Simple design. Awesome sound.

What do I get?

Ok, here's an abbreviated list of the most notable parts you may wonder about. These are very high quality--you are not getting a pile of no-name or cheapest possible components. If you are going to build an amplifier like this, do it right.

• Hammond Power Transformer (made in Canada)

• EdCor 15W output transformers (made in USA)

• JJ 12AT7 dual triode tube

• JJ EL34 output tubes

• Hammond 6H choke

• Solen coupling capacitors

• Belton micalex tube sockets

• RCA jacks and speaker binding posts

• Dual-gang potentiometer and volume knob

• Power switch

• Custom-made chassis with aluminum top, back panel, and perforated bottom panel

• 600V hookup wire

• Power cord and fused inlet

• Assorted other high quality capacitors, resistors, and hardware

Tell me about the circuit.

The AE1 uses a dual-triode 12AT7 as the driver stage, which is a medium-gain tube. For the power output stage, the EL34 is a classic tube used in many high performance amplifier circuits. It is a pentode tube and this circuit uses an ultralinear design to optimize performance, though could easily be modified to operate in triode mode. Each tube uses cathode bias (self-bias) and bypass capacitors. Plate-to-plate negative feedback is used to control distortion. The power supply uses 2-phase diode rectification and multiple capacitors and a choke as filters, for nearly silent operation without hum. 
The detailed instruction manual will explain not only how to build the amplifier, but how and why the tubes and circuit works the way it does.

What can I expect in performance?