Maxon - TOD-9

RnFR · Post by **RnFR** » 03 Dec 2008, 01:48

so this is maxon's attempt at a real tube screamer. part of their NINE series. it uses a submini at 30V and has some kind of proprietary power supply. they say that the tube stage runs into the overdrive stage, and there is the option of using it as a booster as well. it's gotta be starved plate, but i suppose 30V is better than 9V. the sound of it ain't half bad either. better than a tube screamer at least.

website-http://www.maxonfx.com/Nine_TOD9.php

demo-

i expect Dirk to weigh in on this one, as he is our resident Maxon fan and tube OD guy.

Dirk_Hendrik · Post by **Dirk_Hendrik** » 03 Dec 2008, 07:51

ok, here I go.

I haven't seen any guts of this fella and cannot say much from a practical perspective.

But, having experimented somewhat with different types of miniature tubes (penciltubes) I expect that 30 volts to be the nominal voltage (and therefore not starved plate at all). The propietary circuit can be expected to be something of a chargepump. Applying something like a (dual) LT1044 will not work as you will not get above the 18 volts. Therefore expect a logic gate, some caps and diodes.

I can imagine the distortion does not come from the tube. For the 3 or 4 different types of penciltuvbes I've tried, I never got them to clip hard(er) in a musical way. Boosters fine, clipping, awful.

Dirk_Hendrik · Post by **Dirk_Hendrik** » 03 Dec 2008, 08:30

For the basics of chargepumps I found this documenty real handy:
http://www.eecg.utoronto.ca/~kphang/ece ... epumps.pdf

RnFR · Post by **RnFR** » 03 Dec 2008, 10:35

well there you go!

so no starved plate. no wonder it sounds good. i wonder if it needs a big ol wall wart like my EH hot tubes. thanks for the link. i'll check it out.