[sdiy] Germanium power amp: at a loss...

[Travis Shire]

> Hello All,
>
> I have a magnificent looking, gold anodized, 2N441, that I am certain at
one
> time lived in an old car radio. I have been looking on the internet for a
> nice design for a power amp using all germanium transistors, including a
big
> one for the output stage. I'm guessing I could get 10-15 watts out of this
> thing easy with a decent heatsink (which I will have to drill myself
because
> this isn't quite a TO-3...).
>
> Anyone have any hints of old makes of guitar amps, car radios or whatnot
> that used a single, big PNP transistor in the output stage that might
render
> my search fruitful?
>
> thanx,
> aa
>
> PS - I have this weird Sony amp that came out of a very old all-in-one
unit
> that used germanium PNP's and silicon NPN's - weird.
>
I wouldn't bother with it. Silicon power transistors were invented because
of the shortcomings of Ge (leakage, thermal instability, etc.).