Easy build amp

Preacher · 20th July 2006, 03:27 PM

I'm considering building a chip amp. I'd like to build a nice gainclone someday.

For now I'd like to get my feet wet with something cheap, small, and easy.

I'm going to use this on my small desk at work (for comp. spkrs) so something that would fit in a 4x6 ish case would be a plus.

If I blow it I don't want to be out hundreds or $20's.

Since I'm a novice I want the simplicity approach (fewer components better). This way I can begin really learning about amps and come by tuning and bells/ whistles later.

your recomendations are appreciated.

juma · 20th July 2006, 05:05 PM

http://www.geocities.com/rjm003.geo/...io/diy_gc.html

Try schematics with LM1875 on that page.

Cheers !

avid · 21st July 2006, 02:19 AM

Preacher,

I'm a beginner too and have done a lot of research on this subject. What I've learned is that building a gainclone can be relatively cheap, but there is A LOT to think about and acquire even if you purchase a printed circuit board and components from a reliable supplier. For example; what are you going to put it in, what speaker & RCA jacks are you going to use, how is it going to be powered, how do you control volume? The list can be very long...

You'll need to decide on a power supply and building one yourself can be very dangerous. You really need a reality check on this one.

Most of the discussions here are about some very high-end topics and a lot of assumptions are made of the reader, BUT there are also some incredibly helpful people here so your most basic questions will get answered. The key is to ask a lot of questions.

Here are some links that offer good explanations of some basic topics. Of course there are a lot more "out there", but these two are excellent... (This list would make an excellent start for a "stickies" thread for beginners.)

Articles for the chipamp beginner:
http://www.mhennessy.f9.co.uk/articles.htm

Articles that are a little more technical in nature, but the set for beginners is great:
http://sound.westhost.com/articles.htm

I purchased my LM3875 PCB from Peter Daniel:
http://www.audiosector.com/

Here are some cheap low-end audio amp kits, but you'll still need some kind of power supply (and enclosure, and volume control, and connectors, etc.)
http://store.qkits.com/category.cfm/AUDIO

Here is my favorite picture of a finished gainclone. Of course it's very dangerous, but it alway brings a smile to my face.
http://www.briangt.com/gallery/nigc-metalman

Good luck!

Eric

BTW... I'm still looking for suitable transformer (and enclosure, and volume control, and connectors...)

juma · 21st July 2006, 09:17 AM

Hi,
here is the web page with complete instructions, schematics and plenty of pictures that describe making of a cheap and simple GC (you dont even need the PCB):

http://www.dogbreath.de/Chipamps/Gai...nCardCopy.html

Cheers !

gmphadte · 26th July 2006, 06:23 AM

Nice instructions and photos, but better u use a perfboard. Capacitors hate heat.

Gajanan Phadte

preiter · 26th July 2006, 06:19 PM

Any basic gainclone is "cheap" (everyone has a different idea of cheap), small and easy. Just go for one of the lm3875 or 3886 kits that are available.

Lower power versions are not really that much cheaper or smaller.

The place where you can save yourself some cash is in the chassis. Making it look nice is where these things can start to get expensive.

20th July 2006, 03:27 PM	#1
Preacher diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2006	Easy build amp I'm considering building a chip amp. I'd like to build a nice gainclone someday. For now I'd like to get my feet wet with something cheap, small, and easy. I'm going to use this on my small desk at work (for comp. spkrs) so something that would fit in a 4x6 ish case would be a plus. If I blow it I don't want to be out hundreds or $20's. Since I'm a novice I want the simplicity approach (fewer components better). This way I can begin really learning about amps and come by tuning and bells/ whistles later. your recomendations are appreciated.

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20th July 2006, 05:05 PM	#2
juma diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Zemun	http://www.geocities.com/rjm003.geo/...io/diy_gc.html Try schematics with LM1875 on that page. Cheers !

21st July 2006, 02:19 AM	#3
avid diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2006	Preacher, I'm a beginner too and have done a lot of research on this subject. What I've learned is that building a gainclone can be relatively cheap, but there is A LOT to think about and acquire even if you purchase a printed circuit board and components from a reliable supplier. For example; what are you going to put it in, what speaker & RCA jacks are you going to use, how is it going to be powered, how do you control volume? The list can be very long... You'll need to decide on a power supply and building one yourself can be very dangerous. You really need a reality check on this one. Most of the discussions here are about some very high-end topics and a lot of assumptions are made of the reader, BUT there are also some incredibly helpful people here so your most basic questions will get answered. The key is to ask a lot of questions. Here are some links that offer good explanations of some basic topics. Of course there are a lot more "out there", but these two are excellent... (This list would make an excellent start for a "stickies" thread for beginners.) Articles for the chipamp beginner: http://www.mhennessy.f9.co.uk/articles.htm Articles that are a little more technical in nature, but the set for beginners is great: http://sound.westhost.com/articles.htm I purchased my LM3875 PCB from Peter Daniel: http://www.audiosector.com/ Here are some cheap low-end audio amp kits, but you'll still need some kind of power supply (and enclosure, and volume control, and connectors, etc.) http://store.qkits.com/category.cfm/AUDIO Here is my favorite picture of a finished gainclone. Of course it's very dangerous, but it alway brings a smile to my face. http://www.briangt.com/gallery/nigc-metalman Good luck! Eric BTW... I'm still looking for suitable transformer (and enclosure, and volume control, and connectors...)

21st July 2006, 09:17 AM	#4
juma diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Zemun	Hi, here is the web page with complete instructions, schematics and plenty of pictures that describe making of a cheap and simple GC (you dont even need the PCB): http://www.dogbreath.de/Chipamps/Gai...nCardCopy.html Cheers !

26th July 2006, 06:23 AM	#5
gmphadte diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Dona paula, Goa	Nice instructions and photos, but better u use a perfboard. Capacitors hate heat. Gajanan Phadte

26th July 2006, 06:19 PM	#6
preiter diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2006	Any basic gainclone is "cheap" (everyone has a different idea of cheap), small and easy. Just go for one of the lm3875 or 3886 kits that are available. Lower power versions are not really that much cheaper or smaller. The place where you can save yourself some cash is in the chassis. Making it look nice is where these things can start to get expensive.

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