Want to build a Pass lab design....help desired

[jmillerdoc]

Hello,
I have been involved with DIY audio for a couple of years now and have built several successful chip amp and tube based designs. I have not yet tried one of the many Pass Labs designs I have read about lately. I am interested in building an amp in this class and was desiring some input. Basically I am very new to these designs and don't know where to start. I was hoping for some help in choosing an amp design, one that has readily available PCB's and guideline threads on the forum.

Power is really of no concern. I have many different speakers that I could use. I am more concerned with quality of sound and availability of substrate PCB's and components.

Any input here is welcome.
Thank you very much for your time and help!
Jeff

[Bill Fuss]

If you want a taste of the SE SS sound I would recommend the mini-Aleph. Boards can be had at the ChipAmp website. 10W or so. The design can be scaled up also.

The F5 is the PP choice of many.

[tinitus]

http://www.chipamp.com

http://www.firstwatt.com/pdf/prod_f5_man.pdf

diyAudio - cviller

F5 power amplifier

Burning Amplifier BA-1

Burning Amplifier BA-2

Home page

[res07njc]

I'm getting ready to build my first Pass amp as well. While surfing around, I decided on the mini Aleph boards, which are still availabe through chipamp.com. I suppose I could've gone a lot of directions, but went with those boards based on scalability (start small, with overkill on heatsink), vetted design, and all the positive comments of the Aleph scheme in general.

[cjkpkg]

I second the F5 without a doubt. There are 2 options sort of "born and bred" here - one option from a user called CVILLER and one from PETER DANIEL - both of which you can find in the Group Buys section.

Both are essentially the same circuit, there are many happy builders of both PCB's and there is much discussion around tweaks etc. Both also have a PSU option that is appropriate for this and many other PASS amps.

I too started with the Aleph mini. Very nice amp. I found the F5 irresistible due to no caps in the signal path at all.

Many have said, however, that the F5 may be the last amp you will build...

[NYCOne]

Consider point to point wiring.

You can use blank breadboard to hold components. I bought PCBs, and after soldering my first set, I'll never buy PCB again, the F5 is easy enough to do without a printed PCB.

[Bill Fuss]

No problem. To be totally accurate, our member BrianGT created the mini-Aleph boards many moons ago with blessings from the Master, and sells them very inexpensively on chipamp.com.

Peter Daniel's site is Audio Sector. He's done a number of board projects

[flg]

Peter Daniel is DIY Chip Amplifier Kits, PCB's, Components and Information.

[Melon Head]

I would probably build both an Aleph design and F5.
Then compare which one you like best.
Then build a BA series.
Then build a J2.
Once you have finished those, you will probably want to build Nelson's Open Baffle project which will probably be published by that stage.
Then once you have built that.
Build an F3, and try biamping (F3 on tweeter/fullrange + F5 on bass).

[Bill Fuss]

Now THAT'S a PLAN!