Amp Enclosures in the UK

[iwf]

Hi

I'm going to build a Hypex based 5 channel amp, but am struggling to find any decent enclosures in the UK.

Best current offering seems to be either from Italy (though I don't seem to be able to register on the site) and from NZ.

I'm not looking for ultra cheap but neither do I want to pay through the nose.

Thanks

I

[pinkmouse]

AFAIK, you will only be able to get hold of 19" rackmount cases directly in the UK, anything else will have to be imported.

[markiemrboo]

The only one I know of is from Maplin. A empty / basic 19" rackmount enclosure. It's not great, but... it's fairly cheap...... and it saved me having to try and make an enclosure (I am useless at that kind of stuff).

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...ia=2u&doy=24m2

[eeka chu]

I take as read that you've already abused Farnell's site right and aren't happy with anything they have?

[iwf]

I tried searchin the Farnell site, but actually found it very difficult to navigate around. I tried chassis and enclosure but got hundreds of hits.

Thinking about it a little more though, I wonder about buying a cheap ventilated 2U case just to get going and the amp built, then if it all works ( I'm a newbie) then i can pursude "she who must be obeyed" javascript:smilie('') Big Grin that it's worth spending more on a decent case. Then again as the case isn't on view (only the front would be) all I need then buy is a pretty front, perhaps in brushed aluminium.

I'm buying the trans from Farnell in any case so I can save on carriage.

thanks guys

[eeka chu]

Originally posted by iwf
I tried searchin the Farnell site, but actually found it very difficult to navigate around. I tried chassis and enclosure but got hundreds of hits.

Thinking about it a little more though, I wonder about buying a cheap ventilated 2U case just to get going and the amp built, then if it all works ( I'm a newbie) then i can pursude "she who must be obeyed" javascript:smilie('') Big Grin that it's worth spending more on a decent case. Then again as the case isn't on view (only the front would be) all I need then buy is a pretty front, perhaps in brushed aluminium.

I'm buying the trans from Farnell in any case so I can save on carriage.

thanks guys

You totally want to spend a few hours searching round on Farnell's site if you're already buying something from them, because you'll save yourself trouble if you go back and have to meet their £20 order limit, and maybe something on postage.

The site is a bit weird sometimes because they have so much on there, some of it ends up in the wrong classifications or the same item gets repeated twice, has its photo missing, details missing and so forth. But on the whole, they do a good job of maintaining a massive database.

There are tons and tons of enclosures on there. Lots of the extruded aluminium kind the US guys on here use quite often. They even sell it cut to length and with accessories, like end plates.

From what I remember of trying to find rackmount enclosures, they can be quite expensive. Also, 'rackmount' audio gear enclosures are often just an enclosure with a slightly bigger faceplate; they'll be missing mounting holes in the faceplate for example, so they're not really meant to be rack mounted. The actual enclosure of true rackmount stuff (the bit that's hidden when its mounted in place) isn't so pretty; e.g. chromate coating, loads of holes and stamping all over it....

I think Hammonds Mfg in the US, the same guys who do transformers, sell one or two rackmount enclosures. If you contact them, they'll probably have a UK distributor.

Also, there's a site somewhere on the net that'll do custom, one off faceplates for you. From memory, they laZer blast them out of stainless and will even swipe silk screening on for you. They're probably in the US too, but at least the postage on a faceplate won't be too bad.

[BOB LEWIS]

iwf,
RS Components stock hundreds of different 19 inch rack cases with a wide range of quality/prices.

Regards,
Bob Lewis

[poynton]

Just for info :-

This Ebay shop has many useful items.

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/HardwareHou...Q3amesstQQtZkm

Andy

[iwf]

Thanks guys


As I was buying a transformer from Farnells it seemed logical to get the enclosure from them too.

In the end I chose cheap and simple with ventilated base and top. cost me around £50 delivered. This will do to start, though I recognise i've some drilling to do. Thankfully i'll be better at that than i will the amp side of things ' I need to find some aluminum to act as heat sink for the amp but I thought I'd find that locally and affix it to the base.

I looked very closely at these but really wanted one of these .

The project is intended to replace 4 Cyrus power amps, and assuming I can improve on them, selling them will leave enough £ for a decent case.

If I stick with the Farnell rack unit. i'll spray the case itself then try and find a better front.

Ian

[medum]

The most beautiful enclosures, I've seen :
ATI Thailand