It is done

[soneil]

Well, after nearly 2 months of securing materials, building, prototyping, redoing, and fiddling, my gainclone is finished. It is a basic BrianGT clone, but 2 inputs, and a backlit volume knob on a dimmer switch.

The sound: It is by far the best thing I've ever heard, which isn't saying much but it does beat the pants off of all of the "recievers" I have owned/heard in the past. I am using a pair of Polk RTi28's with it (sorry no diy speaker projects... yet). I was at first afraid they would be too weak in the bass (they are on the Kenwood receiver) but this gainclone really makes them shine, even in the low end which is very impressive to me. Also, its quiet as a mouse with no signal.

I will post a couple of pictures of a graph I made where I "measured" the frequency response, that is where I hooked it up to an old scope I was able to borrow and played some test tones from my computer through it, then measured, by eye, how many ticks on the screen the wave rose. So, while it may be interesting, don't take it as any kind of scientific evidence or anything.

One question: where can I find the actual circuit diagrams that Brian used for these boards? My next clone I would like to do without the boards, to gain some experiance in laying out and wiring up the circuits myself.

Ok, here are a few pics. Thanks to everyone here at diyaudio (i will be donating shortly after I get to the bank), especially Brian and Peter for the wonderful boards and inspiration.

More pics can be had from my website: soma.freeshell.org/audio.php Brian - for your gallery, should I email the pics to you, or can you grab them from my website (click for large versions)?

[soneil]

Inside

[soneil]

"Frequency Response" 0 to 50 HZ (go to website for 0 to 400 hz graph)

I would have made one for all the way up to 20K, but its completely flat as far as I can measure.

[falcott]

Nice casing, Soneil!

[falcott]

P.S. By the way, what did you use for the front panel, and knobs? Cheers.

[soneil]

The front panel and knobs are both copper. The front panel was a piece of about .063 copper, which I heat stressed with a torch, squelched, and then covered in polyurethane.

The knobs are simple copper end pieces for piping. I did a _lot_ of sanding on them with 80 grit paper on a belt sander, then heat stressed, then sanded again, and sealed with polyurethane as well. I glued some simple plastic radio shack knobs inside of them as centered as I could manage with some PL premium construction cement.

And thanks for the comment, it was a labor or love. (No, really, it's my girlfriend's amp )

[Nuuk]

Brilliant stuff Soneil. I love the case and knobs!

I know some people say metal cases look better but when you see a good example like yours, it makes me want to build another one in wood.

I don't know about you other 'old-timers' but I still get a big thrill from seeing these new GC's come off the production lines (or kitchen tables) around the world!

[johnnyx]

You build a brilliant looking amp....and then give it to a girl
I hope she appreciates it.

[fireman]

Your girlfriend is one lucky girlfriend

I have been thinking about building an all aluminium case for my GCs. After viewing your case, I'm not so sure anymore The knobs are lovely. I guess I might have 2 brand new aluminium knobs for sale soon

[soneil]

Apparently, I have exceeded the daily quota for my el-cheap0 (though still very nice) free service provider.

I have moved the audio section of my site over to my dads domain: the new place to see the pics is http://www.skeeze.net/shawn

-- Shawn

PS. -- I remembered the other question I had, which I would really like answered. Since A) There is no power switch on the thing and B) I pay my own electric bill -- how much electricity do these things use when they aren't amplifying anything, but are on anyway?