Elekit TU-8200R DIY Tube Speaker & Headphone Amp Review - Part 1

Brilliant! Thank you! Wish we could see a comparison between the Elekit and the Decware zen amp, it's natural competitor, but That's for speakers...

Beautiful camera work, and informative review! Seems like a modders dream, can't wait for part 2!

This is an epic review. Thank you! I also have Elekit TU-8200R but used it mostly as a speaker amp. When i sold my speakers i put it back in box and forgot all about it but you inspired me to dig it out again lol. As a speaker amp i liked it with 6L6 and EL34 tubes but i also tried EH KT90. Very nice dynamic tubes but the amp is getting a good deal hotter with those. With my Philips Fidelio X2 headphones i didn't notice any noise. Looking forward to the second part of your video.

Ha! I thought you were not going to do a video on tube rolling. Thanks bud, looking forward for part 2

This is really terrific. Thank you for taking on this project and producing a wonderful insight into DIY projects. A special thanks for taking the time, and making the effort, to turn what appears to be a modest reward into an extraordinary one. I recently built the Nelson Pass Amp Camp Amp, which I loved doing (and sounds great, btw, but alas no headphone amp), so this completely peaks my interest to continue down this path of understanding what's really going on under the hood of good sound. Very much look forward to watching the second episode and diving into another project in the near future. Well done!!!

This came as a complete surprise.
I've had one of those for about 9 months now.
It replaced a pair of Quicksilver Mini-Mites and a pre-amp designed and built by Patrick Turner in Canberra.
I actually has it assembled for me. A few Australian companies will do it. Mine was done by RF Waves in Perth and I am sure anyone interested can track them down.
They offered it to me with any tube type. I wanted and I picked EL34s.
I very soon changed those around (currently Mullards) although I think there is a degree of system matching involved.
I use mine simply as a speaker amp and have been hugely impressed by it.
It currently drives a pair of speakers made by Adelaide Speakers in... surprise... Adelaide.
Although I am not much of a headphone person, I watch every video you make and think your approach is very balanced and transparent.
Keep up the good work.

Great content; I've always been intrigued by DIY stuff but also intimidated by it at the same time. K Gilmore has a few designs (CFA2 & Dynahi) have all been something I wanted to do but just haven't gotten enough motivation to do it.

I'm interested in seeing the principal behind the mods to see if I can apply them to the tube amp I own.

Great video! Looking forward to part 2.

Great video, Lachlan. Having just taken the plunge into proper headphones and amp/dac combo, this looks like a good next project. I’ve fitted Elna Silmic II caps to loads of gear, always to great effect. Looking forward to part 2 😀

Now that Sydney is in COVID lockdown, I took my TU-8200 out from storage to try with a pair of Beyerdynamics DT990 Pro (250Ohms). Although I built the amp many years ago, I have not used it as a headphone amp before. I am pleasantly surprised by how well it pairs with a high impedance pair of cans. Really looking forward to Part 2 to see how you do your mods! Would it be possible to get a sneak peek of the schematic or parts list so that we can order the caps and resistors?

can't wait for part 2!

I am planning to upgrade with Lundahl Transformer, and I am looking forward to seeing your part 2 of Elekit TU-8200R. When can you show about part 2?

Great and very helpful video. Thank you! I cant wait to see teh second part so I can upgrade my Elekit. I have a pair of Focal Clear heaphones and I would love to make the modifications so I can get more out of the Elekit.

These are reviews with class, content, respect to the viewer, and definitely passion for sound! WELL done, once more!

Mate I loved the tube rolling animation! So cool.

Great review. I love the TU8200. Built one many years ago and is used daily. Even listening to your reviews on it now. They are fantastic amps, a really fantastic kit to build too. I would love to build another.

Loved the video. Lots of great info. I've built two of Elekit's preamps as well as their push pull power amp for us passive speaker guys. I'm definitely on my way to absorb part 2. I will admit I'm still trying to take in the concept of "enjoying" point to point wiring versus wiring printed circuit boards but that's what makes the world interesting. I guess the middle ground would be designing or at least making your own PCBas and then sourcing parts and wiring up. I admire those that take it on. Great content. Thanks.

Another great review, from Passion For Sound, both part 1 and part 2, of this lovely kit.
The photography is excellent, and very well presented.
Perhaps too well, as I now have one on the way this week, lol.
It's my first tube amp., however, I bought an assembled kit, as it was cheaper for me to buy a "gently used" one than a new kit, but the assembly video was invaluable nonetheless.

I have a newbie question that is likely obvious to those experienced in using tube amps for headphone use, but I would certainly appreciate
any feedback to my burning question:

"Can I safely use the Elekit 8200 for headphone use, (I intend to use my Sennheiser HD 650) without having any speakers connected?"

I intend to use the 8200 for headphone use primarily, but as this is a tube amp, all the information I've been able to find indicates that
it must have speakers connected to it at all times, or some kind of dummy load, to avoid damaging it.

I realize that with the headphones plugged in, it cuts out the speaker section, and certainly I would have to be sure to have the headphones
securely plugged in at all times when it is powered on. But will it be ok with just the headphones connected?

If anyone can provide any information to solve this question, I will be eternally grateful!

You bash the headphone circuit but expound telling us it’s not useful for most people. Subjectivity check needed?