Choke Value Suggestions?

[FourT6and2]

I'm building an amp. Gonna start with a Ceriatone 50-watt Chupacabra. But it will be tweaked with my own researched mods. Just need to decide which choke to use. I'm quite happy with the one in my current Chupa. But no clue what it is. I contacted Ceriatone and they said they don't keep a record of what their builds ship with. But that they use, "3H, 5H, and 7H. For the 50W usually. Although they will use the 3H if they run out of 5H sometimes." The specs for all three are:

DCR: 120-130
130mA

The PT I'm using is laydown style JTM45 with 350v-0-350v, from Mojo/Heyboer. OT is a custom, 3.4kZ "Retro-M" from O'Netics.

Here are typical voltages on the Chupa with their 325v-0-325v PT. Just click through to the Chupa 50 tab: http://www.ceriatone.com/voltage/VoltageChart.xls

So... my question is this:

I'm pretty happy with the feel of my current Chupa. There is nothing on the choke to designate what it is, other than a sticker that says "100W." Nik @ Ceriatone says that probably means they used a 5H choke. In the other threads about this, it's been said the 3H will sound or feel "more modern." Is there really a noticeable difference bettween a 3H and 5H? Or is it small?

 

[scottosan]

The general rule of thumb is the the lower the Henry rating the more modern sounding. Personally I think the choke is the most overlooked part of the power section. I have swapped chokes in several builds and the 3H always sounded more modern, immediate, dynamic and open vs. a compressed and less dynamic 10H choke.. I am expecting a 3H metro dagnal C1998 spec on wednesday. I will let you know my thoughts. I currently have a 10h mercury in a BE100 clone that I will be swapping

 

[FourT6and2]

The general rule of thumb is the the lower the Henry rating the more modern sounding. Personally I think the choke is the most overlooked part of the power section. I have swapped chokes in several builds and the 3H always sounded more modern, immediate, dynamic and open vs. a compressed and less dynamic 10H choke.. I am expecting a 3H metro dagnal C1998 spec on wednesday. I will let you know my thoughts. I currently have a 10h mercury in a BE100 clone that I will be swapping

Ooh, yeah... let me know what your experience is going from 10H to 3H. I'm really only considering a 3H or 5H. I know the DCR and inductance actually matter a lot too. Like a 5H, 250mA, 100ohm vs 5H, 120mA, 115ohm. Two different sounds/feels I'm guessing.

I might just have to buy two and test 'em each out.

 

[mixn4him]

I went from a 10H to 3H in my Marshall mutt and I wouldn't say its more modern feeling but its definitely not as stiff feeling as before..

 

[SpiderWars]

I recently swapped the PT in my homebrew smallbox that I've BE'd. Originally it was a Heyboer Trainwreck Express low B+ PT that got me about 390-395vdc plates at idle. But it vibrated audibly and amp hummed so I swapped it for a Mercury 325-0-325 (no vibration, no hum) and now plates are at about 425-430vdc. I liked it better at 390v plates. FWIW/YMMV.

 

[paulyc]

My only experience is no choke vs installing a 5 H choke in a JCM 900 SL/X, way better with the choke.

 

[FourT6and2]

I recently swapped the PT in my homebrew smallbox that I've BE'd. Originally it was a Heyboer Trainwreck Express low B+ PT that got me about 390-395vdc plates at idle. But it vibrated audibly and amp hummed so I swapped it for a Mercury 325-0-325 (no vibration, no hum) and now plates are at about 425-430vdc. I liked it better at 390v plates. FWIW/YMMV.

Talking about chokes here, not power transformers.

 

[FourT6and2]

I'll probably go with a ClassicTone 5H, 120mA, 115ohm DCR choke because that's really the closest one I can find to the spec I'm looking for. Mercury Magnetics has a 5H and a 7H, but they don't list specs and they haven't gotten back to my email inquiry yet.

 

[scottosan]

I'll probably go with a ClassicTone 5H, 120mA, 115ohm DCR choke because that's really the closest one I can find to the spec I'm looking for. Mercury Magnetics has a 5H and a 7H, but they don't list specs and they haven't gotten back to my email inquiry yet.

I just swapped out the MM10H to the 3H C1999 Dagnall clone from Heyboer (Metro-Spec) and I can say it is better suited for higher gain. I will try to be careful with adjectives. The 10H sounded stiff and less dynamic. I had to actually turn the bass down because it was a little woofy. The 3H is more dynamic and the bass is tight and control. I stand by my earlier statement that the 3H sounds more modern

 

[FourT6and2]

I'll probably go with a ClassicTone 5H, 120mA, 115ohm DCR choke because that's really the closest one I can find to the spec I'm looking for. Mercury Magnetics has a 5H and a 7H, but they don't list specs and they haven't gotten back to my email inquiry yet.

I just swapped out the MM10H to the 3H C1999 Dagnall clone from Heyboer (Metro-Spec) and I can say it is better suited for higher gain. I will try to be careful with adjectives. The 10H sounded stiff and less dynamic. I had to actually turn the bass down because it was a little woofy. The 3H is more dynamic and the bass is tight and control. I stand by my earlier statement that the 3H sounds more modern

Thanks for the follow up!

This is in a BE100 clone?

 

[scottosan]

I'll probably go with a ClassicTone 5H, 120mA, 115ohm DCR choke because that's really the closest one I can find to the spec I'm looking for. Mercury Magnetics has a 5H and a 7H, but they don't list specs and they haven't gotten back to my email inquiry yet.

I just swapped out the MM10H to the 3H C1999 Dagnall clone from Heyboer (Metro-Spec) and I can say it is better suited for higher gain. I will try to be careful with adjectives. The 10H sounded stiff and less dynamic. I had to actually turn the bass down because it was a little woofy. The 3H is more dynamic and the bass is tight and control. I stand by my earlier statement that the 3H sounds more modern

Thanks for the follow up!

This is in a BE100 clone?

Yes it its

 

[CrazyNutz]

The 3H C1999 Dagnall clone from (metro) Heyboer is good I have it in my be100 clone too.

The ClassicTone 5H, 120mA, are just as good, Iv'e used them in SLO clones.

BTW, MM makes a variable choke that you can select different values. Might be something to look into. That way if nothing else you can learn about what different values sound like.

 

[FourT6and2]

The 3H C1999 Dagnall clone from (metro) Heyboer is good I have it in my be100 clone too.

The ClassicTone 5H, 120mA, are just as good, Iv'e used them in SLO clones.

You notice any real difference in tone/feel between the two? I guess one would need to try them in the same amp to know.

 

[lespaul6]

Might also depend on your filtering? I used a 3H plexi style choke and it was tight enough feeling.. anything more would have been too tight.

 

[CrazyNutz]

The 3H C1999 Dagnall clone from (metro) Heyboer is good I have it in my be100 clone too.

The ClassicTone 5H, 120mA, are just as good, Iv'e used them in SLO clones.

You notice any real difference in tone/feel between the two? I guess one would need to try them in the same amp to know.

I have not tried them both in the same amp so I cant give you a good answer on that one. But what I can tell you is going up in value on a choke is similar to going up in value on the filter caps. You usually get stiffer, punchier, bigger tighter bass, etc.