
ttradio.net / Terry's DIY tube amp pages

ttradio.net / Terry's DIY Audio pages

VR2YQW Terry Tam Radio

My name is Terry, electronics have been my hobby for many years, I built my first crystal radio when I was grade 5 with 1N34A diode and hand wounded coil on a plastic bottle, played with a spider antenna and crystal ear plug, often listened to few stations mixed together.

I made my first 6V6 6SN7 5Y3 tube amp in late 1960's, played with crystal cartridge and self built speaker cabinets. Sound quality was just ok but I enjoyed a lot, later also tried the 6BQ5 and 12AU7 amp.

Then AM superheterodyne tube radio with 6BE6 and transistor radio with 2SA52 (first detector or mixer), 2SA49 (I.F.), 1N34A (2nd detector), 2SB54 (voltage amp) and 2SB56(power amp). Then FM transistor radio, OTL amp (2N3055) and OCL amp (Mj802, Mj4502) in 1970's.

Finally I go with tube amplifiers because of the excellent sound quality.

In middle 1970’s, I studied electronics in AM FM SSB VHF radio communications and achieved a Full Technological award in Radio Telecommunications from City and Guilds of London Institute, which was incorporated in UK from 1878, and is widely recognized by the electronic industry.

In 1979 I finished the Vacuum Tube Audio Engineering and Electrical Engineering in Hong Kong Polytechnic (Hong Kong Polytechnic University).

In 1987 I achieved the corporate membership of IEEIE ( The Institution of Electronic and Electrical Incorporated Engineers ) since then had been entitled as “ I.Eng MIEEIE MIET (UK) “ , that means UK officially qualified Electronic Engineer.

In 1987 I work as Senior Electronic/Electrical Railway Engineer in MTRC HK which holds an underground railway system to take care more than 2 million passenger every day in 1990’s.

In early 1980’s, as a result of rapid development of semi-conductor technology applications and phasing out of the vacuum tubes, all the vacuum tube audio engineering course had been removed and replaced by modern semi-conductor technology course so that no more vacuum tube audio in universities. In year 2000 vacuum tube amplifiers became popular again but lack of qualified designers and maintenance persons while the last generation of tube amp engineers are approaching 60 year’s old in 2011.

I am a baby boomer of 1950’s , have two children, was a HAM as well, watching the rapid changes in electronic industry for past few decades. It was a long story to tell. Now I am retired and keep continue to explore the world of tube amplifier from the lost horizon. I would like to share my tube amplifier experience and knowledge with orthers.

Thank you for share my story.

With compliment from

Terry Tam I.Eng MIEEIE MIET (UK)

Questions are welcome !!
Please send me an email at:
ttradionet@hotmail.com

Please see my view in BC Canada.