WE101D/104D-only power amplifier
Western Electric Version
It is a WE101D, WE104D exclusive model with even smaller output than the highly rated WE205D. Although the output is less than 1W, it is an amplifier that realizes excellent sound quality not less than WE205D.
The WE101D flows the 13.5mA at a plate voltage of about 250V, and the load impedance 5kΩ is designed to ensure approximately 0.6W output. Power consumption is about 3.5W. On the other hand, the WE104D specification is to obtain up to 0.8W output at plate voltage 190V as standard. In both cases, the plate current tweaks the cathode resistance and sets it to the optimum value. We realize about 0.8W output as standard. In addition, both WE101D and WE104D can be used simply by switching cathode resistors.
The appearance of WE101D and WE104D is very similar, but their characteristics and sounds vary greatly, and it is well understood that they are vacuum tubes with completely different personalities. Compared to 's masculine powerful and energetic sound, is a feminine, gentle soft sound. When comparing the two, the gain difference is large and the volume of the preamplifier must be significantly changed. When listening in the same position, the volume is too different and the WE104D sounds like it is not powerful. As an impression, the WE104D is a little less gain, so it seems that the result is better to use about 2.5k ohm for the output transformer.
Items | WE101D(ST) | WE101D(Ball) | WE104D(ST) | WE104D(Ball) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Heater voltage | 4.5VDC | 4.5V DC | 4.5V DC | 4.5V DC |
Plate cathode-to-cathode voltage | 253V | 251V | 189V | 199V |
Plate load impedance | 5k ohm | 5k ohm | 5k ohm | 5k ohm |
Cathode Resistance | 2kohm | 2kohm | 3.5kohm | 3.5kohm |
Cathode Voltage (Bias Voltage) | -27V | -27V | -58V | -58V |
Plate Current | 13.5mA | 13.5mA | 16.7mA | 16.0mA |
Maximum output (THD: 10%) | 0.69W | 0.63W | 0.94W | 0.81W |
Gain | 21.9dB | 21.5dB | 15.3dB | 15.8dB |
Residual noise | 0.62mV,0.82mV | 0.44mV,0.91mV | 0.44mV,0.63mV | 0.44mV,0.62mV |
Frequency Characteristics (-3dB) | 21-27,000Hz | 22-29,000Hz | 12.6-38,000Hz | 12.6-39,000Hz |
A little incredibly sensational!
is not comparable to . It is the best amplifier ever.
I felt that the impression of the amplifier using the WE101D was the most dynamic and clear sound of all amplifiers such as WE205D, 45, 300B, etc. except when it was loud. This seems to have a large influence on the nonchalk power supply of this amplifier. Normal amplifiers use a chalk coil to remove the ripple of the B power supply in the output stage, but this amplifier provides a B voltage by forming a filter with only CR without using a chalk coil because of the small current used.
The usage of Darebone's lug terminal type polypropylene capacitor in the output stage of the cathode bypass capacitor in the output stage is similar to our bakelite case using a type enclosed with high strength epoxy resin. In addition, the vacuum tube called Siemens C3m is used as the driver tube by removing the shield case. The C3m is a relatively new five-pole tube, released around 1968, with very good characteristics, clean sound and low noise.
Both WE101D and WE104D tested the ST type and tennis ball type, but the ST type was tight and the tennis ball type felt like a relaxed sound. Tennis ball type is fun to look at the shape interesting, but it is expensive, so I felt that ST type is enough if you choose from sound quality. The speaker terminal is only the 8Ω output terminal, 4Ω there is nothing wrong with using the 16Ω speaker. However, the maximum output will be lowered in either case. If it is the maximum output of the 8W, it will be the 4-6W output.
Use vacuum tube | WE-101D/104D*, C3m,80 |
---|---|
Maximum output | WE101D: About 0.6W/8Ω WE104D: About 0.8W/8Ω |
Frequency Characteristics | 22Hz-28kHz(-3dB) |
Output transformer impedance | Primary side 5kΩ, secondary side :8Ω |
Residual noise | 0.4-0.8mV |
Drive method | CR coupling, self-bias method |
Size | 400(W)294(D)204(H)m |
Weight | 14.3 kg |





