Hammond transformers.
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When I buy new power transformers, i generally buy from AES
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haven't tried their power transformers, but i liked the output transformer i got from musical power supplies and they're quite reasonably priced
without knowing what you're looking for it's hard for folks to provide more specific suggestions
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Edcor or Hammond
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Best bet is Hammond purchased through https://www.hawkusa.com (https://www.hawkusa.com)
Hawk has better inventory, generally great prices, and once they ship, it is fast. Kip Poncher (their CEO) seems like a decent guy, and is available to discuss issues as they arise.
I love Edcor transformers, but it seems to take forever and a day to get them -- though admittedly it's been a couple of years now since I ordered from them. If they have improved -- I'd like to know!
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:laugh:
It's an American Union shop, they work at their pace NOT the customers desires
that's why 80% of my PT/OT's came from them :icon_biggrin:
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I have used both PTs and OTs from Musical Power Supplies - good results. They are responsive and are honest about supply chain issues. I also like scrounging up iron from old PAs and organs - but apparently so do a lot of others and the prices have been creeping up. I am surprised that Magnetic Components did not try to sell the tooling and designs for their ClassicTone series before closing shop. Maybe they did and there were no buyers :dontknow: Although their documentation was sometimes confusing/inaccurate I liked their Valco style PTs as the HT voltage was in a range below the typical Fender/Marshall replacement trannies.
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Also check out:
Mojotone carries Herboer transformers.
Amp Parts Direct carries Mercury Magnetics and Herboer transformers.
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> Herboer transformers
HeYboer.
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I have used both PTs and OTs from Musical Power Supplies - good results. They are responsive and are honest about supply chain issues. I also like scrounging up iron from old PAs and organs - but apparently so do a lot of others and the prices have been creeping up. I am surprised that Magnetic Components did not try to sell the tooling and designs for their ClassicTone series before closing shop. Maybe they did and there were no buyers :dontknow: Although their documentation was sometimes confusing/inaccurate I liked their Valco style PTs as the HT voltage was in a range below the typical Fender/Marshall replacement trannies.
What I heard was Heyboer bought most of Magnetic Components tooling materials patents etc..
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What I heard was Heyboer bought most of Magnetic Components tooling materials patents etc..
Thanks - I hope so. I hate to see our options disappear.
Edit - I just did a search and information is conflicting. Cannot be sure what to believe.
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Try antek. I have had really good luck with their donuts. The footprint is bigger but the power is solid
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Thanks for all the replies!
I'm not looking for a specific PT right now, I'm just looking for more options than just Hammond. I know there used to be more manufacturers out there, but it seems like a lot of them are no longer making transformers...
I'll check out the suggestions and see what I come up with.
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I like Hammond Power Transformers. I have bought Hammond from AES and Hawk. Never been disappointed. They are a good price too.
Mike
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I am so disappointed that Mag Comp closed their doors. I thought their Classic Tone trannies were excellent and about half the price of other brands. Kind of like the loss of an old friend. If I built amps for a living I would be at a loss without them. Maybe the one and only reason I would have traveled to Chicago (bang bang you're dead) would have been to tour their shop while they were still winding transformers.
I know several boutique amp builders use Heyboer. Some familiar names say they have their own "specially" wound transformers re-badged from Heyboer but that may be sales hype?
I found out the hard way that in the early years of the Egnater, made in China amps, they had a long stretch, perhaps one or two yrs, when their Chinese power transformers were better suited as Screaming Kitty Chasers for July 4th.
I know from watching and listening that Hammond has a rock solid reputation.
I do not know who Fender and Marshall source from? They may even make their own just to curb supply shortages and improve quality control.
I scoped out Mercury Mag apprx 4 yrs ago, bought one of their small single ended Champ style OTs, was not impressed for the high price and never went back.
It appears that Antek is making a well-funded play for transformer market share. I know they import (China I believe) and they offer a wide variety of power transformers. I do not know if they sell OTs? I bought a PT from them recently. It was half the price of other current products but I found out afterwards (my own fault) it made the correct voltages but was too weak to power my amp. I thought the workmanship, packaging and lack of hookup diagram was an indication that I wouldn't use one for a serious new amp build.
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I like Hammond Power Transformers. I have bought Hammond from AES and Hawk. Never been disappointed. They are a good price too.
Mike
Same here. I sometimes wonder if there are people out there on other forums who trash Hammond's products, because I see a lot of folks viewing them as the last alternative. They're very well built, available in just about any config you could want, and the prices are great - especially from Hawk. If I was seriously into hifi I might spend more for boutique output transformers, but even there Edcor would do fine for me (in fact, I'm using Edcors in my Tubelab stereo amp).
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I am so disappointed that Mag Comp closed their doors. I thought their Classic Tone trannies were excellent and about half the price of other brands. Kind of like the loss of an old friend. If I built amps for a living I would be at a loss without them. Maybe the one and only reason I would have traveled to Chicago (bang bang you're dead) would have been to tour their shop while they were still winding transformers.
I know several boutique amp builders use Heyboer. Some familiar names say they have their own "specially" wound transformers re-badged from Heyboer but that may be sales hype?
I found out the hard way that in the early years of the Egnater, made in China amps, they had a long stretch, perhaps one or two yrs, when their Chinese power transformers were better suited as Screaming Kitty Chasers for July 4th.
I know from watching and listening that Hammond has a rock solid reputation.
I do not know who Fender and Marshall source from? They may even make their own just to curb supply shortages and improve quality control.
I scoped out Mercury Mag apprx 4 yrs ago, bought one of their small single ended Champ style OTs, was not impressed for the high price and never went back.
It appears that Antek is making a well-funded play for transformer market share. I know they import (China I believe) and they offer a wide variety of power transformers. I do not know if they sell OTs? I bought a PT from them recently. It was half the price of other current products but I found out afterwards (my own fault) it made the correct voltages but was too weak to power my amp. I thought the workmanship, packaging and lack of hookup diagram was an indication that I wouldn't use one for a serious new amp build.
They offer opt, PT, and chokes but I only have experience with the PTs. I have had good luck with a se Plexi build and GA-5 build with the appropriate PT. The wiring is confusing, but for the price they are hard to beat. Check out sewatt.com for a more in depth context for several of their uses.
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my recent experience with Edcor was excellent - Brian (Weston) at Edcor helped me with a custom design power transformer. I also ordered a couple output transformers and received all 4 transformers in 2 weeks from date of order.
They sound fantastic!!
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Isn't Fender still using Woodward-Schumacher transformers? Wonder if they are still manufacturing in USA.
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My only problem with Hammond transformers is that they cost a lot. There used to be less expensive alternatives to Hammond, but I guess most of them are gone now.
The AnTek transformers look like they would be pretty good. If their current ratings are are close to correct, there is a fair amount of choices available. I'm looking at a TP from them that has 2 high voltage windings rated at 150 volts at .33 amps each, and 2 heater windings that are rated at 3 amps each. I plan to tie the 2 high voltage windings in series for 300 volts. That will serve the purpose that I want it for. At 42 dollars plus shipping, I think that's pretty good. The toroid should fit on my chassis without a problem.
The guy who sells the MPS transformers on ebay only has 1 PT for sale right now, and it's designed for really small power amps, like 2 watt. He has a decent selection of OTs for sale, but I'm not looking for one of those right now.
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Just for future reference for those interested in the donuts. Info gathered from sewatt.com