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The use of a Cathode Follower will extend the frequency response of the phase splitter, as the low output impedance of Cathode Follower will overcome the Miller effect capacitance of the input of the Long Tail phase splitter. Secondly, if the value of the Cathode Follower's load resistor matches that of the first stage's plate resistor, the total current through both stages will remain constant, as the Cathode Follower works in anti current phase to the Grounded Cathode amplifier. (Unfortunately, these two resistors do not match each other in value in this amplifier. Additionally, before the heaters have come up to heat, the cathode of the Cathode Follower tube is subject to damage from the solid-state rectifiers bringing up the B+ voltage too quickly before the cathode is hot enough to emit electrons. If a cheap diode is placed, reverse biased, from the grid to the cathode, the cathode is safe, as anytime the grid voltage exceeds the cathode voltage by more than 0.7 volts, the diode starts conducting and until the cathode voltage becomes more positive than the grid. This diode is missing from the schematic and I would certainly ad it to the amplifier in spite of my recommendation not to modify any of the book's projects, as it should not have any effect on the sonic performance of the amplifier.)
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