do these radios have poor sound quality I.E. distortion, or are they supposed to sound just like their A.C. counterparts. Not sure how they are supposed to sound. I am also wondering how clean the power supply ripple should be...maybe this could be causing the distorted sound

Hi Sean

Battery radios will distort at higher volume. Output tubes in these radios are rated around .25 watts. Look up the output tube in a manual to find your tube's ratings.

Check caps for leakage if the radio distorts at lower volume. Grid #1 bias on audio tubes can cause distortion with improper voltage.

Norm

:do these radios have poor sound quality I.E. distortion, or are they supposed to sound just like their A.C. counterparts. Not sure how they are supposed to sound. I am also wondering how clean the power supply ripple should be...maybe this could be causing the distorted sound

Hi,
The power supply ripple on the filaments is more noticable with some tubes(most octals for battery use, and a few locktals too) than others, but as a general rule, the cleaner DC you can supply to the radio, the better.

Unlike the first AC tubes that used filaments, most of the battery tubes used a filament that warmed up fast, but also cooled fast enough to affect emission, so you hear the hum.

If you make your supply as a full wave, rather than half wave rectification, you can reduce a certain amount of the hum.

:Hi Sean
:
: Battery radios will distort at higher volume. Output tubes in these radios are rated around .25 watts. Look up the output tube in a manual to find your tube's ratings.
:
: Check caps for leakage if the radio distorts at lower volume. Grid #1 bias on audio tubes can cause distortion with improper voltage.
:
:Norm
:
::do these radios have poor sound quality I.E. distortion, or are they supposed to sound just like their A.C. counterparts. Not sure how they are supposed to sound. I am also wondering how clean the power supply ripple should be...maybe this could be causing the distorted sound