Need suggestions for dull sound

[rutledj]

Just finished a non hrm build. Overall the sound is quite dull and lifeless. Can anyone suggest some things I can check or things I can post that would help you help me?

Thanks,
Rut

[heisthl]

what are the plate voltages for V1 and V2?

[Bob-I]

what are the plate voltages for V1 and V2?

In fact what are all the voltages on plates/cathodes of V1-2-3?

[rutledj]

plate cathode screen
v1a 200.7 1.58
v1b 202.4 1.55
v2a 208.5 1.8
v2b 216.5 2.01
v3 300 62.5
6l6 447 448

Some reason the 6l6 plate and screen seem too close.

[Bob-I]

Some reason the 6l6 plate and screen seem too close.

Yes they do. What is your bias current?

[rutledj]

43ma

[heisthl]

Choke or resistor? If resistor what value? If choke that reading is probably OK. 6L6s sound good at 35ma (each) in these amps.

[rutledj]

choke

[rutledj]

how do the other plate voltages look. Normal?

[dogears]

The cathode voltages of V1 are low I think. Try a different tube.

Also, lower the bias. I'd go with no more than 35ma. 1V difference is normal I think.

[Robert]

You should try and post several pics. It would show us type of caps and resistors you used, shielded cable and where, how your wires are layed out and a thousand other things. Building it is just the first half anyway, tweaking to your taste is a great learning experience and my not ever end.

[odourboy]

Just thinking out loud... If the NFB is too high, that'll kill any life the amp might have had and your overall volume will be on the low side. Maybe check the presence circuit is correct and working as well sicne they're all linked.

[Funkalicousgroove]

What brand of filter caps did you use?

[BobW]

Recheck the values for the coupling caps and phase splitter.

Also check your snubber values that can be a huge tone killer.

[Darkbluemurder]

Is it lifeless in the OD mode only or also in the clean mode? If it's in both modes I'd make sure that the power amp and feedback are working correctly. If you have preamp out and poweramp in jacks you could plug a different preamp in the poweramp in jack just to see whether it works with the power amp of your amp.